sumed and so returned exceeding astonished computation, near 50 miles in length. Thus I what would become of the rest. left it this afternoon burning, a resemblance of Sodom, or the last day. It forcibly called to my mind that passage-non enim hic habemus stabilem civitatem:1 the ruins resembling the picture of Troy. London was, but is no more. Thus I returned home. The fire having continued all this night (if I may call that night which was light as day for ten miles round about, after a dreadful manner) when conspiring with a fierce Eastern wind in a very dry season; I went on foot to the same place, and saw the whole South part of the City burning from Cheapside to the Thames, and all along Cornhill (for it likewise kindled back against the wind as well as forward), Tower Street, Fenchurch Street, Gracious Street, and so along to Baynard's Castle, and was now taking hold of St. Paul's Church, to which the scaffolds contributed exceedingly. The conflagration was so universal, and the people so astonished, that from the beginning, I know not by what despondency or fate, they hardly stirred to quench it, so that there was nothing heard or seen but crying out and lamentation, running about like distracted creatures, without at all attempting to save even their goods; such a strange consternation there was upon them, so as it burned both in breadth and length, the Churches, Public Halls, Exchange, Hospitals, Monuments, and ornaments, leaping after a prodigious manner from house to house and street to street, at great distances one from the other; for the heat with a long set of fair and warm weather had even ignited the air and prepared the materials to conceive the fire, which devoured after an incredible manner houses, furniture, and everything. Here we saw the Thames covered with goods floating, all the barges and boats laden with what some had time and courage to save, as, on the other side, the carts, etc., carrying out to the fields, which for many miles were strewed with movables of all sorts, and tents erecting to shelter both people and what goods they could get away. Oh, the miserable and calamitous spectacle! such as haply the world had not seen the like since the foundation of it, nor be outdone, till the universal conflagration of it. All the sky was of a fiery aspect, like the top of a burning oven, and the light seen above 40 miles round about for many nights. God grant mine eyes may never behold the like, who now saw above 10,000 houses all in one flame; the noise and cracking and thunder of the impetuous flames, and shrieking of women and children, the hurry of people, the fall of towers, houses and churches, was like an hideous storm, and the air all about so hot and inflamed that at the last one was not able to approach it, so that they were forced to stand still and let the flames burn on, which they did for near two miles in length and one in breadth. The clouds, also, of smoke were dismal, and reached, upon THE DEATH OF COWLEY Aug. 1, 1667. I received the sad news of Abraham Cowley's death, that incomparable poet and virtuous man, my very dear friend, and was greatly deplored. 3. Went to Mr. Cowley's funeral, whose corpse lay at Wallingford House, and was thence conveyed to Westminster Abbey in a hearse with six horses and all funeral decency, near an hundred coaches of noblemen and persons of quality following; among these all the wits of the town, divers bishops and clergymen. He was interred next Geoffrey Chaucer and near to Spenser. A goodly monument has been since erected to his memory. POPULAR PASTIMES June 16, 1670. I went with some friends to the Bear Garden, where was cock-fighting, dogfighting, bear and bull baiting, it being a famous day for all these butcherly sports, or rather barbarous cruelties. The bulls did exceeding well, but the Irish wolf-dog exceeded, which was a tall greyhound, a stately creature indeed, who beat a cruel mastiff. One of the bulls tossed a dog full into a lady's lap, as she sate in one of the boxes at a considerable height from the arena. Two poor dogs were killed, and so all ended with the ape on horseback, and I most heartily weary of the rude and dirty pastime, which I had not seen, I think, in twenty years before. THE DEATH OF CHARLES II Feb. 4, 1685. I went to London, hearing his Majesty had been the Monday before (2 Feb.) surprised in his bed-chamber with an apoplectic fit. On Thursday hopes of recovery were signified in the public Gazette, but that day, about noon, the physicians thought him feverish. He passed Thursday night with great difficulty. when complaining of a pain in his side, they drew two ounces more of blood from him; this was by 6 in the morning on Friday, and it gave him relief, but it did not continue, for being now in much pain, and struggling for breath, he lay dozing, and after some conflicts, the physicians despairing of him, he gave up the ghost at half an hour after eleven in the morning, 2 men of culture being 6 Feb. 1685, in the 36th year of his reign, | at least 2,000 in gold before them; upon which and 54th of his age. two gentlemen who were with me made reflections with astonishment. Six days after was all in the dust! Thus died King Charles II, of a vigorous and robust constitution, and in all appearance promising a long life. He was a Prince of many virtues, and many great imperfections; debonair, easy of access, not bloody nor cruel; his countenance fierce, his voice great, proper of person, every motion became him; a lover of the sea, and skilful in shipping; not affecting other studies, yet he had a laboratory and knew of many empirical3 medicines, and the easier mechanical mathematics; he loved planting and building, and brought in a politer way of living, which passed to luxury and intolerable expense. He had a particular talent in telling a story, and facetious passages, of which he had innumerable; this made some buffoons and vicious wretches too presumptuous and familiar, not worthy the favour they abused. He took delight in having a number of little spaniels follow him and lie in his bed-chamber. Thus worn and weakened, well or ill content, wood. 100 Certainly never had King more glorious opportunities to have made himself, his people, and all Europe happy, and prevented innumerable mischiefs, had not his too easy nature resigned This set the heathen priesthood in a flame, him to be managed by crafty men, and some For priests of all religions are the same. abandoned and profane wretches who corrupted of whatso'er descent their godhead be, his otherwise sufficient parts, disciplined as he had been by many afflictions during his banishment, which gave him much experience and knowledge of men and things; but those wicked creatures took him off from all application becoming so great a King. The history of his reign will certainly be the most wonderful for the variety of matter and accidents, above any extant in former ages: the sad tragical death of his father, his banishment and hardships, his miraculous restoration, conspiracies against him, parliaments, wars, plagues, fires, comets, revolutions abroad happening in his time, with a thousand other particulars. He was ever kind to me, and very gracious upon all occasions, and therefore I cannot, without ingratitude, but deplore his loss, which for many respects, as well as duty, I do with all my soul. Stock, stone, or other homely pedigree, I can never forget the inexpressible luxury and profaneness, gaming and all dissoluteness, and as it were total forgetfulness of God (it being Sunday evening) which this day se'nnight I was witness of, the King sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleaveland, and Mazarine, etc., a French boy singing love songs, in that glorious gallery, whilst about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute persons were at Basset4 round a large table, a bank of 3 Approved by unscientific observation. 4 A game at cards drink. From hence began that Plot, the nation's curse, 109 Bad in itself, but represented worse, 1 London. 2 Roman Catholics. 4 Charles II. 5 Dignitaries of the 3 Used ironically of the Church of England. Puritans. 6 The Popish Plot. *This, the first of Dryden's satires, was directed against the Earl of Shaftesbury (Achitophel) and the opponents of the court. The strong excitement aroused by the "Popish Plot," an alleged attempt to strengthen Roman Catholic power in England by the murder of Charles II., had impelled Shaftesbury, a Whig, to endeavor to secure the succession to the Protestant Duke of Monmouth (Absalom), thus preventing the Catholic Duke of York from ascending the throne. Charles II., who was secretly a Catholic, and was receiving aid from France, waited a favorable moment; then, aided by the Tories, he recalled his brother, the Duke of York, and threw Shaftesbury into prison on the charge of high treason. The poem appeared November 17, 1681. Shaftesbury's case was to come up November 24. Not weighed or winnowed by the multitude, But swallowed in the mass, unchewed and crude. Some truth there was, but dashed and brewed with lies To please the fools and puzzle all the wise: 120 The Egyptian rites the Jebusites embraced, Which Hebrew priests the more unkindly took, 130 By guns, invented since full many a day: Had yet a deep and dangerous consequence; Opposed the power to which they could not rise. Some had in courts been great and, thrown from thence, Like fiends were hardened in impenitence. Of these the false Achitophel was first, › French. 150 8 A reference to the doctrine of transubstantiation. And o'er-informed the tenement of clay. Pleased with the danger, when the waves went high, 160 He sought the storms; but, for a calm unfit, Would steer too nigh the sands to boast his wit. Great wits are sure to madness near allied And thin partitions do their bounds divide; Else, why should he, with wealth and honour blest, 171 Refuse his age the needful hours of rest? known, 180 191 Since in another's guilt they find their own! 9 filled to excess 10 Shaftesbury's son was a weakling. 20 11 The alliance of England, Holland, and Sweden broken by the alliance in 1670 of England an France against Holland. 12 England. 13 That of France. 14 Chief judge of the Jewish court (Shaftesbur had been Lord Chancellor in 1672-3). 15 lacked (Dryden is referring to his own poem) state To sell their duty at a dearer rate, Now, manifest of crimes contrived long since, The next for interest sought to embroil the Of listening crowds with jealousies and fears news: 220 And once in twenty years, their scribes record, He said, and this advice16 above the rest With Absalom's mild nature suited best; Unblamed of life (ambition set aside), Not stained with cruelty nor puffed with pride, 480 How happy had he been, if Destiny 430 Had higher placed his birth or not so high! And make their Jewish markets of the throne; Resumed their cant, and with a zealous cry And justified their spoils by inspiration; 530 Nothing to build and all things to destroy. 17 The London populace (Jerusalem 540 Hieroso 18 Gentile (i. e., the Popish Plot). 19 Presbyterian ministers deprived of their office by the act of Uniformity. 20 The days of the Commonwealth, when (1. 523) the clergy were unusually prominent in affairs of state. 16 Achitophel has been urging Absalom to advance 21 The Duke of Buckingham, favorite, and former his cause by securing possession of the person of the king. minister, of Charles II. He had ridiculed Dryden. A man so various that he seemed to be Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. Blest madman, who could every hour employ That every man with him was God or Devil. 560 30 And, spread in solemn state, supinely reign. |