[Excerpt from vol. 2, July 1654]

July 6] I saw [my] prety boy, return’d early to Lond, & the next day, met my Wife and company at Oxford, which being on the 7th was the Eve of the Act: [July 8] Next day was spent in hearing severall exercises in the Sholes, & after dinner the Procter opened the Act at St. Maries (according to custome) & the Praevaricators their drolery, then the Doctors disputed, & so we supp’d at Waddum Coll: The 9th Dr. French preechd at St. Maries on 12: Matt: 42, advising the Students the Search after true Wisdome, not to be had in the books of Philosophers, but Scriptures: in the afternoone the famous Independent Dr. Owen, perstringing Episcopacy: he was now Cromwells Vice-Chancellor: We din'd with Dr. Ward, Mathematical Professor [since Bish: of Salisbury], & at night Supp'd in Balliol Coll: Hall, where I had once ben student & fellow Commoner, where they made me extraordinarily wellcome, but I might have spent the Evening as well.

10 On Monday I went againe to the Scholes to heare the severall faculties, & in the Afternoone tarried out the whole Act in St. Maries. The long speeches of the Proctors: The V: Chancelors, the severall Professars, Creation of Doctors, by the Cap, ring, Kisse &c: those Ceremonies not as yet wholy abolish'd, but retaining the antient Ceremonies & Institution: Dr. Kendals (now Inceptor amongst others) performing his Act incomparably well, concluded it with an excellent Oration, abating his Presbyterian animositie, which he with-held not even against that Learned & pious divine Dr. Hammond: The Act was closd, with the Spech of the V: Chancellor. There being but 4 In Theologie, 3 in Medicine, which was thought a considerable matter, the times consider'd: I din'd at on[e] Monsieur Fiats, a student at Excester Coll: & supped at a magnificent Entertainement in Waddum Hall, invited by my excellent & deare Friend Dr. Wilkins, then Warden [now Bishop of Chester]: on the Eleventh was the Latine Sermon which I could not be at, invited, being taken-up at All-Soules, where we had Music, voices & Theorbes perform’d by some ingenious Scholars, where after dinner I visited that miracle of a Youth, Mr. Christopher Wren, nephew to Bishop of Elie: then Mr. Barlow [since Bishop of Lincoln] Bibliothe[c]arius of the Bodlean Library, my most learned friend, who shewd me, together with my Wife, The rarities of that famous place, Manuscrip[t]s, Medails & other Curiosities. Amongst the MSS an old English Bible[*]It was a manuscript copy of Wycliffe's translation: 'And thei wenten doun bothe into the watir, Filip and the gelding, and Filip baptiside hym': Acts viii. 38. For the possible manuscripts see Wycliffite Versions of the Holy Bible. Ed. Josiah Forshall and Sir Frederic Madden. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1850, vol. 1, pp. xlvi-xlvii. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 106, n. 5). wherein the Eunuch mention'd to be baptizd by Philip, is cald the Gelding, & Philip & the Gelding went down into the Water &c, also the Original Acta of the Council of Basil, 900 years since, with the Bulla or leaden Affix, which has a silken Chord, passing thro every parchment: likewise a MS: of Ven: Beades[*]Possibly Bede's Commentary on the Proverbs (MS. Bodl. 819), a ninth-century manuscript given to the library in 1602: Macray, pp. 27-8. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 1). of 800 years antiquity: together with the old Ritual secundum Usum Sarum,[*]The Catalogus impressorum librorum, 1674, gives three copies: fol., Paris, 1555; 4to, Rouen, 1621 (error for 1521); and a third without place or date. For the bibliography of the work see Missale ad usum ... ecclesicae Sarum, ed. F. H. Dickinson, 1883, introd. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 2). exceeding voluminous: Then amongst the nicer curiosities: The Proverbial Solaman written in French, by a Lady every Chapter of a severall Character, or hand, the most exquisitely imaginable[*]The manuscript is in French; it was written by Esther Inglis (Langlois), 1571-1624, wife of Bartholomew Kello. It is dated 1599 and was given to the library in 1620: Macray, p. 62. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 3): An Hieroglypical Table, or Carta folded up like a Map, I suppose it painted on Asses hide, extreamely rare[*]Said by Macray to be Mexican; perhaps Arch. Bodl. A. 75: Macray, pp. 109, 466. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 4).: but what is most illustrious, were the no lesse than 1000 MSS: in 19 Languages, espe[c]ialy Oriental, furnishing that new part of the Library, built by A: Bishop Lawd[*]The western wing (Selden end) of the library was built in 1634-40 during Laud's chancellorship of the university and was at first called 'Laud's library'; he does not appear to have contributed towards its cost, but the collection of manuscripts given by him to the library in 1635-40 (1,299 manuscripts in eighteen languages) was originally kept here with the Digby and Pembroke MSS.: Macray, pp. 81, 83-8; A. Wood, History ... of the University of Oxford, ed. Gutch, 1792-6, ii. 939-42. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 5): some of Sir Kenhelme Digby,[*]Digby gave 238 manuscripts to the library in 1634: Macray, pp. 78-81. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 6) & the Earle of Pembroch[*]William Herbert, third earl of Pembroke, 1580-1630,gave 242 Greek manuscripts (the Barocci Collection) to the library in 1629: Macray, pp. 68-72. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 7): In the Closset of the Tower,[*]Perhaps the 'Archive of the School Tower': J. Pointer, Oxoniensis Academia, 1749, p. 143; cf. p. 141; and 'the closett' in Wood, Life and Times, iv. 57; see also R. W. T. Gunther, Early science in Oxford, 1923, sqq., iii. 252-3. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 8) they shew,Josephs parti colourd Coate[*]This object is mentioned under this name by a traveller in 1638, in the library accounts for 1662, and by Monconys in 1663: Gunther, iii. 253; Macray, pp. 129, 131 (quoting Monconys, ii. 52-3). Macray identifies it as a coat of 'Tartar lamb' brought from Russia and given to the library in 1615: Macray, pp. 51, 413-4 (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 9). A Muscovian Ladys Whip,[*]Cf. 'Russia Whips' in the 'Musaeum': Pointer, p. 159 (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 107, n. 10) some Indian Weapons, Urnes, Lamps: &c: but the rarest, is the Whole Alcoran written in one large sheete of Calico, which is made up in a Priests Vesture or Cape after the Turkish, & the Arabic Character so exquisitely written, as no printed letter comes neere it[*]A Turkish vestment of linen given by Richard Davydge in 1653 (MS. Bodl. Or. 162): Macray, p. 108. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 1): Also a rolle of Magical Charmes or Periapta,[*] For periapta see above, ii. 236. This roll is not traceable (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 2) divers Talismans, some Medails: Then I led my Wife into the Convocation house finely Wainscoted; The Divinity Schole & gothic Carv’d roofe; the Physick Or Anatomie Schole,[*]This occupied the western half of the first floor of the south side of the School's quadrangle; since 1789 it has formed part of the Bodleian: Gunther, iii. 252; Macray, p. 272; for its contents c. 1680 see Gunther iii 260-3. The order of Evelyn's visits to the various parts of the School's building probably differed from that of his notices. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 4) adorn’d with some rarities of natural things; but nothing extraordinary, save the Skin of a Jaccal, a rarely Colour’d Jacatroo, or prodigious large Parot,[*]In former editions of the diary this word was printed 'jacatoo'. This was its only recorded ocurrence and the OED recorded suggests an error for cacatoo, cockatoo. The word as now printed is not recorded elsewhere; the resemblance to the place-name Jacatra (in Java) is perhaps worth noting. Gunther suggests macaw: iii. 261 (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 108, n. 5) two humming birds, not much bigger than our humble bee: which indeede I had not seene before that I remember. &c.

12 We went to St. Johns, saw the Library, & the 2 Skeletons, which are finely cleanse’d, & put together: observable are also the store of Mathematical Instruments, all of them chiefly given by the late A: Bishop Lawd, who built here an handsome Quadrangle: Thence we went to New-Coll: where the Chapell was in its antient garb, not withstanding the Scrupulositie of the Times: Thence to Christ-Church, in whose Library was shew'd us an Office of Hen: 8, the writing, Miniature & gilding whereof is equal if not surpassing any curiosity I had ever seene of that kind: It was given, by their founder, the Cardinal Wolsy: The Glasse Windos of the Cathedral (famous in my time) I found much abused: The ample Hall, & Columne that spreads its Capitel to sustaine the roofe as one gos up the Stayres is very remarkable: Next we walked to Magdalen Coll: where we saw the Library & Chapell, which was likewise in pontifical order, the Altar onely I think turn’d Table-wise: & there was still the double Organ, which abominations (as now esteem’d) were almost universaly demolish’d: Mr. Gibbon that famous Musitian, giving us a tast of his skill & Talent on that Instrument: Hence we went to the Physick Garden, where the Sensitive [& Humble] plant was shew’d us for a greate wonder. There Grew Canes, Olive Tres, Rhubarb, but no extraordinary curiosities, besides very good fruit, which when the Ladys had tasted, we return’d in a Coach to our Lodging.

13 We all din’d, at that most obliging & universaly Curious Dr. Wilkins's, at Waddum, who was the first who shew'd me the Transparant Apiaries,[*]One type is described by Wren in a letter dated 26 Feb. 1654/5 to Samuel Hartlib (below, p. 162), printed in The reformed commonwealth of bees. Presented in severall letters ... to Sammuel Hartlib Esq., 1655 ' pp. 50-1; diagram p. 52; another type described (by Hartlib?), p. 56. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n. 1) which he had built like Castles & Palaces & so ordered them one upon another, as to take the Hony without destroying the Bees; These were adorn'd with variety of Dials, little Statues, Vanes &c: very ornamental, & he was so aboundantly civill, as finding me pleasd with them, to present me one of these Hives, which he had empty, & which I afterwards had in my Garden at Says-Court, many Yeares after; & which his Majestie came on purpose to see & contemplate with much satisfaction[*]Charles II visited Sayes Court on 30 April 1663: notice below. Pepys saw this hive on 5 May 1665 (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n. 2): He had also contrivd an hollow Statue which gave a Voice, & utterd words, by a long & conceald pipe which went to its mouth, whilst one spake thro it, at a good distance, & which at first was very Surprizing: He had above in his Gallery & Lodgings variety of Shadows, Dyals, Perspe[c]tives, places to introduce the Species,[*]This refers to Wilkins's preparatory work for his Essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language, 1668. The language was to be composed not of words but of notions; for its creation it was necessary to find out 'all the sorts of simple notions'; a 'species' similar to those used in algebra to denote quantities could then be used to designate each notion. Wilkins was at this time working under the influence of Seth Ward: [Seth Ward], Vindicicae academiarum, 1654, pp. 19-22; epistle to the reader, prefixed to Wilkins's Essay; Plot, Oxfordishire, pp. 282-5; OED., s.v. Species 8b. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n. 3) & many other artif[i]cial, mathematical, Magical curiosities: A Way-Wiser,[*]An instrument for measuring and indicating a distance travelled by road; it is one of the '20 Ingenuities' recently discovered mentioned in Samuel Hartlib, His Legacie (see above, pp. 85-6 n.); see also 0ED. A way-wiser given by Wilkins to the Royal Society is described by N. Grew, Musaeum Regalis Societatis (below, 2 April 1666, n.), pp. 360-1. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 110, n. 4) a Thermometer; a monstrous Magnes, Conic & other Sections, a Balance on a demie Circle, most of them of his owne & that prodigious young Scholar, Mr. Chr: Wren, who presented me with a piece of White marble he had stained with a lively red very deepe, as beautifull as if it had ben natural.[*]Wood claims the discovery of 'the paynting or stayning of marble' for an Oxford stone-cutter named William Bird (Byrd), c. 1658: Life and Times, i. 241; see also Philosophical transactions, i (1665), 125-7; and Plot, Oxford-shire, p. 277. ( Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 111, n. 1) Thus satisfied with the Civilities of Oxford …

[Excerpt from vol. 3, October 1664]

25 Came to visite my Lord Cornbery (whose father my L: H: Chancelor of England, was also now Chancelor of the University) the Vice-Chancellor, who with the Dr. Fell, Deane of Christ-Church, Warden of Queenes, the learnd Dr. Barlow, & severall heads of houses came to visite my Lord, & next day Invited him & us all to dinner:

I went to visite Mr. Boyle now here, whom I found with Dr. Wallis & Dr. Chr: Wren in the Tower at the Scholes, with an inverted Tube or Telescope observing the Discus of the Sunn for the passing of ☿ that day before the Sunn; but the Latitude was so greate, that nothing appeared: So we went to see the rarities in the Library, where the Library keepers, shewed me my name, among the Benefactors: They have a Cabinet of some Medails, & Pictures of the Muscular parts of Mans body: Thence to the new Theater, building now at an exceeding & royal Expense by the L: A: B: of Canterbury, to keepe the Acts in for the future, 'til now being in St. Maries church: The foundation being but newly laied & the whole, Design’d by that incomparable genius, & my worthy friend Dr. Chr: Wren, who shewed me the Model, not disdaining my advise in some particulars: Thence to see the Picture on the Wall over the Altar at All-Soules, being the largest piece of Fresco painting (or rather in Imitation of it, for tis in oyle [of Terpentine]) in England, & not ill design'd, by the hand of one Fuller: yet I fear it will not hold long, & seemes too full of nakeds for a Chapell: Thence to New-Coll: & the Painting of Magdalens Chapell, which is on blue Cloth in Chiaro Oscuro by one Greeneborow, being a Cœna Domini & Judgement [on] the Wall by Fuller, as is the other, somewhat varied: Next to Waddam, & the Physi[c]k Garden where were two large Locust Trees,[*]This appears to be an error for lotus or lote-trees, also called nettle-trees; the existence of at least one here in 1658 is shown by the Catalogus Horti Botanici Oxoniensis of that year; it contains nothing that can be identified as a locust-tree. In Sylva Evelyn mentions the lotus (ed. 1664, p. 58); longer notice in later editions) but not the locust (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 386, n. 5) & as many Platana[*]They are not mentioned in the Catalogus of 1658. The plane is sometimes said to have been introduced by Bacon; it was evidently still very rare; Evelyn was given a specimen by Sir George Croke to whom he attributes its successful introduction: see successive notices in Sylva, 1664, p. 58. (Diary, ed. de Beer, vol. 3, p. 386, n. 6), & some rare Plants under the Culture of old Bobart.