INTRODUCTION xlvii 



could endure it ', Evelyn made his will and put all his 

 affairs in order * that now growing in yeares, I might have 

 none of the secular things and concerns to distract me when 

 it should please Almighty God to call me from this trans- 

 itory life.' In November 1682 he was asked by many 

 friends to stand for election as president of the Royal 

 Society, in succession to Sir Christopher Wren, but pleading 

 * remote dwelling, and now frequent infirmities ' he declined 

 the proffered honour. Subsequently, in 1690, he had 

 actually, * been chosen President of the Royal Society ', but 

 desired to decline it ' and with greate difficulty devolv'd the 

 election on Sir Robert Southwell, Secretary of State to King 

 William in Ireland. ' For a third time, in November 1693, 

 the honour was again offered c Much importun'd to take 

 the office of President of the Royal Society, but I againe 

 declin'd it. ' 



On 1 2th February 1683 his father-in-law, Sir Richard 

 Browne, who had been created a baronet in 1649, and to 

 whose influence he owed much, died at his house at Sayes 

 Court, leaving Mrs. Evelyn as his sole heiress. Meanwhile 

 grandchildren had been born to Evelyn, some of whom soon 

 died in infancy. His appointment on the Council of Plant- 

 ations and Trade seems to have lapsed before this time, for 

 no further mention is made in his diary of Council meetings, 

 and he seems to have resided chiefly at Sayes Court, garden- 

 ing and spending his time in scholarly leisure and recreation. 

 This surmise is borne out by what he says in 1683, 'Oct. 

 4th. I went to London, on receiving a note from the 

 Countesse of Arlington, of some considerable charge or 

 advantage I might obtaine by applying myselfe to his 

 Majesty on this signal conjuncture of his Majesty entering 

 up judgment against the City charter; the proposal made 

 me I wholly declin'd, not being well satisfied with these 

 violent transactions, and not a little sorry that his Majesty 

 was so often put upon things of this nature against so great 

 a Citty, the consequence wheroff may be so much to his 

 prejudice ; so I return 'd home. ' 



On 6th February 1685 King Charles II. died after an 

 apoplectic fit, and his brother James, Duke of York, ascended 

 the throne. Evelyn comments fully on the virtues and 



