An Apologie for the Royal Party; and A Panegyric to Charles the Second | Page 2

more of his Relations".
Phillips added an account of a letter written by Evelyn to Colonel
Morley, and gave him great credit for the influence which he exerted,
though Evelyn endorsed a draft of the narrative with a statement saying
there "was too much said concerning me". Nevertheless part of the
narrative was confirmed by Evelyn when he wrote on the title-page of
the copy of the pamphlet here reproduced: "Delivered to Coll. Morley a
few daies after his contest w^th Lambert in the palace yard by J.
Evelyn". The "contest" with General Lambert took place on October 12
or 13 when Morley, pistol in hand, refused to allow him at the head of
his troops to pass through the Palace Yard.
Evelyn also wrote on the title-page of this copy of his pamphlet "three
tymes printed". In fact there were four printings, all described in the

writer's _John Evelyn, a Study in Bibliophily & a Bibliography of his
Writings_, New York, The Grolier Club, 1937, the one here reproduced
being the fourth and final form. Nevertheless all four issues are now
extremely scarce, the first printing being known in three copies (one in
the United States), the second in seven (two in the United States), the
third in one, and the fourth in one. This apparently unique relic of
Evelyn's bold gesture on behalf of his King is in the writer's possession
and is still as issued, edges untrimmed and with its eight leaves stitched
in a contemporary paper wrapper. It has been reprinted only in Evelyn's
Miscellaneous Writings, 1825, pp. 169-192.
* * * * *
When Charles II actually returned to England in 1660 Evelyn's feelings
were deeply stirred. He had played some part in the restoration of the
monarchy, and, with his literary instinct, naturally felt impelled to be
among those who wished to present the King with an address on the
day of his Coronation. This took place on April 23, 1661, and on the
following day Evelyn recorded in his Diary: "I presented his Ma^tie
with his Panegyric in the Private Chamber, which he was pleas'd to
accept most graciously: I gave copies to the Lord Chancellor and most
of the noblemen who came to me for it."[2] Evelyn's Panegyric was
thus distributed privately and no doubt in small number, so that it is
today extremely uncommon, being known only in five copies, not more
than one of which is in the United States of America. Evelyn possessed
a copy in 1687 according to his library catalogue compiled in that year,
and a copy (not necessarily the same one) is now among his books in
the library of Christ Church, Oxford, but it seems to have been
unknown in 1825 and was not included in the Miscellaneous Writings.
William Upcott, the editor, in fact erroneously identified the Panegyric
with the anonymous piece in folio: "A Poem upon his Majesties
Coronation ... Being S^t Georges day ... London, Printed for Gabriel
Bedel and Thomas Collins ... 1661". This mistake was not put right
until a copy of the true Panegyric with Evelyn's name on the title-page
was acquired for the British Museum in 1927 from the Britwell Court
Library. The copy here reproduced is in the writer's collection, and has
a few corrections in Evelyn's hand: (a) XXXIII. of April, on title-page

corrected to XXIII; (b) p.6. l.18 Family altered to Firmament; (c) p.8.
l.16 from bottom suffer altered to surfeit.
When the Panegyric was identified it was realised that it was not a
poem, but an eloquent and extravagant composition in prose, in which
Evelyn invested Charles II with every conceivable virtue and all
wisdom. This was no doubt written with sincere enthusiasm, though
Evelyn suffered a profound disillusionment in later years; and if he ever
read his effusion again it must have caused him some distress. The
Panegyric is now reprinted for the first time.
Geoffrey Keynes
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Evelyn's Diary, ed. Wheatley, vol. II, p. 108.
[2] Evelyn's Diary, ed. Wheatley, vol. II, p. 130.

AN A P O L O G Y FOR THE ROYAL PARTY: Written in a L E T T
E R To a Person of the Late COUNCEL of STATE.
* * * * *
By a Lover of Peace and of his Country.
* * * * *
WITH A T O U C H At the Pretended PLEA FOR THE ARMY.
[HW: three tymes printed.]
* * * * *
[HW: Delivered to Coll: Morley, a few daies after his contest w^th
Lambert in the Palace Yard: by J. Evelyn:]
* * * * *

Anno Dom. MDCLIX.

AN A P O L O G I E FOR THE R O Y A L P A R T Y: Written in a
LETTER to a Person