Sylva, Vol. 1 | Page 7

of ovation, with all the
markes of a happy peace, restor'd to the affections of his people, being
conducted through London with a most splendid cavalcade; and on 3rd
November, following (a day never to be mentioned without a curse) to
that long, ungratefull, foolish, and fatall Parliament, the beginning of
all our sorrows for twenty years after, and the period of the most happy
Monarch in the world: Quis talia fando!'
In the closing days of 1640 Evelyn lost his father, when he abandoned
the study of the law and betook himself abroad in preference to being
mixed up in the disorders of the time. His resolutions were 'to absent
myselfe from this ill face of things at home, which gave umbrage to
wiser than myselfe, that the medaill was reversing, and our calamities
but yet in their infancy.' Shortly before that he had 'beheld on Tower

Hill the fatal stroake which sever'd the wisest head in England from the
shoulders of the Earl of Strafford.'
Landing at Flushing in July, 1641, Evelyn passed, accompanied by his
tutor Mr. Caryll, through Midelbrogh, Der Veer, Dort, Rotterdam, and
Delft, to the Hague, where he presented himself to the Queen of
Bohemia's Court. Thence he went on to Leyden, Utrecht, Rynen, and
Nimeguen, to where the Dutch army was encamped about Genep, a
strong fortress on the Wahale river. Here he enrolled himself and
served for a few days as a volunteer in the Queen's army 'according to
the compliment,' being attached to the English company of Captain
Apsley: and in this capacity he 'received many civilities.' Even when
thus playing at soldering, he did not like the roughness of a soldier's life,
'for the sun piercing the canvass of the tent, it was, during the day,
unsufferable, and at night not seldom infested with mists and fogs,
which ascended from the river.' However, during the few days he took
his fair share in the work. 'As the turn came about, I watched on a
horne work neere our quarters, and trailed a pike, being the next
morning relieved by a company of French. This was our continual duty
till the Castle was re-fortified, and all danger of quitting that station
secured.' Retracing his steps to Rotterdam, Delft, the Hague and
Leyden, he also visited Haerlem, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels and
various other towns before returning by way of Ostend, Dunkirk and
Dover to Wotton, where he celebrated his 21st birthday.
Although his Diary does not contain any details on such matters as
Pepys would have been free to record in his cipher, John Evelyn was
probably rather a gay and pleasure-loving youth about this time. A
suspicion of this seems justified by the fact that he 'was elected one of
the Comptrolers of the Middle Temple-revellers, as the fashion of ye
young Students and Gentlemen was, the Christmas being kept this year
(1641) with great solemnity; but being desirous to passe it in the
Country, I got leave to resign my staffe of office, and went with my
brother Richard to Wotton.' From January till March he was back in
London 'studying a little, but dancing and fooling more.'
III

Evelyn's Early Manhood, Continental Travels and Studies, Voluntary
Exile, and Return to England 1647.
It was hardly possible that anyone situated as Evelyn was could hold
aloof from the party strife when civil war broke out during the course
of this year. And, of course, he was on the Royalist side. But he did not
serve long with the troops. Here is his own record of that military
service,--'Oct. 3rd. To Chichester, and hence the next day to see the
siege of Portsmouth; for now was that bloody difference betweene the
King and Parliament broken out, which ended in the fatal tragedy so
many years after. It was on the day of its being render'd to Sir William
Waller, which gave me an opportunity of taking my leave of Colonel
Goring the Governor, now embarqueing for France. This day was
fought that signal Battaile at Edgehill. Thence I went to Southampton
and Winchester, where I visited the Castle, Schole, Church, and King
Arthur's Round Table, but especially the Church, and its Saxon Kings'
Monuments, which I esteemed a worthy antiquity. 12th. November,
was the Battle of Braineford surprisingly fought, and to the greate
consternation of the Citty had his Majesty (as twas believed he would)
pursu'd his advantage. I came in with my horse and armes just at the
retreate, but was not permitted to stay longer than the 15th. by reason
of the Army's marching to Glocester, which would have left both me
and my brother expos'd to ruine, without any advantage to his Majestie.
Dec. 7th. I went from Wotton to London to see the so much celebrated
line of com'unication,