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.