John Evelyn (1620-1706) is best remembered for Sylva - his magnum opus - and his Diary. Alongside Pepys', Evelyn's is as well known now as anything else written in their time. A connoisseur of many things, including architecture, painting, music, coins, and sermons,Evelyn was renowned for his practical knowledge on horticulture and arboriculture, and he was one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society. His Diary begins with an account of his early life and travels in Europe. In addition to his own jottings of events, Evelyn drew on contemporary newspapers and pamphlets. A less personal record than Pepys' diary, it nevertheless remains a very valuable source for English history in the seventeenth century.