and that there he was stopped by the Sheriff.
Then he drew out his, paper of notes, and begun to
tell them first his life; that he was born a gentleman,
that he was bred up and had the quality of a gentleman,
and to make him in the opinion of the world more a
gentleman, he had been, till he was seventeen years
old, a good fellow, but then it pleased God to lay
a foundation of grace in his heart, by which he was
persuaded, against his worldly interest, to leave
all preferment and go abroad, where he might serve
God with more freedom. Then he was called home,
and made a member of the Long Parliament; where he
never did, to this day, any thing against his conscience,
but all for the glory of God. Here he would have
given them an account of the proceedings of the Long
Parliament, but they so often interrupted him, that
at last he was forced to give over: and so fell
into prayer for England in generall, then for the churches
in England, and then for the City of London:
and so fitted himself for the block, and received
the blow. He had a blister, or issue, upon his
neck, which he desired them not hurt: he changed
not his colour or speech to the last, but died justifying
himself and the cause he had stood for; and spoke
very confidently of his being presently at the right
hand of Christ; and in all, things appeared the most
resolved man that ever died in that manner, and showed
more of heat than cowardize, but yet with all humility
and gravity. One asked him why he did not pray
for the King. He answered, “Nay,”
says he, “you shall see I can pray for the King:
I pray God bless him!” The King had given his
body to his friends; and, therefore, he told them
that he hoped they would be civil to his body when
dead; and desired they would let him die like a gentleman
and a Christian, and not crowded and pressed as he
was. So to the office a little, and so to the
Trinity-house all of us to dinner; and then to the
office again all the afternoon till night. So
home and to bed. This day, I hear, my Lord Peterborough
is come unexpected from Tangier, to give the King an
account of the place, which, we fear, is in none of
the best condition. We had also certain news
to-day that the Spaniard is before Lisbon with thirteen
sail; six Dutch, and the rest his own ships; which
will, I fear, be ill for Portugall. I writ a
letter of all this day’s proceedings to my Lord,
at Hinchingbroke, who, I hear, is very well pleased
with the work there.
15th (Lord’s day). To church in the morning and home to dinner, where come my brother Tom and Mr. Fisher, my cozen, Nan Pepys’s second husband, who, I perceive, is a very good-humoured man, an old cavalier. I made as much of him as I could, and were merry, and am glad she hath light of so good a man. They gone, to church again; but my wife not being dressed as I would have her, I was angry, and she, when she was out of doors in her way to church, returned home again vexed. But I to church, Mr.