[14 June 1662] Up by 4 a-clock in the morning and upon business at my office. Then we sat down to business; and about 11 a-clock, having a room got ready for us, we all went out to the Tower Hill; and there, over against the scaffold made on purpose this day, saw Sir Henry Vane brought. A very great press of people. He made a long speech, many times interrupted by the Sheriffe and others there; and they would have taken his paper out of his hand, but he would not let it go. But they caused all the books of those that writ after him to be given the Sheriffe; and the trumpets were brought under the scaffold, that he might not be heard. Then he prayed, and so fitted himself and received the blow. But the scaffold was so crowded that we could not see it done. But Boreman, who had been upon the scaffold, came to us and told us that first he begun to speak of the irregular proceeding against him; that he was, against Magna Charta, denied to have his exceptions against the endictment allowed. And that there he was stopped by the Sheriffe. Then he drow 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 qualitys of a gentleman, and to make him in the opinion of the world more a gentleman, he had been, till he was seventeen year old, a goodfellow. But then it pleased God to lay a foundacion 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, anything 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 to 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 heate than cowardize, but yet with all humility and gravity. One asked him why he not pray for the King; he answered, "Nay," says he, "you shall see I can pray for the King; I pray, God bless him."