Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated August 28/September 7 (Old Style), 1653

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, page 5, Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772; original at the National Library of the Netherlands (Het Koninklijke Bibliotheek)

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The diary entry:

The Lord's day, after publique exercises of religious worship, Whitelocke retired himselfe to his private meditations uppon the holy word of trueth, the greatest and highest comfort to a soul. He considered the vanity of earthly honours and preferments in this world, the incertainty, toyle, and daunger in them. He consulted his own heart, and found not the least inclination to accept of the high imployment, and honor, to which he heard the councell had voted him; butt much rather wished a continuance of his privacy, and an exemption from publique charge and offices, from which he expected rather a further and totall dismission, which would have bin more contentment and satisfaction to his thoughts, then the intended imployment, or any preferrement which Cromwell and the present powers could putt uppon him. His wishes and prayers were, that he might be excused therof (if God saw it good) and might continue in the private injoyment of the ordinances of God, and of the comfort of his wife and family.

With modernised spelling:

The Lord's Day, after public exercises of religious worship, Whitelocke retired himself to his private meditations upon the Holy Word of Truth, the greatest and highest comfort to a soul. He considered the vanity of earthly honours and preferments in this world, the incertainty, toil and danger in them. He consulted his own heart and found not the least inclination to accept of the high employment and honour to which he heard the Council had voted him, but much rather wished a continuance of his privacy and an exemption from public charge and offices, from which he expected rather a further and total dismission, which would have been more contentment and satisfaction to his thoughts than the intended employment or any preferment which Cromwell and the present powers could put upon him. His wishes and prayers were that he might be excused thereof (if God saw it good) and might continue in the private enjoyment of the ordinances of God and of the comfort of his wife and family.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.

Above: Oliver Cromwell.