The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

of all, namely, his going so irrevocably far in his in-
terest.

For the rest, my Lord Clifford was a valiant, incorrupt
gentleman, ambitious, not covetous; generous, passionate,
a most constant, sincere friend, to me in particular, so as
when he laid down his office, I was at the end of all my
hopes and endeavors. These were not for high matters,
but to obtain what his Majesty was really indebted to my
father-in-law, which was the utmost of my ambition, and
which I had undoubtedly obtained, if this friend had
stood. Sir Thomas Osborn, who succeeded him, though
much more obliged to my father-in-law and his family,
and my long and old acquaintance, being of a more
haughty and far less obliging nature, I could hope for
little; a man of excellent natural parts; but nothing of
generous or grateful.

Taking leave of my Lord Clifford, he wrung me by
the hand, and, looking earnestly on me, bid me God-b'ye,
adding, (< Mr. Evelyn, I shall never see thee more.» <(No!»
said I, "my Lord, what's the meaning of this? I hope
I shall see you often, and as great a person again.}>
<( No, Mr. Evelyn, do not expect it, I will never see this
place, this city, or Court again,)} or words of this sound.
In this manner, not without almost mutual tears, I parted
from him; nor was it long after, but the news was that he
was dead, and I have heard from some who I believe knew,
he made himself away, after an extraordinary melancholy.
This is not confidently affirmed, but a servant who lived
in the house, and afterward with "Sir Robert Clayton,
Lord Mayor, did, as well as others, report it, and when
I hinted some such thing to Mr. Prideaux, one of his
trustees, he was not willing to enter into that discourse.

It was reported with these particulars, that, causing
his servant to leave him unusually one morning, locking
himself in, he strangled himself with his cravat upon the
bed-tester; his servant, not liking the manner of dis-
missing him, and looking through the keyhole (as I
remember), and seeing his master hanging, broke in
before he was quite dead, and taking him down, vomiting
a.great, deal of blood, he was heard to utter these words:
(<Well; let men say what they will, there is a God, a
just God above ^j after which he spoke no more. This,
if true, is dismal. Really, he was the chief occasion ofal ora-ially medals, books, plants, andd for the bill, of which