"The time of the Queen's resignation being near, I thought it not convenient for me to be then upon the place, but removed to Stockholm; where I was when the resignation and new coronation were solemnized at Upsal. The magistrates of Stockholm expressed good respect to your Highness and this Commonwealth. From hence I embarked the 1st of June, in a good ship of the Queen's, to cross the Baltic Sea. She sent one of her Vice-Admirals, Clerke, to attend me; and, after a dangerous voyage and bad weather, the Lord gave us a safe arrival at Lubeck, on the 7th of June. The magistrates, by their Syndic, here bid me welcome and expressed some respect, and made some requests by me to your Highness.

"From Lubeck I travelled over Holstein and Luneburg, and came the 10th of June to Hamburg; where I was also very civilly saluted by some of the magistrates and Syndic; and most of the Lords came afterwards to me, and testified extraordinary respect and service to your Highness and this Commonwealth. My countrymen, the company of Merchant Adventurers there, showed very much kindness to me, and I endeavoured to do them service to the Lords of the town, making use of your Highness's name therein.

"I departed from Hamburg the 17th of June; Mr. Bradshaw, your Highness's worthy Resident there, and others of my countrymen, showing much kindness to me, both whilst I was there and at my departure from this city. I embarked in your Highness's frigate, near Gluckstadt, but was detained for some days in the Elbe by cross winds, and in some danger, but in more when we came into the open sea. But above all, the Lord was pleased to appear for us on the 28th day of June, when our ship stuck upon the sands, above twelve leagues off from the coast of Yarmouth: and when there was no means or help of men for our escape, but we expected every moment to be drowned by the waves, then it pleased G.o.d to show his power and free mercy by his own hand to deliver us, and, after two hours'

expectation of death, to reprieve us, to set our ship on float again, and to bring us all in health and safety to your Highness's presence, and to our dear country and relations.

"The Queen and the new King were pleased to honour me with jewels off their pictures, and a gift of copper, I having bestowed my horses (of more worth) on them and whom they appointed, and which I refused to sell, as a thing uncomely for my condition in your Highness's service.

"Thus, Sir, I have given you a clear and full account of my transactions; and, as I may justify my own diligence and faithfulness therein, so I cannot but condemn my many weaknesses and failings; of which I can only say that they were not wilful, and make a humble demand to your Highness and this honourable Council, that I may obtain your pardon."

When Whitelocke had ended his speech and a little pause made, the Protector, pulling off his hat and presently putting it on again, desired Whitelocke to withdraw, which he did, and within a quarter of an hour was called in again. The Protector, using the same ceremony as before, spake to him to this effect:--

[SN: Cromwell's answer to his speech.]

"My Lord,

"The Council and myself have heard the report of your journey and negotiation with much contentment and satisfaction, and both we and you have cause to bless G.o.d for your return home with safety, honour, and good success, in the great trust committed to you; wherein this testimony is due to you, that you have discharged your trust with faithfulness, diligence, and prudence, as appears by the account you have given us, and the issue of the business. Truly, when persons to whom G.o.d hath given so good abilities, as He hath done to you, shall put them forth as you have done, for His glory and for the good of His people, they may expect a blessing from Him, as you have received in an ample measure.

"An acknowledgment is also due to them from their country, who have served their country faithfully and successfully, as you have done.

I can a.s.sure your Lordship it is in my heart, really it is, and, I think, in the hearts of all here, that your services in this employment may turn to an account of advantage to you and yours; and it is just and honourable that it should be so.

"The Lord hath shown extraordinary mercy to you and to your company, in the great deliverances which he hath vouchsafed to you; and especially in that eminent one which you have related to us, when you were come near your own country, and the enjoyment of the comforts of your safe return. It was indeed a great testimony of G.o.d's goodness to you all,--a very signal mercy, and such a one as ought to raise up your hearts and our hearts in thankfulness to G.o.d, who hath bestowed this mercy on you; and it is a mercy also to us as well as to you, though yours more personally, who were thus saved and delivered by the special hand of Providence.

"The goodness of G.o.d to you was also seen in the support of you, under those hardships and dangers which you have undergone in this service; let it be your comfort that your service was for G.o.d, and for his people, and for your country. And now that you have, through his goodness, pa.s.sed them over, and he hath given you a safe return unto your country, the remembrance of those things will be pleasant to you, and an obligation for an honourable recompense of your services performed under all those hardships and dangers.

"For the treaty which you have presented to us, signed and sealed by the Queen's Commissioners, I presume it is according to what you formerly gave advice to us from Sweden. We shall take time to peruse it, and the Council have appointed a committee to look into it, together with your instructions, and such other papers and things as you have further to offer to them: and I may say it, that this treaty hath the appearance of much good, not only to England, but to the Protestant interest throughout Christendom; and I hope it will be found so, and your service thereby have its due esteem and regard, being so much for public good, and so discreetly and successfully managed by you.

"My Lord, I shall detain you no longer, but to tell you that you are heartily welcome home; that we are very sensible of your good service, and shall be ready on all occasions to make a real acknowledgment thereof to you."

When the Protector had done speaking, Whitelocke withdrew into the outward room, whither Mr. Scobell, Clerk of the Council, came to him with a message from the Protector, that Whitelocke would cause those of his retinue, then present, to go in to the Protector and Council, which they did; and the Protector spake to them with great courtesy and favour, bidding them welcome home, blessing G.o.d for their safe return to their friends and native country, and for the great deliverances which He had wrought for them. He commended their care of Whitelocke and their good deportment, by which they had testified much courage and civility, and had done honour to religion and to their country; he gave them thanks for it, and a.s.surance of his affection to them when any occasion should be offered for their good or preferment. They withdrew, full of hopes, every one of them, to be made great men; but few of them attained any favour, though Whitelocke solicited for divers of them who were very worthy of it.

This audience being ended, and with it Whitelocke's commission, he willingly parted with his company and greatness, and contentedly retired himself with his wife and children in his private family. After his return from the Council, Whitelocke dismissed his company and went to those gentlemen whom he had desired to act as a committee for him before his going out of England; these he desired to examine the state of his accounts with his officers, to satisfy what remained due to any, and to make up his account, to be given in tomorrow to the Council's committee.

_July 7, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke renders a minute account of the negotiation to a Committee of Council.]

According to the appointment of the Protector and Council, signified to him by a letter from Mr. Jessop, Clerk of the Council, Whitelocke repaired to Whitehall, to the Lord Viscount Lisle and Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes, the Committee of the Council, appointed to peruse and examine his proceedings: to them he produced his commission, orders, credentials, and instructions; and all was sifted into, by virtue whereof he acted throughout by his whole Emba.s.sy.

He deduced his negotiation from the beginning of his Treaty to the conclusion of it, with all the reasons and circ.u.mstances of his transactions. They took cognizance of all, narrowly searched into and examined everything, comparing all particular pa.s.sages and actions with the rules and instructions given him; and upon the whole matter they acknowledged that Whitelocke had given them full satisfaction in every point, and all his proceedings were by them, and upon their report to the Protector and Council afterwards, fully approved and commended by them.

_July 8, 1654._

[SN: The Committee of Council audits his accounts.]

Whitelocke again solicited the Committee of the Council that his accounts might be examined and stated, and order given for the payment of what remained due to him, which he had expended out of his own purse in their service, and was reasonable for him to expect a reimburs.e.m.e.nt of it. The Committee were pleased to take great pains in pursuing and examining his papers, books, and accounts, not omitting (with strictness enough) any particular of his actions and expenses; and after all their strait inquisition and narrow sitting, they again acknowledged, which upon their report was confirmed by the Council, that his management of this affair had been faithful and prudent, his disburs.e.m.e.nts had been just and necessary, his account was clear and honest, and that he ought to be satisfied with what remained upon his accounts due to him. The remainder due to him was above 500, and, notwithstanding all their promises, Whitelocke could never get it of them.

The sum of all was, that for a most difficult and dangerous work, faithfully and successfully performed by Whitelocke, he had little thanks and no recompense from those who did employ him; but, not long after, was rewarded by them with an injury: they put him out of his office of Commissioner of the Great Seal, because he would not betray the rights of the people, and, contrary to his own knowledge and the knowledge of those who imposed it, execute an ordinance of the Protector and his Council as if it had been a law. But in a succeeding Parliament, upon the motion of his n.o.ble friend the Lord Broghill, Whitelocke had his arrears of his disburs.e.m.e.nts paid him, and some recompense of his faithful service allowed unto him.

His hopes were yet higher, and his expectation of acceptance was from a superior to all earthly powers; to whom only the praise is due, of all our actions and endeavours, and who will certainly reward all his servants with a recompense which will last for ever.

_July 9, 1654._

[SN: A familiar letter.]

I received this letter from my brother Willoughby:--

"_For my Lord Whitelocke, at Chelsea, humbly these._

"My Lord,

"I being this day commanded by the two within-named persons in your letter to consummate their nuptials, and in that to bear the part of a father, am so confident of my power, as (were it not my Lord Whitelocke's request, whose interest with them exceeds a mock father) he might be a.s.sured of not failing of his commands; but that done which this morning I am going about, I am by them desired to jog on to Stanstead, so that I fear I shall by that means be disappointed of attending you upon Wednesday; and that, I a.s.sure you, will go to Nancy's heart, she being yesterday resolved to have visited you this morning at Chelsea, had she not apprehended your early being in town; but wherever we are, our thankfulness to G.o.d for your safe return you shall not fail of, nor of the keeper tomorrow night. So I rest,

"My Lord, "Your affectionate brother to serve you, "WILL. WILLOUGHBY.

"_July._"

I have inserted this and other letters, that you may observe the change of styles and compliments in the change of fortunes and conditions.

_July 10, 1654._

I had been several times to visit my Lord Lambert since my coming home, he being a person in great favour with the army, and not without some close emulation from Cromwell; but his occasions were so great, that I could not meet with him. I therefore desired the Earl of Clare, who was very intimate with Lambert, to contrive a conveniency for my meeting with my Lord Lambert, whereupon he sent me this letter, directed

"_For the Lord Whitelocke, at Chelsea._

"My Lord,

"Hearing your Lordship had been several times to see my Lord Lambert and missed, and I desiring that there should be no mistakes between you, I sent Mr. Bankes to signify so much to his cousin Lambert, who, being come this morning to town, says he will be very glad to see your Lordship about two this afternoon, and Mr. Bankes will wait on your Lordship to him, if you please to be in the Park, in the walk between the elms on this side the water. So I rest

"Your Lordship's humble servant, "CLARE."

I met Mr. Bankes at the time appointed, who brought me to my Lord Lambert, and he received me with great civility and respect; we had much discourse together about Sweden, and Germany, and Denmark, and the business of my treaty; and we parted with all kindness, and he desired to have my company often.

_July 11, 1654._

I received this letter from my Lady Pratt:--

"_For my ever-honoured friend the Lord Whitelocke, these humbly._

"My Lord,

"Hearing that it is absolutely in your power to dispose of the time of the a.s.sizes, and an unexpected accident being fallen out, which, will make them extremely prejudicial to us if they begin so soon, my humble suit to your Lordship is to defer them till, etc. This favour, as it will be an extraordinary great one, so it will lay a suitable obligation upon,

"My Lord, your most humble servant, "MARGARET PRATT."