ページの画像
PDF
ePub

1653. obliging those in power, and prove the greatest good that could be to him and his.

Sept. 4.

5.

Some fuppofed that L'Ifle had a further reach than he mentioned, in his perfwafion of Whitelocke: he feared the prefent parliament would ftrike att the chancery to take it away, which had been moved among them; and he thought Whitelocke undertaking this fervice, might be a good means to prevent that prejudice to him; and that he might be the greater man in Whitelocke's abfence.

Many other arguments and difcourfes they had about it, till the lateness of the evening parted them.

Early in the morning Whitelocke went to Pickering, who told him, that he was named nullo contradicente; that it was intended for his honor, would not be forced uppon him, butt well taken, if accepted by him.

Whitelocke acquainted him with his objections, and his wife's prefent condition; of which Pickering feemed very fenfible they went together to the generall, who prefently came to them, and they had this difcourfe.

Wh. My lord, I received your excellent letter butt yesterday, and am now come to waite uppon you to return my humble thankes for the great honor done me, in being judged worthy of fo high a truft; but I begge your excellency's confideration of my want of abilities, both of body and mind for this fervice, and the feafon of the year; befides, there are fome things relating to my private family, wherewith I have acquainted Sir Gilbert Pickering, which are of no fmalle concernment to me.

Pick. That is, my lord, that his lady is neer her time of 1653being brought to-bed.

Wh. My lord, I am very free to ferve the commonwealth in any thing within my capacity; and hope they will not expect from me what will be fo great prejudice to me and my family, as this imployment now would be.

Cromwell. I am very forry that the letter came no fooner to you.

Pick. I confes, it was my fault.

Crom. Sir Gilbert Pickering would needs write a very fine letter; and when he had done, did not like it himselfe. I then took pen and ink, and straightway wrote that letter to you. And the buifnes is of exceeding great importance to the common-wealth, as any can be; that it is: and there is no prince or state in Christendome, with whom there is any probability for us to have a friendship, butt only the queen of Sweden. She hath fent feverall times to us, but we have returned no ambassy to her, only a letter by a young gentleman; fhe expects an ambassador from us, and if we fhould not fend a man of eminency to her, fhe would thinke herselfe flighted by us: and fhe is a lady of great honor, and stands much uppon ceremonies.

Wh. The buifnes being of fo great concernement (as indeed it is) there is the more need of a perfon qualifyed with abilities for fo great a charge which I have not, as your excellency and all that know me will conclude; and I know beft my own defects. I want experience in forein affayres, and matters of state; in language and ceremony, of which queen is fo great a judge, and a lady that will foon dif

the

cerne

Sept. 5.

L

Sept. 5.

1653. cerne my difabilities, and make advantage thereof; nor will she look upon me, as a person of eminency fitt to be sent to her. So that (with fubmiffion to the judgment of your excellency and the councell) I must conclude my felfe altogither unfitt for this very weighty and high imployment, whereof divers other in the nation are fare more capable then I am.

Crom. The councell have pitched uppon you unanimously, as the fittest man in the nation for this fervice; we know your abilities, having long converfed with you; we know you have languages, and have travelled, and understand the intereft of Christendome; and I have known you in the army, to indure hardships, and to be healthful and strong, and of mettle, difcretion, and parts most fitt for this imployment: you are fo indeed; really, no man is fo fitt for it as you are. We know you to be a gentleman of a good family, related to perfons of honor; and your present office of commiffioner of the feale will make you the more acceptable to her. I doe earnestly defire you to undertake it, wherein you will doe an act of great merit, and advantage to the common-wealth, as great as any one member of it can performe; and which will be as well accepted by them: the buifnes is very honourable, and exceeding likely to have good fucceffe. Her publique ministers heer have already agreed uppon most of the materiall and maine points of the buifnes; if it had not bin such an imployment, we would not have putt you uppon it: the buifnes of trade, and of the funds, and touching the Dutch, are fuch as there cannot be any of greater confequence.

Wh. Your excellency will pardon me if I cannot fubscribe to your favourable opinion of me; and I fhould be forry, that a buifnes of fo great concernement fhould fuffer under

fo

Sept. 5.

so weake a management as by my hand: befides, that which 1653. Sir Gilbert Pickering is pleased to tell you of my wife's condition, is, to my private comfort, of as high confequence as may be. I would not feem unkind or ungratefull to fuch a wife; and this time of the year, it is hard for me to be putt uppon fo difficult and daungerous a journey.

Crom. I know my lady is a good woman, and a religious woman, and will be contented to fuffer a little abfence of her husband for the publique good; and for the time of the year, really the life of the buifnes confists in the dispatch of it att this time; the Dutch are tampering with the queen, butt she holds them off, expecting to hear from us.

Wh. I fee your excellency is ftayed for. I fhall have fome occafions into the country; and about a fortnight hence I will waite on you agayne; and in the meane time, you will give me leave to confider of this buifnes.

Crom. I pray, my lord Whitelocke, do not thinke of so long a time; butt lett me intreate you to accept of the imployment, and to return your anfwer within a few dayes

to me.

Wh. I fhall attend your excellency.

After this and much more difcourfe to the fame effect' Whitelocke returned, and related the fame to his wife and friends, among whom he found differing judgments; his wife full of tears and objections against it, his eldest fon for it, youth making flight of daungers, and himselfe hoping to goe with his father.

1653. His eldest daughter, now growne a woman, and of good 'parts, was much against it, fearing to be deprived of a Sept. 5. loving father, as the was of her deare mother; and the expreffed much love and tendernes to him, and to her mother, fifters, and brethren.

6.

Other friends were for his going, chiefly to create and keep a confiderable intereft in the generall, who did what he pleased, and in the army and prefent powers; which might be a fhield and advantage to him, and his family: and fome of them moft infifted uppon the promoting of the Proteftant interest in those parts, whither he was to goe.

Little elfe but the buifnes of Sweden was the difcourfe in Whitelocke's houfe; his wife was full of it, took all occafions to declare her mind, and give her faithfull advice to her husband in it: fome of their difcourfe containing the grounds of debate, not only with her, butt with others, (and this worke being intended for his own family) is therefore inferted, and may feem the leffe triviall.

Wife. I perceive the generall is moft earnestly set uppon it, to fend you this journey; butt I beg of you not to yield to him for all his power, doe not prejudice your felfe and family.

Wh. His power is great, and hard to be oppofed; butt I shall not sticke to doe it, to preserve you and my children, as well as myfelfe. I defire you to moderate your paffions and tears, least you bring ficknes uppon yourselfe, which will be worse than this journey to me.

« 前へ次へ »