heart of another, and to judge him, especially if a 1653. ftranger, of whom godly men were wont to judge cha- Sept. 14. ritably.

After fome little debate, it was voted, nemine contradicente, "that the houfe doth agree with the report, that the lord commiffioner Whitelocke be fent ambaffador extraordinary to the queen of Sweden, from this common-wealth; and that the councell take care for the retinue of all ambaffadors to be approved by them; and that they prepare all things in order to the dispatch of the faid lord ambaffador, and a commiffion and inftructions for him to be reported to the house."

In the afternoon the councell made a committee, to confider of preparations for the ambaffy, and what money and fhipping is requifite for it; and to conferre with Whitelocke about these things; and it was referred to the committee for forrein affayres to prepare a commiffion and inftructions for him.

The committee of the councell for the ambaffy were not full. Whitelocke inquiring about the vote of the house, touching the retinue of ambaffadors, (which he had noe caule to like) was informed, that the occafion therof was from diforders in the young gentleman, and his company, who lately carryed letters from the parlement to the queen of Sweden; and that there was much exceffe in drinking of healths in his company, which occafioned this vote of the parlement about the retinue of all ambaffadors; and that it was generall, and no reflection therby, or in the debate uppon Whitelocke in particular..

15.

The

1653.

Supt. 16.

17.

18.

The committee of the councell mett in the afternoon, and tooke an account of the lord viscount L'Ifle, that he had received 3000l. towards his charges for the ambafly, whereof he had layd out 2000 l. in preparations, and there remained 1000 l. in his hands. The committee did nothing further, though the buifnes and feafon of the yeare required fomwhat more expédition.

The committee for the Swedish buifnes mett agayne, and ordered letters to be fent to Whitelocke, to meet them.

Whitelocke's usage was to be loving and kind to his fervants, not awfully magifteriall and harsh to them; to treate them with a fitting familiarity, rather than too great a diftance, and to take care that they fhould want nothing fitt for them. This caufed his fervants to returne love agayne to their mafter; and the fervice of love is the beft fervice: to teftify this love, most of his meniall fervants offered willingly; and fome of them made fuite to waite on him in this journey, though fo long and daungerous.

The Lord's day. Whitelocke, after publique duetyes, was troubled with importunities of divers perfons; fome for gentlemen to be admitted into his company, others to be his fervants in this journey: butt he was not forward to receive any into his number, unleffe he knew them perfonally himfelfe, or was well informed of the qualities, civility, and religious inclination of them; leaft he might bring a prejudice by ill example uppon his children, or his other fervants, and a fcandall uppon the profeffion of religion.

A meffenger of the councell brought to Whitelocke this letter from the committee.

Το

To the Right Honorable the Lord Commiffioner WHITELOCKE, 1653. att his Houfe att Chelley.

"MY LORD,

"The councell having commanded myselfe, with Sir "Gilbert Pickering and Mr. Strickland, to waite upon your lordship, to conferre with your lordship about some things concerning your lordship's ambaffy; we defire to know, "whither your lordship will be att leifure to-morrow at eight a'clocke, which, if your lordship approve of, we shall "be att the time aforefaid att your lordship's houfe: or if "that be not convenient, that your lordship will lett us. "know what other time will moft fuit with your lordship's occafions, that we may waite on you. I am,

Sept. 19.

WHITEHALL,
Sept. 19.

"HEN. LAWRENCE."

To this letter Whitelocke returned this answer..

To the Honorable HENRY LAWRENCE, Efqr. a Member of
Parlement, and of the Councell of State. Thefe.

"SIR,

"I acknowledge, with humble thanks, the favour from yourfelfe and the reft of the honorable gentlemen of the committee, by your letters this day brought unto me.. Sir, I fhall be at leifure to attend when you commaund ; "and knowing your great occafions, and my own duety,

66

1653. "I defire you would be pleased to give me leave to waite uppon you to-morrow morning att your time, at Whitehall; when I fhall attend the pleasure of the committee, "and hope to find you neer to the councell chamber.

Sept. 19.

CHELSEY,
Sept. 19, 1653.

"Your moft humble fervant,

"B. WHITELOCKE."

20.

This letter raysed new paffions; and it was urged against Whitelocke, that he ought not to leave his country and relations to goe this journey; butt the matter was determined, and himselfe ingaged and freely called to this fervice.

Att eight a'clock this morning, Whitelocke was att the committee; but it was too early for the members only the lord viscount L'Ifle came before the reft; and with him Whitelocke had free difcourfe, touching the grounds of his declining that fervice, to which he protefted folemnly and earneftly, that he had no other reafon butt his want of health to undergoe a winter journey into that countrey, the cold whereof he was not by his constitution able to indure; and this was the caufe of his defire to be excufed from that imployment att this time; that he did not fcruple the authority, nor thought the buifies difficulte, but very honourable, and likely to have good fucceffe; and he expreffed the fame things touching this matter, which his brother collonel Sidney had faid before to Whitelocke.

The committee being full, Whitelocke fate with them. covered; and they difcourfed together about an hower, touching his ambaffy, particularly of the allowance for his charges, which they faid fhould be 1000l. a month, befides

coaches

1

coaches and livereys already provided; and this the fame 1653. allowance that the lord L'Ifle fhould have had.

Whitelocke showed the difference of charge in travyle and residence in winter, more than if he had gone in fummer; with his reasons why this allowance would be too fmalle, and these matters he had fully inquired into and confidered (as behoved him) uppon this occafion; butt the gentlemen of the committee, not fo much concerned heerin as Whitelocke, had not much looked into this, or any other buifnes of this nature, nor did fay much to it; but how they might fave some of their money, although never so necessary to be expended: they concluded, with a defire, that Whitelocke would putt down his demands in writing, with which they would acquaint the councell, and returne their answer.

The letter of Whitelocke to the councell containing his propofalls, was delivered to the prefident, and was as followeth :

To the Right Honorable the Lord Prefident of the Councell of
State. Thefe.

"MY LORD,

"Upon confideration and advice concerning the journey "into Sweden, respect being had unto the manner of the "late ambaffy into the Low Countryes, and of the present ex"pectation of the queen of Sweden, and her court, of the "acceffe of cavaliers thither, and chiefly of the honor of "this ftate: I do humbly apprehend, that it will be requi"fite, for the honor of the parlement, and fecurity of their "servant, that I carry with me neer 100 perfons in my company and retinue.

VOL. I.

F

"The

Sept. 21.