July 6.

1654. tector, that Whitelocke would cause those of his retinue, then prefent, to goe into the protector and councell, which they did; and the protector spake to them with great courtesy and favour, bidding them wellcome home, bleffing God for their fafe returne to their friends and native countrey, 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 teftifyed much courage and civility, and had done honor to religion, and to their countrey; he gave them thankes for it, and affurance of his affection to them when any occafion should be offered for their good or pre-

7.

ferment.

They withdrew full of hopes, every one of them, to be made great men; butt few of them attained any favour, though Whitelocke follicited for divers of them who were very worthy of it.

This audience being ended, and with it Whitelocke's commiffion, he willingly parted with his company and and greatnes, and contentedly retired himfelfe, with his wife and children in his private family.

After his returne from the councell, Whitelocke difmift his company, and went to thofe gentlemen, whom he had defired to act as a committee for him before his going out of England: these he defired to examine the ftate of his accounts with his officers, to fatisfy what remained due to any, and to make up his account to be given în to-morrow to the councell's committee.

According to the appointment of the protector and councell, fignifyed to him by a letter from Mr. Jeffop, clerk of

the

the councell, Whitelocke repayred to Whitehall, to the lord 1654. viscount L'Ifle and collonell Nathaniell Fiennes, the committee of the councell, appointed to peruse and examine July 7. his proceedings: to them he produced his commiffion, orders, credentialls, and inftructions; and all was fifted into, by virtue wherof he acted throughout by his whole ambaffy.

He deduced his negotiation from the beginning of his treaty to the conclufion of it, with all the reafons and circumstances of his tranfactions.

They tooke cognifance of all, narrowly fearched into and examined every thing, comparing all perticular paffages and actions with the rules and instructions given him; and, uppon the whole matter, they acknowledged, that Whitelocke had given them full fatisfaction in every point, and all his proceedings were by them, and uppon their report to the protector and councell afterwards, fully approved and. commended by them.

Whitelocke agayne folicited the committee of the councell, 8. 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 purfe in their fervice, and was reasonable for him to expect a reimbursement of it.

The committee were pleafed to take great paynes in perufing and examining his papers, bookes, and accounts, not omitting (with strictnes enough) any perticular of his actions and expences; and, after all their ftreight inquifition and narrow fifting, they againe acknowledged, which uppon their report was confirmed by the councell, that his management of this affayre had bin faithfull and prudent, his disbursements

1654. disbursements had bin just and neceffary his account was cleer and honeft, and that he ought to be fatisfyed what remained uppon his accounts due to him.

July 8.

9.

The remainder due to him was above 500 l. and, not500l. withstanding all their promises, Whitelocke could never gett it of them.

The fume of all was, that, for a most difficult and daungerous worke, faithfully and fucceffefully performed by Whitelocke, he had little thankes, and no recompence, from those who did imploy him; butt not long after was rewarded by them with an injury: they putt him out of his office of commiffioner of the Great Seale, bicaufe he would not betray the rights of the people, and, contrary to his owne knowledge, and the knowledge of thofe who impofed it, execute an ordinance of the protector and his councell, as if it had bin a lawe.

Butt, in a fucceeding parlement, uppon the motion of his noble friend the lord Broghill, Whitelocke had his arrears of his difbursements payd him, and fome recompence of his faithfull fervice allowed unto him.

His hopes were yett higher, and his expectation of acceptance was from a superior to all earthly powers; to whom only the prayfe is due to of all our actions and indeavours, and who will certainly reward all his fervants with a recompence which will last for ever.

I received this letter from my brother Willoughby.

For

For my Lord WHITELOCKE, att Chelsey, humbly these.

"My Lord,

"I being this day commaunded, by the two within named perfons in your letter, to confummate their nuptialls, and "in that to beare the part of a father, am fo confident of my power, as (were it not my lord Whitelocke's request, "whofe intereft with them exceeds a mock father) he might "be affured of not fayling of his commaunds; butt, that "done, which this morning I am going about, I am by "them defired to jogge on to Stanfted, fo that I feare I "fhall, by that means, be disappointed of attending you

་

uppon Wednesday; and that, I affure you, will goe to

Nanfye's heart, fhe being yesterday refolved to have "vifited you this morning att Chelsey, had she not appre-"hended your early being in towne; butt wherever we are, our thankfullnes to God for your fafe returne, you "shall not fayle off, nor of the keeper to-morrow night: ** so I reft,,

1654.

July 9.

I have inferted this and other letters, that you may observe the change of ftiles and complements in the change of fortunes and conditions.

I had bin feverall times to vifit my lord Lambert fince 10. my comming home, he being a perfon in great favour with the army, and not without fome clofe

emula

'tion.

1654. tion from Cromwell; butt his occafions were fo great, that I could not meet with him.

July 10.

I therefore defired the earle of Clare, who was very intimate with Lambert, to contrive a conveniency for my meeting with my lord Lambert, wheruppon he fent me this letter, directed

"Hearing your lordship had bin feverall times to fee my "lord Lambert, and mifft, and I defiring that there should "be no mistakes between you, I fent Mr. Bankes to fignify "fo much to his coufen Lambert, who, being cum this morning to town, fayes, he will be very glad to see your lordship about two this afternoon, and Mr. Bankes will "waite on your lordship to him, if you please to be in the "Parke, in the walke between the elmes, on this fide the water fo I rest.

66

Your lordship's

"humble fervant,

“CLARE."

I mett Mr. Bankes att the time appointed, who brought me to my lord Lambert, and he received me with great civility and refpect: we had much difcourfe togither about Sweden, and Germany, and Denmarke, and the buifnes of my treaty; and we parted with all kindnesse, and he defired to have my company often.

I re