I received this letter from my lady Pratt.

For my ever honoured Friend, the Lord Whitelocke,

"Hearing that it is abfolutely in your power to dispose "of the time of the affifes, and an unexpected accident "being faln out, which will make them extreamly preju"diciall to us, if they begin fo foon; my humble fuit to your lordship is, to deferre them till, &c. This favour, as "it will be an extraordinary great one, fo it will lay a fuit“able obligation uppon,

I could not gratify this ladye's defire, being not yett fworne a commiffioner of the Great Seale; butt I returned her a civil anfwear and excuse: and I have inferted the more letters, that you may see the stile and complements of divers perfons, and note their change uppon the change of

times.

I received this letter from the lord chiefe baron Wylde.

For the right honorable the Lord Ambasador Whitelocke,
Thefe, att Chelfcy.

Right honourable, and my very good lord,

"It is not my happyneffe to be in place or condition to wayte uppon your lordship, as I would, to present my VOL. II.

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"humble

1654.

し

July 1r.

12.

July 12.

66

1654. “humble service to you, and the gratulations due for your "fafe and happy returne, for your long and hazardous (butt "I hope) fucceffefull journey, wishing the honor and happynes, which belongs to your most known deservings, may ever attend you, with a reward from above, for thofe "ineftimable favours, by which you have for ever obliged me to you and all that is mine; who, after the long "courfe I have runne, through all the degrees of my laborious calling, my fervices to my countrey, and the common"wealth; my great loffes and fufferings for the publique, "and the discharge of my duety in all my feverall trusts "and imployments; have now the hoped for comfort of all "removed from me, and a darke fhadow caft uppon me, "with all the fad confequences therof to me and mine, "and many others that have dependance on me. Butt "God gives and takes, and is able to restore; his help I "truft in, and fall ftill defire the continuance of your lordship's undoubted favours, whofe health and happines "I fhall ever pray for, who am,

This gentleman was very laborious in the fervice of the parlement, and ftiffe for them; and had fuftained great loffes and hatred by adhering in all matters to them: he was learned in his profeflion, butt of more reading then depth of judgement; and I never heard of any injuftice or incivility of him.

The

July 12.

The parlement made him lord chiefe baron of the Ex-1654. chequer, which place he executed with diligence and justice; yett, uppon the alteration made by Cromwell, when he affumed the protectorship, in the nomination of officers he left out Mr. Sergeant Wylde from being chiefe baron, or any other imployment; an ufuall reward in fuch times for the beft fervices.

He intreated me to move the protector on his behalfe, which I did, butt to no effect; the protector having a dif like of the Sergeant, butt the ground therof I could not learne.

Most places were full of trouble about their elections of parlement men: I had recommended my fon James to fome of my friends in Oxfordshire, for one of the knights for that countey, myfelfe being chofen for the citty of Oxford, and for the borough of Bedford, and one of the knights for Bucks.

I had att this time fuch an intereft in Oxfordshire, that, uppon my account, my fon James was chofen for one of their knights for the parlement, as appears by this letter

to me.

For the right honorable his deare Father the Lord Commiffioner
Whitelocke, att Chelfey. Thefe. Haft, haft.

"Dear Sir,

"I held it my duety, uppon the inftant of the conclufion "of the elections att this place, to acquaint you, that I am "chofen one of the knights for the countey in the next parlement. I am told, that the number of voyces might justly have given the first place to me; butt I freely refigned

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1

1654. "figned it to lieutenant generall Fleetwood, not fuffering
" it to be brought to tryall by the polle, which many of
July 12. the countrey defired. The perfons elected are, lieutenant

"generall Fleetwood, Mr. Robert Jenkinson, collonell Na-
"thaniel Fynes, Mr. Lenthall, Mafter of the Rolles, and
myfelfe.

"Many of your friends appeared really for me, amongst which, I can experimentally fay, none acted more effectually then my coufen captain Crooke, his father, and "brother. The citty of Oxford was prepared very feafon

66

ably for me, wherin my coufen Richard Crooke's affec❝tions did perticularly appeare; and I conceive, that, if you "shall be pleased to waive the election for the citty of Oxford, no truer friend could be commended by you for "their choice then my coufen Richard Crooke, in regard "of his interest there, if you thinke it fitt. I fhall fay no "more att present in this haft, butt expect your commands. "in all things, who am

Oxford,
July 12. 1654.

"Your moft obedient fonne,

J. WHITE-LOCKE."

The gentlemen of Oxfordshire did generally manifeft great civility and refpect to me in this buifnes of my fon; fo did the cittizens of Oxford; and the fchollars were not behind hand in the expreffion of their favour and good opinion of me and my fon; and they flood ftoutly and generally for my fon to be one of the knights for the countey.

Thus was my intereft, att this time, fufficient to make another to be knight of the fhire; yett, when my condition fell, my intereft fell with it, and I was looked uppon as a firaunger

among

!

among them: fuch is the course and viciffitude of worldly 1654. things, therfore putt no trust in them.

This order of the councell was brought unto me.

Thursday, the 13th of July, 1654. ·

"Att the councell att Whitehall.

"Ordered by his highnes the lord protector and the "councell, that the lord commiffioner Whitelocke doe "attend the councell to-morrow morning to take his oath as one of the lords commiffioners for the Great Seale, and "that the rest of the lords commiffioners doe then alfo "attend with the Seale.

HENRY SCOBELL,

"clerke of the councell."

Some of my friends thought it very long before this order: was made, and looked uppon it as fome neglect to me; wherof I was likewife fenfible, butt had no remedy: only it feemed hard, that, after fo perilous an undertaking, performed (through the bleffing of God) faithfully and fucceffefully on my part, my requitall fhould be a neglect of me: and my services:

Yett it pleafed God to give me much patience and temperance to beare this flighting and ingratitude; and I knew the condition of him from whom it came, who, when his turne was ferved, ufually forgot the inftruments.

According to the councell's order, the lords commiffioners L'Ifle and Widdrington attended with the Seale att Whitehrall, and I was there alfo:

We

July 12.

13.