John Thurloe, Secretary.

This order laid him under a necessity of attending for his discharge, but perceiving his business to advance very slowly, and his father at that time lying upon his death-bed, he was sollicitous to have his discharge as much hastened as possible, that he might pay his duty to his father, whom he had not seen for many years before.  Mr. Strickland was one of the commissioners appointed to examine him, and the person from whom, in the judgment of his friends, he was to expect the least favour.  Mr. L’Estrange therefore to render him more propitious to his purpose, paid him the compliment of a visit, telling him frankly that he was returned upon the invitation of the Act of Indemnity; and laying before him how much it concerned him, both in comfort and interest, to see his dying father.  Mr. Strickland, in place of complying with Mr. L’Estrange’s proposition, answered, that he would find himself mistaken, and that his case was not included in that Act.  Mr. L’Estrange’s reply to him was, ’that he might have been safe among the Turks upon the same terms; and so he left him.  From that time matters beginning to look worse and worse, he considered it, as his last expedient, to address Cromwel himself.  After several disappointments, for want of opportunity, he spoke to him at last in the Cock-pit, and the sum of his desire was, either a speedy examination, or that it might be deferred ’till he had seen his father.  Cromwel remonstrated against the restlessness of his party, observed, ’that rigour was not his inclination, but that he was but one man, and could do little by himself; and that Mr. L’Estrange’s party would do well to give some better testimony of their quiet, and peaceable intentions.’  Mr. L’Estrange told him, ’that every man was to answer for his own actions, at his own peril;’ and so Cromwel took his leave.  Some time after this Mr. L’Estrange was called, and Mr. Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter pressed nothing against him.  Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon his condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of Indemnity, telling him at last, ’that he had given no evidence of the change of his mind, and consequently was not to be trusted.’  Mr. L’Estrange’s final answer was to this effect, ’that it was his interest to change his opinion, if he could, and that whenever he found reason so to do, he would obey the sense of his own mind.’  Some few days after this he was discharged[B].  ’During the dependency of this affair (says Mr. L’Estrange) I might well be seen at Whitehall, but that I spake to Cromwel on any other business than this, that I either sought, or pretended to, any privacy with him, or that I ever spake to him after this time, I absolutely disown.  Concerning the story of the fiddle[C], this I suppose might be the rise of it:  being in St. James’s Park, I heard an organ touched in a little low room of one Mr. Henckson’s; I went in, and found a