Lag. I shall serve your Excellence therein to the utmost of my power.

In the afternoon Whitelocke sent his son James and his secretary Earle, and Swift, with the articles and papers touching his business, unto Canterstein, where they examined them and corrected what was mistaken.  They asked at what hour Whitelocke might repair to the Chancellor for signing the articles.  Canterstein answered, that the Chancellor was weary with his journey; but he went to him and brought word that, if Whitelocke would come to the Chancellor about five or six o’clock this evening, he would be ready to confer with him.  This being reported to Whitelocke by his son, he sent him back to Canterstein to know whether the Queen had sealed the grant of power to her Commissioners, who brought word that it was not done, and that the Queen went out of town this evening, and returned not till tomorrow.

After this message, and when Whitelocke saw that his letters of this week were not come, he sent to the Chancellor to let him know that he feared it might be troublesome to him for Whitelocke to come to him this evening, and that, if he pleased, Whitelocke would come to him the next morning.  To which the Chancellor willingly agreed, and appointed their meeting tomorrow, betwixt eight and nine o’clock in the morning.  The Chancellor inquired whether Whitelocke had yet received his letters from England.  The servant of Whitelocke said that the letters were not yet come, but that by the last week’s letters the news came that the peace between England and Holland was certainly concluded; to which the Chancellor said, I desire to be excused.

By these passages Whitelocke perceived that their little design was, notwithstanding all he had endeavoured, that before they would sign the articles they desired to see this week’s letters; which he took as directed by the good hand of Providence, in regard that by this means he should be the more excused in what he intended to do, having staid for this week’s letters and received none, and the politicians here would be deceived in their expectation.  He wondered at the Queen’s going out of town before she sealed the commission to her deputies:  some thought the reason to be, because her intended presents were not yet ready.

Whitelocke received a letter from the Protector’s Resident at Hamburg, wherein this was part:—­

“For his Excellence my Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, Extraordinary
Ambassador from England with the Queen of Sweden.  Humbly these.

“The English letters are not yet come, but from Holland they write that two expresses were come on the 21st instant, with letters assuring that the peace was concluded and mutually signed, and that, as soon as the ratification could arrive in England from the States General, hostility should cease.

“I am, my Lord,
“With tender of my humble service,
“Your Excellence’s most humble servant,
“RI.  BRADSHAWE.
“Hamburg, 15th April, 1654.”