om
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._"

Whitelocke made use of this intelligence as far as it would go; and some
others in this town had the same news from Holland.

_April 28, 1654._

[SN: The signing of the treaty.]

At the time appointed Whitelocke and his company came to the Chancellor's
lodging, with whom was his son Grave Eric and Secretary Canterstein.
Whitelocke's son James and his secretary Earle were admitted into the
room. All the time of their being there Secretary Canterstein was
uncovered and did not sit. Whitelocke's son James was also bare, as
became him, but was admitted to sit down at the lower end of the table,
on the same side with his father, who sat at the upper end, and the
Chancellor over-against him, and Grave Eric by his father.

The Chancellor acqua