Chancellor said they were ready to confirm the articles with their
seals. Whitelocke took upon him what they desired, and then the
Chancellor and his son Eric sealed that part of the articles which
Whitelocke had prepared, and Whitelocke sealed the other part of the
articles which had been prepared by the Chancellor and his son Grave
Eric.[168]

The Queen's Commissioners insisted to have the date of these articles
11th of April, because then they were fully agreed, and the time after
was for engrossing and preparing them to be signed and sealed; and
Whitelocke did not oppose their desire herein.

Thus, after a long and intricate (it might be said vexatious)
transaction of this great affair for near five months together, all
bitter oppositions, cunning practices, and perplexed difficulties being
removed and overcome, through the goodness and assistance of the only
wise Counsellor, the Prince of Peace, it pleased Him to give a good issue
and happy success in the conducting of this treaty by him who accounts
his great labour and hazards in this transaction well bestowed, and
humbly prays that this treaty may prove to the honour of God, the
interest of the Protestant cause, and the good of both nations therein
concerned.

_April 29, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke's passport through Flanders.]

Though Whitelocke received no letters this week from England, yet he had
some from Hamburg and from Flanders, among which was one from Don
Piementelle full of civility and compliment, giving Whitelocke notice of
his safe arrival in Flanders, and advising him to take that way in his
return; and in it was a letter in Spanish from Piementelle to the Prince
of Mamines in Flanders, to be made use of by Whitelocke if he should have
occasion there, for the more safety and accommodation of his journey.
This letter Whitelocke caused to be translated:--

"Most excellent Sir,

"My Lord Whitelocke, the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary of England,
having finished his embassy in this Court, is resolved to return
through this province, having passed from Hamburg to Cologne, and
that he may go to Brussels with better security, he desires a
passport from your Highness to the Lord Archduke. I, having written
that it may be despatched, and added that it may be remitted to your
Excellence, do entreat you to order that the said despatch may be
delivered to the party whom the said Lord Ambassador shall send from
Co