bove all the world, which will indeed stand us in stead
when all outward things cannot in the least administer to us.

"Your Excellence's most humble servant,
"GEO. COKAINE.
"_April 2nd._"

In another letter from Mr. Cokaine he saith:--

"Mr. Thurloe was pleased to acquaint me that it was his Highness and
the Council's pleasure to make some alteration in the Chancery; that
it was determined that your Lordship and Sir Thomas Widdrington and
my Lord Lisle should have the custody of the Great Seal, and I
believe an Act to that purpose will pass within few hours; but I
perceive this business was not done without some tugging; but my
Lord Protector and John Thurloe are true to you, and now I am out of
all fears that any affront should be offered you in your absence.
Mr. Mackworth deserves a letter from you; but nothing, I pray, of
this business. Indeed Mr. Thurloe hath played his part gallantly and
like a true friend, for which I shall love him as long as I live."

In other letters from Mr. Cokaine in this packet, dated 14th April, he
saith:--

"Your old servant Abel is much courted by his Highness to be his
Falconer-in-Chief; but he will not accept it except your Excellence
had been here to give him your explicit leave to serve his Highness,
and told me, without stuttering, he would not serve the greatest
prince in the world except your Excellence were present, to make the
bargain that he might wait upon you with a cast of hawks at the
beginning of September every year into Bedfordshire. It is pity that
gallantry should hurt any. Certainly it is a noble profession that
inspires him with such a spirit.

"My Lord Protector this week hath expressed great respect to your
Excellence upon the death of the Clerk of the Peace of Bucks. Some
of the justices came up and moved his Highness to put one into his
place, who thereupon asked who was _Custos Rotulorum_. They
answered, the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke. He thereupon replied that
the place should not be disposed of till his return. They urged it
again with many reasons; but he gave them the same answer, only with
this addition, that he was to return sooner than perhaps they were
aware of."

By this packet Whitelocke received letters from Mr. Selden, which were
thus:--

"_For h