it again, and a gentleman came to Whitelocke's
coach-side, excusing the shutting of the gate, being before they knew who
it was that passed by. He told Whitelocke the custom and right of this
toll, but that nothing was demanded of ambassadors, who were to pass
freely, especially the Ambassador of the Protector and Commonwealth of
England, to whom the Duke, his master, he said, was a friend. Whitelocke
thanked the gentleman for his civility, acknowledging the Protector to be
a friend to the Duke, and so they passed on.

About a mile and a half before they came to Hamburg, Captain Parkes, of
the 'President' frigate, and Captain Minnes, of the 'Elizabeth' frigate,
met Whitelocke on the way, and told him all was well in England, and that
by command of the Protector they had brought those two frigates into the
Elbe to transport him into England. Whitelocke told them he was very glad
to see them, especially on this occasion. As they were walking and
discoursing of the ships and their voyage, a great number of persons and
coaches, the Resident Bradshaw, with the treasurer, the doctor, their
minister, and almost all the English company, with twenty-two coaches,
came to meet Whitelocke on the way, and to bring him with the more
respect to Hamburg. All alighted out of their coaches, and, after
salutations, the Resident told Whitelocke that the occasion of their
coming forth was to testify their respects to Whitelocke, and to desire
him to do their company the honour to accept of the English house at
Hamburg for his entertainment. Whitelocke gave them hearty thanks for
their respects to the Protector and to the Commonwealth whereof they were
members, in this honour which they did to their servant. He accepted of
their courteous offer, desiring the company and conversation of his
countrymen above all others. They walked a little on foot together, where
the Lord Resident (so they styled him) showed Whitelocke his last week's
letters from Thurloe, mentioning the imprisonment of many upon suspicion
that they were engaged in a plot against the Protector, and that the
serious considerable malignants discovered it. He also delivered to
Whitelocke private letters from his wife and other friends.

About a mile from the place where they met was a fair inn by the wayside,
where the Resident moved Whitelocke to make a halt and rest himself,
because if he should then go directly to the town, he would come into it
just at dinner-time, which wo