much of the Queen of Sweden's
resignation, which he much condemned, and as much extolled the assuming
of the Government by the Protector of England, and said he had a design
shortly to see England, and desired Whitelocke, that when he came into
England he would move to the Protector to give him leave to come into
England to serve the Protector, which he would willingly do, being forbid
his own country; but he prayed Whitelocke, that none might know of this
his purpose but the Protector only. He told Whitelocke, that Williamson,
the King of Denmark's Ambassador now in England, had been his servant,
etc.

When Monsieur Schestedt was gone, Whitelocke wrote to Secretary Thurloe,
and to his other friends in England, to give them an account of his being
come thus far in his voyage homewards, and of the two frigates being
arrived in the Elbe, that as soon as the wind would serve he would hasten
for England.

[SN: A banquet to Whitelocke.]

The Resident invited Whitelocke and several Senators to a collation this
evening, whither came the four Burgomasters, and five other Senators; a
thing unusual for so many of them to meet a foreign public minister, the
custom being in such case to depute two or three of their body, and no
more; but they were willing to do more than ordinary honour to
Whitelocke. And of these nine Senators every one spoke French or Latin,
and some both, a thing rare enough for aldermen of a town; but the reason
of it was given, because here, for the most part, they choose into those
places doctors and licentiates of the laws, which employments they
willingly accept, being for life, attended with great authority, and a
salary of a thousand crowns yearly, besides other profits. They had a
banquet and store of wine; and the Senators discoursed much with
Whitelocke touching England, and the successes of the Parliament party,
and the many thanksgivings for them; of which they had heard with
admiration, and commended the return of thanks to God.

Upon this occasion, Whitelocke gave them an account of many particulars,
and of God's goodness to them, and exhorted these gentlemen, in all their
affairs, to put their trust in God, to be thankful for his mercies, and
not to do anything contrary to his will. They asked how the Parliament
could get money enough to pay their forces. Whitelocke told them that the
people afforded money sufficient to defray the public charges both by sea
and land; and that no soldiers were