ce of
plate covered with sarsenet. A little after the Senator had done
speaking, Whitelocke answered him to this purpose:--

"Gentlemen,

"I have cause to acknowledge that God hath been very good and
gracious to me, and to all my company, throughout our whole voyage
unto this place; for which we desire to bless His name, and hope
that He will be pleased to continue His goodness to us in the rest
of our journey. I desire you to return my hearty thanks to my Lords
the Senators, who have honoured me with their very great respects
during the whole time of my being with them, and have bestowed noble
testimonies thereof upon me. I shall not fail to inform the
Protector, my master, hereof, to whom, and to the Commonwealth of
England, this respect is given in my person.

"I have received much contentment in my being here, not only by the
sight of so fair and flourishing a city as this is, so well
fortified, and manned, and traded, and governed, but in your
civilities, and the honour I have had to be acquainted with your
worthy magistrates. And I have had a singular satisfaction to
understand from my countrymen living amongst you that their
privileges are by you entirely continued to them, which I recommend
to you as a thing most acceptable to my Lord Protector, who takes
care of the whole Commonwealth, and will expect that I give him an
account of what concerns the English merchants and their commerce in
this place. The wind being now good, I am obliged, according to the
commands of the Protector, my master, forthwith to return for
England, and do resolve this day to proceed in my voyage towards my
ships. I hope my God will conduct me in safety to the place where I
would be, and where I shall have the opportunity to testify my
gratitude to the Lords and people of this city, and to take care of
those affairs wherein they may be concerned, which I esteem as an
honour to me."

[SN: Presents of the Senate.]

After Whitelocke had done speaking, the Senators, with the accustomed
ceremonies, took their leaves of him. The piece of plate which they now
presented to him was a vessel of silver, like a little cabinet, wrought
with bosses of beautiful figures, curious and rich, of the value, as some
prized it, of about L150 sterling. Whitelocke was somewhat surprised with
this present of plate, and doubtful whether he sh