nsportation of Whitelocke
and his company the next day to London.

Thus, after a long, most difficult, and most dangerous journey,
negotiation, and voyage from south to north in winter, and from north to
south in summer, after the wonderful preservations and deliverances which
the Lord had been pleased to vouchsafe to them, He was also pleased, in
His free and constant goodness to His servants, to bring them all in
safety and with comfort again to their native country and dearest
relations, and blessed with the success of their employment, and with the
wonderful appearances of God for them.

May it be the blessed portion of them all, never to forget the
loving-kindness of the Lord, but by these cords of love to be drawn
nearer to Him, and to run after Him all the days of their lives! To the
end that those of his family may see what cause they have to trust in God
and to praise his name for his goodness, Whitelocke hath thought fit,
hereby in writing, and as a monument of God's mercy, to transmit the
memory of these passages to his posterity.

FOOTNOTES:

[371] [Another instance of the fear of assassination or of death by
poison, which at that time haunted the Envoys of the Commonwealth
abroad.]

JULY.

_July 1, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke lands, and proceeds to his house at Chelsea.]

About three o'clock this morning good store of boats came from Gravesend
to Whitelocke's ships, to transport him, his company, and goods to
London. By the help of the mariners, without much delay the baggage was
put on board the boats; and Whitelocke's people, after a perilous and
tedious voyage, were not backward to leave their ships and to set forward
to London. Earle was sent before to Greenwich, to acquaint Whitelocke's
wife with his coming, lest sudden joy and apprehensions might surprise
her to her prejudice.

Whitelocke having distributed his rewards to the officers and seamen of
both the frigates, much to the same proportion as when he went forth, and
giving them all his hearty thanks, he went into a boat of six oars, his
two sons and some of the gentlemen with him, the rest in other boats.
When they were gone about a musket-shot from the ships, both the frigates
and the fort fired their cannon for a parting salutation. The weather was
cold, wet, and windy, as if it had been still winter, but it was
cheerfully endured, being the conclusion of a bad voyage. Near Greenwich
Earle met them, and informed Whitelocke tha