no longer, but to tell you that you are
heartily welcome home; that we are very sensible of your good
service, and shall be ready on all occasions to make a real
acknowledgment thereof to you."

When the Protector had done speaking, Whitelocke withdrew into the
outward room, whither Mr. Scobell, Clerk of the Council, came to him with
a message from the Protector, that Whitelocke would cause those of his
retinue, then present, to go in to the Protector and Council, which they
did; and the Protector spake to them with great courtesy and favour,
bidding them welcome home, blessing God for their safe return to their
friends and native country, and for the great deliverances which He had
wrought for them. He commended their care of Whitelocke and their good
deportment, by which they had testified much courage and civility, and
had done honour to religion and to their country; he gave them thanks for
it, and assurance of his affection to them when any occasion should be
offered for their good or preferment. They withdrew, full of hopes, every
one of them, to be made great men; but few of them attained any favour,
though Whitelocke solicited for divers of them who were very worthy of
it.

This audience being ended, and with it Whitelocke's commission, he
willingly parted with his company and greatness, and contentedly retired
himself with his wife and children in his private family. After his
return from the Council, Whitelocke dismissed his company and went to
those gentlemen whom he had desired to act as a committee for him before
his going out of England; these he desired to examine the state of his
accounts with his officers, to satisfy what remained due to any, and to
make up his account, to be given in tomorrow to the Council's committee.

_July 7, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke renders a minute account of the negotiation to a
Committee of Council.]

According to the appointment of the Protector and Council, signified to
him by a letter from Mr. Jessop, Clerk of the Council, Whitelocke
repaired to Whitehall, to the Lord Viscount Lisle and Colonel Nathaniel
Fiennes, the Committee of the Council, appointed to peruse and examine
his proceedings: to them he produced his commission, orders, credentials,
and instructions; and all was sifted into, by virtue whereof he acted
throughout by his whole Embassy.

He deduced his negotiation from the beginning of his Treaty to the
conclusion of it, with all the reasons an