Part 68

"For the Right Honourable the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, these, at Chelsea.

"Right Honourable and my very good Lord,

"It is not my happiness to be in place or condition to wait upon your Lordship, as I would, to present my humble service to you, and the gratulations due for your safe and happy return, for your long and hazardous, but I hope successful journey, wishing the honour and happiness which belongs to your most known deservings may ever attend you, with a reward from above for those inestimable favours by which you have for ever obliged me to you and all that is mine; who, after the long course I have run, through all the degrees of my laborious calling, my services to my country and the Commonwealth, my great losses and sufferings for the public, and the discharge of my duty in all my several trusts and employments, have now the hoped-for comfort of all removed from me, and a dark shadow cast upon me, with all the sad consequences thereof to me and mine, and many others that have dependence on me. But God gives and takes, and is able to restore; His help I trust in, and shall still desire the continuance of your Lordship's undoubted favours, whose health and happiness I shall ever pray for, who am,

"My Lord, "Your Lordship's most faithful servant, "JOHN WYLDE. "Hampstead, 12th July, 1654."

This gentleman was very laborious in the service of the Parliament, and stiff for them, and had sustained great losses and hatred by adhering in all matters to them. He was learned in his profession, but of more reading than depth of judgement; and I never heard of any injustice or incivility of him. The Parliament made him Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, which place he executed with diligence and justice; yet upon the alteration made by Cromwell, when he assumed the Protectorship, in the nomination of officers he left out Mr. Sergeant Wylde from being Chief Baron or any other employment,--a usual reward, in such times, for the best services. He entreated me to move the Protector on his behalf, which I did, but to no effect, the Protector having a dislike of the Sergeant, but the ground thereof I could not learn.

Most places were full of trouble about their elections of Parliament men. I had recommended my son James to some of my friends in Oxfordshire, for one of the knights for that county, myself being chosen for the city of Oxford and for the borough of Bedford, and one of the knights for Bucks. I had at this time such an interest in Oxfordshire, that upon my account my son James was chosen for one of their knights for the Parliament, as appears by this letter to me:--

"For the Right Honourable his dear Father the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, at Chelsea, these. Haste, haste.

"Dear Sir,

"I held it my duty, upon the instant of the conclusion of the elections at this place, to acquaint you that I am chosen one of the knights for the county in the next Parliament. I am told that the number of voices might justly have given the first place to me; but I freely resigned it to Lieutenant-General Fleetwood, not suffering it to be brought to trial by the poll, which many of the country desired. The persons elected are Lieutenant-General Fleetwood, Mr. Robert Jenkinson, Colonel Nathaniel Fynes, Mr. Lenthall, Master of the Rolls, and myself.

"Many of your friends appeared really for me, amongst which I can experimentally say none acted more effectually than my cousin Captain Crooke, his father, and brother. The city of Oxford was prepared very seasonably for me, wherein my cousin Richard Crooke's affections did particularly appear; and I conceive that if you shall be pleased to waive the election for the city of Oxford, no truer friend could be commended by you for their choice than my cousin Richard Crooke, in regard of his interest there, if you think it fit. I shall say no more at present in this haste, but expect your commands in all things, who am

"Your most obedient son, "J. WHITELOCKE. "Oxford, July 12, 1654."

The gentlemen of Oxfordshire did generally manifest great civility and respect to me in this business of my son; so did the citizens of Oxford; and the scholars were not behindhand in the expression of their favour and good opinion of me and my son, and they stood stoutly and generally for my son to be one of the knights for the county. Thus was my interest at this time sufficient to make another to be knight of the shire; yet when my condition fell, my interest fell with it, and I was looked upon as a stranger among them. Such is the course and vicissitude of worldly things; therefore put no trust in them.

July 13, 1654.

This Order of the Council was brought unto me:--

"Thursday, the 13th of July, 1654.

"AT THE COUNCIL AT WHITEHALL: Ordered, by his Highness the Lord Protector and the Council, that the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke do attend the Council tomorrow morning, to take his oath as one of the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal, and that the rest of the Lords Commissioners do then also attend with the Seal.

"HENRY SCOBELL, "Clerk of the Council."

Some of my friends thought it very long before this order was made, and looked upon it as some neglect to me, whereof I was likewise sensible, but had no remedy; only it seemed hard that after so perilous an undertaking, performed, through the blessing of God, faithfully and successfully on my part, my requital should be a neglect of me and my services. Yet it pleased God to give me much patience and temperance to bear this slighting and ingratitude, and I knew the condition of him from whom it came, who, when his turn was served, usually forgot the instruments.

July 14, 1654.

According to the Council's Order, the Lords Commissioners Lisle and Widdrington attended with the Seal at Whitehall, and I was there also. We were all called into the Council, where the Protector himself was sitting at the upper end of the table with his hat on, and the Council all uncovered. He made a short and grave speech, how much I had deserved from the Commonwealth by the great and faithful services I had performed for them, particularly in the treaty with Sweden. That in my absence, the custody of the Great Seal being to be disposed of, the Council and himself having good experience of my fidelity and abilities for that great trust, and as a testimony of their favour to me, they thought fit to nominate me for one of the Commissioners of the Seal. And I being now, through the mercy of God, safely returned again into this Commonwealth, they had appointed this time for me to take the oath of a Commissioner of the Great Seal, as the rest of the Commissioners had done before.

I then desired to see the oath, which was shown to me, and finding it to be the same that I had taken before, I took it now again; and after that, the Protector took the Great Seal in his hand and delivered it to me and the other Commissioners, and so we did withdraw with it. Sir Thomas Widdrington seemed a little distasted that I was the first Commissioner, named before him, which was done when I was out of England, and, I suppose, because I was then Ambassador Extraordinary in their actual service. We went away together to consult about the business of the Seal, and I sought to win Sir Thomas Widdrington by my civility to him.

July 15, 1654.

I employed my brother Wilson to the Commissioners of the Customs, to get the copper which I had brought from Sweden, and some deal boards, to be discharged of paying custom, they being my particular goods, concerning which my brother Wilson gave me this account by his letter; and also, touching the arrears of my salary as Commissioner of the Great Seal during my absence out of England, and for one term since my coming home.

"For the Right Honourable the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, these; Chelsea.

"May it please your Lordship,

"This morning I waited on the Commissioners of the Customs with your Lordship's letter, who expressed much readiness to answer your expectation about the Customs of the copper and deal boards, had it been in their power, their commission not exceeding a bill of store for forty shillings. But I am to wait on the Commissioners at Whitehall for regulating the Customs, on Tuesday morning (who sit not till then); they have power to grant the custom thereof, and carrying the letter from your Lordship, I question not but will take effect, and so they have acquainted me; which letter I send enclosed, that you may please in the superscription to add to the word Commissioners, 'for regulating, etc.,' which then will be fit to present to the said committee. In the meantime I have procured an order to go to work upon the small vessel, which cannot well be done until you are pleased to send word what shall be done with the deals, they being uppermost. If the barge be not ready, if you think fit, I will hire a lighter and load her therewith, which may convey them to Queenhithe or Chelsea, otherwise it will be less charge for a barge to take them in from the ship; your Lordship's pleasure shall be observed in all.

"I acquainted the Commissioners of the Customs of an order your Lordship had for L1000, which they acquainted me should be paid as soon as brought to them; since which I have received it from Mr. Earle, which I also send enclosed, that you may please to put your name underneath it, that so receipt may be made over it after their form, and on Monday it will be paid.

"My humble service to my Lady, I beseech you, present. I shall await your Lordship's answer, and ever remain