Page 617
September 1655.
General Pen returned to England with a part of the Fleet from Jamaica, the greatest part of it * 1.1 stay'd behind, and not long after him came Gene∣ral Venables, who upon Examination by the Pro∣tector * 1.2 and Councel of his Management of that Affair, was committed to the Tower, but being judg∣ed that he failed rather through his Imprudence than any ill Intent, he was at length released.
The Princess Royal, and her Brother the Duke of Gloucester, went to the King of Scots to Colen, and they went together to the Fair at Franckford; through every Princes Countrey where they past, the Chief Officers of State were sent to comple∣ment them, and the great Guns saluted them from their Forts; the Elector of Mentz entertained them sumptuously three dayes.
The King hearing the Queen Christiana of Swe∣den * 1.3 was coming that way in her Journey to Italy, sent one of his Lords to her, to Salute her in his Name, and to express his desire to wait upon her Majesty at what place she would appoint; She named Coningstein where they met, and had private discourse together, and amongst other things (as the King afterwards related) there was some men∣tion of Whitelock, and of his Ambassage in Sweden, wherein the Queen spake with high Favour and Respect of him; and told the King that in all the Conferences that she had with him at that time, she never heard him speak a dishonourable word of the King.
The Duke of Savoy having Committed great * 1.4 Cruelties, and a Barbarous Persecution of the poor Protestants in Piedmont, the Protector appointed a Solemn day of Humiliation to be kept, and a large Contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their Relief, which was very well re∣sented by the Protestants beyond the Seas.