May, 1657.
[1.] The Committee of Parliament where Whitelock had the Chair, according to the or∣der of the House attended the Protector, and acquainted him, that the House had now per∣fected their answer to the papers formerly de∣liver'd by his Highness to the Committee, who now attended him with the Parliaments an∣swer; His Highness told the Committee that he would take the particulars of this answer into consi∣deration, and as soon as might be, he would return his answer,
Whitelock declined the first delivery of the Petition and advice to the Parliament, not li∣king several things in it; but Sr. Christopher Packe, to gain honour, presented it first to the House: and then the Lord Broghil, Glyn, White∣lock and others put it forward.
[2.] The Protector often advised about this and other great businesses with the Lord Broghil, Pierepoint, Whitelock, Sr. Charles Wol∣seley and Thurlo, and would be shut up 3 or 4 hours together in private discourse, and none were admited to come into him; he would sometimes be very chearful with them, and lay∣ing aside his greatness, he would be exceeding familiar with them, and by way of diversion, would make verses with them, and every one must try his fancy; he commonly called for Tobacco, Pipes and a Candle, and would now and then take Tobacco himself; then he would fall again to his serious and great business, and advise with them in those affairs; and this he did often with them, and their Counsel was ac∣cepted and followed by him, in most of his greatest affairs.
[3,] The Sieur Phillipi Passerini being sent by the Queen of Sweden to the Protector with Letters Credential, and to inform his Highness of some Secret affairs; he by the Queens In∣structions addressed himself first to Whitelock, with Letters to him from the Queen, desiring Whitelock to bring her Secretary (this Gentle-man) to the presence of his Highness, and to pro∣mote his business; Whitelock acquainted the Protector therewith, and read to him the Queens letters to Whitelock which were in French; The Protector desired Whitelock to read them again to him in English, which he did, and the Protector said he would consider of the business. Upon advice with his Council about it, some of them to shew their Extraor∣dinary care of his person suggested, that this Messenger being an Italian, (who were skilful in the art of poysoning, and ready to be hired for such a purpose) might bring poyson with his Letters to the danger of his Highness; and therefore diswaded him from receiving of this Messenger, or permitting him to come into his Highness presence.
The Protector smiling acquainted Whitelock with this cautious Counsel, who convinced the Protector of the folly of it, and the high dis∣stast that would be taken by the Queen in case her Secretary should be denyed audience; The Protector replyed that the Messenger desired to deliver his Errand in private to the Protector, and none to be by but one more, whom the Protector should appoint, and that person, his Highness said, he intended should be Whitelock, who said that if he were by when the Gentleman delivered his letter, he would first receive it of the Gentle-man, & hazard the danger of being poy∣soned by it, at which the Protector laughed, and appointed a day for the Gentlemans audi∣ence.
At that time Whitelock only was present with the Protector, and the Gentleman offering to deliver the letter to his Highness, Whitelock took it first from the Gentleman, and then he delivered his secret Message to his Highness, which Whitelock interpreted from the French, and it was a particular account of the causes why she ordered her Servant, the Italian Marquis, to be put to deathin France; and he also propounded to his Highness several matters in order to alliances with foreign Princes, which were of great conse∣quence, and probable advantage to England; and the Protector seemed well pleased with it.
Whitelock procured a civil treatment of the Gentleman whilest he was here, and a respect∣full answer to his business, and dismission of him; her Majesty had satisfaction in it, as well as her Secretary.
[5.] Whitelock having as Chairman dis∣patched the great point of the humble petition and advice, touching the title of King, which was now laid aside, he absented himself as much as he could from the Committee, that some other might be employed in the other points relating to the Petition, and the Master of the Rolls Lenthal, reported from the Committee that his Highness had appointed them to attend him this afternoon; which the House ordered.
[6.] The Committee attended his High∣ness, who desired that the house would give a meeting to morrow.
[7.] The Master of the Rolls reported this to the House, and that since that appointment, his Highness had sent for some of the Committe, and desired that the Committee would meet him this afternoon; and that the meeting of the House with him this day might be put off, which the house ordered.
[8.] Whitelock reported their attendance upon his Highness, and that he desired, the