[SN: Despatches to Thurloe.]

Whitelocke made his despatches for England, and part of his letters to
Thurloe was this:--

"The Queen and Court being out of town, this is a solitary place.
The Danish Ambassador and the Dutch Resident are still here. The
Spanish, German, and Muscovite Envoys are gone away. My business
remains in a readiness to be signed, which is appointed upon the
Queen's return; and she is looked for every day. If they be not
signed within these few days, it cannot be done by her at all,
because she intends to resign the Government the beginning of May,
and perhaps the Prince may be crowned in June; and two or three
months after that will pass before new credentials can be sent from
his Highness, and it may be two or three months in ceremony and
despatch of the business, by which time another winter will be here.

"Upon which considerations I humbly conceive it much more for the
service of my Lord to despatch my business here out of hand, and the
rather because of the conclusion of the Dutch treaty, which I hope
will prove very prosperous to our nation.

"My articles had been signed before the Queen's going away but that
she was willing to communicate them to the Prince before her
Commissioners signed them, which I likewise thought very fit to be
done, in regard he is so near the succession; and I likewise intend
to salute him from my Lord Protector before my going out of this
country.

"I am now only in expectation of his Highness's further commands and