_Sch._ The occasion of the delay hitherto was the uncertainty of the
issue of your Dutch treaty; and at this season of the year it was
impossible for you to return, till the passage be open.

_Wh._ I believe the alliance with England meriteth an acceptance, whether
we have peace or war with Holland; and for my return, it is at the
pleasure of the Protector.

They had much other discourse; and probably Schütt was sent purposely to
excuse the delay of the treaty, for which he used many arguments not
necessary to be repeated; and he came also to test Whitelocke touching
advice to be had with the Prince about this treaty, whereunto Whitelocke
showed no averseness.

[SN: Treacherous reports to England.]

Whitelocke received his packet of two weeks from England. In a letter
from his wife he was advertised that the Protector had spoken of his
voyage to Sweden as if Whitelocke had not merited much by it, though he
so earnestly persuaded it; and his wife wrote that she believed one of
Whitelocke's family was false to him; and upon inquiry she suspected it
to be ----, who gave intelligence to the Protector of all Whitelocke's
words and actions in Sweden, to his prejudice, and very unbeseeming one
of his family. This Whitelocke, comparing with some passages told him by
his secretary of the same person, found there was cause enough to suspect
him; yet to have one such among a hundred he thought no strange thing,
nor for the Protector to alter his phrase when his turn was served. And
though this gave ground enough of discontent to Whitelocke, yet he
thought not fit to discover it, nor what other friends had written to
him, doubting whether he should be honourably dealt with at his return