exhibited, and is now put on both parties, and referred to future agreement, wherein there can be no prejudice to our Commonwealth; but before, it was reproachful to the justice thereof and laid on our part only; now it is no more than what the Council and State promised in their papers to Mr. Lagerfeldt.

    “14.  Agrees in substance with my ninth article.

    “15.  Contains the substance of my fifth article, but is expressed
    more generally, and, as I humbly believe, no less to the advantage
    of our Commonwealth.

“I found more readiness in the Queen to consent to what I proposed than in her Commissioners; but some things she told me she could not consent to, because they were against the interest of her people, and were not considerable to England.  I gave her thanks for my despatch.  She said she had an ambition to have the honour of making an alliance with the Protector herself before she quitted the Government, and that she might testify her respects to him, and therefore had gone as far as possibly she could; and indeed there is now very little difference, but only in words and expressions, from the sense and substance of what I first proposed.  And I presume that what is here agreed by me will give good satisfaction and contentment to the Protector and Council, and I apprehend it clearly within my instructions; acknowledging the goodness of God to me in this business, where I met with so many difficulties, and of so great weight, that yet in a fortnight’s time it should be brought to a full conclusion, with honour and advantage to the Protector and present Government, for which I have taken all care.

“The articles are not yet drawn up, but I hope we shall sign them the next week, and presently after I intend to demand audience to take my leave and to remove from hence, and, as soon as I can, to come to Luebeck, and from thence to Hamburg; and I have by this post humbly desired my Lord Protector to appoint some of his ships to meet me at Hamburg as soon as they can, for my transportation from thence to England.  And I humbly entreat your favour to put his Highness in mind of it, and that you will take care that the orders may be had, and the ships to come as soon as may be to the Elbe, to Hamburg, where I shall stay for them, or till I receive his Highness’s further commands; and I choose this way as the shortest, and where I shall meet with any despatches that may come from England.  I presume you will be troubled with an importunate suitor for hastening my return.

“I received your letters of the 17th March, and the order of the Council concerning the Swedish ship, for which I return my humble thanks.  The Queen, and the Chancellor and others here, were much satisfied with it.  The Chancellor and his son have been very civil to me, and lately furthering my despatch.  I hope the same goodness of God which hath hitherto brought me through this