Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated August 27/September 6 (Old Style), 1653

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 4 to 5, Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772; original at the National Library of the Netherlands (Het Koninklijke Bibliotheek)

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The diary entry:

Still were Whitelocke, wife, and friends pleased, that no further newes came of the Swedish buisnes, though they heard of it too soon afterwards; and, in the meane time, they were full of thoughts and discourses, why the lord viscount L'Isle should be excused from this service, which before he had undertaken; and, on the other hand, why Whitelocke should be the man pitched uppon for this service, whom they imagined not to be in so much favour with Cromwell and his friends, as to be preferred to any honorable imployment by them: he was left out of Cromwell's councell, and out of that assembly which now sate and called themselves a parlement; and he made no suit to be of either of those councells.

To this it was said, that the lord viscount L'Isle might be usefull heer in Cromwell's affayres, and was of the councell and little parlement, and therfore could not so well be spared as Whitelocke, who, (although he were not much in their favour who governed, whom he had opposed in their exorbitant courses,) was the more likely to be sent abroad, that they might therby be quit of his further opposing them.

With modernised spelling:

Still were Whitelocke, wife and friends pleased that no further news came of the Swedish business, though they heard of it too soon afterwards; and, in the meantime, they were full of thoughts and discourses why the Lord Viscount Lisle should be excused from this service which before he had undertaken; and, on the other hand, why Whitelocke should be the man pitched upon for this service, whom they imagined not to be in so much favour with Cromwell and his friends as to be preferred to any honourable employment by them. He was left out of Cromwell's Council and out of that assembly which now sate and called themselves a Parliament; and he made no suit to be of either of those Councils.

To this it was said that the Lord Viscount Lisle might be useful here in Cromwell's affairs and was of the Council and Little Parliament, and therefore could not so well be spared as Whitelocke, who (although he were not much in their favour who governed, whom he had opposed in their exorbitant courses) was the more likely to be sent abroad, that they might thereby be quit of his further opposing them.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.

Above: Oliver Cromwell.

Note: Whitelocke's wife = Mary Carleton (or Wilson). They were married in 1651, she being Whitelocke's third wife.