Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated August 29/September 8 (Old Style), 1653

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 5 to 6, Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772; original at the National Library of the Netherlands (Het Koninklijke Bibliotheek)

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The diary entry:

The lord viscount L'Isle, more particularly concerned in the buisnes of Sweden then others, and to gett himselfe wholly excused from it, about this time (as Whitelocke was afterwards informed) did put Cromwell in mind, that the councell had ordered letters to be written by his excellency, and by Sir Gilbert Pickering, to Whitelocke, to signify to him the councell's vote in this buisnes; and that the letters were not yett written.

Wheruppon Cromwell and Pickering conferred togither about it: and Cromwell's secretary was appointed to draw up a letter to Whitelocke for that purpose, to be sent to him if he were in town; or into the countrey if he were there, as some informed he was. In the meane time Whitelocke neglected not to ride abroade, and take the fresh aier in the countrey; a pleasure much bejond the insinuating cringes of cappes and knees, and more valuable than the deare earned fees and salaries.

With modernised spelling:

The Lord Viscount Lisle, more particularly concerned in the business of Sweden than others, and to get himself wholly excused from it, about this time (as Whitelocke was afterwards informed), did put Cromwell in mind that the Council had ordered letters to be written by His Excellency and by Sir Gilbert Pickering to Whitelocke, to signify to him the Council's vote in this business, and that the letters were not yet written.

Whereupon Cromwell and Pickering conferred together about it; and Cromwell's secretary was appointed to draw up a letter to Whitelocke for that purpose to be sent to him if he were in town, or into the country if he were there, as some informed he was. In the meantime Whitelocke neglected not to ride abroad and take the fresh air in the country; a pleasure much beyond the insinuating cringes of caps and knees, and more valuable than the dear earned fees and salaries.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.

Above: Oliver Cromwell.