A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 47

My brother Wilson gave me this account touching my moneys and copper:--

"_For the Right Honourable the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, these; at Chelsea._

"_London, the 17th July, 1654._

"May it please your Lordship,

"I sent this morning to receive your moneys at the Custom-house, and they say there is no more due to your Lordship than 750 for three terms, as is expressed in the receipt enclosed, which they have made. I would not receive it until I knew your pleasure, which, if this sum doth agree with what is your due, you may please to put your name to the enclosed receipt from them, and it will be paid in the morning. The order also I send back, that you may please to take off your name from it and send it again by the bearer.

"In the morning we shall work upon the ship, and I shall wait on the Committee at Whitehall, for the custom and excise of the copper to be free, which will come to 240. I hope I shall prevail, and shall always remain

"Your Lordship's humble servant, "SAMUEL WILSON."

There was a mistake by the Commissioners of the Customs about my money, which I rectified, and had the 1000 paid to my brother Wilson for my use. Touching the copper, I at length contracted with Major G.

Disborough, who bought it for the Protector, and gave me 2500 for it, which was justly paid unto me; and the copper was employed to make bra.s.s ordnance for the ships, and was excellent good, and no ill bargain.

[SN: Mr. Henry Elsing.]

I received a letter from Mr. Henry Elsing, late Clerk of the Parliament, and the best clerk in my judgement that ever I knew, to take the sense of the House and put it in apt terms. He was an excellent scholar,--had the Italian, French, and Latin languages; a very honest and ingenious man, and fitter for much better employment than to be Clerk of the Parliament. He was my faithful and kind friend, and I owe very much of affection and grat.i.tude to the memory of this worthy gentleman. He was in great and deserved favour of the House of Commons, and gave over his place because he would not meddle in the business about the trial of the King. He often invited Mr. Selden and me together to his house to dinner, where we had great cheer, and greater learning in excellent discourse, whereof himself bore a chief part. I was the more frequent with him, being G.o.dfather to one of his sons, and Mr. Selden the other G.o.dfather, which brought us two the oftener together to his house, to see our G.o.dson; and even in such meetings as these I gained very much of knowledge from the most learned and rational discourses of Mr. Selden.

FOOTNOTES:

[435] [Yet Whitelocke seems to have entertained no suspicions of the Queen's design to join the Church of Rome. Piementelle and Montecuculi were however aware of her intention on this point, and were afterwards present at her abjuration.]

THE END.