roubles, they never resting
till themselves may domineer in chief.

_Wh._ Will not the best way to curb them be to slight them, and so they
will fall of themselves?

_Chan._ I doubt they have taken too much root to fall so easily; but if
they be not countenanced with preferments, they will the sooner wither
and decay.

_Wh._ That will surely lessen them.

_Chan._ The Protector must also be careful to provide money and
employment for his soldiers, else he will hardly keep them in order.

_Wh._ That is very requisite; and for money there is good provision
already made.

_Chan._ He must likewise be watchful of the King's party, who will be
busy at work, especially upon the new change.

_Wh._ The care thereof is the life of our affairs, and his Highness is
most vigilant.

_Chan._ It behoves him to be so, for they that could not vanquish him by
arms will endeavour to do it by craft and treachery of your own party,
which you must look to.

_Wh._ He hath good intelligence of their plots.

_Chan._ It will also be prudence in him to let the people see that he
intends not to rule them with an iron sceptre, nor to govern them by an
army, but to give them such a liberty and enjoyment of the benefit of
their laws that the continuance of his government may become their
interest, and that they may have no cause to desire a change; else,
though they must bear the yoke for a time, yet as soon as they meet with
an opportunity they will shake it off again.

_Wh._ This is counsel proper to come from such a mind and judgement as
yours is, and I shall not fail to report it to his Highness; and your
Excellence hath rightly stated the disposition of my countrymen, who love
peace and liberty, and will hardly brook slavery longer than they are
forced to it by necessity; and the best way to govern them is to let them
enjoy their laws and rights, which will rule them better than an iron
sceptre.

_Chan._ It is the disposition of all generous and free people, as the
English are, whom I truly respect, and him that is their head, that
gallant person the Protector.

They had much other discourse; and after being together till six
o'clock, the father and son, and the Chancellor and Whitelocke, called
one another, and all the company parted.

_April 11, 1654._

[SN: The Queen proposes a secret article.]

The Chancellor had promised to procure Whitelocke his despatch in a few
days. He sent Canterstein to communicate to him the art