nswer.

Whitelocke employed his son for his experience to be gained in these
affairs.

_April 12, 1654._

[SN: Woolfeldt opposes the secret article.]

Mr. Woolfeldt having done Whitelocke the favour to dine with him, they
retired and discoursed privately to this effect:--

_Woolfeldt._ The Queen was pleased the last night to send for me, and to
communicate to me the matter of a secret article which, she said, she had
before imparted to you.

_Whitelocke._ What is your opinion of such an article?

_Woolf._ Truly, I dissuaded her from it, as not convenient, in my poor
opinion, for either party.

_Wh._ I know your judgement is grounded upon solid reason.

_Woolf._ My reasons are, because this article is to be kept secret, and
to be added as a part of the treaty by her Majesty without the knowledge
of those here, which, when it shall come to be known, will give them the
more cause of objection and hatred against her for it, and expose her to
more inconveniences than it can bring advantage to her; and therefore I
thought it better for her Majesty to forbear it.

_Wh._ Your reasons were the true ones: was her Majesty convinced by
them?

_Woolf._ She seemed to make more doubt of it than at first, but told me
that you were not much against it, and desired to confer with me about it
while she was out of town, and she wished me to prepare something against
her return.

_Wh._ As I told her Majesty, I can consent to nothing in this point,
having no instructions in any matter of this nature, as you will easily
believe; but if her Majesty shall think fit to have anything drawn up by
way of a secret article, all that I can do will be to present it to the
Protector at my return home, and I know he will be as ready as any person
to show respect to the Queen; but what he will do as to a consent in this
particular I cannot tell, but am doubtful lest it may be apprehended as a
weakening of the treaty and alliance.

_Woolf._ That is a great and true objection against it; and, in my
opinion, it would be better for the Queen to write a letter to the
Protector in general compliment, and in it to desire him to be a friend
to her, and to give her his assistance upon any occasion that may fall
out concerning her; and this letter may be sent by you, and delivered by
your hand to the Protector, when you may acquaint him with anything
further or more particularly relating to her Majesty.

_Wh._ I think this will be much the bette