than break her word with Whitelocke, whom in a
compliment she had promised to be here again within a few days; and she
kept her word honourably and constantly. But Whitelocke was sorry that
she continued her old custom, too frequent here, of travelling upon the
Lord's Day.

_April 24, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke pays his court to the Queen.]

Whitelocke waited on the Queen to give her the welcome home, and found
her lodgings changed, leaving the better rooms for the Prince. She
excused her long stay out of town, and said she would now have no more
delay in his business, but it should be forthwith despatched. Whitelocke
told her that the Chancellor and his son were not yet come to town, but
he humbly thanked her Majesty for the speed of her return. She assured
him that her Chancellor and his son would be in town the next day, and
that she should not have come to town so soon but for his business; that
the day after her Chancellor's coming the articles might be signed. She
likewise discoursed with him about the secret article, that in case those
here should not perform justly with her, that then the Protector should
not be bound by this treaty. Whitelocke told her that Woolfeldt and he
had conference about it, and had fully considered it, and were both of
opinion that it would be unfit for her Majesty to make such an article,
and it might turn to her prejudice; but Whitelocke said, that if she
pleased to write to the Protector, and to leave her letters with
Whitelocke to procure an answer from his Highness to her Majesty, whereby
his care for her good and assistance to her might appear, and the letter
to be fit to be shown, it might be of more advantage to her than such a
secret article, to which he was not empowered to assent, but it must be
remitted to the Protector; and whether he would consent to it in that way
or not, was doubtful; and when it should be known to those here, it would
be distasteful. Upon this the Queen seemed fully satisfied as to the
secret article to be laid aside and not more thought on.

Whitelocke advised her as formerly touching her liberty, and not long
continuing here after her resignation; and she thanked him for his
advice, and said, that in case those here should not deal justly with
her, she hoped she should find the Protector a friend to her, and that
she did put herself upon his nobleness and friendship. Whitelocke told
her, that the Protector was a great lover and maintainer of justic