such
as men use to wear; she had upon her breast the jewel of the Order of the
Knights of Amaranta; her hair hung loose as it used to do, and her hat
was after the fashion of men. A great number of senators and of civil and
military officers and courtiers,--many more than ordinarily did appear at
any audience,--stood all bare about her, and a few ladies were behind
her. She stood upon the carpets before the state with her hat on; and
when Whitelocke came first into the room, and pulled off his hat, the
Queen presently pulled off her hat; and when Whitelocke made his honours,
she answered him, though at that distance, with a short curtsey. After
his three obeisances, being come up to the Queen, he kissed her hand;
then the Queen put on her hat, and Whitelocke{8} put on his hat, and
after a little pause, with high silence and solemnity in all the company,
Whitelocke took off his hat, and the Queen took off her hat likewise, and
all the time of his speaking both of them were uncovered. Whitelocke,
having made his ceremonies, spake to the Queen thus:--

[SN: Whitelocke's farewell speech.]

"Madam,

"I confess that the time of my absence from my relations and
concernments in my own country would have seemed very tedious, had
I not been in the public service and honoured with admittance into
your Majesty's presence, whose favours, answerable to your greatness
though above my merit, have been enlarged towards me during the
whole time of my residence under the just and safe protection of
your Majesty; the which,--with the civilities of those most
excellent persons with whom I treated, and of those who have been
pleased to honour me with their acquaintance in your Court,--I shall
not fail to acknowledge with all respect.

"But, Madam, to your Majesty I shall not presume to return any other
acknowledgment than by the thanks of my Lord the Protector, who is
able to judge of the affection shown to him, and to the Commonwealth
whereof he is the head, by the honour done unto their servant.

"Madam, it is your great judgement in the public interest, and your
desire to advance the good of your own State and that of your
neighbours, and the particular respect that you bear to my master,
whereby the business trusted to my care by his Highness is brought
to such an issue as I hope will be a solid foundation of great and
mutual prosperity to both these