be added to his articles, to be written down and given to him.

She asked Whitelocke by what way he purposed to return to England. He
said he was doubtful of going by land, and thought the passage from
Stockholm to Luebeck would be the shortest and most convenient for him.
She replied, that would be his best way, and that she would give order
for some of her ships to be ready to transport him; for which Whitelocke
thanked her Majesty.

She discoursed much of England, and asked many questions about the
Thames and other rivers of England, and of their havens and armies;
whereof Whitelocke gave her a full account. She asked him in how many
days one might go from Plymouth to St. Sebastian, and many other things
on that subject. They also discoursed of religion and the worship and
service of God; wherein Whitelocke spake plainly and freely to her
Majesty, and told her that those who made a mock at religion, and were
Atheists in their opinion, were not only most miserable in their own
condition, but brought others likewise into misery; and all of them would
find that God would not be mocked, nor such conversation be excused, but
would be brought into a sad account in the end; and that there was no
foundation in any such people, or in their opinions, but what was sandy
and would fail, and all building thereupon would totter and fall down and
become rubbish; that the only solid comfort and true wisdom lay in the
sincere worship and service of God, which was not only agreeable to the
doctrine of truth, but to reason itself. To this, and much of the like
discourse, the Queen was very attentive, and seemed pleased with it.

_March 16, 1653._

[SN: Despatches from England.]

Whitelocke received his letters from England, and in those from Thurloe
he writes thus:--

"The particular account your Excellence gives of your negotiation is
very acceptable here, as is also your dexterous management thereof.
The paper you were pleased to send to me shall be represented to the
Council; and your Excellence may be assured that a due care will be
taken of that business, as well for justice' sake as that your
present business be not hindered by things of this kind. The bales
of the Queen's goods shall also be taken care of, and any omissions
which have been therein rectified; and I do assure your Excellence
that the Queen's Commissary here hath such speedy and effectual
despatches in everything he