"_Thursday, the 13th of July, 1654._
"AT THE COUNCIL AT WHITEHALL: _Ordered_, by his Highness the Lord
Protector and the Council, that the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke do
attend the Council tomorrow morning, to take his oath as one of the
Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal, and that the rest of the
Lords Commissioners do then also attend with the Seal.
"HENRY SCOBELL,
"Clerk of the Council."
Some of my friends thought it very long before this order was made, and
looked upon it as some neglect to me, whereof I was likewise sensible,
but had no remedy; only it seemed hard that after so perilous an
undertaking, performed, through the blessing of God, faithfully and
successfully on my part, my requital should be a neglect of me and my
services. Yet it pleased God to give me much patience and temperance to
bear this slighting and ingratitude, and I knew the condition of him from
whom it came, who, when his turn was served, usually forgot the
instruments.
_July 14, 1654._
[SN: Receives the Seal.]
According to the Council's Order, the Lords Commissioners Lisle and
Widdrington attended with the Seal at Whitehall, and I was there also. We
were all called into the Council, where the Protector himself was
sitting at the upper end of the table with his hat on, and the Council
all uncovered. He made a short and grave speech, how much I had deserved
from the Commonwealth by the great and faithful services I had performed
for them, particularly in the treaty with Sweden. That in my absence, the
custody of the Great Seal being to be disposed of, the Council and
himself having good experience of my fidelity and abilities for that
great trust, and as a testimony of their favour to me, they thought fit
to nominate me for one of the Commissioners of the Seal. And I being now,
through the mercy of God, safely returned again into this Commonwealth,
they had appointed this time for me to take the oath of a Commissioner of
the Great Seal, as the rest of the Commissioners had done before.
I then desired to see the oath, which was shown to me, and finding it to
be the same that I had taken before, I took it now again; and after that,
the Protector took the Great Seal in his hand and delivered it to me and
the other Commissioners, and so we did withdraw with it. Sir Thomas
Widdrington seemed a little distasted that I was the first Commissioner,
named before him, which was done when I was out of England, and, I
suppose, because I was then Ambassador Extraordinary in their actual
service. We went away together to consult about the business of the Seal,
and I sought to win Sir Thomas Widdrington by my civility to him.
_July 15, 1654._
[SN: Entry of certain goods.]
I employed my brother Wilson to the Commissioners of the Customs, to get
the copper which I had brought from Sweden, and some deal boards, to be
discharged of paying custom, they being my particular goods, concerning
which my brother Wilson gave me this account by his letter; and also,
touching the arrears of my salary as Commissioner of the Great Seal
during my absence out of England, and for one term since my coming home.
"_For the Right Honourable the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, these;
Chelsea._
"May it please your Lordship,
"This morning I waited on the Commissioners of the Customs with your
Lordship's letter, who expressed much readiness to answer your
expectation about the Customs of the copper and deal boards, had it
been in their power, their commission not exceeding a bill of store
for forty shillings. But I am to wait on the Commissioners at
Whitehall for regulating the Customs, on Tuesday morning (who sit
not till then); they have power to grant the custom thereof, and
carrying the letter from your Lordship, I question not but will take
effect, and so they have acquainted me; which letter I send
enclosed, that you may please in the superscription to add to the
word Commissioners, 'for regulating, etc.,' which then will be fit
to present to the said committee. In the meantime I have procured an
order to go to work upon the small vessel, which cannot well be done
until you are pleased to send word what shall be done with the
deals, they being uppermost. If the barge be not ready, if you think
fit, I will hire a lighter and load her therewith, which may convey
them to Queenhithe or Chelsea, otherwise it will be less charge for
a barge to take them in from the ship; your Lordship's pleasure
shall be observed in all.
"I acquainted the Commissioners of the Customs of an order your
Lordship had for £1000, which they acquainted me should be paid as
soon as brought to them; since which I have received it from Mr.
Earle, which I also send enclosed, that you may please to put your
name underneath it, that so receipt may be made over it after their
form, and on Monday it will be paid.
"My humble service to my Lady, I beseech you, present. I shall await
your Lordship's answer, and ever remain
"Your Lordship's most obliged servant,
"SAMUEL WILSON.
"_London, this 15th July, 1654._"
I ordered a Henley barge to take in the deal boards from the ship, and to
carry them to Fawley Court, which was done; and there I made use of them
for new flooring my hall and for wainscoting of it. They were
extraordinary good boards, and those of the floor were about two inches
thick. There they are, and there may they long continue, for the use of
me and my children; and may they put us in mind to bless God for his
goodness to me in that voyage, and in my safe return to that place, and
of all his preservations and mercies to me and my company!
I returned order to my brother Wilson, to be careful of receiving my
money from the Commissioners of the Customs.
_July 16, 1654._
I had some conference with Major G. Disborough, one of the Commissioners
for the Ordnance, about his buying for the State the copper which the
Queen of Sweden gave me, and I brought over from thence, being two
hundred and fifty ship-pound. I desired that some merchants might look
upon it, who had experience in that commodity; and what they should agree
to be a reasonable price for it, I should be content to take it; and so
we concluded.
_July 17, 1654._
[SN: Sale of copper.]