July 12, 1654.
A more formal letter. I received this letter from the Lord Chief Baron Wylde:—
“For the Right Honourable the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, these, at Chelsea.
“Right Honourable and my very good Lord,
“It is not my happiness to be in place or condition to wait upon your Lordship, as I would, to present my humble service to you, and the gratulations due for your safe and happy return, for your long and hazardous, but I hope successful journey, wishing the honour and happiness which belongs to your most known deservings may ever attend you, with a reward from above for those inestimable favours by which you have for ever obliged me to you and all that is mine; who, after the long course I have run, through all the degrees of my laborious calling, my services to my country and the Commonwealth, my great losses and sufferings for the public, and the discharge of my duty in all my several trusts and employments, have now the hoped-for comfort of all removed from me, and a dark shadow cast upon me, with all the sad consequences thereof to me and mine, and many others that have dependence on me. But God gives and takes, and is able to restore; His help I trust in, and shall still desire the continuance of your Lordship’s undoubted favours, whose health and happiness I shall ever pray for, who am,
“My Lord,
“Your Lordship’s most faithful servant,
“John Wylde.
“Hampstead, 12th July, 1654.”
This gentleman was very laborious in the service of the Parliament, and stiff for them, and had sustained great losses and hatred by adhering in all matters to them. He was learned in his profession, but of more reading than depth of judgement; and I never heard of any injustice or incivility of him. The Parliament made him Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, which place he executed with diligence and justice; yet upon the alteration made by Cromwell, when he assumed the Protectorship, in the nomination of officers he left out Mr. Sergeant Wylde from being Chief Baron or any other employment,—a usual reward, in such times, for the best services. He entreated me to move the Protector on his behalf, which I did, but to no effect, the Protector having a dislike of the Sergeant, but the ground thereof I could not learn.
Whitelocke’s influence in Oxfordshire. Most places were full of trouble about their elections of Parliament men. I had recommended my son James to some of my friends in Oxfordshire, for one of the knights for that county, myself being chosen for the city of Oxford and for the borough of Bedford, and one of the knights for Bucks. I had at this time such an interest in Oxfordshire, that upon my account my son James was chosen for one of their knights for the Parliament, as appears by this letter to me:—
“For the Right Honourable his dear Father the Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, at Chelsea, these. Haste, haste.
“Dear Sir,
“I held it my duty, upon the instant of the conclusion of the elections at this place, to acquaint you that I am chosen one of the knights for the county in the next Parliament. I am told that the number of voices might justly have given the first place to me; but I freely resigned it to Lieutenant-General Fleetwood, not suffering it to be brought to trial by the poll, which many of the country desired. The persons elected are Lieutenant-General Fleetwood, Mr. Robert Jenkinson, Colonel Nathaniel Fynes, Mr. Lenthall, Master of the Rolls, and myself.
“Many of your friends appeared really for me, amongst which I can experimentally say none acted more effectually than my cousin Captain Crooke, his father, and brother. The city of Oxford was prepared very seasonably for me, wherein my cousin Richard Crooke’s affections did particularly appear; and I conceive that if you shall be pleased to waive the election for the city of Oxford, no truer friend could be commended by you for their choice than my cousin Richard Crooke, in regard of his interest there, if you think it fit. I shall say no more at present in this haste, but expect your commands in all things, who am
“Your most obedient son,
“J. Whitelocke.
“Oxford, July 12, 1654.”
The gentlemen of Oxfordshire did generally manifest great civility and respect to me in this business of my son; so did the citizens of Oxford; and the scholars were not behindhand in the expression of their favour and good opinion of me and my son, and they stood stoutly and generally for my son to be one of the knights for the county. Thus was my interest at this time sufficient to make another to be knight of the shire; yet when my condition fell, my interest fell with it, and I was looked upon as a stranger among them. Such is the course and vicissitude of worldly things; therefore put no trust in them.