Many strangers dining with Whitelocke made him the later in his visit to the Queen, to take his leave of her Majesty before her intended journey to see her mother. She promised Whitelocke that during her absence she would leave order with the Chancellor and his son to conclude the treaty, and at her return she would do what belonged to her for the speedy despatch of Whitelocke, to his contentment. She promised also to give order to her Chancellor about the business of Guinea, whereof they had much discourse.

She was pleased to propound to Whitelocke a secret article to be between her and the Protector, and not to be in the treaty between her Commissioners and Whitelocke, nor to be known to any of them. She said, that if it might be done, she should take it in very good part; but if Whitelocke thought it not likely to be done, then she would think no more of it. She said the substance of what she desired was that it might be agreed, by a particular article between the Protector and her, that in case those here should not perform what they promised to her upon her resignation of the government, that then it should be in the power of the Protector to break the treaty now made, and not to be bound by it.

Whitelocke was much troubled at this proposal, and upon a great difficulty in it—that if he should deny it, the Queen might be distasted and break off from his treaty; and to consent to it he had no commission, nor held it reasonable; but he told the Queen that it was a matter of great weight, deserving her Majesty's serious thoughts what to do in it. He said he had no instructions upon any such article as this, nor could agree to it; but if her Majesty pleased to have such an article drawn up, and to sign it herself and send it to the Protector, he promised to use his best interest to persuade his Highness to a consent thereunto, and to sign it at Whitelocke's return to England, and so to return it to her Majesty.

She said that Woolfeldt should confer with Whitelocke about the drawing up of such an article, whom she would trust in it, but not any of the Swedes, because it might concern them, and occasion prejudice to them. Whitelocke agreed that Woolfeldt was a fit person to be trusted in this business, and one with whom he should willingly confer about any service for her Majesty; that he believed something might be done herein to the Queen's advantage, but whether in this way of a secret article, and as part of the treaty, he doubted, lest thereby offence might be given, and the treaty thereby, as to both parts, be weakened. The Queen replied that it would keep those here in some fear lest if they should break with her, that then the Protector would not keep the treaty with them.

Whitelocke thought it best to be at some reserve in this article of secresy, not wholly to dissuade the Queen from it, lest she might be distasted. He saw advantage to the Protector to have it put into his power to break the treaty upon this occasion; but he doubted the honour and clearness of it, and therefore he judged it best to say the less at this time. Only he observed what a condition the Queen had brought her affairs unto when she thought not fit to trust any of her countrymen in this business; and before her resignation she distrusted the performance of the conditions of it towards herself, and therefore would have this secret article as a bridle to them. But as she distrusted her own party, so she testified great confidence in the Protector and in Whitelocke, to whom she propounded this secret article of so much concernment to her.

Whitelocke persuaded her Majesty to appoint faithful persons to order her revenue for her, and not to stay long here after her resignation, because she would then find a great difference in the carriage of persons to her. She said she had taken care about her revenue as he had advised her, and that she would be gone out of Sweden presently after her resignation; that she expected the alteration of men's carriages towards her after it, but it would not trouble her; that the world was of such a condition, that nothing of respect was to be looked for but where advantage was hoped for by it. She never esteemed the fawnings of men for their own ends, but her own private contentment and satisfaction.

Whitelocke sent his son James and his secretary (Earle) to Canterstein with a copy of the form which Whitelocke intended to follow in the instrument intended to be delivered by him, where he put the Protector's name first, and some other small variations, as usage required; wherewith Canterstein promised to acquaint the Chancellor and to return an answer.

Whitelocke employed his son for his experience to be gained in these affairs.

April 12, 1654.

[SN: Woolfeldt opposes the secret article.]

Mr. Woolfeldt having done Whitelocke the favour to dine with him, they retired and discoursed privately to this effect:—

Woolfeldt. The Queen was pleased the last night to send for me, and to communicate to me the matter of a secret article which, she said, she had before imparted to you.

Whitelocke. What is your opinion of such an article?

Woolf. Truly, I dissuaded her from it, as not convenient, in my poor opinion, for either party.

Wh. I know your judgement is grounded upon solid reason.

Woolf. My reasons are, because this article is to be kept secret, and to be added as a part of the treaty by her Majesty without the knowledge of those here, which, when it shall come to be known, will give them the more cause of objection and hatred against her for it, and expose her to more inconveniences than it can bring advantage to her; and therefore I thought it better for her Majesty to forbear it.

Wh. Your reasons were the true ones: was her Majesty convinced by them?

Woolf. She seemed to make more doubt of it than at first, but told me that you were not much against it, and desired to confer with me about it while she was out of town, and she wished me to prepare something against her return.

Wh. As I told her Majesty, I can consent to nothing in this point, having no instructions in any matter of this nature, as you will easily believe; but if her Majesty shall think fit to have anything drawn up by way of a secret article, all that I can do will be to present it to the Protector at my return home, and I know he will be as ready as any person to show respect to the Queen; but what he will do as to a consent in this particular I cannot tell, but am doubtful lest it may be apprehended as a weakening of the treaty and alliance.

Woolf. That is a great and true objection against it; and, in my opinion, it would be better for the Queen to write a letter to the Protector in general compliment, and in it to desire him to be a friend to her, and to give her his assistance upon any occasion that may fall out concerning her; and this letter may be sent by you, and delivered by your hand to the Protector, when you may acquaint him with anything further or more particularly relating to her Majesty.

Wh. I think this will be much the better way; and if such a letter be sent by me, I hope I shall be able to procure such an answer, or, upon any occasion, such a return as will be to the contentment of her Majesty. But in case the Queen should sign such an article, and then the Protector should not approve it, it would distaste the Queen and her friends, and she would be censured to have done too low an act in it.

Woolf. I had yesterday a long discourse with the Chancellor about your affairs of England, and particularly of your fleet now at sea—what should be the design of having so strong a fleet at sea, the sea-war between you and your enemies being reported at an end, and peace concluded; and whether your design might be for France or Spain or Portugal.

Wh. Or for the defence of England.

Woolf. He was much amused about it.

Wh. I hope that was not lessened by you.

Woolf. No indeed; I endeavoured to amuse him more, and told him, that for France, England did not care to have it; it would be but a charge and no benefit to them, and embroil them in a long chargeable war.

Wh. England hath had experience thereof formerly when they were masters of France, and many of us think our own country as good as France.

Woolf. I am of that opinion; and I told him there was as little probability for any design against Spain because of its distance, and little advantage to England by a war with them.

Wh. I hope you commended a kingdom called Denmark?

Woolf. I first told him that for Portugal or the Indies the like objections were against any design for them; but as for Denmark, I told him that England had just cause to make war upon that king, and that it would be no hard business to gain upon him; and the advantage of traffic made me think that to be the most probable design of any other to be intended by this great fleet of England, wherein it is most likely for you to gain advantage to your Commonwealth and to give offence to none, having a just cause of quarrel against him.

Wh. Your brother the King of Denmark hath given cause indeed to be visited.

Woolf. I shall inform you of one thing, of which you may now make advantage. Your King James made a treaty with the last King of Denmark concerning the Isles of the Orcades, which were claimed by the Dane as part of their territories; and after the death of King James and our last King, that then, upon payment of L13,000 by the Dane, he should have the Orcades again. Now both these kings being dead, according to that treaty it is in the liberty of the King of Denmark to redeem those islands; and it would be good for you, in the treaty with that Crown, who would be included in your treaty with the Hollanders, to have a clause for the present King of Denmark to quit his pretences to the Orcades upon the treaty with King James.

Wh. This is a very material thing, and I shall not fail to do somewhat in it, if I can return to England time enough; and I thank you for putting me in mind of it.

[SN: Discussion on the Guinea settlements.]

Grave Eric came to Whitelocke, who had much discourse with him touching Guinea, and the injuries done by the Swedes to the English there.

Grave Eric. One of the principal persons of the Swedish plantation there is now in this country, and complains of injuries done by the English to the Swedes there. I think it may be fit to hear both the complaints of the one and of the other part, and thereupon to come to some agreement upon the whole matter.

Whitelocke. I have here many examinations taken upon oath concerning this matter.

Gr. Eric. Those complaints ought to be determined by the King of that country, who sold the lands to the planters, and can resolve all differences about that matter.

Wh. I believe that the complaints of this nature are properly to be made to the Queen, whose subjects are concerned in them, and they are always under her rule.

Gr. Eric. The Queen will make no difficulty to do justice in this case, and I hope that the Protector will do the like.

Wh. You need not at all to doubt it.

Gr. Eric. This messenger, now come to me, hath brought me letters from the Queen, in which there is mention of this business.

Wh. Why may not an article touching Guinea be inserted with the rest?

Gr. Eric. That will not be convenient, because the articles are entirely concluded and engrossed on our part; and this of Guinea is but a particular business, which till now came not under consideration, nor hath been examined, and it will be better to have an article by itself upon this subject.

Wh. I am satisfied with your reason, and think this way will be no disadvantage to the merchants of either nation. I desire an addition to the article touching passports, that none shall do anything contrary to the letters of passport.

Gr. Eric. I cannot consent to that, for it will render the whole article fruitless in both parts; and there is another article, that in case any shall act anything in prejudice of the treaty, he shall be punished.

In consideration of this article, and in regard that the agreement touching the form of passports was remitted to something to be done therein afterwards, and he found Eric stiff against any alteration, Whitelocke did not think it material to insist further upon it. As to that which Whitelocke desired to the last article of ratification, that the words "vel successoribus suis" might be omitted, Eric said he would consent thereunto if he found it material, and desired the business might be finished; and he desired Whitelocke to excuse a little small delay at present by his absence for a few days, he being necessitated to go out of town tomorrow, but at his return all should be concluded; and as soon as the Queen came back, the whole business should be finished, which had been done before, but by reason of the Queen's unexpected journey.

April 13, 1654.

[SN: Whitelocke confers with the Chancellor, and invites him to dinner.]

In the morning the Chancellor came to Whitelocke and staid with him near three hours. They had much debate touching Guinea, to the like effect as before with his son; they had also debate about the amendments which Whitelocke had desired might be inserted in the articles, chiefly that touching passports, to which the Chancellor would by no means agree. He likewise said to Whitelocke:—

Chancellor. The Queen caused the articles to be copied out, to the end (as I believe) to communicate them to the Prince, which will be for the greater validity of the treaty and alliance.

Whitelocke. I am glad her Majesty is pleased to take the advice of the Prince in this business, and am willing to promise myself that nothing is contained in the articles which he will not approve.

Chan. I believe the same.

Wh. This might be the occasion that my business was not finished before her Majesty's going out of town.

Chan. I myself am also going into the country, and come now to take my leave of you.

Wh. I hope you will return before her Majesty.

Chan. I purpose to stay abroad but four or five days; and I find that frequent exercise and change of air tendeth very much to the improving of my health.

Wh. I do heartily wish your health, and hope that the Queen and you will shortly be in town again, and that then my business will be finished.

Chan. There is no doubt but that your business will be despatched within a very few days after the Queen's return.

They had much other discourse touching the affairs of England, in which the Chancellor testified much respect to England and to the Protector.

Whitelocke invited the Chancellor to dinner to his house, but he excused himself, alleging that his age and infirmities would not permit him to take a meal out of his own house, or at the houses of some of his children, where he might enjoy the same liberty as at his own house. Whitelocke told him that he should have the same liberty at his house, who was one of his sons, as he could take at the houses of any other of his children; but the Chancellor earnestly desired to be excused, and Whitelocke thought not fit further to importune him, but desired him to hasten his return hither, which he promised to do.

Whitelocke received his letters from England, and in that from Thurloe he writes:—

[SN: Letters from Thurloe.]

"There hath been consideration taken of your return home, but the issue of the treaty with the Dutch not being yet known, his Highness's resolutions as to your return are deferred until the next; the difficulty of that business lies in the article relating to the Danes, etc. All things else remain as they did by my last, so that your Excellence will be saved this week the labour of reading my long letter. This day we have a fast for the great drought.

"My Lady was here with me to hasten your return, wherein I should be glad to be instrumental. I pray God preserve your Excellence, and bless the affairs under your hand. I am,

"Your Excellence's humble servant, "JO. THURLOE. "March 24th, 1653.

"I saw a letter to his Highness from Upsal, wherein some expressions were used as if your Excellence were like to be removed from the Seal. His Highness commanded me to assure you that there are no such intentions, but much the contrary, whereof your Excellence will have real demonstrations upon all occasions."

April 14, 1654.

[SN: Passport given to a Swedish ship.]

Grave Eric desired Whitelocke to give a passport to a Swedish ship bound from Stockholm to Portugal. The Chancellor requested the same, and both father and son engaged to Whitelocke that there was nothing aboard the vessel, nor any design in her voyage, against England; that she was freighted for Portugal only, and that they should esteem the favour as done to themselves, because they had a share in the goods on board this ship. Whitelocke, though he were hardly persuaded to give his passports to Swedish ships or to any other, yet considering the time when this was desired, and the persons desiring it, he thought not fit to deny it, but gave it in this form.[130]

Whitelocke gave an account in his letters this day to Thurloe of all passages of moment since his last, and wrote further:—

[SN: Letters to Thurloe.]

"My letters, I confess, have been tedious heretofore, but I ask your pardon, and do hope that my business is now at such a period that I shall not have occasion to trouble you with the like.

"There is little to do here at this time; almost all the great lords and courtiers are gone out of town, so that here is a lamentable silent place. I shall be heartily glad to receive my Lord's order to authorize my return; but my business being now ended, I presume I may expect his pleasure at any other place. I purpose to visit the Queen-mother and the Prince of Sweden, because other ambassadors have done it, and I have been particularly invited to it. I think it will be a respect from my Lord Protector which they will take very kindly, and may be some strength to the alliance, and is not the less requisite for me, because our enemies report that none but mechanics are of our party; but since our being here the Swedes acknowledge the contrary.

"I hope within two or three weeks to be at sea, and that my God, who hath hitherto been so good to me, will give me a safe return to my Lord and to my native country, to whom I wish all prosperity.

"Your affectionate friend to serve you, "B. W. "Upsal, 14th April, 1654.

"I hope you will pardon the importunity of my wife's solicitation, being for my return. I have been informed this week that some Holland ships are loading here with ordnance and other provisions of war. I hope his Highness hath been pleased to give order for two or three ships to be at Hamburg for my transportation into England, and therein I entreat your favour.

"B. W."

In this letter Whitelocke also gave advice, what he had been informed touching the treaty between King James and the last King of Denmark concerning the Orcades, with his humble opinion what was fit to be done in that business, upon the comprehension of the Dane in the Dutch treaty, yet nothing was done therein; however, Whitelocke was satisfied in the acquittal of himself to have done his duty.

Upon the earnest request of some Scots and English gentlemen on the behalf of Colonel Halsall, now in this town, Whitelocke gave him this pass.[131]

April 15, 1654.

[SN: Excursion with the French Resident.]

The Resident of France having desired Whitelocke that when he went abroad to take the air he would give him leave to accompany him, Whitelocke sent to him, this fair day inviting and leisure not hindering it. They went together in Whitelocke's coach to a wood, about an English mile from Upsal, full of pines, fir-trees, and juniper, and very fair and pleasant walks in it. The beauty of the day and place had also invited thither at this time the Ambassador of Denmark and the Holland Resident, who, perceiving Whitelocke's coaches and company, crossed out of the way where they were, and betook themselves to another walk; but Whitelocke kept on in his, and with the French Resident had much general discourse, but little of matters of state, because they could not trust one the other; yet Whitelocke learnt from him the condition of several persons in principal credit in the Court of France, and the way of their management of affairs. This gentleman was very civil and courteous and good company, desiring the conversation of Whitelocke, which he afforded him both going abroad and in his house, to which the Resident did him the favour to be no stranger.

Whitelocke told him he purposed to go by Nordkoeping, and by the way to visit the Queen-mother and the Prince, and to have his ship meet him there. The Resident said the ship could not easily come to Nordkoeping, being no good harbour; but his best way would be to go from thence to Calmar, and his ship to meet him there, the haven being open and the ship may come near the town; and that Nordkoeping was the midway between Stockholm and Calmar, and the ship might be as soon at Calmar as at Nordkoeping; that the passage to Luebeck was much easier from Calmar than from Nordkoeping, and with a good wind might be made from Calmar in two days. But hereof Whitelocke intended to have the advice of some Swedes.

April 16, 1654.

[SN: Great wealth of the Oxenstiern family.]

Monsieur Bloome this Lord's Day dined with Whitelocke, and told him that the Chancellor had left him in town to keep Whitelocke company in the absence of the Chancellor, and to assure him that the Chancellor would return again in a very few days. Whitelocke made much of him, and had good informations from him. He said that Grave John Oxenstiern, the Chancellor's eldest son, had at that time, whilst his father was alive, above L20,000 sterling of yearly revenue, which he had from his father and by his wife, an inheritrix; and that Grave Eric, the second son, had in his father's lifetime near L10,000 sterling of yearly revenue, besides what both of them might expect from their father: and therefore both father and sons might, as they did, live in great state and with attendance of much port and ceremony.

Grave Leonhough bestowed a visit on Whitelocke. He is a senator and one of the College of War, a person of great esteem and good parts; his conversation was full of civility; his discourse (in French) was rational, and for the most part upon matter of war, history, and the mathematics. In his company was an officer, his brother-in-law, who had served the King of Portugal in his late wars, and was a civil person, and seemed a gallant man. This Grave had been long bred up in the wars, and was now a Major-General; and his discourse showed him to be knowing and modest. He demanded of Whitelocke many questions touching the affairs of England, and particularly of the late civil dissensions there, and had a full account thereof from Whitelocke, by which he seemed to receive much satisfaction, and acknowledged that he had not heard the truth before, and that this relation justified the proceedings of the Parliament. He spake nothing to Whitelocke touching his business of the treaty, nor did Whitelocke mention it to this Grave, whom he never saw before, and because it was a day for other duties.

April 17, 1654.

[SN: A serenade to Whitelocke.]

Upsal being very empty, by the absence of the Queen and all the great Lords, who were retired to their country-houses, but most of them to Stockholm, it was given out that her Majesty would not return to this place, but remain at Stockholm, and that the General Assembly should be held there; which was not believed by Whitelocke, because the Queen had assured him that she would return to Upsal within eight or ten days, and she never brake her word with him.

Her absence, and the leisure which they had thereby, gave opportunity to some of her musicians (Italians and Germans) to pass a compliment on Whitelocke, to come to his house, and with great ceremony to entertain him with their vocal and instrumental music, which was excellent good; and they played many lessons of English composition, which the gentlemen who were musical of Whitelocke's family brought forth unto them.

April 18, 1654.

[SN: The Swedish army.]

Whitelocke returned a visit to the Grave Leonhough, whose lodgings were but mean, such as the town would afford, but his treatment was with great civility. Amongst other discourse he inquired touching the discipline of war and ordering the soldiery in England, who, he said, must be well paid, or else they could not be kept in good order. Whitelocke acknowledged that to be very true, and said that in England special care was taken for the constant and due pay of the armies much beyond other countries, by which means they were kept in the best and strictest discipline of any armies in the world; that violence or plunder, contrary to the articles of war, was severely punished.

The Grave acquainted Whitelocke that he was to go out of town the next day to a general muster, about four leagues from hence, within the province where he had the government; which occasioned Whitelocke to inquire of him, and to be informed that this was the standing militia of the country, and that the manner of it was thus:—

The whole militia of Sweden in the country, besides the standing forces of their armies in service, doth consist of 50,000 horse and foot, whereof 12,000 horse and 38,000 foot in the several provinces are constantly in a readiness to be drawn forth in fourteen days' time. In Sweden are about 5000 horse and 20,000 foot, and in Finland and the other provinces about 8000 horse and 20,000 foot: in all, above 50,000. That the Crown is not at any charge for the pay of these militia forces, unless they are drawn forth into actual service, and then they are paid as their other army forces are, which is not very much or constant; but when they are in an enemy's country they live upon the country, and take contribution, if not plunder; and somewhat is allowed them by the Crown, as so much in money (which is a very small proportion) and such a weekly quantity of bread, butter, and cheese for every foot-soldier, and a like proportion for the horsemen; whose charge may be guessed at by that of their officers, of whom it was affirmed that the allowance to a captain of horse was his stove and his stable, and twenty rix-dollars a year. His stove they call his fire, candle, and entertainment for himself; his stable, that is horse-meat, and room, and shoeing; and for himself from the Crown (besides what he gets from the country) but twenty rix-dollars a year, with the like proportion for other officers and soldiers.

The manner of maintaining their militia forces in the country was said to be this:—A horseman was quartered in the house of a boor, or husbandman; if the man will work himself and his horse with the boor, to help him in his husbandry, then the boor gives the man and his horse entertainment freely, and hath their work for it, which is more worth than their meat, and the boor will give the man perhaps some small sum of money besides. By this way the boor hath an advantage—the work of a man and a horse for their meat only; and the horseman hath an advantage—his own and his horse's meat, besides what the Crown allows him, and himself and horse kept in better condition by it; and without his work, the boor is not compellable to find him but his lodging only.

In like manner it is for the foot-soldier. He is quartered with a boor, and must work for the boor, or have no diet from him; but they do work generally, and by that means the soldier is kept out of idleness. The countryman hath a benefit by his work for his diet only, whereas he must give diet and wages to a servant; and the soldier by his work hath his diet besides what the State allows him, and so he and his landlord are both well pleased. But the Crown hath the greatest advantage, which hereby saves the great pay which otherwise they must allow; and yet these forces are constantly in a readiness when the occasions of the Crown require their service.

The officers of these militia forces have no pay at all but when they are in actual service, neither do they expect any pay, being gentlemen of quality and interest in the country: the chief of whom, who are fit for it, are made colonels; the next to them lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, and inferior officers, according to their rank of the country gentlemen, known and beloved among their neighbours, with whom their interest and power, increased by their command, makes them the better followed and obeyed. When they write out any from the militia to serve in the armies, these officers and the lords of the boors appoint them; and if any offend, they are presently written out to send abroad into Russia, Poland, Germany, and other parts, from whence they do not all return safe, but are kept in great awe and obedience.

This day here fell a great quantity of snow, and was in one night so hard frozen that it would bear a cart; the English wondered at it, but not this country men, the like being here usual at this time of the year and after.

The Countess of Brahe, wife of the Ricks-Droitset, sent a gentleman to Whitelocke to acquaint him that there was a parcel of timber, cut and lying ready within four miles of Gothenburg, which did belong to her former husband, and was cut for the building of a ship; but by reason of her husband's death the ship was not built, and she offered the timber to Whitelocke at a reasonable price. But he, finding that it had been cut four years, and lay far from the water-side, made an excuse that it would be necessary to have it viewed, which his hastening away would not now permit; but he returned thanks to the Countess for her respects in the offer of it.

April 19, 1654.

[SN: Preparations for the abdication.]

Monsieur Bloome and divers others, having dined with Whitelocke, acquainted him that the Chancellor intended to return hither the next day after the Queen. Whitelocke said he hoped the Chancellor would have been here before her Majesty; but this was an argument to confute the report that the Queen would stay at Stockholm and hold the Ricksdag there. Another argument was, the Queen's officers removing and altering some of the hangings in Whitelocke's house, being longer and fitter for the rooms to be furnished in the castle for the Ricksdag than those which they put up in their places in Whitelocke's lodging.

April 20, 1654.

[SN: Swedish mines.]

In pursuance of former discourse with Monsieur Bloome, and by the desire of Mr. Bushel in England to Whitelocke to inquire into it, he received a paper in French, from a person here employed about the mines, to inform him by what means this person might be treated with to be brought into England for improving of our mines there.

[SN: Hawks.]

Whitelocke also, by desire of a worthy friend in England, furnished himself with a direction how he might procure some hawks out of this country, and chiefly from the isle of Deulandt, where the best hawks are; and he had gained much acquaintance with Grave Gabriel Oxenstiern, Great Falconer and Master of the Queen's Hawks, who promised his furtherance of Whitelocke's desires herein, and to assist and direct any servant whom he should send hither for that purpose.

[SN: Mrs. Penn.]

One Catharine Penn, an Englishwoman, the widow of an officer of the Queen's army, entreated Whitelocke to present for her a sad petition to the Queen for some arrears due to her husband, which matters Whitelocke was not forward to meddle with; but this being his countrywoman, and of the ancient family of Penn in Buckinghamshire, to which he had an alliance, Whitelocke did undertake to present her petition to the Queen. He undertook the like for a decayed English merchant residing at Hamburg, who petitioned the Queen for moneys owing to him at Bremen, where he could have no justice from the Governor, Vice-Chancellor, and others in authority; and this he undertook to move to the Queen, upon the earnest request of Mr. Bradshaw, Resident for the Protector at Hamburg, by his letters this day received.

He was also presented with a Latin epistle from one Jonas Olaii, begging for some charity, and who, to be sure to go high enough, gave throughout his letter the style of "illustrissime Comes and Celsitudo tua," for which his gift from Whitelocke was the less.

[SN: Trade with Muscovy.]

In this day's packet Whitelocke received letters from the Muscovia Company in England, signed by the Governor and Consuls, in which they set forth the decay and loss of their trade in Muscovia by supplantation of the Dutch, and the Great Duke's disfavour to them, which they hope may be altered upon the late change of government in England; that they understand there is now in this Court an Ambassador from the Great Duke to the Queen; and they desire Whitelocke, that if this ambassador do visit him, or if he think fit to visit the Russian Ambassador, that he would intimate this matter to him, which they hope may much further their purpose of sending to the Great Duke for recovery of their trade.

By this post Whitelocke received these letters from the Secretary Thurloe:—

[SN: Despatch from Thurloe.]

"For his Excellence my Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, at Upsal, in Sweden. These.

"My Lord,

"Your letters of the 24th of February arrived here five or six days later than usual, and this day's post is not yet arrived. The peace with the Dutch hath been in such an uncertain condition, that it was very hard to make a judgement concerning the issue of it. In the end of the last and beginning of this week it was more probable that the war should continue than otherwise; and your Excellence will see by the enclosed papers, which passed between the Commissioners of his Highness and the Ambassadors (which I have sent to you because there is contained in them the true state of the treaty as it stood whilst the differences lasted); the last of those papers will let your Excellence see that they are now very near a closure; and the truth is, that there is now nothing wanting but the drawing up of things into form, and the signing on both sides, which I believe will be effected within three or four days at furthest. But because we cannot rely upon the peace as made until it be actually signed, his Highness will defer the sending instructions to you in reference either to your present negotiation or returning home until the next, when your Excellence may certainly except them; and in the meantime your Excellence may rest assured that there hath been no other cause in delaying instructions to you upon this subject but the desire that there is in everybody to give you clear directions in so doubtful a case as this. If your staying or returning did depend upon your own negotiation there, it were easy to leave you to your own guidance; but when it rests merely upon the conclusion of the present treaty here with the Dutch, it is not possible to give you any instructions which you may with safety act upon until the issue thereof be perfectly known; and after that, your Excellence shall not be an hour without the knowledge of his Highness's pleasure thereupon.

"It is certain this State hath moved upon Christian grounds only in making this peace: we have not been beaten or frightened into it; the Dutch have not yet any fleet at sea, nor can have this month, if the war should continue. In the meantime we have a hundred and forty sail at sea, and better ships than we have had at any time heretofore, which gives occasion to all our neighbours to wonder at our intentions thereby.

"Since I began my letter I have been with the Dutch Ambassador, and every article is agreed word for word, so that nothing now remains to be done but to write them over and sign, which will be done upon Monday next. It is not possible for me to send unto your Excellence a copy of the articles as they are now agreed; I hope to do it by the next, when you will be satisfied concerning the reports I hear there are in Sweden, concerning the honourable terms the Dutch have gotten by this treaty. I know not what men may expect in matters of honour; I am sure the true interest of the nation, both in point of trade and otherwise, is provided for more fully than ever hath been in any treaty made between these States.

"The French Ambassador had a public audience on Monday last. There is joined with him in commission one Monsieur le Baas, in quality of a Commissary, who is a great confidant of the Cardinal's, and a very crafty man. The French doth certainly intend by all means to make a league with his Highness, and offers very frankly and considerably as to our present interest. The Spaniard thinks he saith more to invite the Protector to look that way and embrace an alliance with him; and sure he is the steadier friend, and hath the better and more considerable trade.[142]

"The news I have either from France or Holland this week your Excellence will receive enclosed. The affairs in Scotland do not much alter: Middleton is very active to get an army, but keeps in the most northerly parts. We never met with any of their forces but we beat them—the last letters being that we fell upon a party and took forty prisoners and sixty horse, which is all we have from thence.

"I have done my utmost to get the Swedish ships released; but to say the truth, although some of the Swedes are innocent, yet many of them appear to be deceivers, which makes the rest fare the worse. I endeavoured to get a resolution of the case your Excellence wrote about by your former letters, so as to have sent it by this post, but could not; the orders which have been made about it since my last I have sent, whereof your Excellence may see the care that is had to do justice therein.

"What your Excellence is informed concerning the preferring of the Agent of the Swiss to Lagerfeldt in their farewell, is a great mistake. I know no honour done to him at his going away, but the sending the answer of his letter to him by the master of the ceremony; he had neither gift nor entertainment that I know of.

"I hope the copy of the articles of the Dutch treaty, which I formerly sent, your Excellence hath received before now. I am sorry to hear that your entertainment in Sweden begins to be like my Lord St. John's in Holland; but I trust the Lord will continue his protection to yourself and family, which is the prayer of

"Your Excellence's humble servant, "JO. THURLOE. "March 31, 1654.

"Monsieur Bonnele, the Queen of Sweden's Commissary, hath desired audience to deliver a letter congratulatory to his Highness from the Queen. The superscription is not very right; besides, your Excellency having writ nothing about it, some difficulty hath been in the delivery of it; but yet at last resolved to receive it as it is."

This letter is inserted to show by it the constant way and course of intelligence, and the generality and clearness of it, between Thurloe and Whitelocke, whereby his business and reputation in this Court was very much advanced, and Whitelocke made great use and advantage by it. The papers usually enclosed in Thurloe's letters were many, and contained all particulars of moment touching the Dutch treaty, as also relating to the affairs of England and of most parts of Christendom. One clause in this letter of Thurloe's, that, after the Dutch treaty had concluded, his Highness would send new instructions to Whitelocke, for his direction to proceed in the treaty in Sweden,—this gave much trouble and perplexity of thoughts to Whitelocke. He could not imagine what those new instructions should be. If they should be contrary to what he had already agreed, it would be not only to the dishonour of Whitelocke, but of the Protector likewise and of the English nation, for him to go back from what he had before assented to, and to go out here with a snuff, retracting his former agreement, or else he must proceed contrary to his instructions, which would not be ratified; and both of these mischiefs great enough. He was in suspense whether he should seal the articles here beforehand, or expect the receipt of these instructions before he signed them. He considered that if he should defer the signing of the articles till after the receipt of those new instructions, that then they could not at all be signed by the present Queen, who intended to continue but one week in the government, and if she did not sign in that time she could not sign at all; but the whole must be remitted to a new treaty with the new King, upon new credentials, commission, and instructions, which would require much time and trouble.

He thought not fit to communicate his doubts, but resolved with himself to proceed to the finishing of the treaty without staying for new instructions from England, because otherwise all his negotiation would become fruitless; and he held himself obliged, in honour and conscience, to make good what he had already assented unto before any mention of new instructions came to him, and what he had done being pursuant to his former instructions, and in his judgement for the advantage and good of England.

He was also willing to persuade himself that the new instructions would extend only to the order of his return, and was so to be taken by Thurloe's letter, and to the close of his whole negotiation; wherein he had done nothing, and resolved not to do anything, but what he believed to be just and honest. He was also troubled lest the Queen should put off the treaty upon some distaste about the secret article, and yet pretend only the absence of her Chancellor; but Whitelocke left all to the providence of God, and His blessing upon honest and diligent means, wherein he resolved not willingly to be wanting. And whether to put it off or to proceed to the despatch of it seemed the more difficult, because of a letter from his wife, wherein she wrote that Thurloe said to her, that it was fit her husband should receive certain instructions what to do before his coming away, because, if he should do anything too suddenly, without good warrant, it might cost him his life. This indeed were a worthy and meet recompense for all the hardships, perils, and faithful services undergone and performed for those who were then in power; but his hope and expectation of reward was from above the highest of them.

April 21, 1654.

[SN: Despatches to Thurloe.]

Whitelocke made his despatches for England, and part of his letters to Thurloe was this:—

"The Queen and Court being out of town, this is a solitary place. The Danish Ambassador and the Dutch Resident are still here. The Spanish, German, and Muscovite Envoys are gone away. My business remains in a readiness to be signed, which is appointed upon the Queen's return; and she is looked for every day. If they be not signed within these few days, it cannot be done by her at all, because she intends to resign the Government the beginning of May, and perhaps the Prince may be crowned in June; and two or three months after that will pass before new credentials can be sent from his Highness, and it may be two or three months in ceremony and despatch of the business, by which time another winter will be here.

"Upon which considerations I humbly conceive it much more for the service of my Lord to despatch my business here out of hand, and the rather because of the conclusion of the Dutch treaty, which I hope will prove very prosperous to our nation.

"My articles had been signed before the Queen's going away but that she was willing to communicate them to the Prince before her Commissioners signed them, which I likewise thought very fit to be done, in regard he is so near the succession; and I likewise intend to salute him from my Lord Protector before my going out of this country.

"I am now only in expectation of his Highness's further commands and instructions concerning my return, which I hope for by the next post.

"I give you most hearty thanks for the papers, which are not only a comfort but very useful to me here. I received formerly from you a copy of the Dutch articles, and if I did not return you thanks for them, I confess I forgot myself, and likewise if in one of my letters I did not acquaint you that the Queen had an intention (as she told me) of sending a congratulatory letter to my Lord the Protector; but how the direction of it was I know not, because I never saw it; but I take it as a particular favour to me, that his Highness was pleased to receive it, though it were not as it ought to have been, wherein he hath answered the respect of the Queen, who excepted against my credentials, but yet received them.

"I am exceeding glad of your good conclusion of the Dutch business, which, I am persuaded, will be of great advantage to our nation; and I look upon the issue of my business here being agreed before the issue of our treaty with the Dutch was known, to be both a particular respect to the Protector and Government, and less difficult than it would have been if transacted after our agreement with the Dutch.

"They are much amused in these parts at our gallant fleet, and so early at sea; and I permit them all their conjectures, neither have they gained much allay of them from me by their inquisitiveness.

"I had a compliment sent me the last night from the Dutch Resident, that he hoped ere long to have an opportunity to come and visit me; I answered, that I should not be wanting in that civility which became me.

"I was entreated by the citizens of Stockholm to receive this suit of theirs in the enclosed paper.

"B. W. "April 21, 1654. Upsal."

April 22, 1654.

[SN: University Library at Upsal.]

The French Resident visited Whitelocke, and, seeing him ready to go take the air, offered him his company, which Whitelocke could not refuse. They went together to the Library of this University, where there are many good books, for the most part brought out of Germany; but it is not extraordinary, nor exceeding the public libraries in England and elsewhere. One of Whitelocke's gentlemen held it not exceeding his lord's private library at his own house in England, as he affirmed to some of the scholars here, who were not pleased therewith, nor would easily believe that the English Ambassador's library in his private house was to be compared to that of their University.

The keeper of this library is one Doctor Lovenius, there present, a learned and civil person, who hath published several books in print, touching the laws and government and antiquities of his country, in good Latin; and both himself and his works are worthy of esteem. He was attending upon Whitelocke all the time of his being in the library and in the public places of the University, and informed him of such things as he inquired touching the same; and, to gratify their civility, Whitelocke sent them twenty of his own books which he had in his house, all of them English authors, as the Primate of Armagh's works, Sir Henry Spelman, Selden, and others; which was a present very acceptable, and kindly received by the University from him.

[SN: University of Upsal.]

They affirm this University to be very ancient; but there are no colleges or public houses for the maintenance of the scholars, or public revenue belonging to them; so that they do not live together in bodies or companies by themselves, but every one severally as he can agree or find for his convenience. But here are divers public rooms or schools where the professors and scholars use to meet and perform their exercises openly; and the rooms of their library are three, about twenty foot square apiece.

There are all sorts of professors for the arts and sciences, who are promised good salaries, but they complain that they are not well paid; and though some of them be very learned, yet they take not much pains; it may be according to the proverb, "mal paye mal servi"—he that is ill paid doth but ill service. Some counted the number of scholars to be about three hundred, which is not more than may be found in one college in England. They make great preparation by printing their theses and publishing them, and inviting the grandees to their disputations, where the Queen in person is sometimes present, though the exercise is only the art of well disputing, except in some of their professors and eminent persons.

Their University is a kind of corporation, like others, their want of supplies not affording them so much perfection, and their defect of government giving them liberty and temptation to disorder, to which they are much addicted; but in their sermons, whilst the English were among them, they would propose them as a pattern of civility and pious conversation. Their government is by a Chancellor, who at present is the Ricks-Chancellor; and it hath constantly been in the hands of some eminent and great person.

[SN: Cathedral of Upsal.]

Whitelocke and the Resident visited the Cathedral Church, which is fair and large, built with brick, and covered with copper. They affirm it to be one of the most ancient churches of Europe, and that the Gospel was here early planted, but earlier in the church of old Upsal, which is of a quadrangular form, and formerly dedicated to their heathen gods. Their cathedral, they say, was the seat of an arch-flamen; and in the places of arch-flamens and flamens, upon their conversion to Christianity (as in England, so here), bishops and archbishops were instituted; and now their cathedral, as other churches, is full of images, crucifixes, and such other furniture as the Lutheran churches tolerate, and is little different therein from the Popish churches.

The Resident and Whitelocke took also a view of the castle and city of Upsal. The castle is near the town, seated upon the point of a hill; it is built of brick, plastered over, strong and beautiful. If it had been finished, the design was to have had it four-square; but two sides of it only are built. It had been very large and noble if it had been perfected. As it is, it contains many rooms, and sufficient for the Court; some of them are great and stately, but up two stories, after the fashion of that country. If it had been finished, it would have equalled any other, if not the castle of Stockholm itself.

[SN: Environs of Upsal.]

The prospect from the castle is very beautiful; the country round about it pleasant and fruitful, and distinguished into meadows, pastures, and arable fields, and the river Sale passing through them, which loseth itself about half a league from thence into a great lake. The river is navigable with boats of about twenty or thirty tons, many leagues together, going through the lake also; it is not muddy, nor unfurnished with the fish of those parts, and is about half as broad as the Thames at Henley. It runs at the foot of the hill on which the castle stands, and the town is built upon it; and it waters most part of the streets, to their great commodity. It is for this reason called Upsal, because Ubbo—who, they say, was the son of Gomer, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah—this Ubbo built this town upon the river Sale, and therefore called it, after his own name, Ubbo Sale, by contraction of speech now called Upsal. All agree it to be one of the most ancient of their cities, the metropolitan see of their archbishop, and in old time the residence of their kings, and where they were invested with the regal dignity. The country about it seemed one of the most pleasant and fruitful of these parts. The town itself is not much beautified with stately buildings, not above nine or ten houses being built with brick; the rest of them, after the fashion of their country, built with great bodies of fir-trees, and covered with turf; the fairest of their brick houses was that where the English Ambassador lodged.

This city hath not much trade, and therefore not much wealth. The government of it is according to the municipal law of the country, and as other cities are; their head officer is a Burgomaster, who hath for his assistants a council, in the nature of the common councils in our corporations in England, consisting of the principal burgesses and inhabitants of the city, who have power, with the Burgomaster, as to making of ordinances, and in the government.

In their journey to take the air the Resident and Whitelocke had much discourse touching the images in their church, and about the observation of their Sabbath; wherein the Resident was furnished with the usual arguments of the Papists, and was answered by Whitelocke, and was not so positive as most of his persuasion use to be. He discoursed also about the Dutch treaty in England, to get from Whitelocke what he could to report to the Danish Ambassador and Dutch Resident; for which he was fitted by Whitelocke's answers to him.

April 23, 1654.

[SN: Whitelocke punishes two of his retinue for neglect of the Lord's Day.]

This being the Lord's Day, many gentlemen of the English and Scots nation then in town came to Whitelocke's house to the morning sermon, and most of them staid the afternoon sermon also. And so many strangers being there attentive in the holy duties, it gave the greater cause of scandal and offence to Whitelocke that divers of his own family were absent, whereas, by his orders, they were all enjoined to a constant attendance, especially at those religious exercises; nevertheless some of them (particularly Mr. Castle and Andrew Potley) were therein more in fault than others, and, after many admonitions, would not reform, but made it their common practice almost every Lord's Day in the afternoon to be absent, and to go abroad and take the air. Whitelocke considering the reproach and scandal, and the ill example hereby to his family, and the doing of that by some of them against which he had spoken so much here to the people of this place, upon which it would be collected that either he had not the power over his own people to order them as he judged fit, or else that he and the rest of his company were dissemblers, and found fault with that in others which they either acted or tolerated in themselves;—Whitelocke finding two absent on this day, he gave order to his steward to see their trunks and goods carried out of his house, and themselves dismissed of further attendance on him, and removed from his family. Yet afterwards, upon the interceding of others for them, and their own submission, the punishment was suspended; and when they perceived that Whitelocke was in earnest, it caused a reformation, both in those two and in others, as to this duty and in other particulars.

[SN: The Queen returns to Upsal.]

About nine o'clock this evening the Queen came to town. She had in her train but one coach with six horses, and three horsemen; so little ceremony did she observe as to her own port, but would rather make this sudden and private return 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 justice and honour, and had a particular affection to her Majesty, which he believed she would find him ready to manifest upon this or any other occasion, and find him a true friend to her; wherewith (poor lady!) she seemed much comforted, having brought her affairs to so low an ebb as this was, and thus high was the Protector's reputation here. As to the general business of the treaty with Whitelocke, she said it would be fit to have the articles signed tomorrow, and that Whitelocke soon after should have his audience, and she would give order to have it done accordingly.

She asked Whitelocke if he would bear her company to take the air, which he did; and she riding a horse managed to the great saddle, who was troublesome, she came into her coach, and caused Whitelocke to sit in the same boot with her, that they might discourse the more privately. There were also in her coach the Senator Rosenhau, Grave Tott, and Steinberg.

[SN: Whitelocke presents his black horses to the Queen,]

The Queen freely told Whitelocke that if he would not sell his horses, as she understood he would not, that yet she should take it for a favour if he would let her have one of his sets of coach-horses, which would do her great service in her intended journey, they being fitter for travel than any she had. Whitelocke told her they were all at her Majesty's service; that he thought it not becoming him to sell them, but if she pleased to accept them, she should freely have them; that he thought his black horses fittest for her and best, and there were eight of them, and the other set he intended to present unto the Prince{6}; that, she said, would be very well, and she kindly thanked him and accepted of his compliment.

[SN: some distilled waters,]

Whitelocke also told the Queen that he had a small cabinet of glasses of spirits of waters, essences of excellent kinds, extracted; but he believed that her Majesty did not much esteem such things, and they were too inconsiderable to make a present of them to the Queen-mother, if she had any liking of them. The Queen said her mother was much pleased with such essences, and that she would send them to her from Whitelocke. He asked when he should bring them, and an English Bible which he promised to the Queen. She said, tomorrow if he pleased, and that at all times he should be welcome to her.

April 25, 1654.

Grave Eric sent his secretary to Whitelocke to inform him of his being come to town purposely for the despatch of his business, and for the signing of the articles; and he desired to know what time this afternoon he might have the liberty to come and visit Whitelocke, after he had been with the Queen. Whitelocke told the secretary that he should be glad to see his lord after Whitelocke had likewise been at the Court; and there they met.

Whitelocke went in to the Queen and presented her with the cabinet of essences, which was of green velvet, lined with silver lace very richly; within it were about twenty glasses of spirits of the rarest kinds, each glass stopped with a silver head of English silver, to screw off and on, and a lock and key of the same; and opening the cabinet the Queen smelt of most of the glasses, but tasted none of them; she highly commended them and the cabinet, especially the English silver, whereof she had some discourse, and said she would send them to her mother, who would be very glad of them.

[SN: and an English Bible;]

Then according to his promise he presented her Majesty with an English Bible, of a very fair print and richly bound; and upon that they had this discourse:—

Whitelocke. If your Majesty would be pleased to spend some time in reading this Bible, and comparing it with those in other languages, it would be a great help to your understanding of the English, if your Majesty have any further thoughts thereof.

Queen. My desire still is to gain the English tongue, and I think this which you mention will be a good way to learn it. I ask your pardon that you staid so long before you came in to me; nobody told me of your being without, and I am ashamed of this incivility.

Wh. The incivility, Madam, is on my side, by interrupting your greater affairs; but I come not now as an ambassador, but as a particular servant to bring this Bible to your Majesty.

Qu. It is a noble present, and there was the less reason to make you stay for admittance with it.

[SN: and exhorts her Majesty to read it.]

Wh. This book was presented to me by an English doctor, with a letter mentioning the text that the Beraeans were accounted the more noble because they received the word with gladness, as I hope your Majesty will.

Qu. I receive it from you with much thankfulness, and shall gladly make use of it as the best of books.

Wh. Your Majesty, by often reading it, and comparing it with other Bibles, will not only thereby gain advantage as to the language, but the highest comfort to your soul.

Qu. I have used to read much in the Bible, and take great contentment in it.

Wh. Your Majesty will find more contentment and comfort in the study of this book than of all other books whatsoever, and therefore I do humbly recommend the often reading of it to your Majesty.

Qu. I doubt you have an ill opinion of me that you so earnestly persuade me to this, as if you thought me too backward in it.

Wh. I only give my humble advice to your Majesty, out of my own experience, of the great comfort, wisdom, and true pleasure which is to be met with in this book, and nowhere else, and that all things out of it are of no value.

Qu. I am full of the same opinion; but there are too many who have not so venerable an opinion of it as they ought to have.

Wh. There are indeed, Madam, too many who mock at this book, and at God himself, whose book it is; but these poor worms will one day know that God will not be mocked, and that they and their reproaches will sadly perish together; and I am glad to hear your Majesty's distaste of such wicked ones.

Qu. Surely every good Christian ought to distaste such men and such opinions.

They had much more discourse upon the same subject, wherein Whitelocke spake the more, because he found the Queen more inclined to it now than he had perceived her to be at other times.

Being come from the Queen, he spake with Grave Eric in another room, whose opinion was that it would be fit to sign the articles on the morrow, and said that his father would be returned time enough to do it. Whitelocke doubted that, by reason of his weariness after his journey, it might not be then convenient. Eric replied, that there would be nothing to be done that would occasion trouble, the signing and putting the seals to the articles already prepared and agreed on was all that was to be done. Whitelocke demanded if the power given by the Queen to her Commissioners were sealed. Eric said it was not, but that Canterstein would be in town this evening, and would see all done.

April 26, 1654.

[SN: Whitelocke complains of further delays.]

Grave Eric came to Whitelocke's house, and this discourse passed between them:—

Whitelocke. It seems to me somewhat strange that after all things agreed between her Majesty's Commissioners and me, I should yet attend three weeks to obtain one half-hour for the signing of the articles.

Grave Eric. The Queen's going out of town hath occasioned it, and the great business touching her resignation, which hath so taken up all men's thoughts and counsels, that there hath been hardly room left for any other matter; and when the Queen goes away, those of the Council also take the liberty to go into the country; and upon such extraordinary changes as these are, it is no strange thing for public ministers to be retarded; and the same thing hath been practised upon your changes in England.

Wh. I have not observed, either in England or elsewhere, that after an agreement upon a treaty, and nothing remaining but to sign and seal, that they have used afterwards to delay it three weeks together; yet I am willing to promise myself that the servant of the Protector may expect from this Crown as much respect as any other public minister.

Gr. Eric. There hath been more respect showed to you than hath been accustomed to any other. I believe your business may be despatched in half an hour; and if my father return this evening time enough to do it, it may be done this night; if not, then without fail tomorrow morning.

Wh. I am the more earnest herein, looking upon it as my duty to the Protector and my respect to this Crown, to avoid any occasion of discontent between the two nations; and therefore I shall freely tell you that it will be very material to have the articles signed this day or tomorrow, before I receive this week's letters, by which I expect to understand that the articles between England and Holland are signed; among which articles one is, that neither the one nor the other confederate shall make any alliance with any other prince or state, without first giving notice thereof to the other confederate. Now if the articles between the Protector and the Queen be signed before I have notice of this by the Dutch articles being signed, the signing of our articles here first will be without exception in this point; but if I receive this information from England before the articles be signed here, it will be doubtful whether then I shall be in a capacity afterwards to sign the articles here, whereupon sundry inconveniences will ensue, which I would willingly prevent.

Gr. Eric. This is indeed a material point, and I am much startled at it. I shall go and see if my father be come to town, that I may acquaint him with it, and doubtless the business may be finished tomorrow.

Wh. What do you resolve to do in the matter I proposed touching Guinea?

Gr. Eric. The person concerned in that business is now in town; I shall bring him to you to give you information therein, and upon speaking together we may come to some conclusion in it. I think the best way will be to prepare an article to this purpose, that all injuries done by the one or the other party in the several plantations in Guinea, and the satisfaction and damages to be given to the parties grieved, be upon the whole matter remitted to the consideration and arbitrement of persons to be chosen, as well by the company of English merchants trading to those parts as of the merchants of this country having interest in the plantations there.

Wh. I think this may be a good expedient for this business; and I shall rather submit to it than depart from hence, without any agreement at all, to have this matter, either now or at some other time, to be taken into consideration; and therefore if you please to direct an article to be drawn up to the effect proposed by yourself, and to send it to me to be perused, I shall be willing to consent to any reasonable settlement of this business; so as my countrymen, the English merchants interested in that plantation, may have no cause to believe that I have neglected what was specially recommended to me on their behalf, and that my superiors may see my care in this as well as in other matters.

In the evening Monsieur Bloome sent word to Whitelocke that the Chancellor was come to town, and that Canterstein was expected this night.

Presently Whitelocke sent to the Chancellor to know how he did after his journey, and when he might have the liberty to visit him. The Chancellor answered that he was well, and purposed this evening or tomorrow morning to go to the Queen, and afterwards he would send to Whitelocke to let him know what time they might meet to finish his business. This seemed to Whitelocke a little different from the ordinary rules of civility—that when he sent to the Chancellor to know at what time he might come to him, the Chancellor answered that his purpose was to go to the Queen; but Whitelocke hoped that the intent was to receive her Majesty's direction in his business.

April 27, 1654.

[SN: Signing the articles again deferred till the morrow.]

Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke from the Chancellor to tell him that the Chancellor was come to town purposely for the signing of the articles. Whitelocke said he was much obliged to the Chancellor for so great a favour, and that, after three weeks elapsed since the articles were agreed, he might now hope it would be thought seasonable to confirm that agreement with hand and seal. Lagerfeldt answered that it might be done this day, and therefore he came to Whitelocke that his secretary might meet with the Queen's secretary, and they together might examine the books, which in the evening may be signed and sealed by both parties.

Whitelocke. Hath Monsieur Canterstein procured the Queen's patent to authorize her Commissioners to conclude this treaty?

Lagerfeldt. It must be done before the signing of the articles, and then you may have your audience when your Excellence pleaseth.

Wh. It were fit to have that done.

Lag. I know not whether the presents which her Majesty intends to make to your Excellence and your company be yet ready; and I know the Queen intends to express as much honour to you as she hath done to any ambassador whatsoever.

Wh. I desire no greater honour than the despatch of my business, and liberty to return home.

Lag. I shall serve your Excellence therein to the utmost of my power.

In the afternoon Whitelocke sent his son James and his secretary Earle, and Swift, with the articles and papers touching his business, unto Canterstein, where they examined them and corrected what was mistaken. They asked at what hour Whitelocke might repair to the Chancellor for signing the articles. Canterstein answered, that the Chancellor was weary with his journey; but he went to him and brought word that, if Whitelocke would come to the Chancellor about five or six o'clock this evening, he would be ready to confer with him. This being reported to Whitelocke by his son, he sent him back to Canterstein to know whether the Queen had sealed the grant of power to her Commissioners, who brought word that it was not done, and that the Queen went out of town this evening, and returned not till tomorrow.

After this message, and when Whitelocke saw that his letters of this week were not come, he sent to the Chancellor to let him know that he feared it might be troublesome to him for Whitelocke to come to him this evening, and that, if he pleased, Whitelocke would come to him the next morning. To which the Chancellor willingly agreed, and appointed their meeting tomorrow, betwixt eight and nine o'clock in the morning. The Chancellor inquired whether Whitelocke had yet received his letters from England. The servant of Whitelocke said that the letters were not yet come, but that by the last week's letters the news came that the peace between England and Holland was certainly concluded; to which the Chancellor said, I desire to be excused.

By these passages Whitelocke perceived that their little design was, notwithstanding all he had endeavoured, that before they would sign the articles they desired to see this week's letters; which he took as directed by the good hand of Providence, in regard that by this means he should be the more excused in what he intended to do, having staid for this week's letters and received none, and the politicians here would be deceived in their expectation. He wondered at the Queen's going out of town before she sealed the commission to her deputies: some thought the reason to be, because her intended presents were not yet ready.

Whitelocke received a letter from the Protector's Resident at Hamburg, wherein this was part:—

"For his Excellence my Lord Ambassador Whitelocke, Extraordinary Ambassador from England with the Queen of Sweden. Humbly these.

"The English letters are not yet come, but from Holland they write that two expresses were come on the 21st instant, with letters assuring that the peace was concluded and mutually signed, and that, as soon as the ratification could arrive in England from the States General, hostility should cease.

"I am, my Lord, "With tender of my humble service, "Your Excellence's most humble servant, "RI. BRADSHAWE. "Hamburg, 15th April, 1654."

Whitelocke made use of this intelligence as far as it would go; and some others in this town had the same news from Holland.

April 28, 1654.

[SN: The signing of the treaty.]

At the time appointed Whitelocke and his company came to the Chancellor's lodging, with whom was his son Grave Eric and Secretary Canterstein. Whitelocke's son James and his secretary Earle were admitted into the room. All the time of their being there Secretary Canterstein was uncovered and did not sit. Whitelocke's son James was also bare, as became him, but was admitted to sit down at the lower end of the table, on the same side with his father, who sat at the upper end, and the Chancellor over-against him, and Grave Eric by his father.

The Chancellor acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen had shown the articles to the Prince, who did well approve of them, and desired to have a strict league and friendship with the Protector, and that the Prince was ready in what should appertain to him to contribute to that end. Whitelocke answered that the Protector would esteem the friendship of the Prince a great honour to him; and to show his desire of it, that Whitelocke intended to salute the Prince from the Protector. The Chancellor and his son said that it would be very necessary for Whitelocke to do so, and that the Prince intended to come nearer to this city, and then Whitelocke might have the better passage to his Court by water by the lake Meter, than to go to him by a land-journey; and that from the Prince he might, by the same lake, be transported to Stockholm.

After many ceremonies and compliments, with apologies for the delay of the sealing of the articles, they fell to their business. Grave Eric read the articles prepared by Whitelocke, and his father overlooked them; Whitelocke's son James read the articles prepared by the Chancellor, and Whitelocke overlooked them; and some mistakes being amended, Whitelocke asked whether the Queen's commission to give them power were sealed. They answered, it was prepared, and that the Queen would seal it, and it was usual to be done at any time after the sealing of the articles; that yesterday it was not fully ready for the Queen before her going out of town, but that she intended to be here again this day, and all would be ready for her sealing.

The Chancellor directed Canterstein to read the copy of the instrument for giving power to the Queen's Commissioners, and desired Whitelocke to give to him the commission of the Protector to Whitelocke, who said that he had formerly delivered to them a copy of it, which was then read; and the Chancellor took exception to it, because there was no mention in it of ratifying what should be here agreed upon by Whitelocke; who answered that this clause of ratification was in his first commission under the Great Seal of England, unto which the commission and powers given him since by the Protector do refer; and he offered to deliver into their hands that commission under the Great Seal. And if they should require that Whitelocke might yet have a larger power, whereof he thought there was no need, (they might perceive by the Protector's letters that he would not scruple to give it,) Whitelocke said that he would take it upon him, at his return to England, to procure it to be done; but he said he could not leave with them the Protector's letters and instructions to him, because part of them was secret.

The Chancellor said it was the custom to deliver the original letters of power into the hands of the other party, that they might be registered in the public acts of the Chancery, and that Whitelocke should receive their commissions to carry with him into England; that if he would pass his word that, at his return to England, he would procure new and larger powers, and take care to send the letters of them hither from the Protector, they should be satisfied therewith: which Whitelocke promised to do, and desired that the Queen would ratify all that should be done here before her resignation, and keep the ratification by her until the Protector should seal letters of ratification on his part, and then they might be exchanged and mutually delivered. The Chancellor consented hereunto, and asked what seal the Protector used in these public businesses. Whitelocke said he used his own seal. The Chancellor asked if he did not use the seal of the Commonwealth, in regard that this league was between the Queen and kingdom of Sweden and the Protector and Commonwealth of England. Whitelocke said that the Protector might, if he pleased, command the seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed to the letters of ratification, which he believed would be done if they desired it; and that, by the same reason, it was fit that the letters of ratification here should be under the Great Seal of Sweden.

The Chancellor said that in Sweden, when the Government was in the hands of Commissioners, the King or Queen not being crowned, it was usual for some chief men, of alliance to the deceased King, to make use of his private seal, and of no other; that if this treaty were with the Poles or Danes, or others, that being wanting in their letters which was in Whitelocke's, he would not proceed any further with them until they should procure a fuller power and commission; and he said he had been present at many treaties which had been broken off upon a less defect than appeared in Whitelocke's letters. But in regard their business was with the Protector, whom the Queen and himself did so much honour and had so great a confidence in him, and upon Whitelocke's promise to procure such a power as they desired to be enlarged to him from the Protector, the Chancellor said they were ready to confirm the articles with their seals. Whitelocke took upon him what they desired, and then the Chancellor and his son Eric sealed that part of the articles which Whitelocke had prepared, and Whitelocke sealed the other part of the articles which had been prepared by the Chancellor and his son Grave Eric.[168]

The Queen's Commissioners insisted to have the date of these articles 11th of April, because then they were fully agreed, and the time after was for engrossing and preparing them to be signed and sealed; and Whitelocke did not oppose their desire herein.

Thus, after a long and intricate (it might be said vexatious) transaction of this great affair for near five months together, all bitter oppositions, cunning practices, and perplexed difficulties being removed and overcome, through the goodness and assistance of the only wise Counsellor, the Prince of Peace, it pleased Him to give a good issue and happy success in the conducting of this treaty by him who accounts his great labour and hazards in this transaction well bestowed, and humbly prays that this treaty may prove to the honour of God, the interest of the Protestant cause, and the good of both nations therein concerned.

April 29, 1654.

[SN: Whitelocke's passport through Flanders.]

Though Whitelocke received no letters this week from England, yet he had some from Hamburg and from Flanders, among which was one from Don Piementelle full of civility and compliment, giving Whitelocke notice of his safe arrival in Flanders, and advising him to take that way in his return; and in it was a letter in Spanish from Piementelle to the Prince of Mamines in Flanders, to be made use of by Whitelocke if he should have occasion there, for the more safety and accommodation of his journey. This letter Whitelocke caused to be translated:—

"Most excellent Sir,

"My Lord Whitelocke, the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary of England, having finished his embassy in this Court, is resolved to return through this province, having passed from Hamburg to Cologne, and that he may go to Brussels with better security, he desires a passport from your Highness to the Lord Archduke. I, having written that it may be despatched, and added that it may be remitted to your Excellence, do entreat you to order that the said despatch may be delivered to the party whom the said Lord Ambassador shall send from Cologne for it; and that, he passing through this town, his Lordship, by his civil entertainment, may understand the favour your Excellence doth afford me, I owing to this honourable person many and singular respects, which I desire to manifest and acknowledge. I am confident your Excellence will assist me herein, and will be disposed to employ me in many services of yours in Madrid, whither I am commanded to go, by order from my Lord the King, and shall begin my journey within three or four days, by way of Brussels, where I hope to find your Excellence's commands, which I assure you I shall esteem in all places and obey with the highest punctuality. God preserve your Excellence the many years of my desires.

"Your Excellence's greatest servant, "ANT^O PIMENTEL."

In the letter which Whitelocke wrote to Thurloe, after an account of the passages since his last, he wrote thus:—

[SN: Report of the signing of the treaty to Thurloe.]

"Having received no letters by the post yesterday from England, I was contented to seal the articles of our treaty; for if but a few days should be intermitted, they could not have been signed at all, because upon Tuesday next the Ricksdag, or Parliament here, is appointed to meet, and within two or three days after their meeting the Queen intends to resign her Government, and it will be some time after before the Prince be crowned. I shall have much to do to despatch the necessary ceremonies here of my public audience, to take my leave of the Queen, with the many visits I am to perform, according to the custom to which I am to conform, in regard of the honour of his Highness and our nation; for he who neglects these ceremonies here is censured for a mechanic or a boor. I intend from hence to go to the Prince of Sweden, to salute him from my Lord Protector, as I am advised that the Prince expects and desires it. From thence I purpose to go to Stockholm, where I am to take ship for Luebeck; and from thence to Hamburg, where I shall attend his Highness's further commands, or some ships to be sent for my transport into England, which I earnestly entreat you to procure in time.

"I hope, before my going from hence, to receive his Highness's order, which I long since wrote for, concerning my return; but however, my business being effected here, I presume I may, without displeasure to his Highness, be upon my return homewards; the rather, because upon the change which is shortly to be here my commission will be at an end.

"The Queen intends, shortly after her resignation, to go to the Spa, which I have cause to believe. In those parts they say the King of the Romans will wait upon her, but that I doubt.

"Her Majesty hath showed extraordinary affection and respect to my Lord Protector; so hath the Chancellor and his son Grave Eric, and my Lord Lagerfeldt, etc."

[SN: Whitelocke's interview with the Queen after the signing of the treaty.]

Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and gave her an account of the signing and sealing of his articles; whereupon she said:—

Queen. I am glad that this business is done to your satisfaction.

Whitelocke. There remains only your Majesty's sealing your letters of full power to your Commissioners who treated with me.

Qu. I sealed them this morning.

Wh. Then my humble suit is, that your Majesty would appoint a day for my audience to take my leave.

Qu. This is Saturday, but if you desire it you may have it on Friday next.

Wh. Would your Majesty's leisure permit to give me audience on Tuesday or Wednesday next, they being no holidays?

Qu. The Assembly is to sit on Tuesday, and at their first meeting I shall have a great deal of business with them, which will hinder me from any other affairs.

Wh. I humbly pray your Majesty to appoint it as soon as your own leisure will permit, for I shall have many businesses and ceremonies after it to perform, before my going away.

Qu. On Monday next I will appoint a day; and touching the secret article, about which I formerly discoursed with you, I have now altered my opinion, and am resolved to follow the advice that you and Mr. Woolfeldt have given me. I will write a letter under my own hand to the Protector to the effect you advised, and deliver it to you to be presented to him.

Wh. This will be much the better way.

Qu. I desire you to be careful of the letter; and before I seal it I will show it to you for your advice in it.

Wh. Madam, I shall have a special care of it, and to procure an answer of it from the Protector, I hope, to your Majesty's contentment, that you may make use of it if there shall be occasion; and I believe the Protector will be a firm friend to your Majesty.

Qu. I doubt it not, nor your respects to me.

Wh. I am engaged by your many favours to serve your Majesty with all faithfulness.

Qu. I had some clothes in a ship coming hither, and the ship is taken, and my clothes detained in England, so that I cannot get them to wear.

Wh. If your Majesty want clothes, I have a piece of English stuff at my house, which cost two shillings a yard; and, if that were not too dear for your Majesty's wearing, I would send it to you.

Qu. Two shillings a yard is dear enough for me: I pray send your stuff hither, and I shall willingly accept of it, and thank you for it.

Wh. Will your Majesty be pleased on Monday next to go into England?

Qu. Hardly so soon; yet perhaps I may one day see England. But what is your meaning in this?

Wh. Madam, Monday next is the first day of May, a great day in England; we call it May-day, when the gentlemen use to wait upon their mistresses abroad to bid the Spring welcome, and to have some collation or entertainment for them. Now your Majesty being my mistress, if you will do me the honour, that, after the custom of England, I may wait on you on May-day, and have a little treatment for you after the manner of England; this I call going into England, and shall take it as a very great favour from your Majesty.

Qu. If this be your meaning of going into England, I shall be very willing, as your mistress, to go with you on Monday next, and to see the English mode.

Lagerfeldt and the master of the ceremonies dining with Whitelocke, he inquired of them what was to be done by him as to presents to any of the Queen's servants or officers who had done him respect in his business, or being here, and what other things were requisite to be done by him, according to the usage of ambassadors in this Court before their going away, and when he might obtain his audience to take his leave. The master of the ceremonies gave him good and chargeable instructions; and Lagerfeldt agreed in most points with him, and, upon Whitelocke's entreaty, undertook to see that the letters of full power to the Queen's Commissioners, and the recredentials to Whitelocke, should be perfected and brought to him, and a day of audience appointed.

Lagerfeldt told Whitelocke that the Queen was willing to present him with some of this country's commodities, as copper, to carry with him into England, if it would be as acceptable to him as other presents of diamonds and the like; and he said he hoped there was no order of the Commonwealth of England to forbid the receiving of such presents by their public ministers. He said, that formerly he asked of Monsieur Chanut, the French Ambassador here, if he would accept a present of copper, and he willingly accepted it, and carried it with him, saying, that he rather desired copper than diamonds or jewels, because he could better sell the copper than jewels, and make money of it.

Whitelocke said, that whatsoever her Majesty pleased to bestow on him should be welcome to him, and that he liked the commodities of this country as well as those of the Indies, and that for Chanut's reason. He said that the Protector had not forbid him to receive any testimonies of the Queen's respect to him, as she used to do to all public ministers; that the order of the Commonwealth forbidding gifts or presents to public ministers was not now in force; that he thought her Majesty's bounty to him, and his justification of the acceptance of it, might be the more from such valuable presents as her Majesty had done him the honour to receive from him, and his intention to bestow all his horses upon her, and such as she would appoint, which, for the honour of the Commonwealth, he would not sell.

April 30, 1654.

[SN: Whitelocke accepts a present of copper.]

Berkman and Monsieur Bloome dined with Whitelocke, and took occasion to magnify the respects of the Chancellor and his son, Grave Eric, to the Protector and to Whitelocke, who was not backward to join in those eulogies, and to acknowledge the respects. Berkman said that Canterstein was to bring some writings to Whitelocke, and that Lagerfeldt had spoken to the Queen to present Whitelocke with some copper; that she had given order for two hundred ship-pound of copper to be brought from the mines to Stockholm, to be put aboard Whitelocke's ship, ready to be carried away with him; that every ship-pound was here worth forty dollars, and was as much as three hundred English pounds, which he cast up in the whole to the value of about L2500 sterling. And Whitelocke was satisfied in his own conscience that he might honourably receive it, having given to the Queen as many presents already as were worth L1000, and engaged to her his horses, which were worth about L2000 more, besides the gifts and gratuities which he had liberally given, and intended to give, to the Queen's servants and officers; and that, in recompense of above L3000 given away, he might well receive a present of the value of L2500.

Grave Leonhough visited Whitelocke, and had much discourse with him, not so proper for this day.

FOOTNOTES:

[85] [An ingenious device of Whitelocke's to lead the Spaniard to hasten the business of the treaty with Sweden, which he was suspected of having retarded.]

[86] The French, and English copies of the passport were these:—

"Comme ainsi soit que Don Antonio Piementel de Prado, Envoye Extraordinaire de sa Majeste le Roi d'Espagne a sa Majeste la Reine de Suede, soit maintenant sur son retour de ce lieu a Neufport en Flandres, dont son Excellence est Gouverneur; et qu'il ait juge a propos d'envoyer partie de son train et bagage par mer de Hambourg a Dunquerque, ou public autre port des Provinces Unies a present sous l'obeissance de sa dite Majeste le Roi d'Espagne; et pour leur procurer d'autant plus sur convoi, m'ait desire, comme Ambassadeur Extraordinaire de son Altesse Monseigneur le Protecteur de la Republique d'Angleterre, d'Ecosse, et d'Irlande, vers sa Majeste la Reine de Suede, de lui donner passeport: ces presents sont pour requerir tous ceux qui ont commandement par mer ou par terre, et tous officiers et autres de la dite Republique auxquels il peut appartenir, de permettre le porteur des presents, Joos Froidure, serviteur du dit Don Antonio Piementel, avec son navire et biens sous sa charge (a savoir, vingt caisses contenantes toutes sortes de meubles, comme vaisselle d'argent, tapisseries, linges, habits, lits de camp, et autres coffres et choses pareilles, et tout conduit par le susdit Joos Froidure, et les caisses marquees D. A. P.), de passer paisiblement et sans empechement quelconque jusqu'au dit Dunquerque, ou autre port des Provinces Unies de present sous l'obeissance de sa dite Majeste le Roi d'Espagne. Donne sous ma main et sceau, a Upsale en Suede, ce 4eme d'Avril, 1654. B. WHITELOCKE."