Chapter IV: Part 4

The Secretary Canterstein came to Whitelocke from the Chancellor, and brought to him the articles upon which they had last treated, now altered according to Whitelocke's desire, except that which concerned the forbidding of our enemies to buy arms in the countries of our confederates. He also delivered to Whitelocke the draft of a preamble for the articles, and another article for the ratifying of all the rest; whereunto Whitelocke consented, and thanked God that his business was brought so near to a good conclusion. Whitelocke received his packet from England, and Thurloe wrote that the Protector was sensible of the Queen's delaying of Whitelocke, but approved his proceedings. He sent this enclosed order:--

"AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL:
"_Friday, 17 Martii, 1653._

[SN: Order in Council in the matter of a Swedish prize.]

"On consideration of a letter, this day read in Council, sent from
the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary with her Majesty of Sweden,
mentioning, among other things, the taking of the ship 'Charity,'
Paul Paulsen, master, by a private man-of-war, and the carrying of
her into Dover, and the hard usage of the master and mariners, which
ship is claimed by some citizens of Gothenburg, subjects of the said
Queen:

"_Ordered_, That it be referred to the Commissioners of the
Admiralty speedily to put this matter in a way of examination; and,
for their information in the premises, to send for the commander of
the said man-of-war, and to receive a particular account and
satisfaction concerning the disposal of the ship and goods, and the
usage of the master and mariners, and thereupon to state the whole
case and report it to the Council, to the intent speedy justice may
be done therein; and the said Commissioners are likewise to take
order that all further proceedings touching the said ship, or her
lading or disposal of any part thereof, be stayed and forborne till
their report made and further order thereupon shall be given by the
Council.

"W. JESSOP, Clerk of the Council."

Thurloe wrote that in case the information given to Whitelocke were found to be true, that the parties offending would be severely punished and right done to those who were injured; and that the Council were very sensible hereof, as a hindrance to Whitelocke's proceedings and a dishonour to the Protector. He also wrote unto Whitelocke that there was little scruple now of an agreement upon the Dutch treaty, which was as good as concluded; and he sent the news of France and of Scotland and Ireland, as well as that of England, as he constantly used to do. Whitelocke caused this order to be translated into Latin, and made use of it for the advantage of his business.

A description was given to Whitelocke, in writing, of the manner of making gunpowder in these parts, and of their mills and vessels for it, not unlike in many things to their way in England.

_April 7, 1654._

[SN: The Queen's plans after abdication.]

Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and she was pleased to discourse with him to this effect:--

_Queen._ I am resolved to retire into Pomerland, and this summer to go to the Spa to drink the waters for my health.

_Whitelocke._ Give me leave, Madam, to put you in mind of two things to be specially taken care of: one is the security of your own person, the other is the settling of your revenue. Your Majesty, being of a royal and bountiful spirit, cannot look into such matters so much beneath you as expenses or accounts; and if care be not taken therein, and good officers, your Majesty may be disappointed and deceived.

_Qu._ I thank you for this counsel. I intend to have Mr. Flemming with me, to take charge of my revenue; he is a discreet, wise man, and fit for that employment, and to order the expenses of my house; I believe he will neither deceive me himself nor permit others to do it, for he is faithful to me.

_Wh._ Such a servant is a jewel. I hope care is taken that your Majesty's revenue be secured in such a manner that you shall not depend upon the pleasure of any other for the receipt of it, but to be in your power as mistress of it, not as a pensioner.

_Qu._ It shall be settled according to the advice you gave me, and I thank you for it.

_Wh._ Madam, I account it a happiness if in anything I may be serviceable to your Majesty. Whom doth your Majesty take with you beside Mr. Flemming of that quality?

_Qu._ I desire the company of Mr. Woolfeldt and his lady, if they will go with me.

_Wh._ I suppose they will be very serviceable to your Majesty; and I hope it will not be long, after the business here effected, before you transport yourself into Pomerland, lest any designs should be against your liberty, for, Madam, in this age there be few persons to be trusted.

_Qu._ That is too great a truth, and I thank you for the caution. I could freely trust yourself with any of my concernments; and if you will come to me into Pomerland, you shall be as welcome as any man living, and we will be merry together.

_Wh._ I humbly thank your Majesty for your great favour to your servant, who hath a wife and children enough to people a province in Pomerland, and I shall bring them all thither to do your Majesty service.

_Qu._ If you will bring your lady and all your children and family thither, and settle yourself there, you shall want nothing in my power, and shall be very welcome to me.

_Wh._ I am your Majesty's most humble servant; and I pray, Madam, give me leave to ask your Majesty, whether you judge it requisite for me to wait on the Prince of Sweden before my going out of this country.

_Qu._ I think it very fit and necessary for you to see the Prince before you leave this country; it will be taken as a respect from the Protector to him, and if you do not, it will be looked upon as a neglect of him.

_Wh._ I am obliged to do all that lies in my power to enlarge the Protector's interest.

_Qu._ The Prince being to succeed in the Crown, and in so short a time, it will be fit to keep a fair correspondence with him and to show respect to him, whereof your visit will be a good testimony.

_Wh._ Madam, your opinion will be a great direction to me in my affairs.

_Qu._ I think it will be an advantage to your business for you to speak with the Prince himself, who will take it in good part, and hold himself the more obliged to the observance of what shall be agreed upon in your present treaty, being acquainted therewith by you that made it.

_Wh._ I hope the treaty which your Majesty shall make will be observed by any who shall succeed you; but I acknowledge it is very advisable for me to have some discourse with his Royal Highness, to give him an account of the treaty, and I shall inquire where I may attend him.

_Qu._ You must go from hence to Stockholm, and so to Nordköping, and the castle where the Prince now resides is within a league of that town; you may have my coaches and horses to transport you, and my servants to guide you thither.

_Wh._ I humbly desire your Majesty to make choice of any of my coach-horses or saddle-horses that may be useful for you, and to command them; they are all at your Majesty's service.

_Qu._ I shall not make choice of any; but if you bestow any of them upon me, they will be very acceptable.

_Wh._ I humbly acknowledge your Majesty's great favour in affording a despatch to my business.

_Qu._ I wish you with the Protector, because I see you are a faithful servant to him, and worthy to serve any prince in Christendom.

_Wh._ Your Majesty ever had a favour for me, and in nothing more than in my despatch.

_Qu._ I think it not fit for you to be in Sweden too near the time of the coronation of the new King; and then to go away, and not to see him, would be worse.

_Wh._ I do intend, upon your Majesty's advice, to salute him before my going away, and shall desire that the ships may meet me near the place where his Royal Highness is.

_Qu._ I will give order for it, and will be gone myself not long after; if I had staid here I should have been glad of your longer stay.

Whitelocke took his leave of the Queen, and, being returned home, Field-Marshal Wrangel visited him, and after dinner, being in a good humour, discoursed freely and much of the English fleet at sea. Whitelocke showed him a draught of the ship 'Sovereign,' with her dimensions, guns, and men, wherewith he was much pleased. He told Whitelocke that, by command of the Queen, he had prepared ships for Whitelocke's transportation from Stockholm to Lübeck.

[SN: Whitelocke reports on the treaty to Thurloe.]

Whitelocke made his despatches for England, and in his letters to Thurloe gave this account of the treaty:--

"1. Their first article differs not in substance from the first
which I proposed, and therefore I did not object against it; but as
to all of them, I reserved a liberty to myself of further
consideration and objection. I did a little stick upon the word
'colonias' in this article, lest it might tend to anything of
commerce in America; but finding it only to relate to the amity, I
passed it over.

"2. The first part of it agrees in substance with my sixth article,
the latter part of it with my fourth article; only I objected
against their words in this article, 'in damnum illius,' who should
be judge thereof, and the omission of that part of my fourth article
against harbouring of enemies and rebels.

"3. Their third article agrees in substance with my second article,
but is more general, not naming the Sound, and explaining the word
'aliorsum' in my second article; and I desired that the word
'populos' might be added after the word 'subditos.'

"4. Their fourth in the beginning agrees with my third article; that
of it touching the trade of America and the fishing I answered, as I
gave you a former account, and thereupon denied it, as also that
part of it which concerns importation of goods in foreign bottoms,
being contrary to our Act of Parliament. In this latter end of
their fourth article they likewise bring in again the business of
fishing implicitly in the words 'maribus, littoribus,' etc., and
therefore I desired that all that part might be left out, and in
lieu thereof I offered the latter part of my third article beginning
with the words 'solutis tamen,' etc., and the last of my reserved
articles to be admitted; or else, I desired that this whole article
of theirs might be omitted, and in lieu thereof my third article,
and the last of my reserved articles to be admitted; and they
likewise insist to have these words added if that part of their
fourth article be omitted, viz. 'quoad Americæ commercium,
piscationem halecum, et mercium importationem, de his in posterum
erit conventum.'

"5. Their fifth article agrees in substance with my eleventh, only
hath more words to express the same matter.

"6. Their sixth agrees in substance with my thirteenth article, with
the addition of words for kind usage, and the omission of the
proviso in my thirteenth article as to breaking of bulk; which yet
seems to be supplied by the latter part of their sixth article, of
conforming to the ordinances of the place.

"7. Agrees with my reserved article, marked with fifteen, only the
words 'nihil inde juris' I thought fit to be omitted, because in the
treaty we are not to meddle with particular rights; yet the sense
and desire thereof is answered in the words for restitution. I
offered them, if they liked not this, my fifteenth article, which is
one of those reserved, omitting only that part as not conducing to
this article, viz. 'Et si lis,' etc.

"8. Agrees in substance with my twelfth article, only the
expressions here are longer; and that for justice to be had agrees
with the latter part of my reserved article fifteenth.

"9. In the general differs not in the substance from my seventh, and
the beginning of my reserved articles; and the laws in this ninth
article, first, second, third, and fourth, are not contrary to the
substance of mine; but to the fifth I excepted, as contrary to part
of my seventh article, and to their sixth law, as to bringing in of
ships and goods from enemies; both which nevertheless, in case we
have peace with the Dutch, will be more to our advantage, in my
humble opinion, to continue in than to be omitted; as also that not
to contend in the harbours; and so the first, second, third, and
fourth laws. The seventh law, I humbly conceive, not differing in
substance from my articles, nor disadvantageous to England. To their
sixth law I desired that my seventh article might be added, the
which they denied, as to forbid enemies to either to buy arms, etc.

"10. Agrees in part with my ninth, only the latter part of it seems
to bring in the trade of America, and a liberty contrary to the Act
of Navigation; but they insist that the same is saved by the latter
words of this article, 'modò consuetudines antiquæ;' but I was not
satisfied herewith, and desired that that part of it which is marked
might be omitted, and the latter part of my ninth article, viz.
'utrisque utrinque observantibus,' etc. inserted, which I humbly
conceive will help it; or else I desire that this tenth article may
be wholly omitted, and in lieu thereof my ninth may be agreed.

"11. To this article of theirs I wholly excepted, because it agrees
not with any of mine, nor with reason, that when our enemies have
forbidden any to bring contraband goods to us, that yet we should
permit them to be brought unto our enemies. They told me that the
Queen had sent unto the States to repeal that placard of theirs. I
answered, that when I was certified that that placard was repealed,
I would then desire to know the Protector's further pleasure herein;
but before that be done, I thought it would be in vain to trouble
him about it.

"12. Is not expressly in any of my articles, but agreed by the
Council of State unto Mr. Lagerfeldt, only the form of the letters
of safe-conduct not fully assented unto; therefore I desired that
the same might be remitted to a future agreement; but as to the rest
of this article, it is not repugnant to the substance of mine, that
the navigation and commerce may be free.

"13. In the first part of it agrees almost _verbatim_ with my tenth
article; the latter part of it, concerning satisfaction for losses,
is much altered from what it was at first exhibited, and is now put
on both parties, and referred to future agreement, wherein there can
be no prejudice to our Commonwealth; but before, it was reproachful
to the justice thereof and laid on our part only; now it is no more
than what the Council and State promised in their papers to Mr.
Lagerfeldt.

"14. Agrees in substance with my ninth article.

"15. Contains the substance of my fifth article, but is expressed
more generally, and, as I humbly believe, no less to the advantage
of our Commonwealth.

"I found more readiness in the Queen to consent to what I proposed
than in her Commissioners; but some things she told me she could not
consent to, because they were against the interest of her people,
and were not considerable to England. I gave her thanks for my
despatch. She said she had an ambition to have the honour of making
an alliance with the Protector herself before she quitted the
Government, and that she might testify her respects to him, and
therefore had gone as far as possibly she could; and indeed there is
now very little difference, but only in words and expressions, from
the sense and substance of what I first proposed. And I presume that
what is here agreed by me will give good satisfaction and
contentment to the Protector and Council, and I apprehend it clearly
within my instructions; acknowledging the goodness of God to me in
this business, where I met with so many difficulties, and of so
great weight, that yet in a fortnight's time it should be brought to
a full conclusion, with honour and advantage to the Protector and
present Government, for which I have taken all care.

"The articles are not yet drawn up, but I hope we shall sign them
the next week, and presently after I intend to demand audience to
take my leave and to remove from hence, and, as soon as I can, to
come to Lübeck, and from thence to Hamburg; and I have by this post
humbly desired my Lord Protector to appoint some of his ships to
meet me at Hamburg as soon as they can, for my transportation from
thence to England. And I humbly entreat your favour to put his
Highness in mind of it, and that you will take care that the orders
may be had, and the ships to come as soon as may be to the Elbe, to
Hamburg, where I shall stay for them, or till I receive his
Highness's further commands; and I choose this way as the shortest,
and where I shall meet with any despatches that may come from
England. I presume you will be troubled with an importunate suitor
for hastening my return.

"I received your letters of the 17th March, and the order of the
Council concerning the Swedish ship, for which I return my humble
thanks. The Queen, and the Chancellor and others here, were much
satisfied with it. The Chancellor and his son have been very civil
to me, and lately furthering my despatch. I hope the same goodness
of God which hath hitherto brought me through this great business
will give me a safe return to my dear country and friends, where I
may have opportunity with thankfulness to acknowledge your constant
favour and kindness to

"Your affectionate friend to serve you,
"B. W.
"_Upsal, April 7th, 1654._"

_April 8, 1654._

[SN: A masque at Court.]

The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the Queen, to desire his company this evening at a masque; and they had this discourse:--

_Whitelocke._ Present my thanks to her Majesty, and tell her I will wait upon her.

[SN: Precedence claimed by Denmark.]

_Mast. Cer._ What would your Excellence expect in matter of precedence, as in case you should meet with any other ambassador at the masque?

_Wh._ I shall expect that which belongs to me as Ambassador from the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and I know no other ambassador now in this Court besides myself, except the Ambassador of the King of Denmark, who, I suppose, hath no thoughts of precedence before the English Ambassador, who is resolved not to give it him if he should expect it.

_Mast. Cer._ Perhaps it may be insisted on, that he of Denmark is an ambassador of an anointed king, and you are only ambassador to the Protector--a new name, and not _sacré_.

_Wh._ Whosoever shall insist on that distinction will be mistaken, and I understand no difference of power between king and protector, or anointed or not anointed; and ambassadors are the same public ministers to a protector or commonwealth as to a prince or sultan.

_Mast. Cer._ There hath always been a difference observed between the public ministers of kings and of commonwealths, or princes of inferior titles.

_Wh._ The title of Protector, as to a sovereign title, hath not yet been determined in the world as to superiority or inferiority to other titles; but I am sure that the nation of England hath ever been determined superior to that of Denmark. I represent the nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Protector, who is chief of them; and the honour of these nations ought to be in the same consideration now as it hath been formerly, and I must not suffer any diminution of that honour by my person to please any whatsoever.

_Mast. Cer._ I shall propose an expedient to you, that you may take your places as you come: he who comes first, the first place, and he who comes last, the lower place.

_Wh._ I shall hardly take a place below the Danish Ambassador, though I come into the room after him.

_Mast. Cer._ But when you come into the room and find the Danish Ambassador set, you cannot help it, though he have the upper place.

_Wh._ I shall endeavour to help it, rather than sit below the Danish Ambassador.

_Mast. Cer._ I presume you will not use force in the Queen's presence.

_Wh._ Master, it is impossible for me, if it were in the presence of all the queens and kings in Christendom, to forbear to use any means to hinder the dishonour of my nation in my person.

_Mast. Cer._ I believe the Danish Ambassador would not be so high as you are.

_Wh._ There is no reason why he should: he knows his nation never pretended to have the precedence of England, and you, being master of the ceremonies, cannot be ignorant of it.

_Mast. Cer._ I confess that your nation always had the precedence of Denmark when you were under a king.

_Wh._ I should never give it from them though they were under a constable.

_Mast. Cer._ If you insist upon it, the Danish Ambassador must be uninvited again, for I perceive that you two must not meet.

_Wh._ I suppose the gentleman would not expect precedence of me.

_Mast. Cer._ I can assure you he doth.

_Wh._ I can assure you he shall never have it, if I can help it. But I pray, Master, tell me whether her Majesty takes notice of this question of precedence, or did she wish to confer with me about it?

_Mast. Cer._ The Queen commanded me to speak with you about it, hoping that the question might be so composed that she might have the company of you both at her entertainment.

_Wh._ I shall stay at home rather than interrupt her Majesty's pleasures, which I should do by meeting the Danish Ambassador, to whom I shall not give precedence, unless he be stronger than I.

_Mast. Cer._ The Queen makes this masque chiefly for your Excellence's entertainment, therefore you must not be absent, but rather the Danish Ambassador must be uninvited; and I shall presently go about it.

[SN: Order on the Swedish ships.]

Whitelocke returned a visit to Grave Eric, and showed him the Order of the Council touching the Swedish ships, much in favour of them, and which seemed very pleasing to the Grave; but he also showed to Whitelocke several letters which he had received from masters of Swedish ships, of new complaints of taking of their ships; and he desired that the Order showed him by Whitelocke might be extended to those whose ships had been since taken; which Whitelocke promised to endeavour, and said that he should be in a better capacity to serve him, and to procure discharges for their ships and goods, when he should be himself in England; and therefore desired that, by his despatch, they would hasten him thither, which the Grave promised to do. At his going away, Grave Eric invited Whitelocke to dine with him on Monday next, and to come as a particular friend and brother, and not by a formal invitation as an ambassador. Whitelocke liked the freedom, and promised to wait on him; and was the more willing to come, that he might see the fashion of their entertainments, this being the first invitation that was made to him by any person in this country.

General Grave Wirtenberg visited Whitelocke. He is a Finlander by birth, of an ancient family, who had applied himself wholly to the military profession, wherein he became so eminent, and had done so great service for this Crown, that he was had in great esteem, especially with the soldiery. He was a Ricks-Senator, and one of the College of War, and at present had the charge of General of the Ordnance, which is of higher account here than in England, being next in command to the Generalissimo, and over the soldiery which belong not to the train, and is often employed as a general. This gentleman seemed worthy of his honour; he was of a low stature, somewhat corpulent, of a good mien, and plain behaviour, more in the military than courtly way. His discourse declared his reason and judgement to be very good, and his mention of anything relating to himself was full of modesty. He took great notice of the English navy and soldiery, and of the people's inclinations and violent desires of liberty. He spake only Swedish and High Dutch, which caused Whitelocke to make use of an interpreter, his kinsman Andrew Potley.

[SN: The masque.]

In the evening, according to the invitation from the Queen, Whitelocke went to Court to the masque, where he did not find the Danish Ambassador. But some of the Court took notice of the discourse which had been between the master of the ceremonies and Whitelocke touching precedence, and they all approved Whitelocke's resolution, and told him that the Queen highly commended him for it, and said that he was a stout and faithful servant to the Protector and to his nation, and that she should love him the better for it; nor was the contest the less pleasing because with the Dane in Sweden.

From eight o'clock at night till two the next morning they were at the masque, which was in the usual room fitted for the solemnity, in which the Queen herself was an actor. The floor where they danced was covered with tapestry and hung about with red velvet, but most adorned by the presence of a great number of ladies richly dressed and beautified both by nature and habit, attending on their mistress; and there were also many senators, officers, courtiers, and nobility,--a very great presence of spectators. The music was excellent, especially the violins, which were many, and rare musicians and fittest for that purpose. The Queen herself danced very well at two entries: in the first she represented a Moorish lady, in the second a citizen's wife; in both the properties were exactly fitted, and in all the rest of the actors and dancers.

There were no speeches nor songs; men acting men's parts, and women the women's, with variety of representations and dances. The whole design was to show the vanity and folly of all professions and worldly things, lively represented by the exact properties and mute actions, genteelly, without the least offence or scandal.

It held two hours; and after the dances the Queen caused her chair to be brought near to Whitelocke, where she sat down and discoursed with him of the masque. He (according to his judgement) commended it and the inoffensiveness of it, and rare properties fitted to every representation, with the excellent performance of their parts by all, especially by the Moorish lady and citizen's wife; at which the Queen smiled, and said she was glad he liked it. He replied, that any of his countrymen might have been present at it without any offence, and he thanked her Majesty for the honour she gave him to be present at it. The Queen said she perceived that Whitelocke understood what belonged to masques and the most curious part of them, the properties,--with much like discourse; after which she retired to her chamber, and Whitelocke to his lodging.

_April 9, 1654._

Monsieur Bloome came to dine with Whitelocke, and to put him in mind of Grave Eric's request{5} to him to dine with him the next day. He also sent to invite Whitelocke's two sons and Colonel Potley.

[SN: The Spanish Envoy departs with rich presents.]

In the afternoon Piementelle came to take his leave of Whitelocke, and said he intended to begin his journey the next morning. Whitelocke offered himself or his coaches and servants, to attend him out of town; but he said it was not the custom when a public minister departed from a place to use any ceremony, but to leave him to the liberty of ordering and taking his journey, but thanked Whitelocke for his favour.

Though it were the Lord's Day, yet Piementelle fell into discourse of the last night's masque, which he could not be present at publicly as formerly, because he had taken his leave of the Queen and Senators, yet, being desirous to see it, was admitted into the tiring-room; and he told Whitelocke that after the Queen had acted the Moorish lady and retired into that room to put off her disguise, Piementelle being there, she gave him her visor; in the mouth whereof was a diamond ring of great price, which shined and glistered gloriously by the torch and candle light as the Queen danced; this she bade Piementelle to keep till she called for it. Piementelle told her he wondered she would trust a jewel of that value in the hands of a soldier; she said she would bear the adventure of it. And when the masque was ended, Piementelle offered the ring again to the Queen, who told him that he had not kept it according to her commands, which were till she called for it, which she had not yet done, nor intended as long as she lived, but that he should keep it as a memorial of her favour. The Spaniard had cause to rest satisfied with the Queen's answer and her real and bountiful compliment, the ring being worth ten thousand crowns, which he brought away with him, besides many other jewels and presents from the Queen of great value, not publicly known. He took leave of Whitelocke and of his sons, Colonel Potley, and the gentlemen, with great civility.

_April 10, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke dines with Grave Eric Oxenstiern.]

Between eleven and twelve o'clock, the usual dining-time here, Whitelocke, with his sons and Potley, attended only by two gentlemen, one page, and two lacqueys, went to Grave Eric's lodging to dinner. His rooms were not stately nor richly furnished, but such as could be had in that place. The outer room for servants was like a little hall; within that was a larger room, narrow and long, where they dined; within that was a smaller room hung with tapestry, used for a withdrawing-room: all below stairs, which is not usual in these parts.

Grave Eric met Whitelocke at the door of the lodging; in the dining-room was his father the Chancellor, and divers friends with him. The father and son went in with Whitelocke to the withdrawing-room, where, after a quarter of an hour's discourse, they were called to dinner, the meat being on the table; then a huge massy basin and ewer of silver gilt was brought for them to wash--some of the good booties met with in Germany. After washing, one of the pages (after their manner) said grace in Swedish.

The table was long and narrow; in the middle of it, on the further side, under a canopy of velvet, were set two great chairs: Whitelocke sat in the right-hand chair, and Woolfeldt in the other, on his left-hand. On the other side of the table, over against these, were set two other like great chairs; in the right-hand chair sat the Ricks-Droitset, and in the left-hand chair the Chancellor. By Whitelocke sat Grave Gabriel Oxenstiern and Senator Vanderlin in lesser chairs, and by Woolfeldt sat Whitelocke's sons and Potley. On the other side, in lesser chairs, by the Droitset, sat the Senators Beilke and Bundt the younger; by the Chancellor sat Senator Bundt the elder and Baron Douglas; at the upper end of the table sat Grave Eric, and at the lower end stood the carver. The dishes were all silver, not great, but many, set one upon another, and filled with the best meat and most variety that the country did afford; and indeed the entertainment was very noble--they had four several courses of their best meat, and fish and fowl, dressed after the French mode.

They had excellent Rhenish wine, and indifferent good sack and claret; their beer very thick and strong, after the manner of the country. When the four courses were done, they took off the meat and tablecloth, and under it was another clean cloth; then they brought clean napkins and plates to every one, and set a full banquet on the table, and, as part thereof, tobacco and pipes, which they set before Whitelocke as a special respect to him, and he and two or three more of the company took of it as they sat at table; and they so civilly complied with Whitelocke as not to observe their own customs, but abstaining from healths or any excess.

They all sat bare at the table, according to their usage, chiefly (though no occasion were for it at this time) to avoid the trouble of often putting off and on their hats and caps in healths. They were full of good discourse, more cheerful than serious. Most at the table spake or understood somewhat of English, for which reason they were chosen to accompany Whitelocke here, as a compliment to his nation; they discoursed also in several other languages, as Swedish, High Dutch, French, and Latin.

After dinner, which was very long, they sat yet longer at the table, Whitelocke expecting when they would rise; till Douglas informed him, that he being the guest, and an ambassador, they used it as a respect to him, that none of the company would offer to rise till he first arose from the table. As soon as this was known to Whitelocke, he presently rose and the rest with him, and the Chancellor and he retired into the withdrawing-room; where, after compliments and thanks for his noble treatment (which it was said the father made, though put out in the son's name, and was full of respect and magnificence), Whitelocke thought fit to show to the Chancellor his powers to treat, and they had conference to this effect.

[SN: Whitelocke exchanges his full powers.]

_Whitelocke._ Father, if you please to peruse this writing, you will be satisfied that the Protector, since the late change of Government in England, hath thought me worthy to be trusted and furnished with sufficient power as to this treaty.

_Chancellor._ My dear son, this is very full, and a large testimony of the good opinion your master hath of you. All your powers and the originals of your commissions (according to custom) are to be left with us, to be registered in our Chancery.

_Wh._ I suppose you will also deliver to me the originals of your powers, to be enrolled (according to the English custom also) in our Chancery.

_Chan._ That shall be done.

_Wh._ The like shall be done on my part; and the Protector will be ready to do whatever shall be judged further necessary for the ratifying of this business.

_Chan._ It will be requisite that you let me have in Latin your instructions from the Protector.

_Wh._ I shall cause it to be done, except such part of them as are secret.

_Chan._ That which is to be reserved in secresy I desire not to see; there will be sufficient besides to show your powers.

_Wh._ They will fully appear.

_Chan._ I should counsel you, before your departure out of this kingdom, to make a visit to the Prince of Sweden; he will take it in good part, and it will testify a respect of the Protector to him, and render the alliance the more firm.

_Wh._ It is my purpose to visit the Prince; not that I am in doubt of the validity of the treaty made with the Queen, unless the Prince approve of it, but, as you advise, to show the respect of the Protector to his Kingly Highness, and to acquit myself of a due civility.

_Chan._ It will be fit for you to do it; and I shall advise you, at your return home, to put the Protector in mind of some particulars which, in my judgement, require his special care.

_Wh._ I shall faithfully do it, and I know they will be received with much the more regard coming from you: I pray do me the favour to let me know them.

[SN: Oxenstiern's advice to Cromwell.]

_Chan._ I would counsel the Protector to take heed of those dangerous opinions in matters of religion which daily increase among you, and, if not prevented and curbed, will cause new troubles, they never resting till themselves may domineer in chief.

_Wh._ Will not the best way to curb them be to slight them, and so they will fall of themselves?

_Chan._ I doubt they have taken too much root to fall so easily; but if they be not countenanced with preferments, they will the sooner wither and decay.

_Wh._ That will surely lessen them.

_Chan._ The Protector must also be careful to provide money and employment for his soldiers, else he will hardly keep them in order.

_Wh._ That is very requisite; and for money there is good provision already made.

_Chan._ He must likewise be watchful of the King's party, who will be busy at work, especially upon the new change.

_Wh._ The care thereof is the life of our affairs, and his Highness is most vigilant.

_Chan._ It behoves him to be so, for they that could not vanquish him by arms will endeavour to do it by craft and treachery of your own party, which you must look to.

_Wh._ He hath good intelligence of their plots.

_Chan._ It will also be prudence in him to let the people see that he intends not to rule them with an iron sceptre, nor to govern them by an army, but to give them such a liberty and enjoyment of the benefit of their laws that the continuance of his government may become their interest, and that they may have no cause to desire a change; else, though they must bear the yoke for a time, yet as soon as they meet with an opportunity they will shake it off again.

_Wh._ This is counsel proper to come from such a mind and judgement as yours is, and I shall not fail to report it to his Highness; and your Excellence hath rightly stated the disposition of my countrymen, who love peace and liberty, and will hardly brook slavery longer than they are forced to it by necessity; and the best way to govern them is to let them enjoy their laws and rights, which will rule them better than an iron sceptre.

_Chan._ It is the disposition of all generous and free people, as the English are, whom I truly respect, and him that is their head, that gallant person the Protector.

They had much other discourse; and after being together till six o'clock, the father and son, and the Chancellor and Whitelocke, called one another, and all the company parted.

_April 11, 1654._

[SN: The Queen proposes a secret article.]

The Chancellor had promised to procure Whitelocke his despatch in a few days. He sent Canterstein to communicate to him the articles drawn in form, with the amendments, to see if there were any mistake in them. Whitelocke and the secretary perused them together, and agreed on all except two or three points, in which was some small difference; and Canterstein promised to hasten the engrossing of them.

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 £13,000 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.