Chapter VIII: Part 8

They went all to the great hall; first the noblemen, then the senators, then the bridegroom between Bundt and Whitelocke, then the bride between two Graves, then the Queen and her Guards. Then the Queen presently took her chair of state; at her right-hand at a little distance sat the bride against her; at the Queen's left-hand sat the bridegroom, next to him Whitelocke, and then Bundt. After they were all sat, Bundt rose up and went towards the Queen, and spake in Swedish with a loud voice to this effect, as it was interpreted to Whitelocke:--That Baron Horne, a gentleman there present, of an ancient and noble family, desired to have in marriage a lady who was servant to her Majesty, of the ancient and noble family of the Sparres; then he spake much of the pedigrees and in the praise of both the families; after that he addressed himself to the bride and bridegroom, giving them good counsel as to the condition which they were entering into, and their demeanour to one another. Then some friends led the bridegroom to a place in the midst of the hall purposely railed in, and then they fetched the bride thither also and placed her by the bridegroom; then a grave churchman, one of the Queen's chaplains, turning himself to the Queen, pronounced the words of marriage after a form in a book which he read, and being interpreted to Whitelocke, he found it the same in effect with the words of marriage in the English Liturgy. The ceremony of joining them in marriage being ended, two Graves with torches came to the bridegroom and bride and led them around; two other Lords with torches followed after them, many ladies two by two. The bride being brought to her seat by the bridegroom, he then took the Queen by the hand and they walked between the torches; then the bride came and took Whitelocke by the hand and they walked after the Queen. Whitelocke brought the bride again to her place, and being instructed that he was to take the Queen and march the round with her also, Whitelocke did it, and all this was a solemn walking to the sound of drums and trumpets. After which, every one returned to their places, and then they set to dancing of the brawls; and the Queen came to Whitelocke to take him out to dance with her, who excused himself.

[SN: Whitelocke dances with the Queen.]

_Whitelocke._ Madam, I am fearful that I shall dishonour your Majesty, as well as shame myself, by dancing with you.

_Queen._ I will try whether you can dance.

_Wh._ I assure your Majesty I cannot in any measure be worthy to have you by the hand.

_Qu._ I esteem you worthy, and therefore make choice of you to dance with me.

_Wh._ I shall not so much undervalue your Majesty's judgement as not to obey you herein, and I wish I could remember as much of this as when I was a young man.

After they had done dancing, and Whitelocke had waited upon the Queen to her chair of state, she said to him--

_Qu._ _Par Dieu!_ these Hollanders are lying fellows.

_Wh._ I wonder how the Hollanders should come into your mind upon such an occasion as this is, who are not usually thought upon in such solemnities, nor much acquainted with them.

_Qu._ I will tell you all. The Hollanders reported to me a great while since that all the _noblesse_ of England were of the King's party, and none but mechanics of the Parliament party, and not a gentleman among them; now I thought to try you, and to shame you if you could not dance; but I see that you are a gentleman and have been bred a gentleman, and that makes me say the Hollanders are lying fellows, to report that there was not a gentleman of the Parliament's party, when I see by you chiefly, and by many of your company, that you are gentlemen.

_Wh._ Truly, Madam, in this they told a great untruth to your Majesty, as I believe they have done in several other particulars. I do confess that the greatest part of our nobility and gentry were of the King's party, but many of them likewise were of the Parliament's party; and I, who am sent to wait upon your Majesty, can, without vanity, derive to myself an ancient pedigree of a gentleman. They would not have given the honour to any but a gentleman to kiss your Majesty's hand, and you are pleased to do your servant right, and his company, by acknowledging that our superiors have commanded gentlemen to wait on you.

_Qu._ I assure you that I esteem it the greater honour done to me, and you are the more welcome to me because you are a gentleman; and had I not known and found you to be so, your business would not have been so well despatched as it is. I see you have all the qualities of a gentleman, and I believe that you were excellent in your music and dancing in your younger days.

_Wh._ I was bred up in the qualities of a gentleman, and in my youth was accounted not inferior to others in the practice of them; but it is so long since I used this of dancing, especially after we learned to march, that had it not been to obey your Majesty, I should hardly have been drawn to discover my deficiencies.

_Qu._ You have discovered nothing but what tends to your honour and to my contentment; and I take it as a favour that you were willing to lay aside your gravity and play the courtier upon my request, which I see you can do so well when you please.

After the dancing ended, there was brought into the hall a sumptuous banquet, the Hof-Marshal with his silver staff ushering it, and after that distributed. The Queen and all the company went back in the same order to the presence-chamber, and there the Queen bid the bride and bridegroom good-night, and so all went to their lodgings, divers of the nobles waiting on the bride to her chamber.

The Queen told Whitelocke that she believed the Prince would be here on Tuesday next, and that Whitelocke should have his audience on Friday next. Whitelocke took his coach, after it had waited nine hours at the castle.

_May 11, 1654._

[SN: The abdication of Queen Christina.]

Early in the morning the master of the ceremonies came to accompany Whitelocke to the castle, to see the manner of the assembly of the Ricksdag, and brought him and his company to the castle to an upper room or gallery, where he sat privately, not taken notice of by any, yet had the full view of the great hall where the Ricksdag met, and heard what was said. The Danish Ambassador did forbear to come thither, as was supposed, because of Whitelocke being there. The French Resident sat by Whitelocke, and conversed with him.

The great hall, two stories high, was prepared for the Assembly. An outer chamber was hung with cloth of Arras; in the antechamber to that were guards of the Queen's partisans; in the court was a company of musketeers. The great hall was hung with those hangings which were before in Whitelocke's lodgings, with some others added, and was very handsome. On each side of the hall, from the walls towards the middle of the room, forms were placed, covered with red cloth, for seats for the Members, and were all alike without distinction, and reached upwards. Three parts of the length of the hall, in the midst between the seats, was a space or lane broad enough for three to walk abreast together. At the upper end of the hall, on a foot-pace three steps high, covered with foot-carpets, stood the chair of state, all of massy silver, a rich cushion in it, and a canopy of crimson velvet richly embroidered over it. On the left side of the chair of state were placed five ordinary chairs of crimson velvet, without arms, for the five Ricks-officers; and on the same side below them, and on the other side from the foot-pace down to the forms, in a semicircular form, were stools of crimson velvet for the Ricks-Senators.

About nine o'clock there entered at the lower end of the great hall a plain, lusty man in his boor's habit, with a staff in his hand, followed by about eighty boors, Members of this Council, who had chosen the first man for their Marshal, or Speaker. These marched up in the open place between the forms to the midst of them, and then the Marshal and his company sat down on the forms on the right of the State, from the midst downwards to the lower end of the hall, and put on their hats. A little while after them entered at the same door a man in a civil habit of a citizen, with a staff in his hand, followed by about a hundred and twenty citizens, deputies of the cities and boroughs, who had chosen him to be their Marshal. They all took their places upon the forms over-against the boors in the lower end of the hall, and were covered. Not long after, at the same door, entered a proper gentleman richly habited, a staff in his hand, who was Marshal of the Nobility, followed by near two hundred lords and gentlemen, Members of the Ricksdag, chief of their respective families, many of them rich in clothes, of civil deportment. They took their seats uppermost on the right of the State, and whilst they walked up to their forms the citizens and boors stood up uncovered; and when the nobility sat and put on their hats, the citizens and boors did so likewise. A little after, at the same door, entered the Archbishop of Upsal with a staff in his hand, who by his place is Marshal of the Clergy. He was followed by five or six other bishops and all the superintendents, and about sixty Ministers, Deputies, or Proctors of the Clergy. While they walked up to their places all the rest of the Members stood up uncovered; and when they sat down on the uppermost forms on the left side of the State, and put on their hats and caps, the rest of the Members did the like; these were grave men, in their long cassocks and canonical habit, and most with long beards.

All the Members being thus sat, about a quarter of an hour after entered the Captain, followed by divers of the Queen's Guard, with partisans. After them came many gentlemen of the Queen's servants, uncovered, with swords by their sides and well clad, two and two together. After them came the Ricks-Senators in their order, the puisne first. After them the Ricks-officers, all bare. After them came the Queen, and kept off her hat in the hall, some of the officers of the Court and pages after her. In this order they went up in the open place in the midst of the forms, all the Members standing up uncovered. The Queen's company made a lane for her to pass through, and she went up to her chair and sat down in it; and all the company, except the members of the Council, went out of the hall, and all the doors were shut; the Members sat in their places uncovered.

After the Queen had sat a little, she rose, and beckoned to the Chancellor to come to her, who came with great ceremony and respect; and after a little speaking together he returned to his place, and the Queen sat down again a little time; then rising up with mettle, she came forward to the utmost part of the foot-pace, and with a good grace and confidence spake to the Assembly, as it was interpreted to Whitelocke, to this effect:--

[SN: The Queen's speech.]

"The occasion, my friends, wherefore you are called together to this
Diet will in some sort appear strange to you; for being so unusual,
and as it were unheard of, it cannot be understood without great
astonishment. But, Gentlemen, when you shall a little reflect upon
what hath passed some years since, you will then perceive that it is
no new thing, but long since premeditated, and by me wished and
intended.

"It is sufficiently known to you what hath formerly passed as to the
succession of my most dear cousin to this kingdom; and I esteem
myself very happy that all things at present are in such a posture
that thereupon I may bring my purpose to effect, which is, to offer
and to give into the hands of my most dear cousin our most dear
country and the royal seat, with the crown, the sceptre, and the
government. I need not repeat this subject to you; it sufficeth
that all may be done for the good of the country and the prosperity
and security of my most dear cousin, to whom you have formerly given
this right, and have found him capable to govern you and this
kingdom, which he deserves by his great spirits and rare qualities,
joined with his heroic actions, witnessed by divers encounters.

"And since there is nothing wanting but time to put in execution the
succession of my most dear cousin to the government of this kingdom,
which depends only upon myself,--and of my purpose nothing remains
but to make you parties, which is the only occasion of my calling
you together, and which I shall more at large declare unto you by my
proposal,--I doubt not but you will consent thereunto, whereby you
will testify at this time, as you have done at all times before,
your faithfulness and obedience to me.

"Also I give you thanks that, with so much duty, you are come to
this Diet, and that with so much affection and loyalty you have
demeaned yourselves towards me and our most dear country during my
government, so that I have received much content by your deportment;
and if in these ten years of my administration I have merited
anything from you, it shall be this only which I desire of you, that
you will consent to my resolution, since you may assure yourselves
that none can dissuade me from my purpose.

"You may be pleased also to take in good part what hath passed
during the time of my government, and to be assured that herein
also, as well as in all other things, my intention hath been always
to serve our most dear country. There remains nothing but my wishes
that all may work to the glory of God, to the advancement of the
Christian Church, and to the good and prosperity of our most dear
country and of all her inhabitants."

[SN: The Archbishop's speech.]

After the Queen had spoken she sat down again, and after a little pause the Archbishop of Upsal went out of his place into the open passage, and making his obeisance to the Queen, he, as Marshal of the Clergy and in their name, made an oration to her Majesty, which was somewhat long; but the effect thereof was interpreted to Whitelocke to be an acknowledgment of the happy reign of her Majesty, whereby her subjects had enjoyed all good, peace, and justice and liberty, and whatsoever were the products of a blessed government. He then recited the great affections of this people to the King her father, and to her Majesty his only child; their duty and obedience to her in all her commands; that no prince could be more happy than her Majesty was in the affections and duty of her subjects, nor could any people be more contented in the rule of their sovereign than her people were; he therefore used all arguments and humble entreaties to her Majesty to desist from her intention of resigning the government, and to continue to sway the sceptre of this kingdom, wherein he did not doubt but that the blessing of God would be with her as it had been, and that it would be to His honour and to the good of this kingdom if her Majesty would hearken to the humble desires of the clergy in this particular. Then he acknowledged the virtues and admirable abilities of the Prince, whose succession would come in due time; that, her Majesty reigning at present with so much satisfaction both to this Church and State, he humbly desired, in the name of the clergy, that she would be pleased, though to her own trouble, yet for her subjects' good, to continue still to be Queen over them. After he had ended his speech, making three congees, he went up to the Queen and kissed her hand, and with three more congees returned to his place.

Then the Marshal of the Nobility, going forth into the open place between the forms, made his oration in the name of the nobility, much to the same purpose as the Archbishop had done, and, after his oration ended, with the like ceremony kissed her Majesty's hand, and returned to his place. Then the like was done by the Marshal of the Burgesses, and all to the same effect.

[SN: The Boor's speech.]

In the last place stepped forth the Marshal of the Boors, a plain country fellow, in his clouted shoon, and all other habits answerable, as all the rest of his company were accoutred. This boor, without any congees or ceremony at all, spake to her Majesty, and was interpreted to Whitelocke to be after this phrase:--

"O Lord God, Madam, what do you mean to do? It troubles us to hear
you speak of forsaking those that love you so well as we do. Can you
be better than you are? You are Queen of all these countries, and if
you leave this large kingdom, where will you get such another? If
you should do it (as I hope you won't for all this), both you and we
shall have cause, when it is too late, to be sorry for it. Therefore
my fellows and I pray you to think better on't, and to keep your
crown on your head, then you will keep your own honour and our
peace; but if you lay it down, in my conscience you will endanger
all. Continue in your gears, good Madam, and be the fore-horse as
long as you live, and we will help you the best we can to bear your
burden.

"Your father was an honest gentleman and a good king, and very
stirring in the world; we obeyed him and loved him as long as he
lived; and you are his own child, and have governed us very well,
and we love you with all our hearts; and the Prince is an honest
gentleman, and when his time comes we shall be ready to do our
duties to him as we do to you; but as long as you live we are not
willing to part with you, and therefore I pray, Madam, do not part
with us."

When the boor had ended his speech, he waddled up to the Queen without any ceremony, took her by the hand and shook it heartily, and kissed it two or three times; then turning his back to her, he pulled out of his pocket a foul handkerchief and wiped the tears from his eyes, and in the same posture as he came up he returned back to his own place again.

When the orations were all ended, one of the Queen's secretaries, by her command, read unto the Assembly a paper, which Whitelocke procured to be given to him in a copy, and translated into English.

[SN: The Queen's declaration to the Diet.]

_The Proposition of her Majesty of Sweden to the Estates assembled
at Upsal the 11th of May, in the year 1654._

"Since for certain reasons her Majesty found it good and necessary
to assemble the Estates of the Kingdom at this time, and that they
have given testimony of their obedience in their coming together,
her Majesty hath great cause to rejoice that the good God hath
preserved our country from all apparent harms, and principally from
the contagious sickness of the plague, which spread itself in divers
places the last autumn, but at present is ceased, so that we may
meet together in all safety. Her Majesty rejoiceth in the good
health of her faithful subjects; and this obligeth us not only to
return humble thanks to our good God, but the more to supplicate Him
for the future to avert his fatherly chastisements from us.

"Also her Majesty understands with great joy, that the scarcity and
dearth in the late years is now changed into fruitfulness and
abundance, so that the last year there was not only very great
abundance of all things which the earth produceth, but further,
thanks be to God, we have cause, according to appearances, to hope
this year will be no less fruitful; the which great blessing of God
to this country clearly shows us the great obligations which we have
to Him.

"Also her Majesty calls to mind, that which she graciously mentions
to her faithful subjects, how the country, within the limits
thereof, is at present in a good and peaceable condition, and so
hath been kept by Divine Providence, and the faithful care of her
Majesty, in times of danger; and when war, and the imminent perils
accompanying the same roundabout us, had the sway, yet we always
continued in quiet without taking part in others' quarrels, and for
this end hath always endeavoured to entertain a sincere friendship
and good correspondence with her neighbours and allies.

"And as to the neighbourhood of Denmark, her Majesty hath nothing to
fear, since she hath given no occasion in anything but of sincere
friendship and firm peace.

"In like manner, with all possible care, by her Commissioners, hath
composed the differences touching the limits between her and the
Great Duke of Muscovy; and although the said Duke hath signified to
her Majesty by divers envoys that he would justify the expedition of
war newly made by him against the Polanders, with all the reasons
thereof, yet since that is a business which can no way involve her
Majesty and the Crown of Sweden, there is no cause to fear it;
provided their actions be watched, and{7} that, by little and
little, preparation be made, if there shall be cause to apply some
remedies.

"With the King and Crown of Poland is continued the amnesty for
twenty-six years, formerly accorded; and although her Majesty
wisheth that this amnesty had been converted into a perpetual
peace,--and for this end she hath caused pains to be taken twice at
Lübeck, by the mediators and her Commissioners, and although they
are not yet agreed,--nevertheless her Majesty understands so much on
the part of Poland that they are not disaffected to the renewing of
the treaties for a longer time, so that her Majesty hath no cause
but to promise herself at length a favourable success therein.

"With the Emperor and Roman Empire her Majesty, since the peace
executed in Germany, hath continued and maintained good amity and
correspondence; and for this end she hath her ambassadors there,
who have their places in the present Diet for the principality of
Bremen, Verden, and Pomerland, among the other members of the empire
who do there maintain and observe the interests of her Majesty; and
for the conclusion of the peace of Germany her Majesty hath
resolved, by a great embassy, to accept the possession and
investiture, from the Emperor, of the conquered countries.

"Also her Majesty hath a good correspondence and friendship with
France and Spain by fit means and a good alliance.

"But particularly her Majesty rejoiceth that the perilous war made
in the ocean between the powerful Commonwealths of England and the
United Provinces (by which we have received very great damage in our
trade throughout, as it appeareth) is appeased and ended; and that,
since, her Majesty hath made an alliance with the Commonwealth of
England for the security of navigation and commerce, so that the
faithful subjects of her Majesty may thereby hope to have great
advantage and profit.

"In this posture and state of affairs, her Majesty thinks it fit to
prosecute her intention, which she hath conceived some years since,
and to put the same in execution, that is, to give up the kingdom of
Sweden and her sceptre to his Royal Highness, the most high, most
illustrious Prince Charles Gustavus, by the grace of God designed
hereditary Prince of the kingdom of Sweden, Count Palatine of the
Rhine in Bavaria, Prince of Jülich, Cleves, and Bergen; and this is
the only business which her Majesty hath to propose to her faithful
subjects at this time.

"Her Majesty also hath this gracious confidence in all the Estates
here now assembled, that when they shall consider with what
dexterity, pains, and travail her Majesty for ten years hath managed
the affairs of this kingdom, and with such good fortune that all the
counsels and intentions of her Majesty have been followed with such
happy success, that the State, with great honour and reputation,
hath escaped many difficulties of war, and yet enjoys such quiet,
that they cannot judge or conclude that her Majesty would now make
any alteration were it not for the good and safety of this nation.

"The Estates, which have been formerly assembled, know very well how
earnestly her Majesty pressed that the kingdom and government might
be provided of a successor, thereby to avoid and cut off the sudden
accidents which happen when a government is uncertain; for which
reason the Estates in that point did agree and think good heretofore
that his Highness should be chosen and made hereditary Prince and
successor to the crown. All this her Majesty did propose and urge
till it was brought to the effect which that time produced.

"And to the end that her Majesty, during her life, may have the
pleasure to see the happy effect of this design, and that the entire
government may be rendered into the hands of his Royal Highness,
therefore her Majesty hath resolved to quit the crown and the
privileges of it, and to put them into the hands of his Royal
Highness.

"And although this resolution of her Majesty may seem strange and
unexpected to the Estates of the kingdom, nevertheless, according to
her gracious confidence, she believes that they will consent to her
quiet in retiring herself from so heavy a burden, by their
contributing an assent to the proposed alteration.

"Her Majesty likewise assures herself (as the Estates by their
former acts have always testified) of the esteem which they have of
the person and of the rare virtues and well-known qualities of his
Royal Highness; and that they will find that he will employ them to
a prudent government and to their great advantage, and that at
length they will not be deceived by this change, or any ways
prejudiced: for which end her Majesty promiseth and offereth to
contribute all her advice and counsel and endeavour,--chiefly that
his Royal Highness, before his entry into the government, may assure
the Estates and effectually do that which the Kings of Sweden upon
the like occasions have used to do, and are by the laws and customs
obliged unto.

"And on the other part, that the Estates and all the subjects of
Sweden be obliged to render unto his Royal Highness that respect,
obedience, and all those rights which appertain to a King, and which
they are obliged to perform.

"And as her Majesty hath considered and resolved upon the means
whereby her Majesty may enjoy a yearly pension to be settled upon
her during her life, and having communicated her purpose therein to
his Royal Highness the successor to the crown, so she graciously
hopeth that her faithful subjects and the Estates will be content
therewith, humbly receiving and consenting to what her Majesty hath
graciously disposed.

"Her Majesty graciously requires all the Estates of the kingdom that
they would, as soon as may be, consider this business, to the end
that the resolution taken by her Majesty may in a short time be
brought unto effect.

"Her Majesty most graciously thanks all her faithful subjects for
the obedience, honour, and respect which every one of them hath
faithfully testified to her Majesty during the time of her
government; so that her Majesty hath received full contentment by
their most humble demeanour, which hereafter, upon all occasions,
she will acknowledge with all gratitude.

"Her Majesty also hopeth that her most faithful subjects will be
satisfied, and give a good construction of the faithful care which
her Majesty hath employed for all in general and their happiness,
and chiefly for the gracious affection which she hath testified
towards every one in particular.

"Her Majesty wisheth that the most high and most powerful God would
conserve and protect our dear country, with all the inhabitants
thereof and all the subjects, from all harm; and to conclude, that
the estates of the kingdom, as well in general as in particular, may
continue and increase from day to day, and may for ever flourish."

After this proposition was read, the Queen's servants were called in, and she went out of the hall, attended by them and the Ricks-Senators in the same way and manner as she came in; and after she was gone, first the Archbishop of Upsal and the clergy following him; second, the Marshal and Nobility; third, the Marshal and Burgesses; fourth, the Marshal and Boors, went out of the hall in the same order as they first came in; and when they were all gone, Whitelocke returned to his lodging.

[SN: The solemnities of the marriage resumed.]

About eleven o'clock in the evening, the master of the ceremonies came to bring Whitelocke to the remainder of the solemnities of the marriage. Whitelocke, in no good condition to go abroad, having sat up the last night, yet rather than discontent the Queen and the nobility, who had sent for him, he went with the master in the Queen's coach to the bridegroom's lodging in the castle, who met him in the outer chamber and brought him into another room where were many senators and lords; they all took their coach, and went in the same order as the day before to the Queen, where the bride and ladies were expecting them.

They came all to the great hall, where the Queen and the company took their places, and the drums beating and trumpets sounding. A gentleman entered the hall carrying a spear or pike covered with taffeta of the bridegroom's colours, all but the head, which was silver, worth about twenty crowns; he stood by the bride, holding the spear in the middle, both ends of it about breast-high, and the bridegroom was brought and placed by his bride. Then Senator Bundt made a solemn speech to the Queen, which (according to the interpretation made to Whitelocke) was to thank her Majesty for the favour which she did to the bride and bridegroom in permitting the nuptials to be in her Court; and he acquainted the Queen, and published to the company, what dowry the bridegroom had given that morning to his bride, with two thousand ducats for her provision; and that twelve of the nobility, of the alliance and friends to them both, were witnesses thereunto, and were to take care that the money should be disposed to the use of the wife and children, in case she survived her husband.

Then a gentleman read aloud the names of the twelve witnesses, who, as they were called one after another, making their honours to the Queen, went and laid their right hands on the spear; and then was published the dowry and augmentation thus by these twelve witnesses. After this the spear was laid down at the feet of the bride, and all, making their solemn reverences to the Queen, took again their places. Then the same gentleman that laid down the spear, took it up again and threw it out of the window into the great court; where a multitude of people stood expecting it, and scrambled for the head of it, and for the taffeta, which they tore in pieces and wore in their hats as the bride's favours.

After this ceremony ended, the bridegroom came and took the bride by the hand, and they marched after the torches to the sound of the drums and trumpets; after that the bridegroom took the Queen by the hand, and the bride came and took the English Ambassador by the hand, and other noblemen took their several ladies, and they marched two and two amidst the torches and to the same loud music as they had done the night before. After this the noblemen and ladies went to dance French dances and country dances; but Whitelocke having watched the night before, and not being well, he privately withdrew himself from the company and retired to his house, wondering that the Queen, after so serious a work as she had been at in the morning, could be so pleased with this evening's ceremonies.

_May 12, 1654._

[SN: Despatches from England.]

About one o'clock the last night, Whitelocke, coming from the solemnities of the Court, received two packets of letters from England. He had the more cause to remember the time, because then, although midnight, he could perfectly read his letters without any candle or other light than that of the heavens, which in this season of the year scarce leaves any night at all, but so as one may well read all the night long with the help of twilight.

The letters from Thurloe of the first date acquainted Whitelocke that now he had sent duplicates of the last instructions by a ship going to Sweden. In Thurloe's second letters, dated 13th of April, he mentions the instructions sent formerly to Whitelocke, and acquaints him again with the effect of them, and the Protector's order, by which he leaves it to Whitelocke to return home when he shall judge it fit; and that if he should stay the ceremonies of the coronation of the new King, it would occasion great delay. And he writes further:--

"But in truth we cannot believe, notwithstanding all that is said,
that her Majesty will quit her crown, being so well qualified in
all respects to govern as she is, and seems to be very well accepted
of her people."

Then he again mentions the signing of the peace with the Dutch, and that the Protector had appointed Commissioners to treat with the French, Spanish, and Portugal Ambassadors, but had not yet declared himself to any of his neighbours.

"That the business in Scotland was well; that the Protector had
taken away Colonel Rich's commission, whereof the officers of his
regiment were glad; that many congratulatory petitions to his
Highness came from divers counties, one from Bucks; that the
Protector proceeded to reformation of the law and ministry, and I
hope he will merit as well in that as in the military affairs. I
return your Excellence my humble thanks for your acceptance of my
endeavours to serve you; I can say they come from an honest heart,
which very really embraceth every opportunity wherein I may manifest
myself

"Your Excellence's faithful humble servant,
"JO. THURLOE.
"_Whitehall, 13th April, 1654._"

Whitelocke received several letters in these packets from Mr. Cokaine; one, dated the 2nd of April, saith thus:--

"You will have leave from his Highness to take your first
opportunity to come away, and I hope it will not be without bringing
your business to a happy and an honourable issue, which is the
constant subject of our requests to the Lord for you, and I doubt
not but we shall have a comfortable answer. In the meantime I think,
as I have hinted to your Excellence in former letters, it will not
be amiss if you draw good store of bills upon us, though but _pro
formâ_, that we may get as much money for you as we can before your
return, and that you may have a sufficient overplus to pay all
servants' wages off, which I believe will amount to a considerable
sum; and upon this peace I hope it will be no hard matter to get
your bills paid, especially if your Excellence please withal to
write to my Lord Protector and Mr. Thurloe and some of the Council
about it. I could wish that you would make what haste you can home,
for I am informed by a special hand that there is great labouring to
make a Chancellor whilst you are absent, and to take that
opportunity to put you by, whom I believe they doubt to be too much
a Christian and an Englishman to trust in their service; but I hope
God will give you a heart to submit to His will, and to prize a good
conscience above all the world, which will indeed stand us in stead
when all outward things cannot in the least administer to us.

"Your Excellence's most humble servant,
"GEO. COKAINE.
"_April 2nd._"

In another letter from Mr. Cokaine he saith:--

"Mr. Thurloe was pleased to acquaint me that it was his Highness and
the Council's pleasure to make some alteration in the Chancery; that
it was determined that your Lordship and Sir Thomas Widdrington and
my Lord Lisle should have the custody of the Great Seal, and I
believe an Act to that purpose will pass within few hours; but I
perceive this business was not done without some tugging; but my
Lord Protector and John Thurloe are true to you, and now I am out of
all fears that any affront should be offered you in your absence.
Mr. Mackworth deserves a letter from you; but nothing, I pray, of
this business. Indeed Mr. Thurloe hath played his part gallantly and
like a true friend, for which I shall love him as long as I live."

In other letters from Mr. Cokaine in this packet, dated 14th April, he saith:--

"Your old servant Abel is much courted by his Highness to be his
Falconer-in-Chief; but he will not accept it except your Excellence
had been here to give him your explicit leave to serve his Highness,
and told me, without stuttering, he would not serve the greatest
prince in the world except your Excellence were present, to make the
bargain that he might wait upon you with a cast of hawks at the
beginning of September every year into Bedfordshire. It is pity that
gallantry should hurt any. Certainly it is a noble profession that
inspires him with such a spirit.

"My Lord Protector this week hath expressed great respect to your
Excellence upon the death of the Clerk of the Peace of Bucks. Some
of the justices came up and moved his Highness to put one into his
place, who thereupon asked who was _Custos Rotulorum_. They
answered, the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke. He thereupon replied that
the place should not be disposed of till his return. They urged it
again with many reasons; but he gave them the same answer, only with
this addition, that he was to return sooner than perhaps they were
aware of."

By this packet Whitelocke received letters from Mr. Selden, which were thus:--

"_For his Excellence the Lord Whitelocke, Lord Ambassador from the
State of England to her Majesty of Sweden._

"My Lord,

"Your Excellence's last of the 3rd of February brought me so
unexpressible a plenty of the utmost of such happiness as consists
in true reputation and honour, as that nothing with me will equal or
come near it. First, that her most excellent Majesty, a Prince so
unparalleled and incomparable and so justly acknowledged with the
height of true admiration by all that either have or love arts or
other goodness, should vouchsafe to descend to the mention of my
mean name and the inquiry of my being and condition with such most
gracious expressions. Next, that your Excellence, whose favours have
been so continually multiplied on me, should be the person of whom
such inquiry was made. All the danger is, that your noble affection
rendered me far above myself. However, it necessitates me to become
a fervent suitor to your Excellence, that if it shall fall out that
her Majesty and you have again leisure and will to speak of any such
trifle as I am, you will be pleased to represent to her Majesty my
most humble thanks, and my heart full of devotion to her, of which I
too shall study to give, if I can, some other humble testimony. God
send her most excellent Majesty always her heart's desires, and the
most royal amplitude of all happiness, and your Lordship a good
despatch and safe and timely return.

"My Lord, your Excellence's most
"obliged and humble servant,
"JO. SELDEN.
"_Whitefriars, March 2nd, 1653._"

Whitelocke had also in this packet letters from his old friends Mr. Hall, Mr. Eltonhead, the Lord Commissioner Lisle, his brothers Wilson and Carleton, Mr. Peters, Sir Joseph Holland, and divers others; also letters from Hamburg, from Mr. Bradshaw, the Protector's Resident there, with some intercepted letters from the King's party, as Sir Edward Hyde and several others.

[SN: His audience of leave-taking.]

This day being appointed for Whitelocke's last audience, he was habited in a plain suit of very fine English cloth of musk-colour, the buttons of gold, enamelled, and in each button a ruby, and rich points and ribbons of gold; his gentlemen were in their richest clothes; his pages and lacqueys, above twenty, in their liveries. In the afternoon two of the Ricks-Senators, with the master of the ceremonies, came with two of the Queen's coaches to Whitelocke's house, to bring him to his audience. He received them with the usual ceremony, and after they had sat a little while in his bedchamber, one of the Senators said that by the Queen's command they were come to him to accompany him to his audience which he had desired this day, and that her Majesty was ready to receive him. Whitelocke answered, that he was always desirous to wait upon her Majesty, and not the less now because it was in order to return to his own country. They made no long compliments, but went down and took their coaches.

The noblemen's coaches sent thither to accompany him went first, then followed his two coaches, and last the Queen's coaches. In the last of them sat the two Senators in the fore-end, Whitelocke in the back-end, and the master in the boot; the gentlemen in the several coaches, the pages and lacqueys walking and riding behind the coaches. At the bridge of the castle was a guard of musketeers more than formerly, of about two companies, with their officers; they made a lane from the bridge to the end of the Court. As soon as Whitelocke was alighted out of the coach, the Ricks-Hofmeister with his silver staff met him at the stairs' foot, very many of the Queen's servants and courtiers with him very gallant. Whitelocke's gentlemen went first, two and two up the stairs; after them the Queen's servants, then the master of the ceremonies, then the Hof-Marshal, then the two Senators and Whitelocke between them, followed by his sons, his chaplains, physician, secretaries, and steward, and after them his pages and lacqueys. In this order they mounted the stairs, and through the great chamber to the guard-chamber, where the Queen's partisans stood in their rich coats, with the arms of Sweden embroidered with gold, their swords by their sides, and rich halberds gilded in their hands; they stood in a fixed posture, more like images than men. When they came to the audience-chamber, there was scarce room for any of Whitelocke's gentlemen to come in; but by the civility of the Queen's servants room was made for them, and they made a lane from the door of the chamber to the upper end near the Queen, who was upon a foot-pace covered with carpets, and a rich canopy over her head. Her habit was black silk stuff for her coats, and over them a black velvet jippo, such as men use to wear; she had upon her breast the jewel of the Order of the Knights of Amaranta; her hair hung loose as it used to do, and her hat was after the fashion of men. A great number of senators and of civil and military officers and courtiers,--many more than ordinarily did appear at any audience,--stood all bare about her, and a few ladies were behind her. She stood upon the carpets before the state with her hat on; and when Whitelocke came first into the room, and pulled off his hat, the Queen presently pulled off her hat; and when Whitelocke made his honours, she answered him, though at that distance, with a short curtsey. After his three obeisances, being come up to the Queen, he kissed her hand; then the Queen put on her hat, and Whitelocke{8} put on his hat, and after a little pause, with high silence and solemnity in all the company, Whitelocke took off his hat, and the Queen took off her hat likewise, and all the time of his speaking both of them were uncovered. Whitelocke, having made his ceremonies, spake to the Queen thus:--

[SN: Whitelocke's farewell speech.]

"Madam,

"I confess that the time of my absence from my relations and
concernments in my own country would have seemed very tedious, had
I not been in the public service and honoured with admittance into
your Majesty's presence, whose favours, answerable to your greatness
though above my merit, have been enlarged towards me during the
whole time of my residence under the just and safe protection of
your Majesty; the which,--with the civilities of those most
excellent persons with whom I treated, and of those who have been
pleased to honour me with their acquaintance in your Court,--I shall
not fail to acknowledge with all respect.

"But, Madam, to your Majesty I shall not presume to return any other
acknowledgment than by the thanks of my Lord the Protector, who is
able to judge of the affection shown to him, and to the Commonwealth
whereof he is the head, by the honour done unto their servant.

"Madam, it is your great judgement in the public interest, and your
desire to advance the good of your own State and that of your
neighbours, and the particular respect that you bear to my master,
whereby the business trusted to my care by his Highness is brought
to such an issue as I hope will be a solid foundation of great and
mutual prosperity to both these nations.

"I have nothing to add on my part, but to entreat that my failings
and errors, not wilfully committed, may be excused; to take my leave
of your Majesty, and to assure you that there is no person who
honours you more than I do, and who shall be more ready to lay hold
on any opportunity whereby I may endeavour, to the utmost of my
power, to contribute to the happiness and prosperity of your royal
Majesty and of your people."

As it was done at Whitelocke's first audience, so he now ordered it, that Monsieur De la Marche, one of his chaplains, did, at the end of every sentence, as Whitelocke spake, interpret the same to the Queen in French. During all the time of his speaking to the Queen she looked him wistly in the face and came up very near unto him, as she had done at his first audience,--perhaps to have daunted him, as she had done others, but he was not daunted; and when he had made an end of speaking, after a little pause the Queen answered him in the Swedish language, which was then interpreted in Latin to Whitelocke, to this effect:--

[SN: The Queen's reply.]

"My Lord Ambassador,

"It may well be that your stay in this place, where you have been so
ill accommodated, and your absence from your near relations and
native country, hath been tedious to you; but I can assure you that
your residence in my Court hath been a contentment to myself and to
those who have had the honour to converse with you in this place;
and it would have been a blemish to me and to all under my
government if in this time anything of injury or danger had fallen
out to your person or to any of your people. I hope I may say that
there hath been no such thing offered to you, and I am glad of it.

"I do not know that your judgement hath deceived you in anything but
this, that you have too great a value of my understanding of public
affairs. It hath been your prudent management of the business
committed to your trust by the Protector, and my particular respects
to him and to your Commonwealth, with the good inclinations of the
people of this country towards you, and the general interests of the
Protestant party, which have brought your business to effect, and
which, I hope, will occasion much good and happiness to these
nations and to all the Evangelical party. And truly, Sir, your
demeanour on all occasions requires from us this testimony, that we
have found much honour and great abilities to be in you; and I
should be very unwilling to part with so good company, were it not
in order to your own satisfaction for your return to England.

"I know no errors committed by you here, but desire your excuse of
the want of those expressions of our respect which this place would
not afford. The thanks are due to you for your patience, and for the
affection which you have testified to me and to this nation, from
whom you may depend upon a firm friendship and amity, with a true
respect to the Protector and Commonwealth of England, and an
honourable esteem of yourself in particular, to whom we wish a safe
and prosperous return to your own country."

After the Queen had done speaking, Whitelocke had some private discourse of compliment with her in French, to give her Majesty thanks for her noble treatment of him and many favours to him; then, according to the usage of this Court, he delivered to Mr. Lagerfeldt, standing by, a copy of his speech, in English, signed by him with his hand, and another copy of his speech in Latin, not signed by him, to be presented to the Queen. Then Whitelocke took his leave, and kissed her Majesty's hand, who gave him the _adieu_ with great respect and civility. He was conducted back to his coach with the same ceremony as he was brought to his audience; and the same two senators, with the master of the ceremonies, returned with him to his house, and after usual compliments passed between them, they returned to the Court.

The trouble of the day was not yet ended; but after Whitelocke had come from the Court, Lagerfeldt brought to him the articles touching Guinea which were agreed upon and signed and sealed by the Queen's Commissioners, as the other part of them was by Whitelocke.[240]

After the great toil of this busy day, a yet greater toil must be undergone by Whitelocke to make his despatches for England. By his letters to Thurloe he again acquainted the Council with the good conclusion of his treaty, and with his taking leave of the Queen in his last audience; and sent him copies of the speeches, and gave an account of the business of Guinea, with all material passages since his last letters, and his resolution and way of return home. He also answered the letters of every one of his friends, which were very many; but that to his wife, as he was afterwards informed, caused much trouble and passion, that by this date of the letter, 12th May, she perceived that he was not removed from Upsal in his journey to return homewards.

_May 13, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke takes leave of his friends.]

Whitelocke began his visits and compliments to take his leave of his friends in this Court; and herein he was to be very exact, and not to omit any one who had given him the honour of former visits. He, to be the less subject to mistakes, set down in writing the names of those whom he was to visit, which made a long catalogue; but he must get through it, as part of the business of an ambassador. And this day he began by visiting the French and Holland Residents, and the Grave Leonhough, whose discourses were concerning the peace between England and the Dutch, the English strong fleet at sea, of the Queen's resignation, and other general themes not necessary to be repeated.

[SN: The Sound Dues.]