13. Eric said the proviso needed explanation as to the point of breaking
bulk, as the Queen had objected; and Whitelocke gave the same answer.
14. The like objections and answers as before, and consent to the like
amendment.
Eric and much other good company dined with Whitelocke, and after dinner
they had further discourse on the same subject. And Eric promised to give
his objections to Whitelocke in writing, and to let him know the Queen's
pleasure upon their conference; which Whitelocke intended to know also
from the Queen herself.
The company being gone, Whitelocke visited Piementelle, who discoursed
much touching the Duke of Lorraine, and of the insolencies of his
soldiers, for which the Duke would give no right; but if a poor
countryman complained to him, that his wife had been ravished by his
soldiers, and his goods taken away, the Duke would laugh at the poor man,
and say to him, "It is my condition: the King of France hath ravished my
wife and my estate, and I have got another wife, and maintain myself with
the goods of others; and I advise thee to do the same as I have done."
Piementelle informed Whitelocke of a carriage of Beningen of much more
incivility towards the Queen than that which he attributed to Whitelocke
towards Prince Adolphus; and Whitelocke imparted to Piementelle some
passages between Grave Eric and Whitelocke, supposing he would tell it to
the Queen.
_March 14, 1653._
[SN: Interview with General Wrangel.]
Four of the Queen's servants did Whitelocke the honour to dine with him;
and after they were gone, Whitelocke visited the Field-Marshal Wrangel, a
gentleman of an ancient noble family in this country, son to General
Wrangel, of whom so often and so honourable mention is made in the German
wars under Gustavus Adolphus, the Queen's father.
This Field-Marshal was about thirty-five years of age; his person proper
and burly, his countenance martial and ingenuous, and his discourse
answerable; his behaviour courteous, and full of cheerfulness in his
words and actions. His education was liberal; some time he had spent in
foreign parts, and had attained languages and the military part of
learning. He was full of knowledge of the mathematics, and well read in
story. His genius led him most to warfare, and the sea affairs seemed
most suitable to his affections; whereof he would much discourse with
Whitelocke, and admired his relations of the English fleets and havens.
His valour and conduct had commonly the best associate, good success,
which he used to improve, not parting with the least advantage. This
brought him to the favour of his Queen and honour of his country, wherein
he was a Ricks-Senator, and as a Field-Marshal commanded the army, and
was Ricks-Vice-Admiral, which charge he attained in the late war with
Denmark; and he it was that took the King of Denmark's ships in the late
fight with them. Whitelocke gave him thanks for his favours to
Whitelocke's son at Stockholm; they discoursed of the English navy,
whereof Wrangel knew many of the ships by name. He told Whitelocke that
Middleton was arrived in Scotland with two hundred officers and six
thousand arms, which he brought from the Low Countries.
From Wrangel Whitelocke went to visit Woolfeldt, to congratulate his
recovery of health. He told Whitelocke that, by letters which he received
from one of his servants in the Low Countries, he was advertised that the
States had sold above twenty of their ships of war, and that his servant
heard the Admiral de Witt speak of it. He also told Whitelocke that he
had spoken with many officers of the army, and found all of them wish
that the war between England and Holland might continue; by which they
hoped they should join with the English, and gain advantage by it, and
themselves good employment and plunder. But he said that the Chancellor
and his sons, and their party, desired that a peace might be between the
two Commonwealths, because they were rich enough, and had an interest in
trade, and were no soldiers; and that the Queen desired peace among all
her neighbours, and although she was very courageous, yet she loved not
the wars.
_March 15, 1653._
[SN: Further conference with the Queen.]
Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and gave her an account of the conference
between Grave Eric and him. The Queen said that Grave Eric had told her
the same things. Whitelocke replied, that her Majesty should never find
other than truth from him. Upon the point of damages she seemed
satisfied, though she were informed that those matters were remitted to
Whitelocke's negotiation. To which he answered as he had done before to
Eric; and she was contented, and said she would send an ambassador to
England, by whom the affairs touching the herring-fishing and the
erection of a staple and the trade in America might be concluded; and she
told Whitelocke that she had ordered those things which she judged fit to
be added to his articles, to be written down and given to him.
She asked Whitelocke by what way he purposed to return to England. He
said he was doubtful of going by land, and thought the passage from
Stockholm to Lübeck would be the shortest and most convenient for him.
She replied, that would be his best way, and that she would give order
for some of her ships to be ready to transport him; for which Whitelocke
thanked her Majesty.
She discoursed much of England, and asked many questions about the
Thames and other rivers of England, and of their havens and armies;
whereof Whitelocke gave her a full account. She asked him in how many
days one might go from Plymouth to St. Sebastian, and many other things
on that subject. They also discoursed of religion and the worship and
service of God; wherein Whitelocke spake plainly and freely to her
Majesty, and told her that those who made a mock at religion, and were
Atheists in their opinion, were not only most miserable in their own
condition, but brought others likewise into misery; and all of them would
find that God would not be mocked, nor such conversation be excused, but
would be brought into a sad account in the end; and that there was no
foundation in any such people, or in their opinions, but what was sandy
and would fail, and all building thereupon would totter and fall down and
become rubbish; that the only solid comfort and true wisdom lay in the
sincere worship and service of God, which was not only agreeable to the
doctrine of truth, but to reason itself. To this, and much of the like
discourse, the Queen was very attentive, and seemed pleased with it.
_March 16, 1653._
[SN: Despatches from England.]
Whitelocke received his letters from England, and in those from Thurloe
he writes thus:--
"The particular account your Excellence gives of your negotiation is
very acceptable here, as is also your dexterous management thereof.
The paper you were pleased to send to me shall be represented to the
Council; and your Excellence may be assured that a due care will be
taken of that business, as well for justice' sake as that your
present business be not hindered by things of this kind. The bales
of the Queen's goods shall also be taken care of, and any omissions
which have been therein rectified; and I do assure your Excellence
that the Queen's Commissary here hath such speedy and effectual
despatches in everything he makes application for, that I know he
cannot but give notice of it to the Queen."
Then he gives in his letters a full relation of the state of the Dutch
treaty, and all particulars of it, and the likelihood of its taking
effect; and gives intelligence of the French news; and sends copies of
Beningen's letters from Upsal to the States, and of the posture of
affairs in England, Scotland, and Ireland: and concludes,--
"Therefore, with my humble thanks for your Excellence's favour to me
of your weekly letters, and hearty wishes for your safe and
honourable return to your friends and relations here, I rest,
"Your Excellence's most humble and faithful servant,
"JO. THURLOE.
"_February 16, 1653._"
Whitelocke received many letters from his private friends, his
brothers-in-law, Mr. Hall, Mr. Cokaine, Mr. Eltonhead, Sir Charles
Woolsey, Colonel Sydenham, and one from Mr. Selden, which for the
extraordinary respect thereof, and the person's sake (of whom the Queen
made often inquiry), is fit to be remembered, and was thus:--
[SN: Letter from Selden.]
"_To his Excellence the Lord Whitelocke, Lord Ambassador to her Most
Excellent Majesty of Sweden._
"May it please your Excellence,
"There is nothing happens here that can be worthy of your knowledge
but you meet with it doubtless long before I could send it,--indeed,
I think, long before I know it,--so that I cannot present you with
any English news: my still keeping in from the open cold air makes
me a mere winter stranger in my own country. The best news I have
heard since I had the honour to see you, and that which brought me
with it an ample store of gladness, was the assurance of your
Excellence's safety, which a false rumour with great confidence had
utterly destroyed here. There is none living can with more hearty
affection wish all happiness to you, and good success in your great
employment there, and a safe and timely return, than doth most
really,
"Your Excellence's most obliged
"and most humble servant,
"J. SELDEN.
"_Whitefriars, February 10, 1653._"
The occasion of that passage in his letter of a false rumour was news
brought into England that Whitelocke was stabbed and murdered in Sweden;
and thus his death was with much confidence reported from several hands,
and from divers intelligences out of several parts of Christendom.
Whitelocke's friends were much startled at this news, and the more
because of former intelligences of designs of that nature against him,
whereof they wrote him word; and he was glad to read the news, and that,
through the goodness of God, he was able to confute those reports. They
were kept from Whitelocke's wife by the care of his friends, till one in
gladness came to give her joy that the ill news of her husband was not
true; which brought the whole matter to her knowledge, and herself to
great perplexity upon the sudden apprehension and fright of it, though
there was no truth in it.
Whitelocke, that he might not seem wholly to neglect the Queen's favour,
had sent a packet of his letters which had no secrets unto Monsieur
Bonele, the Queen's Commissary in England, who wrote back an account to
Whitelocke of his care of them, and of the command he had received from
the Queen so to do, and prayed Whitelocke to speak to the Queen on
Bonele's behalf.
_March 17, 1653._
[SN: Prince Adolphus visits Whitelocke.]
Prince Adolphus visited Whitelocke, and they discoursed much of England
and of Whitelocke's business; whom the Prince persuaded to stay in
patience for an answer, and he doubted not but that he would receive
satisfaction. Whitelocke said that hitherto he had been very patient, and
would continue so, and not importune anybody to speed his answer, being
it concerned both nations; and he believed that Sweden would be as well
disposed to entertain the amity of England as England had been in the
offer of it. But Whitelocke thought fit to inform the Prince and some
others that he thought his residence here would not be long, and that as
soon as my Lord Protector should send his letter for his return to
England (which he expected in a short time), he would presently take his
journey. They discoursed also touching his brother, who was to succeed,
and of the brotherly affection between them; as also of the proposal
which had been heretofore made in the Ricksdag of the Queen to marry his
Royal Highness, and the Council's advice and endeavours to further the
same; and how it was not brought to pass, the Queen being wholly adverse
to marriage, but causing the succession of the Prince Palatine to be
enacted by the Ricksdag after her Majesty, if she had no children. And
in these particulars the Prince was free in his discourse, but Whitelocke
thought not fit for him to be so.
[SN: Letter of Jonathan Pickes.]
Whitelocke communicated to some of his company a letter which he received
from a member of a congregation in London, which was thus:--
"_For his Excellence the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke at Sweden._
"My Lord,
"The wise and holy carriage of Solomon before the Queen of Sheba are
more lasting monuments of his praise than his targets of gold, or
magnificent temple. The glory of saints is a glorious name, by
which, though dead, yet they speak. God will not be ungrateful, nor
unfaithful to forget or not to recompense any labour of love. The
interest of Christ,--what greater jewel in the world! and yet how
little liked and loved by the world! All seek their own, not the
things of Jesus Christ. The best, the noblest, the most lasting, yet
not minded: our own things, poor, low, uncertain, unsatisfactory,
yet pursued. The heart runneth after the wedge of gold, and the mind
seeks for greatness. Give me honour, or else I die: a crown here is
more desired than heaven hereafter. Divine love hath great danger
accompanying it, but the recompense is answerable: 'Be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' Learned Paul
counts all things but dung and dross to holy Christ; and Moses
esteemed reproaches for Christ, and afflictions with the people of
Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt or the honours at
Court. And now, Sir, will you have the meaning of all? It is only a
Christian motive to you to eye the highest Lord and the best
interest with the greatest industry; that his honour, which is best
of all, be dearer to you than all country honour: life, world, are
not to be named in the day of his glory. Oh mind him who will not
forget you in the least! There's none in heaven like him: can there
be anything on earth compared to him? Two things are chiefly to be
minded in all actings,--the springs from whence, and the centre to
which, all moves. If love to God be the spring of all, and glory for
God the centre of all, then the heart is upright in all. Remember
the blessed sound, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou
hast been faithful in a little, but thou shalt be enjoyer of much;
enter into thy Lord's joy.' And truly, Sir, you have been not a
little in my thoughts to God for you; so hath it emboldened me thus
to speak to God for you. My soul and many more have been set
a-praising God on your behalf, for that noble Christian testimony
and dislike of that wicked custom of cup-health pledging; whereas a
Christian's health is God, and his cup salvation. And blessed be the
Lord, that did give you to dislike the ball of pleasure, and that
the Lord of that day was so precious. Go on nobly for the Lord; give
your testimony against the wicked customs of a strange country or
dying world; bear his image in all your transactions, and follow his
steps who was the most glorious Ambassador that ever was; and in
this motion the Lord fill your sails with his gales, make you holily
successful, and give you to see your land and relations full of
heavenly fruition, is the humble and hearty desire of one of the
least sons of Zion, ready to serve the Lord in you or yours.
"JONATHAN PICKES."
_March 18, 1653._
Doctor Whistler made a copy of Latin verses upon the Queen's abdication,
which, for the ingenuity and fancy, were worthy the sight of a Prince;
and Whitelocke sent them to the Queen, who was much taken with them.
Whitelocke was so pleased with those verses that, having a little
leisure, himself turned them into English.[41]
Whitelocke having sent to know if the Queen were at leisure that he
might wait upon her, she returned an excuse that she was not well: she
came away sick from the public schools, where she had been to grace the
disputations of a young Swedish Baron with her presence.
[SN: Effect of the peace with Holland.]
Senator Bundt visited Whitelocke, and discoursed with him in English,
which he spake indifferently well, and was the only Swede he conversed
with in that language. Part of their discourse was to this effect:--
_Bundt._ Mr. Beningen, the Holland Resident in this Court, acquainted me
that his superiors have concluded the agreement with England: only some
provinces desire a more express inclusion of the King of Denmark than is
yet contained in the articles; and they are much troubled that, being
upon the conclusion of the treaty, you make so great preparations of war,
and have so powerful a fleet at sea; and we here do much wonder what
should be your design to have so strong a fleet, and so soon out at sea.
_Wh._ The design is for the defence of the Commonwealth; and it is our
custom not to trust to the success of any treaties, which is uncertain,
but to prepare for all events. If the treaty be agreed, it will be
religiously observed on our part, and the navy will be employed to scour
the seas of pirates and enemies, that trade may be free and safe; and we
always use in time of peace to have a fleet at sea; and if the war
continue, we shall be the more ready, by the blessing of God, to maintain
our right. But what suspicion have you here of our navy?
_Bundt._ We suppose it may be employed to open the passage of the Sound,
and make the trade and navigation there free.
_Wh._ The hindrance of navigation there is more prejudicial{2} to Sweden
than to England. We can have our commodities at Gothenburg and in other
places, without passing the Baltic Sea.
_Bundt._ Many amongst us know not what to think of your fleet, and it
troubles some.
_Wh._ I hope we shall be in nearer amity, and then you will be pleased at
it. Have the Senators consulted about the matters of my treaty, or of
remitting it to the new King?
_Bundt._ We have not advised any such thing, but believe the best way for
effecting your business will be by the Queen herself; and if any tell you
the contrary, they are much mistaken in the affairs of this kingdom, and
do not give you a right understanding of them.
This being wholly contrary to what was informed by Monsieur Bloome, the
Chancellor's creature, caused Whitelocke the more to mind it, and
endeavour to obviate that prejudice of delay to his business; and finding
by this discourse with Bundt how much the Dutch Resident and others here
were amused at the English fleet now at sea, he made use thereof, and
gave advice of it to his superiors in England.
_March 19, 1653._
[SN: Intrigues of the Dutch Resident against Whitelocke.]
Whitelocke sent to inquire of the Queen's health; and it being the Lord's
Day, she was in her chapel. Divers English and Scots of the town came to
Whitelocke's house to hear sermons there; and among them was Monsieur
Ravius, who acquainted Whitelocke that one of the Queen's chaplains asked
Ravius how long Whitelocke intended to stay in Sweden. Ravius said he
would shortly return to his own country. The chaplain replied, he did not
believe that, but he thought Whitelocke would stay here a long time, and
that he durst not return to England because of the displeasure of the
Protector against him. And when he was answered that Whitelocke came
hither not in the posture of a man out of favour, and that the Protector
since his accession to the Government had sent him new credentials, and
expressed much favour to him, and sent to be certified what respect the
Queen gave him, the chaplain replied that Whitelocke was sent hither
purposely to be removed out of England, and because he had been of the
former Parliament; to which Ravius said, that many who were of the former
Parliament were now in public offices, as Whitelocke was.
There was cause to believe that this and many the like stories were
feigned by the Holland Resident and other enemies of the Commonwealth, to
asperse Whitelocke and his business, and to give some obstruction to it;
but Whitelocke took little notice of such things, only he thanked
Monsieur Ravius for his defence of Whitelocke and of the truth.
It was also related to Whitelocke that the inauguration of his Royal
Highness could not probably be performed till the feast of St. John the
Baptist, and that then nothing could be concluded in his business till
the feast (as they expressed it) of the Holy Archangel St. Michael next
following, because it was fit to be remitted to the Prince for his final
agreement thereunto; and so the treaty must necessarily receive a
deferring till that time, which, they said, would be best for
Whitelocke's affairs. Whitelocke told them that it would be somewhat
difficult to persuade him that such a delay of his business would be
best; he was sufficiently convinced of the contrary, and that such an
obstruction would render his treaty wholly fruitless both to England and
Sweden, and that he hoped to be himself in England long before the time
which they prefixed for the beginning of his treaty with the new King;
and that he daily expected the commands of the Protector touching his
return home, which he should readily and willingly obey, whether his
treaty here should be concluded or not. He spake the more to this effect,
and the oftener, that the same might come to the ear of the Chancellor
and other senators.
_March 20, 1653._
[SN: Peace signed between England and the United Provinces.]
Whitelocke visited Piementelle, who communicated to him the news of the
Duke of Lorraine, and that the United Provinces of the Netherlands had
ratified the articles with England. Whitelocke asked if Groningen had
consented. He said yes, but with this restriction, that the Prince of
Orange should be comprised in the treaty, which might yet cause some
obstruction in it. Whitelocke imparted to him some of his news, and
imparted such passages of his conferences and business as he desired
might by him be related to the Queen.
[SN: Senator Schütt affects to be favourable to the treaty.]
Senator Schütt visited Whitelocke, and staid with him above two hours.
They discoursed of many things unnecessary to be remembered; some was
thus:--
_Schütt._ I am sorry that the business of your treaty goes on so slowly;
but I hope you will excuse it, in regard the Chancellor is not quick in
despatches, and affects long deliberations in great matters.
_Whitelocke._ That is an argument of his prudence and well weighing of
things before he come to a resolution; and certainly he hath had
sufficient time of deliberation in my business.
_Sch._ The Chancellor sometimes may take more time than is necessary for
one business, and borrow it for another; he knows the advantages of times
and seasons, and how to improve them.
_Wh._ I have found it so; but methinks my business should have been so
acceptable as to have prevented such great delays.
_Sch._ Your negotiation as to the amity with England was in consideration
with the Council here before your arrival; and all of us agreed that it
was more desirable than any other.
_Wh._ I believe it would be agreeable to you, who are persons of great
experience, knowing the interest of your own country, and how
considerable the English nation is; and this caused a belief in me that I
might promise myself an answer to my proposals before my departure from
hence.
_Sch._ The great affairs of this kingdom, and the change likely to
happen, have put a stop to all other business; and in case your
negotiation cannot be brought to a conclusion during your stay here, yet
it may be agreed upon afterwards by an ambassador to be sent from hence
to England.
_Wh._ My Lord Protector having testified so much respect to the Queen, as
he hath done in sending me Ambassador hither, for me, after four or five
months' residence and negotiation in this place, to be sent home again
without any conclusion of my business, but the same to be remitted to the
sending of an ambassador from hence to England, would be no answer to the
respect of the Protector in sending me hither.
_Sch._ The Parliament sent your Excellence hither, as I understood, and
not the Protector.
_Wh._ My coming hither was at first by my Lord Protector's desire, he
being then General, and without his earnest request to me I had not
undertaken it; and since his access to the Government I have received new
credentials from him, by virtue whereof only I have negotiated, and am
the first public Minister employed by his Highness.
_Sch._ It is a very great respect which the Protector hath manifested to
you, and by you to our Queen and nation, and that which you say carries
reason with it. I shall do all that possibly may lie in my power to
testify my respects and service to his Highness and Commonwealth of
England, and to your Excellence their honourable Ambassador.
_Wh._ You are pleased to express a great honour and esteem for my Lord
Protector and for his servant, whereof I shall not fail, by any service
in my power, to make acknowledgment to your Excellence.
There were many other compliments and discourses between them; and the
Senator fell into a relation of Russia, where he had been, and of the
Great Duke's bringing at one time into the field an army of 200,000 men,
divided into three parties, whereof one part fell upon Poland, and had
lately taken divers considerable places in that kingdom; and much more he
spake of this exploit, which is omitted.
_March 21, 1653._
[SN: Senator Schütt's duplicity.]
Whitelocke was somewhat surprised by the carriage of Senator Schütt to
him yesterday, and with his freedom of discourse, which showed him either
to be a courtier and versed in the art of simulation, or the reports made
of him to Whitelocke to be untrue. Now he seemed clearly for the league
with England; before, he expressed himself against it; now he showed
civility and respect to Whitelocke and to his superiors; before, he spake
disdainfully of them and their affairs.
But an ambassador must hear and see many things, and yet take no notice
of them; must court an enemy to become a friend, as he believed he had
done to Schütt, who, after acquaintance between him and Whitelocke,
became very friendly. But Whitelocke held it requisite to keep at
somewhat more distance with him than with others, because he had been
informed that there was not much of kindness between the Chancellor and
this gentleman, which was confirmed by discourse this day with
Lagerfeldt.
_Lagerfeldt._ I entreat your Excellence's excuse for my long absence,
which hath been occasioned by an employment lately bestowed on me by her
Majesty, which takes up my time in the discharge of it.
_Whitelocke._ I do congratulate the honour and favour of the Queen
towards you, in this part of a reward for your good service in England,
whereof I was a witness and have affirmed it to her Majesty. What is the
office she hath given you?
_Lag._ It is the Vice-President of the College of Trade.
_Wh._ I suppose the office is profitable as well as honourable.
_Lag._ A competent salary is annexed to the office, and with us no person
doth serve in any office or public employment, but he hath a salary for
it from the State.
_Wh._ That is honourable, and for the advantage of the State. One of your
Ricks-Senators was here with me yesterday, and I had much discourse with
him about my business.
_Lag._ Which of them was with your Excellence?
_Wh._ The Senator Schütt, whom I saw not before.
_Lag._ I wonder at his visit; did he express much respect to your
Commonwealth?
_Wh._ As much as any I have met with.
_Lag._ I much wonder at it; but shall advise your Excellence not to
depend much upon this gentleman, nor to be over-free in your discourse
with him; for he hath been under a cloud, and is very intimate with the
Holland Resident.
_Wh._ I thank you for your caution; but I have communicated nothing to
him but what might be published.
_Lag._ My Lord Eric Oxenstiern hath, by the Queen's command, some papers
touching your business to be imparted to you.
_Wh._ Do you remember the effect of them?
_Lag._ They contain some explanation of the articles given in by your
Excellence, and some additions offered to them, but not much differing
from those exhibited by you.
They had much discourse about these additions and explanations, whereof
Whitelocke endeavoured to get as much knowledge from Lagerfeldt as he
could beforehand, that he might be the better prepared to debate upon
them when they should be produced; and he declared his sense positively
against some of them to Lagerfeldt, which proved an advantage. Some of
those additions mentioned by Lagerfeldt, being upon his report to Grave
Eric of Whitelocke's judgement upon them, were left out of Grave Eric's
paper.
[SN: Further conference with Grave Eric Oxenstiern.]
In the afternoon Grave Eric came to Whitelocke, and they had this
discourse together:--
_Gr. Eric._ Here is a paper, which I shall read unto you, containing some
matters wherein I desire your consideration, being they relate to the
treaty, as touching contraband goods; that there may be such a liberty,
that trade be not impeached, that prizes may not be brought into the
ports of friends, nor enemies admitted into the havens of the friends and
allies of either nations; that the fishing for herrings and the trade in
America may be free for the Swedes, and that they may have satisfaction
for the wrongs done to them by the English at sea.
_Whitelocke._ Here is very much in these particulars to which I have
formerly given my answer, and can give no other. England hath had no
reason to give a liberty of contraband goods when their enemies deny it,
and it were hard to forbid friends to bring prizes into the ports of
friends, being no prejudice to the owner of the port, but a discourtesy
to the friend; neither is it reason to deny a friend to enter into my
harbour because he is an enemy to another that is my friend also, whose
quarrel I am not bound to wed. For the liberty of herring-fishing, it may
be had from our Commonwealth upon reasonable conditions; and for the
trade in America, I am not instructed to assent to anything therein, but
I supposed it had been intended to send from hence to the Protector about
it. And for satisfaction of wrongs, I know none done by the English to
the Queen's subjects, and imagined that her Majesty had been satisfied in
these points.
_Gr. Eric._ I have order to acquaint you with these particulars, and to
confer with you about them, being esteemed by us just and reasonable.
_Wh._ After my attendance here three or four months without any answer to
my proposals, I did not expect to receive new ones from you so different
from those which I gave in with equal respect to the good of both
nations; and I having offered the friendship of England to you in
general, you answer that it will be accepted, but upon particular and
hard conditions.
_Gr. Eric._ I confess there hath been too much delay in your business,
but it hath been occasioned by the uncertainty of the issue of your
treaty with Holland.
_Wh._ The issue of that treaty is not yet known, and the articles given
in by me had no relation thereunto, and were proposed three months since.
_Gr. Eric._ At present we take it for granted that the peace is concluded
between you and Holland, and that now you are good friends.
_Wh._ I wish we may be so; and if that peace be concluded, there is the
less need of your proposals touching prizes, contraband{3} goods, etc.
_Gr. Eric._ Though the peace be concluded between you, yet it is prudent
to make those provisions, in case of a new war with them or others.
_Wh._ I shall desire a copy of your particulars.
_Gr. Eric._ You shall have them; and I desire you to read this paper,
which is an order of the Council of State in England, delivered to Mr.
Lagerfeldt when he was there, whereby these particulars are remitted to
your negotiation.
_Wh._ This paper bears date after my departure from England, and I never
saw it before, nor received any particular instructions on this subject.
_Gr. Eric._ If you are not satisfied touching the point of damages
sustained by her Majesty's subjects in the taking of their ships and
goods by the English, there may be witnesses examined here for proof
thereof.
_Wh._ I cannot erect a Court or Commissioners, or consent to examination
of witnesses, in this place and upon this occasion; nor can I take
accounts of merchants; I confess my ignorance.
_Gr. Eric._ It may be contained in the treaty that justice shall be done,
and satisfaction given to my countrymen for the wrongs done to them.
_Wh._ That cannot be so expressed without accusing our Commonwealth, and
at least confessing wrongs done, and implying that justice hath not been
done; but I can assure you that the Commonwealth hath done, and will do,
justice to their friends and to all persons, and I shall do all that lies
in my power for that end.
_Gr. Eric._ I shall inform the Queen what hath passed in our conference,
and know her Majesty's pleasure therein.
_March 22, 1653._
Monsieur Lyllicrone informed Whitelocke that Prince Adolphus had taken a
solemn leave of the Queen, and was gone into the country. Whitelocke
asked if it was upon any discontent; Lyllicrone said he knew not.
Whitelocke asked if he would not be at the Ricksdag; Lyllicrone said he
believed the Prince did not intend to be at it, but to travel _incognito_
with a few servants into France and Italy.
[SN: The French advances resumed.]
The French Resident visited Whitelocke in the afternoon, and seeing his
coaches and horses ready to go abroad to take the air, offered, with many
compliments, to bear Whitelocke company, which he could not refuse. The
Resident acquainted Whitelocke that Monsieur Bordeaux, now in London, had
received a commission from the King of France to be his Ambassador to the
Protector, and that Bordeaux had written to this gentleman here, to
salute Whitelocke on his part, and to signify to him that Bordeaux would
be willing to entertain a correspondence with Whitelocke, and had
expressed much affection to his person. Whitelocke answered that he
should be ready to testify all respect and service to Monsieur Bordeaux,
and desired the Resident to testify the same to him at his next
opportunity. Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke, who had some trouble in
discourse with them both together,--the Resident speaking only French,
and Lagerfeldt only Latin, and he must answer them in their respective
languages.
After the Resident was gone, Lagerfeldt discoursed with Whitelocke about
the treaty, particularly of the new proposals showed him by Grave Eric.
Whitelocke gave the same answers to Lagerfeldt as he had done to Eric:
then Lagerfeldt said, that by command of the Queen, he was to tender to
Whitelocke a copy of articles. Whitelocke asked if they were the same
that Grave Eric yesterday imparted to him, and whether Lagerfeldt had any
speech with the Queen this day about them. Lagerfeldt said they were
altered in some part, so as to make them the more acceptable to
Whitelocke, and that he had a few words with the Queen about them.
This caused Whitelocke to marvel that the Queen should pretend to him
that she was sick, and therefore put off the audience which he desired
this day, and yet her Majesty found herself well enough to peruse and
debate with Lagerfeldt these articles; but he said nothing thereof to
others, only made thereof his own observations and use, as he saw
occasion. Lagerfeldt and he perused these new articles, and had much
discourse upon them, and in effect the same as with Grave Eric.
[SN: Whitelocke's amusements in his household.]
In the long winter-nights here, Whitelocke thought fit to give way to
some passages of diversion to please his people, and to keep them
together in his house, and from temptations to disorder and debauchery in
going abroad, besides the danger of the streets in being late out. He
therefore had music, both instrumental and vocal, in concert, performed
by those of his own family, who were some of them excellent in that art,
and himself sometimes bore his part with them. He also gave way to their
exercise and pleasure of dancing in his great chamber, that he might be
present at it, and admitted no undecent postures, but seemly properties
of habits in their shows. He encouraged public disputations in Latin
among the young men who were scholars, himself present in the great
chamber, and appointing a moderator; and this exercise they found useful
and pleasant, and improving their language. To this end likewise they had
public declamations in Latin, himself giving them the question, as "an
quodcunque evenerit sit optimum," etc., so that his house was like an
academy.
_March 23, 1653._
[SN: Whitelocke again negotiates with the Queen.]
Whitelocke attended the Queen; and after some discourses of pleasantries,
they fell upon the treaty, and Whitelocke said to her:--
_Whitelocke._ My business, Madam, is now brought to a conclusion.
_Queen._ Is it to your liking?
_Wh._ Pardon me, Madam, if I say it is not at all to my liking; for in
the articles which Grave Eric sent me there were many particulars to
which I could not agree, and I much wondered to receive such articles
from him, being persuaded that your Majesty was before satisfied by me in
most of the particulars in them.
_Qu._ What are those particulars?
The articles Whitelocke had in readiness with him, and his observations
upon them, having taken pains this morning to compare their articles with
his own, and to frame his objections upon them. The Queen wrote down the
objections with her own hand, and then entered into a debate with
Whitelocke upon the whole, and seemed to be satisfied in most of the
points insisted on by Whitelocke; but was stiff upon the law relating to
ships of war which is mentioned in her eleventh article, and upon some
other particulars. After the debate, she desired that Whitelocke would
the next morning bring to her his objections in writing; and then she
said, "We will not be long before we come to a conclusion of this
business."
Whitelocke thought it convenient to make his addresses to the Queen
herself, and, as much as he could, to decline conferences with her
Commissioner Grave Eric, whom he found more than others averse and cross
to him in his treaty. And the Queen was pleased to admit Whitelocke to
this way, and was not displeased to have applications in this and other
affairs of the like nature to be made upon her person; whereof Whitelocke
had private information before from Piementelle, Woolfeldt, and others,
whose advice he pursued herein with good success.
Her Majesty also permitted Whitelocke to have a free debate with her upon
the points controverted, and would return answers to every argument with
as much reason and ingenuity as any of her Ministers of State, and be
sooner than they satisfied with what was reason. She told Whitelocke that
she marvelled that he, having received those long articles but late the
last night, should be able to make objections, and to enter into a debate
upon all of them this day, when her people had much longer time to frame
these articles. Whitelocke answered, "Yes, by two or three months." After
some other discourse, Whitelocke left her in a pleasant humour.
Being returned home, Lagerfeldt came again to him to sift him, and to
know what answer the Queen had given to his objections upon the new
articles. But Whitelocke fitted his inquiry, and thought not convenient
to communicate to him more than what might advantage his business to be
reported to Grave Eric; and because, in all conferences with the Queen,
no person was admitted to be present with them, not her own
Commissioners for the treaty, or any of the Senators, for the secresy of
the business, which was much to the liking of Whitelocke, and furtherance
of the treaty. They had much discourse upon the new articles, to the same
effect as formerly; and Lagerfeldt said he doubted not but the Queen
would in a short time conclude it to Whitelocke's satisfaction.
After this discourse Whitelocke inquired of Lagerfeldt how the
Chancellor's health was, and what physicians were about him. Lagerfeldt
said he was still sick of his ague, and had no physician attending him
but one who had been a chirurgeon in the army, and now constantly lived
in the house with the Chancellor as a humble friend, sat at his table,
and had a pension from him of four hundred rix-dollars a year; who had
some good receipts, especially for the stone, which agreed with the
Chancellor's constitution, which this chirurgeon only studied and
attended. And so it was generally in this great and large country.
Whitelocke met with no doctor of physic or professed physician in any
town or country, not any attending the person of the Queen herself; but
there are many good women, and some private persons, who use to help
people that are diseased by some ordinary known medicines; and their
diseases are but few, their remedies generally communicated, and they
live many of them to a great age.
[SN: Letters and despatches from England.]
Whitelocke received letters from England, which were always welcome,
especially bringing the good news of the welfare of his relations. He
received very respectful letters from the Earl of Clare, Sir Charles
Woolsey, Colonel Sydenham, the Master of the Rolls, Mr. Reynolds, Lord
Commissioner Lisle, and divers others, besides his usual letters from his
wife, Mr. Hall, Mr. Cokaine, his brothers-in-law, and divers other
friends. In those from Thurloe he had the particular passages of the
Dutch treaty, and that he believed the peace with them would be
concluded; and in those letters Thurloe also writes thus:--
"Your Excellence's of the 27th of January I communicated to his
Highness and to the Council, who, although they do not by this
transaction of the Queen very well understand her intentions as to
the peace, yet they are very much satisfied with the management
thereof on your part, and commit the issue thereof unto the Lord,
who will either bless your endeavours by bringing things to a
desired issue, or otherwise dispose of this affair to the glory of
God, the good of the Commonwealth, and the comfort of yourself who
are employed in it.
"The Council, upon consideration of the whole matter, did not find
it necessary to give you any further directions, nor did his
Highness, especially seeing his last letters but one did express his
sense upon that treaty, and nothing hath occurred since which hath
given any cause of alteration.
"The French King and Cardinal, seeing themselves disappointed at the
Hague as to their inclusion in that treaty, endeavour to effect it
here; and to that purpose the Cardinal sent hither one Monsieur Le
Baas to congratulate his Highness, and to assure him of the
friendship of the King; and that, if he pleased, the King would
banish Charles Stuart and his family out of his dominions, and
proclaim the Protector in France; and hath since sent a Commissioner
to Monsieur Bordeaux to be Ambassador.
"The Spanish Ambassador doth also very much court his Highness and
the present Government. Don Francisco Romero, Captain of the Guard
to the Archduke, arrived here the last night, to congratulate his
Highness in the Duke's name.
"I have moved the Council in the two papers your Excellence trusted
to my care. What order the Council hath been pleased to make
thereupon you will see by their enclosed order, and my care shall
not be wanting to see an effectual execution thereof.
"Your Excellence's humble and faithful servant,
"JO. THURLOE.
"_24th February, 1653._"