_Piementelle._ The Ambassador of Denmark did me the honour to visit me,
and we had much discourse together about the English fleet now at sea; he
told me that in it were ten thousand foot soldiers embarked for the
North, which would occasion great trouble to the King his master, if it
should be so, which I acknowledged.
_Whitelocke._ Your Excellence knows that I have not been at the Council
of State in England for six months last past, so that I know not the
secret designs of my Lord Protector; but I believe it is no very
difficult matter to land men in Denmark.
_Piem._ What progress hath the French Ambassador made in the treaty
between you and France?
_Wh._ If the Queen will be pleased to give my despatch, I hope to be upon
the place before the treaty with the French be concluded. I have somewhat
to communicate to the Protector touching a treaty with Spain, which your
Lordship very well knows; and it would be to purpose that his Highness
should know it before the conclusion of a treaty between England and
France.[85]
_Piem._ I am assured that the Queen will despatch you in good time. But I
advise your Excellence in your return not to pass by Denmark, for it is
ill trusting of that King; but your better way will be to Lübeck, and
from thence to Hamburg, and if you do not find ships ready there, you may
travel by land to Cologne, and from thence to Dunkirk; which will be much
better than to go by Holland, where they do exceedingly exact upon
strangers, and your Commonwealth hath more enemies there than in any
other place, besides the common people are rude and insolent.
_Wh._ I am engaged to you for your good advice, which I intend to follow.
After their discourse, Whitelocke presented Piementelle his medal in gold
very like him, and it was received by Piementelle with much affection.
Then Piementelle entreated Whitelocke to give him a passport for his
servant, who had the charge of conducting his baggage by sea to Dunkirk,
that he might freely pass the men-of-war of England; the which was
willingly done by Whitelocke, under his hand and seal.[86]
_April 5, 1654._
[SN: Conference with the Chancellor.]
In the morning Whitelocke went to the Chancellor's lodging, and found his
son Grave Eric with him. The Chancellor made a long apology to excuse the
delay of the treaty, and said:--
_Chancellor._ My indisposition of health hath chiefly occasioned the
delay, yet was I so solicitous of your business, that I entreated the
Queen to appoint some other person in my stead, who might confer with
your Excellence; and her Majesty was pleased to appoint my son for that
service.
_Whitelocke._ I was very sorry for your Excellence's want of health, both
in regard of my affection to your person, and in respect of the
protraction of my business; yet I was glad that your son, my Lord Eric,
was appointed to confer with me, and had rather have the transaction of
my business by yourself or some of your family than by any other. I am
now come to you to confer upon those articles which yesterday I received
from you.
Then Whitelocke gave the Chancellor a paper of his animadversions upon
his articles. The debate began upon the ninth article; and as to the sale
of goods taken from enemies and prohibiting the buying of arms, the
Chancellor said this would abolish their trade, and would be of no
advantage to England, because those arms, and equally as good, might be
had from other places; and if the English did light upon them, they would
have the benefit by it. Whitelocke said it would be a great inconvenience
to furnish the enemies of either nation with arms which could not be had
elsewhere than in England or Sweden, and that this clause would put a
bridle in the mouths of the enemies of either nation. The Chancellor and
his son replied that arms might be had in the province of Liége,[88] and
in many other places in Germany; that Sweden scarce afforded any other
commodities but arms, or such things as were serviceable for war; and
that the Queen would by no means be induced to that clause as Whitelocke
would have it.
Then they debated upon the eleventh article, the issue whereof was for
Whitelocke to consent to a special designation of prohibited goods.
Whitelocke desired that the catalogue and designation of them might be
referred to his return into England, and he would agree that within two
months after that there should be a specification of prohibited goods in
the name of the Protector.
The Chancellor urged that the specification might be now agreed upon, and
produced a paper specifying them, which they alleged was delivered by the
Council in England unto Bonnele. Whitelocke said he did not remember the
same, and that he was ignorant what goods were prohibited by the Dutch
placard, which was fit to be known before any specification made by him.
Upon the twelfth article Whitelocke urged, that as to the form of the
letters of safe-conduct, it might also be referred to his return into
England. They produced a form exhibited by Lagerfeldt to the Council in
England, and desired that the same form might be now agreed upon.
Whitelocke answered that the Council of State had not approved the form
given in by Lagerfeldt, and therefore it was not fit for him to consent
to it; nor could he apprehend any reason why they should not consent to
refer the agreement of a form unto his return to England; and the rather,
because in the meantime the subjects of the Queen might enjoy the benefit
of an edict made by the Protector in great favour of them, which
declaration Whitelocke had caused to be delivered to the Chancellor.
To the thirteenth article, as to satisfaction of damages, their debate
was to the like effect as formerly.
Upon the sixteenth article they had also debate. Whitelocke desired that
the words "de usu littorum in piscatione" might be altered to these
words, "de piscatione et usu littorum." They alleged that this would seem
to deny their fishing upon their own coasts. Whitelocke said, the other
would seem as if England had given up their right as to the fishing, and
left all at liberty to those that pleased to take it.
This was the sum of the debate of near three hours. The conclusion was
that they would certify the Queen of all these matters, and in short
acquaint Whitelocke with her answer; which he desired might be as speedy
and positive as they pleased, because if they should reduce him to that
necessity, that before he could agree he must send to the Protector to
know his pleasure, he could not receive an answer of his letters in less
than two months' space, within which time the Queen purposed to resign
her government, and then his commission would be at an end. The
Chancellor said he desired Whitelocke should be speedily in England, not
only for the sake of his wife and children, but likewise because then
they could promise themselves that they had a good friend in England.
[SN: Alarm excited by the English fleet.]
Whitelocke visited the French Resident, who was very inquisitive what
might be the design of the English fleet now at sea; whereunto, as to
much other of his discourse, Whitelocke did not much study for answers,
only he was careful not to let fall any words which might lessen their
amusement about the fleet.[90]
In the evening Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke and discoursed of the same
matter; whereof Whitelocke made some use and of this gentleman, to
heighten their jealousies about this fleet. Woolfeldt acquainted
Whitelocke that the Ambassador of Denmark had made a complaint against
him to the Queen, that Woolfeldt had deceived the late King of Denmark of
certain sums of money, which he should have disbursed for the late King
of England against the Parliament; and that the present King of Denmark
having been informed that Woolfeldt had lost his papers at sea, and so
could not produce his acquittances, the King took the advantage thereof
against Woolfeldt, and now, by his Ambassador, charged him before the
Queen for those moneys: but that he disappointed the Danish Ambassador by
producing before the Queen his papers and acquittances, which his enemies
believed had had been lost; and so was justified before the Queen, to the
great discontent of the Ambassador. Whitelocke said he was very glad that
Woolfeldt came so well off, and that he perceived the Queen had, by the
the treaty, a capacity, as well as by his residence, to examine and do
right in such matters.
[SN: Conversation of a Danish gentleman who betrays his country.]
This day Whitelocke had discourse about Norway and the Sound with a
Danish gentleman of great quality and experience whom he had obliged, who
desired to have his name concealed;[91] but part of this discourse
follows:--
_Dane._ Now is a good time for the Protector to send some ships towards
these parts.
_Whitelocke._ What places are there in Norway considerable as to the
interest of England?
_Dane._ There are two places in Norway not far from Gothenburg which are
easy to be taken, and are excellent harbours, wherein England might keep
some ships constantly, and command all that pass by to the Baltic Sea.
_Wh._ What are the names of those places?
_Dane._ The one of those havens is called Marstrang; but that I do not
like so well because of the Paternoster Rocks, which are very dangerous
for coming out if the wind sit northerly, and the fort there is commanded
by the hills near it. But the other place, called Flecker Town, is an
island, and hath a going-in and coming-out two ways; it is an excellent
harbour, and ships may ride in it at such a distance from the land (being
a broad water) that none from the land can hurt them. There is a little
fort in this island which may easily be taken, not having above forty or
fifty men in it, and the works decayed. Those who assail it must land
their men on the south-east side of the island, the fort being on the
other side, and they may easily be masters of it; and from thence having
some ships, they may go in and out at their pleasure, and command all
passing by; and none can come into the harbour to them if they make up
the fort, which is soon done, and the passage not above musket-shot to be
commanded, and there are no guns there of any consideration at this time.
_Wh._ How shall they do for victuals there to get fresh from the land?
_Dane._ There is plenty of butter and cheese, sheep and hogs; and the
poor country people will be no trouble to you, but be willing to be
commanded by you.
_Wh._ What towns are there near it?
_Dane._ Higher in the country is Bergen, the chief town for trade there,
and rich enough. Your ships may easily come into that harbour, and
plunder the town and get a great booty, and return to Fleckeren Town
again.
_Wh._ Is there anything to be done at Iceland?
_Dane._ I wonder you do not send, in August or September, four or five
ships to Iceland, being men-of-war. They may have twenty or thirty Dutch
ships, laden with fish, butter, and hides, which will make no resistance
at all; and it would be a rich prize, and might be had without danger or
difficulty.
_Wh._ Is the castle of Elsinore so strong a piece that it cannot be taken
without much expense and danger?
_Dane._ This will not be the best design for England: it is a small,
strong castle, and doth not signify much; though it be esteemed a piece
of importance, it is not so.
_Wh._ It commands the passage of the Sound.
_Dane._ Most men believe so, but it is mistaken. I have seen an
experiment to the contrary, that a boat, being placed in the middle of
that narrow passage of the Sound, they shot at it from the castle of
Elsinore, and likewise from the castle of Helsingborg on the other side,
with the greatest guns they had, and yet they could not reach the boat
from either side by two thousand paces; nor is it so narrow in the
passage but that a ship may, when she pleaseth, sail by those castles in
despite of them.
_Wh._ What harbour is there at Elsinore?
_Dane._ There is no harbour for ships to ride in, and in foul weather
they will be in danger to be all lost, because they must ride in the
open sea, which there is extreme perilous; and therefore Elsinore is not
worth the keeping, if England had it. But their best design would be to
go directly to the town of Copenhagen with fifty or sixty good ships,
with landsmen in them; and it is easy enough to take that town, for the
works of it are not strong, nor is it well guarded, and it would be
easier to take that town than Elsinore; and if England were masters of
it, the castle would quickly come in to them; and at the town they should
have a good haven for their ships, and a small matter would build a
better fort near the town than Elsinore is, and would command the passage
more than the castles do, and make you masters of the Sound and of all
the trade of the Baltic Sea.
_Wh._ What revenue would be gained thereby?
_Dane._ More than will maintain your ships and forces there, and will
command all the island of Zealand.
_Wh._ I should be glad to meet you there.
_Dane._ If you summon me by your letters, I will give you a meeting at
Copenhagen, or those whom the Protector will send thither; and if you
will meet me there, I doubt not but to show you a way to get that town
without much difficulty; and then you will have all the isle of Zealand,
which is the best part of Denmark, and the rest will follow, being weary
of the present tyranny and ill-usage of their King. And if you were
masters of Zealand, you might thereby keep in awe the Swede, the
Hollander, and all the world that have occasion for the commodities of
the Baltic Sea.
_Wh._ Why then doth not the King of Denmark now keep them in such awe?
_Dane._ Because he hath neither the money nor ships nor men that England
hath.
_Wh._ What is the ground and reason of payment of the tolls at Elsinore,
if ships may pass by without the leave of the castles there?
_Dane._ Because that is known but to a very few; and what I have told you
is under secresy, and I desire that none but the Protector may know it
from you; and as for the grounds of paying the tolls at Elsinore, it is
rather from the keeping of the lights in Jutland and upon that coast,
than from any command that Elsinore hath of the ships that go that way.
_Wh._ I have heard those lights are very useful.
_Dane._ Unless they were kept, it would be impossible for ships to sail
there in the long nights in winter; and the trade doth enforce them to
come that way in October and November, when the nights are very long,
because of bringing wine into those parts after the vintage, which is in
September.
_Wh._ They are likewise to carry home corn, which is not inned till
August and September. Did not the Hollanders refuse to pay the toll?
_Dane._ Once they did, and thereupon the last King of Denmark, by advice,
commanded that the lights upon the coast should not be kept; and the
Hollanders in that autumn lost above thirty ships upon the Danish coast,
and came and entreated the King that the lights might be kept again, and
promised to pay the tolls as formerly, and have done so ever since.
_Wh._ Let me say to you, in freedom, how can you, being a native of
Denmark, satisfy yourself to discover these things to me, whereby
prejudice may come to your country?
_Dane._ I do not think I betray my country in this, though, my country
having left me to be an exile, I might justly leave them; and
wheresoever I breathe and am maintained is more my country than that
where I was born, and which will not let me breathe there; yet in this I
think I may do good service to Denmark, to free them from the tyranny
they are under, and to bring them into the free government of the
Protector, to whom I shall do any service in my power. But for the King
of Denmark, he is governed by his Queen and a few of her party, men of no
honour nor wisdom nor experience in public affairs, but proud and
haughty, according to the way of these parts of the world.
_Wh._ I shall not fail to make known to the Protector your great
affections to him.
_April 6, 1654._
[SN: Effects of the English fleet in the North.]
Monsieur Miller, who had been Resident at Hamburg for her Majesty, came
to visit Whitelocke, and after dinner discoursed much of the English
fleet now at sea, which, he said, did amuse all the northern parts of the
world, what the design thereof might be. Whitelocke did not lessen the
wonder, especially in relation to Denmark; yet affirmed nothing
positively, as indeed he could not. He inquired of Monsieur Miller if the
King of Denmark were making any preparations at sea, or of land forces,
or had any design towards Hamburg. Miller said he knew of none, and in
his discourse gave Whitelocke good information of the government,
strength, and trade of that Hanse Town.
The Secretary Canterstein came to Whitelocke from the Chancellor, and
brought to him the articles upon which they had last treated, now
altered according to Whitelocke's desire, except that which concerned the
forbidding of our enemies to buy arms in the countries of our
confederates. He also delivered to Whitelocke the draft of a preamble for
the articles, and another article for the ratifying of all the rest;
whereunto Whitelocke consented, and thanked God that his business was
brought so near to a good conclusion. Whitelocke received his packet from
England, and Thurloe wrote that the Protector was sensible of the Queen's
delaying of Whitelocke, but approved his proceedings. He sent this
enclosed order:--
"AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHITEHALL:
"_Friday, 17 Martii, 1653._
[SN: Order in Council in the matter of a Swedish prize.]
"On consideration of a letter, this day read in Council, sent from
the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary with her Majesty of Sweden,
mentioning, among other things, the taking of the ship 'Charity,'
Paul Paulsen, master, by a private man-of-war, and the carrying of
her into Dover, and the hard usage of the master and mariners, which
ship is claimed by some citizens of Gothenburg, subjects of the said
Queen:
"_Ordered_, That it be referred to the Commissioners of the
Admiralty speedily to put this matter in a way of examination; and,
for their information in the premises, to send for the commander of
the said man-of-war, and to receive a particular account and
satisfaction concerning the disposal of the ship and goods, and the
usage of the master and mariners, and thereupon to state the whole
case and report it to the Council, to the intent speedy justice may
be done therein; and the said Commissioners are likewise to take
order that all further proceedings touching the said ship, or her
lading or disposal of any part thereof, be stayed and forborne till
their report made and further order thereupon shall be given by the
Council.
"W. JESSOP, Clerk of the Council."
Thurloe wrote that in case the information given to Whitelocke were found
to be true, that the parties offending would be severely punished and
right done to those who were injured; and that the Council were very
sensible hereof, as a hindrance to Whitelocke's proceedings and a
dishonour to the Protector. He also wrote unto Whitelocke that there was
little scruple now of an agreement upon the Dutch treaty, which was as
good as concluded; and he sent the news of France and of Scotland and
Ireland, as well as that of England, as he constantly used to do.
Whitelocke caused this order to be translated into Latin, and made use of
it for the advantage of his business.
A description was given to Whitelocke, in writing, of the manner of
making gunpowder in these parts, and of their mills and vessels for it,
not unlike in many things to their way in England.
_April 7, 1654._
[SN: The Queen's plans after abdication.]
Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and she was pleased to discourse with him
to this effect:--
_Queen._ I am resolved to retire into Pomerland, and this summer to go to
the Spa to drink the waters for my health.
_Whitelocke._ Give me leave, Madam, to put you in mind of two things to
be specially taken care of: one is the security of your own person, the
other is the settling of your revenue. Your Majesty, being of a royal and
bountiful spirit, cannot look into such matters so much beneath you as
expenses or accounts; and if care be not taken therein, and good
officers, your Majesty may be disappointed and deceived.
_Qu._ I thank you for this counsel. I intend to have Mr. Flemming with
me, to take charge of my revenue; he is a discreet, wise man, and fit for
that employment, and to order the expenses of my house; I believe he will
neither deceive me himself nor permit others to do it, for he is faithful
to me.
_Wh._ Such a servant is a jewel. I hope care is taken that your Majesty's
revenue be secured in such a manner that you shall not depend upon the
pleasure of any other for the receipt of it, but to be in your power as
mistress of it, not as a pensioner.
_Qu._ It shall be settled according to the advice you gave me, and I
thank you for it.
_Wh._ Madam, I account it a happiness if in anything I may be serviceable
to your Majesty. Whom doth your Majesty take with you beside Mr. Flemming
of that quality?
_Qu._ I desire the company of Mr. Woolfeldt and his lady, if they will go
with me.
_Wh._ I suppose they will be very serviceable to your Majesty; and I hope
it will not be long, after the business here effected, before you
transport yourself into Pomerland, lest any designs should be against
your liberty, for, Madam, in this age there be few persons to be trusted.
_Qu._ That is too great a truth, and I thank you for the caution. I could
freely trust yourself with any of my concernments; and if you will come
to me into Pomerland, you shall be as welcome as any man living, and we
will be merry together.
_Wh._ I humbly thank your Majesty for your great favour to your servant,
who hath a wife and children enough to people a province in Pomerland,
and I shall bring them all thither to do your Majesty service.
_Qu._ If you will bring your lady and all your children and family
thither, and settle yourself there, you shall want nothing in my power,
and shall be very welcome to me.
_Wh._ I am your Majesty's most humble servant; and I pray, Madam, give me
leave to ask your Majesty, whether you judge it requisite for me to wait
on the Prince of Sweden before my going out of this country.
_Qu._ I think it very fit and necessary for you to see the Prince before
you leave this country; it will be taken as a respect from the Protector
to him, and if you do not, it will be looked upon as a neglect of him.
_Wh._ I am obliged to do all that lies in my power to enlarge the
Protector's interest.
_Qu._ The Prince being to succeed in the Crown, and in so short a time,
it will be fit to keep a fair correspondence with him and to show respect
to him, whereof your visit will be a good testimony.
_Wh._ Madam, your opinion will be a great direction to me in my affairs.
_Qu._ I think it will be an advantage to your business for you to speak
with the Prince himself, who will take it in good part, and hold himself
the more obliged to the observance of what shall be agreed upon in your
present treaty, being acquainted therewith by you that made it.
_Wh._ I hope the treaty which your Majesty shall make will be observed by
any who shall succeed you; but I acknowledge it is very advisable for me
to have some discourse with his Royal Highness, to give him an account of
the treaty, and I shall inquire where I may attend him.
_Qu._ You must go from hence to Stockholm, and so to Nordköping, and the
castle where the Prince now resides is within a league of that town; you
may have my coaches and horses to transport you, and my servants to guide
you thither.
_Wh._ I humbly desire your Majesty to make choice of any of my
coach-horses or saddle-horses that may be useful for you, and to command
them; they are all at your Majesty's service.
_Qu._ I shall not make choice of any; but if you bestow any of them upon
me, they will be very acceptable.
_Wh._ I humbly acknowledge your Majesty's great favour in affording a
despatch to my business.
_Qu._ I wish you with the Protector, because I see you are a faithful
servant to him, and worthy to serve any prince in Christendom.
_Wh._ Your Majesty ever had a favour for me, and in nothing more than in
my despatch.
_Qu._ I think it not fit for you to be in Sweden too near the time of the
coronation of the new King; and then to go away, and not to see him,
would be worse.
_Wh._ I do intend, upon your Majesty's advice, to salute him before my
going away, and shall desire that the ships may meet me near the place
where his Royal Highness is.
_Qu._ I will give order for it, and will be gone myself not long after;
if I had staid here I should have been glad of your longer stay.
Whitelocke took his leave of the Queen, and, being returned home,
Field-Marshal Wrangel visited him, and after dinner, being in a good
humour, discoursed freely and much of the English fleet at sea.
Whitelocke showed him a draught of the ship 'Sovereign,' with her
dimensions, guns, and men, wherewith he was much pleased. He told
Whitelocke that, by command of the Queen, he had prepared ships for
Whitelocke's transportation from Stockholm to Lübeck.
[SN: Whitelocke reports on the treaty to Thurloe.]
Whitelocke made his despatches for England, and in his letters to Thurloe
gave this account of the treaty:--
"1. Their first article differs not in substance from the first
which I proposed, and therefore I did not object against it; but as
to all of them, I reserved a liberty to myself of further
consideration and objection. I did a little stick upon the word
'colonias' in this article, lest it might tend to anything of
commerce in America; but finding it only to relate to the amity, I
passed it over.
"2. The first part of it agrees in substance with my sixth article,
the latter part of it with my fourth article; only I objected
against their words in this article, 'in damnum illius,' who should
be judge thereof, and the omission of that part of my fourth article
against harbouring of enemies and rebels.
"3. Their third article agrees in substance with my second article,
but is more general, not naming the Sound, and explaining the word
'aliorsum' in my second article; and I desired that the word
'populos' might be added after the word 'subditos.'
"4. Their fourth in the beginning agrees with my third article; that
of it touching the trade of America and the fishing I answered, as I
gave you a former account, and thereupon denied it, as also that
part of it which concerns importation of goods in foreign bottoms,
being contrary to our Act of Parliament. In this latter end of
their fourth article they likewise bring in again the business of
fishing implicitly in the words 'maribus, littoribus,' etc., and
therefore I desired that all that part might be left out, and in
lieu thereof I offered the latter part of my third article beginning
with the words 'solutis tamen,' etc., and the last of my reserved
articles to be admitted; or else, I desired that this whole article
of theirs might be omitted, and in lieu thereof my third article,
and the last of my reserved articles to be admitted; and they
likewise insist to have these words added if that part of their
fourth article be omitted, viz. 'quoad Americæ commercium,
piscationem halecum, et mercium importationem, de his in posterum
erit conventum.'
"5. Their fifth article agrees in substance with my eleventh, only
hath more words to express the same matter.
"6. Their sixth agrees in substance with my thirteenth article, with
the addition of words for kind usage, and the omission of the
proviso in my thirteenth article as to breaking of bulk; which yet
seems to be supplied by the latter part of their sixth article, of
conforming to the ordinances of the place.
"7. Agrees with my reserved article, marked with fifteen, only the
words 'nihil inde juris' I thought fit to be omitted, because in the
treaty we are not to meddle with particular rights; yet the sense
and desire thereof is answered in the words for restitution. I
offered them, if they liked not this, my fifteenth article, which is
one of those reserved, omitting only that part as not conducing to
this article, viz. 'Et si lis,' etc.
"8. Agrees in substance with my twelfth article, only the
expressions here are longer; and that for justice to be had agrees
with the latter part of my reserved article fifteenth.
"9. In the general differs not in the substance from my seventh, and
the beginning of my reserved articles; and the laws in this ninth
article, first, second, third, and fourth, are not contrary to the
substance of mine; but to the fifth I excepted, as contrary to part
of my seventh article, and to their sixth law, as to bringing in of
ships and goods from enemies; both which nevertheless, in case we
have peace with the Dutch, will be more to our advantage, in my
humble opinion, to continue in than to be omitted; as also that not
to contend in the harbours; and so the first, second, third, and
fourth laws. The seventh law, I humbly conceive, not differing in
substance from my articles, nor disadvantageous to England. To their
sixth law I desired that my seventh article might be added, the
which they denied, as to forbid enemies to either to buy arms, etc.
"10. Agrees in part with my ninth, only the latter part of it seems
to bring in the trade of America, and a liberty contrary to the Act
of Navigation; but they insist that the same is saved by the latter
words of this article, 'modò consuetudines antiquæ;' but I was not
satisfied herewith, and desired that that part of it which is marked
might be omitted, and the latter part of my ninth article, viz.
'utrisque utrinque observantibus,' etc. inserted, which I humbly
conceive will help it; or else I desire that this tenth article may
be wholly omitted, and in lieu thereof my ninth may be agreed.
"11. To this article of theirs I wholly excepted, because it agrees
not with any of mine, nor with reason, that when our enemies have
forbidden any to bring contraband goods to us, that yet we should
permit them to be brought unto our enemies. They told me that the
Queen had sent unto the States to repeal that placard of theirs. I
answered, that when I was certified that that placard was repealed,
I would then desire to know the Protector's further pleasure herein;
but before that be done, I thought it would be in vain to trouble
him about it.
"12. Is not expressly in any of my articles, but agreed by the
Council of State unto Mr. Lagerfeldt, only the form of the letters
of safe-conduct not fully assented unto; therefore I desired that
the same might be remitted to a future agreement; but as to the rest
of this article, it is not repugnant to the substance of mine, that
the navigation and commerce may be free.
"13. In the first part of it agrees almost _verbatim_ with my tenth
article; the latter part of it, concerning satisfaction for losses,
is much altered from what it was at first exhibited, and is now put
on both parties, and referred to future agreement, wherein there can
be no prejudice to our Commonwealth; but before, it was reproachful
to the justice thereof and laid on our part only; now it is no more
than what the Council and State promised in their papers to Mr.
Lagerfeldt.
"14. Agrees in substance with my ninth article.
"15. Contains the substance of my fifth article, but is expressed
more generally, and, as I humbly believe, no less to the advantage
of our Commonwealth.
"I found more readiness in the Queen to consent to what I proposed
than in her Commissioners; but some things she told me she could not
consent to, because they were against the interest of her people,
and were not considerable to England. I gave her thanks for my
despatch. She said she had an ambition to have the honour of making
an alliance with the Protector herself before she quitted the
Government, and that she might testify her respects to him, and
therefore had gone as far as possibly she could; and indeed there is
now very little difference, but only in words and expressions, from
the sense and substance of what I first proposed. And I presume that
what is here agreed by me will give good satisfaction and
contentment to the Protector and Council, and I apprehend it clearly
within my instructions; acknowledging the goodness of God to me in
this business, where I met with so many difficulties, and of so
great weight, that yet in a fortnight's time it should be brought to
a full conclusion, with honour and advantage to the Protector and
present Government, for which I have taken all care.
"The articles are not yet drawn up, but I hope we shall sign them
the next week, and presently after I intend to demand audience to
take my leave and to remove from hence, and, as soon as I can, to
come to Lübeck, and from thence to Hamburg; and I have by this post
humbly desired my Lord Protector to appoint some of his ships to
meet me at Hamburg as soon as they can, for my transportation from
thence to England. And I humbly entreat your favour to put his
Highness in mind of it, and that you will take care that the orders
may be had, and the ships to come as soon as may be to the Elbe, to
Hamburg, where I shall stay for them, or till I receive his
Highness's further commands; and I choose this way as the shortest,
and where I shall meet with any despatches that may come from
England. I presume you will be troubled with an importunate suitor
for hastening my return.
"I received your letters of the 17th March, and the order of the
Council concerning the Swedish ship, for which I return my humble
thanks. The Queen, and the Chancellor and others here, were much
satisfied with it. The Chancellor and his son have been very civil
to me, and lately furthering my despatch. I hope the same goodness
of God which hath hitherto brought me through this great business
will give me a safe return to my dear country and friends, where I
may have opportunity with thankfulness to acknowledge your constant
favour and kindness to
"Your affectionate friend to serve you,
"B. W.
"_Upsal, April 7th, 1654._"
_April 8, 1654._
[SN: A masque at Court.]
The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the Queen, to desire
his company this evening at a masque; and they had this discourse:--
_Whitelocke._ Present my thanks to her Majesty, and tell her I will wait
upon her.
[SN: Precedence claimed by Denmark.]
_Mast. Cer._ What would your Excellence expect in matter of precedence,
as in case you should meet with any other ambassador at the masque?
_Wh._ I shall expect that which belongs to me as Ambassador from the
Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and I know no other
ambassador now in this Court besides myself, except the Ambassador of the
King of Denmark, who, I suppose, hath no thoughts of precedence before
the English Ambassador, who is resolved not to give it him if he should
expect it.
_Mast. Cer._ Perhaps it may be insisted on, that he of Denmark is an
ambassador of an anointed king, and you are only ambassador to the
Protector--a new name, and not _sacré_.
_Wh._ Whosoever shall insist on that distinction will be mistaken, and I
understand no difference of power between king and protector, or anointed
or not anointed; and ambassadors are the same public ministers to a
protector or commonwealth as to a prince or sultan.
_Mast. Cer._ There hath always been a difference observed between the
public ministers of kings and of commonwealths, or princes of inferior
titles.
_Wh._ The title of Protector, as to a sovereign title, hath not yet been
determined in the world as to superiority or inferiority to other titles;
but I am sure that the nation of England hath ever been determined
superior to that of Denmark. I represent the nations of England,
Scotland, and Ireland, and the Protector, who is chief of them; and the
honour of these nations ought to be in the same consideration now as it
hath been formerly, and I must not suffer any diminution of that honour
by my person to please any whatsoever.
_Mast. Cer._ I shall propose an expedient to you, that you may take your
places as you come: he who comes first, the first place, and he who comes
last, the lower place.
_Wh._ I shall hardly take a place below the Danish Ambassador, though I
come into the room after him.
_Mast. Cer._ But when you come into the room and find the Danish
Ambassador set, you cannot help it, though he have the upper place.
_Wh._ I shall endeavour to help it, rather than sit below the Danish
Ambassador.
_Mast. Cer._ I presume you will not use force in the Queen's presence.
_Wh._ Master, it is impossible for me, if it were in the presence of all
the queens and kings in Christendom, to forbear to use any means to
hinder the dishonour of my nation in my person.
_Mast. Cer._ I believe the Danish Ambassador would not be so high as you
are.
_Wh._ There is no reason why he should: he knows his nation never
pretended to have the precedence of England, and you, being master of the
ceremonies, cannot be ignorant of it.
_Mast. Cer._ I confess that your nation always had the precedence of
Denmark when you were under a king.
_Wh._ I should never give it from them though they were under a
constable.
_Mast. Cer._ If you insist upon it, the Danish Ambassador must be
uninvited again, for I perceive that you two must not meet.
_Wh._ I suppose the gentleman would not expect precedence of me.
_Mast. Cer._ I can assure you he doth.
_Wh._ I can assure you he shall never have it, if I can help it. But I
pray, Master, tell me whether her Majesty takes notice of this question
of precedence, or did she wish to confer with me about it?
_Mast. Cer._ The Queen commanded me to speak with you about it, hoping
that the question might be so composed that she might have the company of
you both at her entertainment.
_Wh._ I shall stay at home rather than interrupt her Majesty's pleasures,
which I should do by meeting the Danish Ambassador, to whom I shall not
give precedence, unless he be stronger than I.
_Mast. Cer._ The Queen makes this masque chiefly for your Excellence's
entertainment, therefore you must not be absent, but rather the Danish
Ambassador must be uninvited; and I shall presently go about it.
[SN: Order on the Swedish ships.]
Whitelocke returned a visit to Grave Eric, and showed him the Order of
the Council touching the Swedish ships, much in favour of them, and which
seemed very pleasing to the Grave; but he also showed to Whitelocke
several letters which he had received from masters of Swedish ships, of
new complaints of taking of their ships; and he desired that the Order
showed him by Whitelocke might be extended to those whose ships had been
since taken; which Whitelocke promised to endeavour, and said that he
should be in a better capacity to serve him, and to procure discharges
for their ships and goods, when he should be himself in England; and
therefore desired that, by his despatch, they would hasten him thither,
which the Grave promised to do. At his going away, Grave Eric invited
Whitelocke to dine with him on Monday next, and to come as a particular
friend and brother, and not by a formal invitation as an ambassador.
Whitelocke liked the freedom, and promised to wait on him; and was the
more willing to come, that he might see the fashion of their
entertainments, this being the first invitation that was made to him by
any person in this country.
General Grave Wirtenberg visited Whitelocke. He is a Finlander by birth,
of an ancient family, who had applied himself wholly to the military
profession, wherein he became so eminent, and had done so great service
for this Crown, that he was had in great esteem, especially with the
soldiery. He was a Ricks-Senator, and one of the College of War, and at
present had the charge of General of the Ordnance, which is of higher
account here than in England, being next in command to the Generalissimo,
and over the soldiery which belong not to the train, and is often
employed as a general. This gentleman seemed worthy of his honour; he was
of a low stature, somewhat corpulent, of a good mien, and plain
behaviour, more in the military than courtly way. His discourse declared
his reason and judgement to be very good, and his mention of anything
relating to himself was full of modesty. He took great notice of the
English navy and soldiery, and of the people's inclinations and violent
desires of liberty. He spake only Swedish and High Dutch, which caused
Whitelocke to make use of an interpreter, his kinsman Andrew Potley.
[SN: The masque.]
In the evening, according to the invitation from the Queen, Whitelocke
went to Court to the masque, where he did not find the Danish
Ambassador. But some of the Court took notice of the discourse which had
been between the master of the ceremonies and Whitelocke touching
precedence, and they all approved Whitelocke's resolution, and told him
that the Queen highly commended him for it, and said that he was a stout
and faithful servant to the Protector and to his nation, and that she
should love him the better for it; nor was the contest the less pleasing
because with the Dane in Sweden.
From eight o'clock at night till two the next morning they were at the
masque, which was in the usual room fitted for the solemnity, in which
the Queen herself was an actor. The floor where they danced was covered
with tapestry and hung about with red velvet, but most adorned by the
presence of a great number of ladies richly dressed and beautified both
by nature and habit, attending on their mistress; and there were also
many senators, officers, courtiers, and nobility,--a very great presence
of spectators. The music was excellent, especially the violins, which
were many, and rare musicians and fittest for that purpose. The Queen
herself danced very well at two entries: in the first she represented a
Moorish lady, in the second a citizen's wife; in both the properties were
exactly fitted, and in all the rest of the actors and dancers.
There were no speeches nor songs; men acting men's parts, and women the
women's, with variety of representations and dances. The whole design was
to show the vanity and folly of all professions and worldly things,
lively represented by the exact properties and mute actions, genteelly,
without the least offence or scandal.
It held two hours; and after the dances the Queen caused her chair to be
brought near to Whitelocke, where she sat down and discoursed with him of
the masque. He (according to his judgement) commended it and the
inoffensiveness of it, and rare properties fitted to every
representation, with the excellent performance of their parts by all,
especially by the Moorish lady and citizen's wife; at which the Queen
smiled, and said she was glad he liked it. He replied, that any of his
countrymen might have been present at it without any offence, and he
thanked her Majesty for the honour she gave him to be present at it. The
Queen said she perceived that Whitelocke understood what belonged to
masques and the most curious part of them, the properties,--with much
like discourse; after which she retired to her chamber, and Whitelocke to
his lodging.
_April 9, 1654._
Monsieur Bloome came to dine with Whitelocke, and to put him in mind of
Grave Eric's request{5} to him to dine with him the next day. He also
sent to invite Whitelocke's two sons and Colonel Potley.
[SN: The Spanish Envoy departs with rich presents.]
In the afternoon Piementelle came to take his leave of Whitelocke, and
said he intended to begin his journey the next morning. Whitelocke
offered himself or his coaches and servants, to attend him out of town;
but he said it was not the custom when a public minister departed from a
place to use any ceremony, but to leave him to the liberty of ordering
and taking his journey, but thanked Whitelocke for his favour.
Though it were the Lord's Day, yet Piementelle fell into discourse of the
last night's masque, which he could not be present at publicly as
formerly, because he had taken his leave of the Queen and Senators, yet,
being desirous to see it, was admitted into the tiring-room; and he told
Whitelocke that after the Queen had acted the Moorish lady and retired
into that room to put off her disguise, Piementelle being there, she gave
him her visor; in the mouth whereof was a diamond ring of great price,
which shined and glistered gloriously by the torch and candle light as
the Queen danced; this she bade Piementelle to keep till she called for
it. Piementelle told her he wondered she would trust a jewel of that
value in the hands of a soldier; she said she would bear the adventure of
it. And when the masque was ended, Piementelle offered the ring again to
the Queen, who told him that he had not kept it according to her
commands, which were till she called for it, which she had not yet done,
nor intended as long as she lived, but that he should keep it as a
memorial of her favour. The Spaniard had cause to rest satisfied with the
Queen's answer and her real and bountiful compliment, the ring being
worth ten thousand crowns, which he brought away with him, besides many
other jewels and presents from the Queen of great value, not publicly
known. He took leave of Whitelocke and of his sons, Colonel Potley, and
the gentlemen, with great civility.
_April 10, 1654._
[SN: Whitelocke dines with Grave Eric Oxenstiern.]
Between eleven and twelve o'clock, the usual dining-time here,
Whitelocke, with his sons and Potley, attended only by two gentlemen, one
page, and two lacqueys, went to Grave Eric's lodging to dinner. His
rooms were not stately nor richly furnished, but such as could be had in
that place. The outer room for servants was like a little hall; within
that was a larger room, narrow and long, where they dined; within that
was a smaller room hung with tapestry, used for a withdrawing-room: all
below stairs, which is not usual in these parts.
Grave Eric met Whitelocke at the door of the lodging; in the dining-room
was his father the Chancellor, and divers friends with him. The father
and son went in with Whitelocke to the withdrawing-room, where, after a
quarter of an hour's discourse, they were called to dinner, the meat
being on the table; then a huge massy basin and ewer of silver gilt was
brought for them to wash--some of the good booties met with in Germany.
After washing, one of the pages (after their manner) said grace in
Swedish.
The table was long and narrow; in the middle of it, on the further side,
under a canopy of velvet, were set two great chairs: Whitelocke sat in
the right-hand chair, and Woolfeldt in the other, on his left-hand. On
the other side of the table, over against these, were set two other like
great chairs; in the right-hand chair sat the Ricks-Droitset, and in the
left-hand chair the Chancellor. By Whitelocke sat Grave Gabriel
Oxenstiern and Senator Vanderlin in lesser chairs, and by Woolfeldt sat
Whitelocke's sons and Potley. On the other side, in lesser chairs, by the
Droitset, sat the Senators Beilke and Bundt the younger; by the
Chancellor sat Senator Bundt the elder and Baron Douglas; at the upper
end of the table sat Grave Eric, and at the lower end stood the carver.
The dishes were all silver, not great, but many, set one upon another,
and filled with the best meat and most variety that the country did
afford; and indeed the entertainment was very noble--they had four
several courses of their best meat, and fish and fowl, dressed after the
French mode.
They had excellent Rhenish wine, and indifferent good sack and claret;
their beer very thick and strong, after the manner of the country. When
the four courses were done, they took off the meat and tablecloth, and
under it was another clean cloth; then they brought clean napkins and
plates to every one, and set a full banquet on the table, and, as part
thereof, tobacco and pipes, which they set before Whitelocke as a special
respect to him, and he and two or three more of the company took of it as
they sat at table; and they so civilly complied with Whitelocke as not to
observe their own customs, but abstaining from healths or any excess.
They all sat bare at the table, according to their usage, chiefly (though
no occasion were for it at this time) to avoid the trouble of often
putting off and on their hats and caps in healths. They were full of good
discourse, more cheerful than serious. Most at the table spake or
understood somewhat of English, for which reason they were chosen to
accompany Whitelocke here, as a compliment to his nation; they discoursed
also in several other languages, as Swedish, High Dutch, French, and
Latin.
After dinner, which was very long, they sat yet longer at the table,
Whitelocke expecting when they would rise; till Douglas informed him,
that he being the guest, and an ambassador, they used it as a respect to
him, that none of the company would offer to rise till he first arose
from the table. As soon as this was known to Whitelocke, he presently
rose and the rest with him, and the Chancellor and he retired into the
withdrawing-room; where, after compliments and thanks for his noble
treatment (which it was said the father made, though put out in the son's
name, and was full of respect and magnificence), Whitelocke thought fit
to show to the Chancellor his powers to treat, and they had conference to
this effect.
[SN: Whitelocke exchanges his full powers.]
_Whitelocke._ Father, if you please to peruse this writing, you will be
satisfied that the Protector, since the late change of Government in
England, hath thought me worthy to be trusted and furnished with
sufficient power as to this treaty.
_Chancellor._ My dear son, this is very full, and a large testimony of
the good opinion your master hath of you. All your powers and the
originals of your commissions (according to custom) are to be left with
us, to be registered in our Chancery.
_Wh._ I suppose you will also deliver to me the originals of your powers,
to be enrolled (according to the English custom also) in our Chancery.
_Chan._ That shall be done.
_Wh._ The like shall be done on my part; and the Protector will be ready
to do whatever shall be judged further necessary for the ratifying of
this business.
_Chan._ It will be requisite that you let me have in Latin your
instructions from the Protector.
_Wh._ I shall cause it to be done, except such part of them as are
secret.
_Chan._ That which is to be reserved in secresy I desire not to see;
there will be sufficient besides to show your powers.
_Wh._ They will fully appear.
_Chan._ I should counsel you, before your departure out of this kingdom,
to make a visit to the Prince of Sweden; he will take it in good part,
and it will testify a respect of the Protector to him, and render the
alliance the more firm.
_Wh._ It is my purpose to visit the Prince; not that I am in doubt of the
validity of the treaty made with the Queen, unless the Prince approve of
it, but, as you advise, to show the respect of the Protector to his
Kingly Highness, and to acquit myself of a due civility.
_Chan._ It will be fit for you to do it; and I shall advise you, at your
return home, to put the Protector in mind of some particulars which, in
my judgement, require his special care.
_Wh._ I shall faithfully do it, and I know they will be received with
much the more regard coming from you: I pray do me the favour to let me
know them.
[SN: Oxenstiern's advice to Cromwell.]
_Chan._ I would counsel the Protector to take heed of those dangerous
opinions in matters of religion which daily increase among you, and, if
not prevented and curbed, will cause new troubles, they never resting
till themselves may domineer in chief.
_Wh._ Will not the best way to curb them be to slight them, and so they
will fall of themselves?
_Chan._ I doubt they have taken too much root to fall so easily; but if
they be not countenanced with preferments, they will the sooner wither
and decay.
_Wh._ That will surely lessen them.
_Chan._ The Protector must also be careful to provide money and
employment for his soldiers, else he will hardly keep them in order.
_Wh._ That is very requisite; and for money there is good provision
already made.
_Chan._ He must likewise be watchful of the King's party, who will be
busy at work, especially upon the new change.
_Wh._ The care thereof is the life of our affairs, and his Highness is
most vigilant.
_Chan._ It behoves him to be so, for they that could not vanquish him by
arms will endeavour to do it by craft and treachery of your own party,
which you must look to.
_Wh._ He hath good intelligence of their plots.
_Chan._ It will also be prudence in him to let the people see that he
intends not to rule them with an iron sceptre, nor to govern them by an
army, but to give them such a liberty and enjoyment of the benefit of
their laws that the continuance of his government may become their
interest, and that they may have no cause to desire a change; else,
though they must bear the yoke for a time, yet as soon as they meet with
an opportunity they will shake it off again.
_Wh._ This is counsel proper to come from such a mind and judgement as
yours is, and I shall not fail to report it to his Highness; and your
Excellence hath rightly stated the disposition of my countrymen, who love
peace and liberty, and will hardly brook slavery longer than they are
forced to it by necessity; and the best way to govern them is to let them
enjoy their laws and rights, which will rule them better than an iron
sceptre.
_Chan._ It is the disposition of all generous and free people, as the
English are, whom I truly respect, and him that is their head, that
gallant person the Protector.
They had much other discourse; and after being together till six
o'clock, the father and son, and the Chancellor and Whitelocke, called
one another, and all the company parted.
_April 11, 1654._
[SN: The Queen proposes a secret article.]
The Chancellor had promised to procure Whitelocke his despatch in a few
days. He sent Canterstein to communicate to him the articles drawn in
form, with the amendments, to see if there were any mistake in them.
Whitelocke and the secretary perused them together, and agreed on all
except two or three points, in which was some small difference; and
Canterstein promised to hasten the engrossing of them.
Many strangers dining with Whitelocke made him the later in his visit to
the Queen, to take his leave of her Majesty before her intended journey
to see her mother. She promised Whitelocke that during her absence she
would leave order with the Chancellor and his son to conclude the treaty,
and at her return she would do what belonged to her for the speedy
despatch of Whitelocke, to his contentment. She promised also to give
order to her Chancellor about the business of Guinea, whereof they had
much discourse.
She was pleased to propound to Whitelocke a secret article to be between
her and the Protector, and not to be in the treaty between her
Commissioners and Whitelocke, nor to be known to any of them. She said,
that if it might be done, she should take it in very good part; but if
Whitelocke thought it not likely to be done, then she would think no more
of it. She said the substance of what she desired was that it might be
agreed, by a particular article between the Protector and her, that in
case those here should not perform what they promised to her upon her
resignation of the government, that then it should be in the power of the
Protector to break the treaty now made, and not to be bound by it.
Whitelocke was much troubled at this proposal, and upon a great
difficulty in it--that if he should deny it, the Queen might be distasted
and break off from his treaty; and to consent to it he had no commission,
nor held it reasonable; but he told the Queen that it was a matter of
great weight, deserving her Majesty's serious thoughts what to do in it.
He said he had no instructions upon any such article as this, nor could
agree to it; but if her Majesty pleased to have such an article drawn up,
and to sign it herself and send it to the Protector, he promised to use
his best interest to persuade his Highness to a consent thereunto, and to
sign it at Whitelocke's return to England, and so to return it to her
Majesty.
She said that Woolfeldt should confer with Whitelocke about the drawing
up of such an article, whom she would trust in it, but not any of the
Swedes, because it might concern them, and occasion prejudice to them.
Whitelocke agreed that Woolfeldt was a fit person to be trusted in this
business, and one with whom he should willingly confer about any service
for her Majesty; that he believed something might be done herein to the
Queen's advantage, but whether in this way of a secret article, and as
part of the treaty, he doubted, lest thereby offence might be given, and
the treaty thereby, as to both parts, be weakened. The Queen replied that
it would keep those here in some fear lest if they should break with
her, that then the Protector would not keep the treaty with them.
Whitelocke thought it best to be at some reserve in this article of
secresy, not wholly to dissuade the Queen from it, lest she might be
distasted. He saw advantage to the Protector to have it put into his
power to break the treaty upon this occasion; but he doubted the honour
and clearness of it, and therefore he judged it best to say the less at
this time. Only he observed what a condition the Queen had brought her
affairs unto when she thought not fit to trust any of her countrymen in
this business; and before her resignation she distrusted the performance
of the conditions of it towards herself, and therefore would have this
secret article as a bridle to them. But as she distrusted her own party,
so she testified great confidence in the Protector and in Whitelocke, to
whom she propounded this secret article of so much concernment to her.
Whitelocke persuaded her Majesty to appoint faithful persons to order her
revenue for her, and not to stay long here after her resignation, because
she would then find a great difference in the carriage of persons to her.
She said she had taken care about her revenue as he had advised her, and
that she would be gone out of Sweden presently after her resignation;
that she expected the alteration of men's carriages towards her after it,
but it would not trouble her; that the world was of such a condition,
that nothing of respect was to be looked for but where advantage was
hoped for by it. She never esteemed the fawnings of men for their own
ends, but her own private contentment and satisfaction.
Whitelocke sent his son James and his secretary (Earle) to Canterstein
with a copy of the form which Whitelocke intended to follow in the
instrument intended to be delivered by him, where he put the Protector's
name first, and some other small variations, as usage required; wherewith
Canterstein promised to acquaint the Chancellor and to return an answer.
Whitelocke employed his son for his experience to be gained in these
affairs.
_April 12, 1654._
[SN: Woolfeldt opposes the secret article.]
Mr. Woolfeldt having done Whitelocke the favour to dine with him, they
retired and discoursed privately to this effect:--
_Woolfeldt._ The Queen was pleased the last night to send for me, and to
communicate to me the matter of a secret article which, she said, she had
before imparted to you.
_Whitelocke._ What is your opinion of such an article?
_Woolf._ Truly, I dissuaded her from it, as not convenient, in my poor
opinion, for either party.
_Wh._ I know your judgement is grounded upon solid reason.
_Woolf._ My reasons are, because this article is to be kept secret, and
to be added as a part of the treaty by her Majesty without the knowledge
of those here, which, when it shall come to be known, will give them the
more cause of objection and hatred against her for it, and expose her to
more inconveniences than it can bring advantage to her; and therefore I
thought it better for her Majesty to forbear it.
_Wh._ Your reasons were the true ones: was her Majesty convinced by
them?
_Woolf._ She seemed to make more doubt of it than at first, but told me
that you were not much against it, and desired to confer with me about it
while she was out of town, and she wished me to prepare something against
her return.
_Wh._ As I told her Majesty, I can consent to nothing in this point,
having no instructions in any matter of this nature, as you will easily
believe; but if her Majesty shall think fit to have anything drawn up by
way of a secret article, all that I can do will be to present it to the
Protector at my return home, and I know he will be as ready as any person
to show respect to the Queen; but what he will do as to a consent in this
particular I cannot tell, but am doubtful lest it may be apprehended as a
weakening of the treaty and alliance.
_Woolf._ That is a great and true objection against it; and, in my
opinion, it would be better for the Queen to write a letter to the
Protector in general compliment, and in it to desire him to be a friend
to her, and to give her his assistance upon any occasion that may fall
out concerning her; and this letter may be sent by you, and delivered by
your hand to the Protector, when you may acquaint him with anything
further or more particularly relating to her Majesty.
_Wh._ I think this will be much the better way; and if such a letter be
sent by me, I hope I shall be able to procure such an answer, or, upon
any occasion, such a return as will be to the contentment of her Majesty.
But in case the Queen should sign such an article, and then the Protector
should not approve it, it would distaste the Queen and her friends, and
she would be censured to have done too low an act in it.
_Woolf._ I had yesterday a long discourse with the Chancellor about your
affairs of England, and particularly of your fleet now at sea--what
should be the design of having so strong a fleet at sea, the sea-war
between you and your enemies being reported at an end, and peace
concluded; and whether your design might be for France or Spain or
Portugal.
_Wh._ Or for the defence of England.
_Woolf._ He was much amused about it.
_Wh._ I hope that was not lessened by you.
_Woolf._ No indeed; I endeavoured to amuse him more, and told him, that
for France, England did not care to have it; it would be but a charge and
no benefit to them, and embroil them in a long chargeable war.
_Wh._ England hath had experience thereof formerly when they were masters
of France, and many of us think our own country as good as France.
_Woolf._ I am of that opinion; and I told him there was as little
probability for any design against Spain because of its distance, and
little advantage to England by a war with them.
_Wh._ I hope you commended a kingdom called Denmark?
_Woolf._ I first told him that for Portugal or the Indies the like
objections were against any design for them; but as for Denmark, I told
him that England had just cause to make war upon that king, and that it
would be no hard business to gain upon him; and the advantage of traffic
made me think that to be the most probable design of any other to be
intended by this great fleet of England, wherein it is most likely for
you to gain advantage to your Commonwealth and to give offence to none,
having a just cause of quarrel against him.
_Wh._ Your brother the King of Denmark hath given cause indeed to be
visited.
_Woolf._ I shall inform you of one thing, of which you may now make
advantage. Your King James made a treaty with the last King of Denmark
concerning the Isles of the Orcades, which were claimed by the Dane as
part of their territories; and after the death of King James and our last
King, that then, upon payment of £13,000 by the Dane, he should have the
Orcades again. Now both these kings being dead, according to that treaty
it is in the liberty of the King of Denmark to redeem those islands; and
it would be good for you, in the treaty with that Crown, who would be
included in your treaty with the Hollanders, to have a clause for the
present King of Denmark to quit his pretences to the Orcades upon the
treaty with King James.
_Wh._ This is a very material thing, and I shall not fail to do somewhat
in it, if I can return to England time enough; and I thank you for
putting me in mind of it.
[SN: Discussion on the Guinea settlements.]
Grave Eric came to Whitelocke, who had much discourse with him touching
Guinea, and the injuries done by the Swedes to the English there.
_Grave Eric._ One of the principal persons of the Swedish plantation
there is now in this country, and complains of injuries done by the
English to the Swedes there. I think it may be fit to hear both the
complaints of the one and of the other part, and thereupon to come to
some agreement upon the whole matter.
_Whitelocke._ I have here many examinations taken upon oath concerning
this matter.
_Gr. Eric._ Those complaints ought to be determined by the King of that
country, who sold the lands to the planters, and can resolve all
differences about that matter.
_Wh._ I believe that the complaints of this nature are properly to be
made to the Queen, whose subjects are concerned in them, and they are
always under her rule.
_Gr. Eric._ The Queen will make no difficulty to do justice in this case,
and I hope that the Protector will do the like.
_Wh._ You need not at all to doubt it.
_Gr. Eric._ This messenger, now come to me, hath brought me letters from
the Queen, in which there is mention of this business.
_Wh._ Why may not an article touching Guinea be inserted with the rest?
_Gr. Eric._ That will not be convenient, because the articles are
entirely concluded and engrossed on our part; and this of Guinea is but a
particular business, which till now came not under consideration, nor
hath been examined, and it will be better to have an article by itself
upon this subject.
_Wh._ I am satisfied with your reason, and think this way will be no
disadvantage to the merchants of either nation. I desire an addition to
the article touching passports, that none shall do anything contrary to
the letters of passport.
_Gr. Eric._ I cannot consent to that, for it will render the whole
article fruitless in both parts; and there is another article, that in
case any shall act anything in prejudice of the treaty, he shall be
punished.
In consideration of this article, and in regard that the agreement
touching the form of passports was remitted to something to be done
therein afterwards, and he found Eric stiff against any alteration,
Whitelocke did not think it material to insist further upon it. As to
that which Whitelocke desired to the last article of ratification, that
the words "vel successoribus suis" might be omitted, Eric said he would
consent thereunto if he found it material, and desired the business might
be finished; and he desired Whitelocke to excuse a little small delay at
present by his absence for a few days, he being necessitated to go out of
town tomorrow, but at his return all should be concluded; and as soon as
the Queen came back, the whole business should be finished, which had
been done before, but by reason of the Queen's unexpected journey.
_April 13, 1654._
[SN: Whitelocke confers with the Chancellor, and invites him to dinner.]
In the morning the Chancellor came to Whitelocke and staid with him near
three hours. They had much debate touching Guinea, to the like effect as
before with his son; they had also debate about the amendments which
Whitelocke had desired might be inserted in the articles, chiefly that
touching passports, to which the Chancellor would by no means agree. He
likewise said to Whitelocke:--
_Chancellor._ The Queen caused the articles to be copied out, to the end
(as I believe) to communicate them to the Prince, which will be for the
greater validity of the treaty and alliance.
_Whitelocke._ I am glad her Majesty is pleased to take the advice of the
Prince in this business, and am willing to promise myself that nothing is
contained in the articles which he will not approve.
_Chan._ I believe the same.
_Wh._ This might be the occasion that my business was not finished before
her Majesty's going out of town.
_Chan._ I myself am also going into the country, and come now to take my
leave of you.
_Wh._ I hope you will return before her Majesty.
_Chan._ I purpose to stay abroad but four or five days; and I find that
frequent exercise and change of air tendeth very much to the improving of
my health.
_Wh._ I do heartily wish your health, and hope that the Queen and you
will shortly be in town again, and that then my business will be
finished.
_Chan._ There is no doubt but that your business will be despatched
within a very few days after the Queen's return.
They had much other discourse touching the affairs of England, in which
the Chancellor testified much respect to England and to the Protector.
Whitelocke invited the Chancellor to dinner to his house, but he excused
himself, alleging that his age and infirmities would not permit him to
take a meal out of his own house, or at the houses of some of his
children, where he might enjoy the same liberty as at his own house.
Whitelocke told him that he should have the same liberty at his house,
who was one of his sons, as he could take at the houses of any other of
his children; but the Chancellor earnestly desired to be excused, and
Whitelocke thought not fit further to importune him, but desired him to
hasten his return hither, which he promised to do.
Whitelocke received his letters from England, and in that from Thurloe he
writes:--
[SN: Letters from Thurloe.]
"There hath been consideration taken of your return home, but the
issue of the treaty with the Dutch not being yet known, his
Highness's resolutions as to your return are deferred until the
next; the difficulty of that business lies in the article relating
to the Danes, etc. All things else remain as they did by my last, so
that your Excellence will be saved this week the labour of reading
my long letter. This day we have a fast for the great drought.
"My Lady was here with me to hasten your return, wherein I should be
glad to be instrumental. I pray God preserve your Excellence, and
bless the affairs under your hand. I am,
"Your Excellence's humble servant,
"JO. THURLOE.
"_March 24th, 1653._
"I saw a letter to his Highness from Upsal, wherein some expressions
were used as if your Excellence were like to be removed from the
Seal. His Highness commanded me to assure you that there are no such
intentions, but much the contrary, whereof your Excellence will have
real demonstrations upon all occasions."