Whitelocke, delight of Mars, the ornamentOf gownmen, from thy country being sent,Tribunals languish; Themis sad is led,Sighing under her mourning widow’s bed.Without thee suitors in thick crowds do run,Sowing perpetual strife, which once begun,Till happy fate thee home again shall send,Those sharp contentions will have no end.But through the snowy seas and northern ways,When the remoter sun made shortest days,O’er tops of craggy mountains, paths untrod,Where untamed creatures only make abode,Thy love to thy dear country hath thee brought,Ambassador from England. Thou hast soughtThe Swedish confines buried in frost,Straight wilt thou see the French and Spanish coast;And them fast bind to thy loved BritanyIn a perpetual league of amity.So wilt thou arbitrator be of Peace,Her pious author; thou wilt cause to ceaseThe sound of war, our ears it shall not pierce;Thou wilt be Chancellor of the universe.Christina, that sweet nymph, no longer shallDetain thee; be thou careful not to fall,Prudent Ulysses, under those delightsTo which the learned Circe thee invites.Thy chaste Penelope doth call thee slow;Thy friends call for thee home; and they do knowNew embassies, affairs abroad, at home,Require thy service,—stay till thou dost come.Thou, Keeper of the Seal, dost take awayForeign contentions; thou dost cause to stayThe wars of princes. Shut thou Janus’ gate,Ambassador of peace to every state.”
Whitelocke, delight of Mars, the ornamentOf gownmen, from thy country being sent,Tribunals languish; Themis sad is led,Sighing under her mourning widow’s bed.Without thee suitors in thick crowds do run,Sowing perpetual strife, which once begun,Till happy fate thee home again shall send,Those sharp contentions will have no end.But through the snowy seas and northern ways,When the remoter sun made shortest days,O’er tops of craggy mountains, paths untrod,Where untamed creatures only make abode,Thy love to thy dear country hath thee brought,Ambassador from England. Thou hast soughtThe Swedish confines buried in frost,Straight wilt thou see the French and Spanish coast;And them fast bind to thy loved BritanyIn a perpetual league of amity.So wilt thou arbitrator be of Peace,Her pious author; thou wilt cause to ceaseThe sound of war, our ears it shall not pierce;Thou wilt be Chancellor of the universe.Christina, that sweet nymph, no longer shallDetain thee; be thou careful not to fall,Prudent Ulysses, under those delightsTo which the learned Circe thee invites.Thy chaste Penelope doth call thee slow;Thy friends call for thee home; and they do knowNew embassies, affairs abroad, at home,Require thy service,—stay till thou dost come.Thou, Keeper of the Seal, dost take awayForeign contentions; thou dost cause to stayThe wars of princes. Shut thou Janus’ gate,Ambassador of peace to every state.”
The Queen was much delighted with these and other verses which Whitelocke showed her; read themover several times, and desired copies of them, which Whitelocke sent her; and in this good humour she wished Whitelocke to leave with her a copy of his articles as he had now revised them, and to come to her again the next day, when she would give him a further answer, and, she hoped, to his contentment.
Spain suspected of intriguing against the treaty.Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke, and excused his long absence by reason of the holidays. He informed Whitelocke with much freedom, that it was against the interest of Spain that England and Sweden should be in alliance together, and that Whitelocke’s negotiation had been hindered by the Spanish Resident here, more than by any other. Whereunto Whitelocke said little positively, but compared his words with the late carriage of Piementelle,—especially since Whitelocke did not so heartily entertain the Queen’s motion (which probably Piementelle put her upon) to have the Spaniard included in the league with England and Sweden, which Whitelocke was not empowered to treat upon, and Whitelocke also remembered the deferring of his audiences lately desired.73But these things he was to keep to himself, and to court Woolfeldt, which he did, and Piementelle likewise, who came to visit Whitelocke whilst Woolfeldt was with him, and made the same excuse as he had done for his long absence. They had much general discourse, but nothing (as usually before) touching Whitelocke’s business. Piementelle said he purposed to depart from Upsal within seven or eight days; that yesterdayhe had taken his leave of the Queen, and came in the next place to take his leave of Whitelocke, who gave him thanks for this honour, and said he was sorry for the departure of Piementelle, whereby he should have a very great loss in being deprived of the acceptable conversation of so honourable a friend.
Despatches from England complaining of delay.Whitelocke received many letters from England; in those from Thurloe he saith:—
“I am sorry your last letters give us no greater hopes of that which we so much long for, to wit, your Excellence’s speedy return home; it seeming by them that the treaty was not much advanced since your last before, notwithstanding the great care and diligence used by your Excellency for the promoting thereof, as also the great acceptance you have with the Queen and Court, as is acknowledged by other public ministers residing there. It is now more than probable they will expect the issue of the Dutch business before they will come to any conclusion; as also to see what terms we are like to be upon with France, that so the Queen may manage her treaty with England accordingly, which I suppose she may not be long ignorant of. In the meantime his Highness thinks he is somewhat delayed on her part.”
“I am sorry your last letters give us no greater hopes of that which we so much long for, to wit, your Excellence’s speedy return home; it seeming by them that the treaty was not much advanced since your last before, notwithstanding the great care and diligence used by your Excellency for the promoting thereof, as also the great acceptance you have with the Queen and Court, as is acknowledged by other public ministers residing there. It is now more than probable they will expect the issue of the Dutch business before they will come to any conclusion; as also to see what terms we are like to be upon with France, that so the Queen may manage her treaty with England accordingly, which I suppose she may not be long ignorant of. In the meantime his Highness thinks he is somewhat delayed on her part.”
Then Thurloe relates all the passages of the Dutch Ambassadors, and that, in effect, they had agreed to the articles; of the endeavours of the French to have a league with the Protector, and no less of the Spaniard. And he writes at large the news of the Archduke, as also that of Scotland and Ireland, and confutes the rumour of a discontent in the army of the Protector.
In another letter from Thurloe of a later date, received by the same post, he saith thus:—
“His Highness understands by your Excellence’s last letters, that the treaty with the Queen of Sweden will much depend upon the treaty with the Dutch here, and until the issue of that be known no great matter is to be expected from your negotiation: concerning which, it being very probable that before the next ordinary it will be seen what issue the Dutch treaty will be brought unto, his Highness will refer his further directions to you till then; leaving it to your Excellence to proceed upon the former instructions as you shall find it convenient, and for his service according as affairs now stand.”
“His Highness understands by your Excellence’s last letters, that the treaty with the Queen of Sweden will much depend upon the treaty with the Dutch here, and until the issue of that be known no great matter is to be expected from your negotiation: concerning which, it being very probable that before the next ordinary it will be seen what issue the Dutch treaty will be brought unto, his Highness will refer his further directions to you till then; leaving it to your Excellence to proceed upon the former instructions as you shall find it convenient, and for his service according as affairs now stand.”
The clause in this letter, of referring further directions till after the issue of the Dutch treaty, was some trouble to Whitelocke’s thoughts, fearing it might delay his return home; but he laid hold upon the latter part of this letter, whereby it is left to Whitelocke to proceed upon the former instructions as he should find it convenient and for his Highness’s service; which, as it reposed a great trust in Whitelocke, so it gave him warrant to conclude his treaty, and obliged him to the more care to perform that trust which they had so fully put in him.
Claim on behalf of the Swedish ships in England.Mr. Bonnele representing to the Protector the losses which the Swedes suffered by the ships of England, the Protector caused an answer thereunto to be returned, the copy whereof was sent by Thurloe to Whitelocke, and was thus:—
“Whereas Mr. Bonnele, Resident of the Queen of Sweden, hath, by a paper of the 4th of March, remonstrated to his Highness that several ships and goods belonging to the said Queen and her subjects are taken at sea by the ships of this State, and brought into these parts, contrary to the declaration of the Council of State, 1st April, 1653, whereby they did declare, that for preventing the presentobstruction of trade, all ships truly belonging to the Queen or her subjects, of Sweden, that should bring with them certificates from her said Majesty, or the chief magistrate of the place from whence they come, grounded upon the respective oaths of the magistrates and loaders that the said ship and lading do belongbonâ fideto the said Queen or her subjects, and to no stranger whatsoever, should and might freely pass without interruption or disturbance. His Highness hath commanded that it be returned in answer to the said Resident, that although the said declaration was to be in force for the space of three months, in which time a form of passport and certificates was to be thought of for preventing fraud and collusion, yet no provision of that nature having been yet agreed upon, and it being contrary to his intention that the goods and ships belonging to her said Majesty or subjects (with whom he desires to conserve all good correspondence) should in the meantime suffer inconvenience or prejudice by the ships of this State, hath renewed, as he doth hereby renew, the said declaration with respect to the present treaty now on foot between the two nations, wherein some course may be provided for preventing the said frauds.“And to the end there may be the better effect of this declaration, his Highness hath given order to the Judges of the Admiralty that if any ships or goods be brought into these parts belonging to her Majesty or subjects, that the producing of certificates according to the said declaration, in open Court and upon oath made by them that do produce such certificates, that they are good and authentic, and obtained without fraud or deceit, that the Judges shall thereupon (there being no proof before them to the contrary) discharge the said ships or goods without further delay. Provided that such ships were not bound with contraband goods to the ports or harbours of any of the United Provinces.“For the herring-buss, there having been proceedings thereupon in the Court of Admiralty, and a sentence of condemnationgiven against her as belonging to the enemies of this State, his Highness does not conceive that it can be expected from him to interpose in matters belonging to the decision of that Court; besides, the law having in the ordinary course provided a remedy, by way of appeal, in case of wrong or injustice done by that Court.“For the goods of Mr. Alexander Cecconi, supposed to be taken by a ship belonging to this State, orders have been given by the Council concerning them, and some return made upon those orders; and the said Commissary may rest assured that speedy and effectual justice will be done in that particular.“Jo. Thurloe.“March 10th, 1653.”
“Whereas Mr. Bonnele, Resident of the Queen of Sweden, hath, by a paper of the 4th of March, remonstrated to his Highness that several ships and goods belonging to the said Queen and her subjects are taken at sea by the ships of this State, and brought into these parts, contrary to the declaration of the Council of State, 1st April, 1653, whereby they did declare, that for preventing the presentobstruction of trade, all ships truly belonging to the Queen or her subjects, of Sweden, that should bring with them certificates from her said Majesty, or the chief magistrate of the place from whence they come, grounded upon the respective oaths of the magistrates and loaders that the said ship and lading do belongbonâ fideto the said Queen or her subjects, and to no stranger whatsoever, should and might freely pass without interruption or disturbance. His Highness hath commanded that it be returned in answer to the said Resident, that although the said declaration was to be in force for the space of three months, in which time a form of passport and certificates was to be thought of for preventing fraud and collusion, yet no provision of that nature having been yet agreed upon, and it being contrary to his intention that the goods and ships belonging to her said Majesty or subjects (with whom he desires to conserve all good correspondence) should in the meantime suffer inconvenience or prejudice by the ships of this State, hath renewed, as he doth hereby renew, the said declaration with respect to the present treaty now on foot between the two nations, wherein some course may be provided for preventing the said frauds.
“And to the end there may be the better effect of this declaration, his Highness hath given order to the Judges of the Admiralty that if any ships or goods be brought into these parts belonging to her Majesty or subjects, that the producing of certificates according to the said declaration, in open Court and upon oath made by them that do produce such certificates, that they are good and authentic, and obtained without fraud or deceit, that the Judges shall thereupon (there being no proof before them to the contrary) discharge the said ships or goods without further delay. Provided that such ships were not bound with contraband goods to the ports or harbours of any of the United Provinces.
“For the herring-buss, there having been proceedings thereupon in the Court of Admiralty, and a sentence of condemnationgiven against her as belonging to the enemies of this State, his Highness does not conceive that it can be expected from him to interpose in matters belonging to the decision of that Court; besides, the law having in the ordinary course provided a remedy, by way of appeal, in case of wrong or injustice done by that Court.
“For the goods of Mr. Alexander Cecconi, supposed to be taken by a ship belonging to this State, orders have been given by the Council concerning them, and some return made upon those orders; and the said Commissary may rest assured that speedy and effectual justice will be done in that particular.
“Jo. Thurloe.
“March 10th, 1653.”
These orders of the Council Whitelocke caused to be translated into Latin, that he might communicate them as he saw occasion.
Reports to England.Whitelocke despatched a great number of letters to his friends in England: in those to Secretary Thurloe he gave a full account of all transactions of his negotiations and passages here since his last letters.
This day, though the post-day, Woolfeldt again visited Whitelocke, to his no little interruption in his despatches; yet from him Whitelocke learned many things in relation to Denmark, for the advantage of England, and Woolfeldt testified great affection and respect to the Protector and Commonwealth. He was also interrupted by his attendance upon the Queen, according to her appointment. The Chancellor came forth from her as Whitelocke went in, and he told Whitelocke that the Queen, hearing of his being without, had sent to desire him to come in to her.Whitelocke read some of his news to the Queen, and the paper which the Protector had caused to be given to her Commissary Bonnele at London; upon which Whitelocke took the boldness a little to paraphrase, and her Majesty was well pleased with it. They fell into discourse of the treaty, much to the same effect as formerly; but Whitelocke staid the less time with her Majesty, because he presumed that the Chancellor and his son waited without to speak with her about his business. She promised Whitelocke to send him an answer of his business the next day, and that one of her ships should be ready at the Dollars (the mouth of the haven of Stockholm) to transport him to Lübeck when he should desire it; which was acceptable to Whitelocke to think on, and he thanked her Majesty for it.
Thus was March passed over, full of trouble, yet nothing effected in his business.
41[The Ambassador’s verses I have ventured to omit, as alike destitute of elegance, point, or metre.]71“Ad Illustrissimum et Excellentissimum Dominum, Dominum Whitelocke, Legatum Angliæ Extraordinarium apud Serenissimam Sueciæ Reginam. Ode.“Vitloce, Martis deliciæ, decusGentis legatæ; te sine, languidumMœret tribunal, et cubiliIn viduo Themis ingemiscit.Denso cientes agmine cursitant,Et sempiternas te sine consuuntLites, neque hic discordiarumFinis erit, nisi tu revertas.Sed te nivosum per mare, per viasSeptentrionum, per juga montium,Inhospitales per recessusDuxit amor patriæ decorus.Legatus oras jam Sueonum videsBruma sepultas; mox quoque Galliam,Hispaniam mox cum BritannisFœdere perpetuo ligabis.Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiterGentes per omnes qua sonuit tubaDicere; cancellariusqueOrbis eris simul universi.Christina, dulcis nympha, diutiùsNe te moretur: qui merito cluesPrudens Ulysses, sperne doctæPopula deliciasque Circes.Te casta tentum Penelope vocat,Vocant amici, teque aliæ vocantLegationes, te requiruntArdua multa domi forisque.Custos Sigilli tu dirimes citoPugnas forenses, bellaque principumLegatus idem terminabis:Tu (sera candida) claude fanum.”73[This change was probably the consequence of the negotiations then going on between Louis XIV. and Cromwell in London, which had excited the jealousy of the Spanish Court, as is stated by Thurloe in the next page.]
41[The Ambassador’s verses I have ventured to omit, as alike destitute of elegance, point, or metre.]
41[The Ambassador’s verses I have ventured to omit, as alike destitute of elegance, point, or metre.]
71“Ad Illustrissimum et Excellentissimum Dominum, Dominum Whitelocke, Legatum Angliæ Extraordinarium apud Serenissimam Sueciæ Reginam. Ode.“Vitloce, Martis deliciæ, decusGentis legatæ; te sine, languidumMœret tribunal, et cubiliIn viduo Themis ingemiscit.Denso cientes agmine cursitant,Et sempiternas te sine consuuntLites, neque hic discordiarumFinis erit, nisi tu revertas.Sed te nivosum per mare, per viasSeptentrionum, per juga montium,Inhospitales per recessusDuxit amor patriæ decorus.Legatus oras jam Sueonum videsBruma sepultas; mox quoque Galliam,Hispaniam mox cum BritannisFœdere perpetuo ligabis.Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiterGentes per omnes qua sonuit tubaDicere; cancellariusqueOrbis eris simul universi.Christina, dulcis nympha, diutiùsNe te moretur: qui merito cluesPrudens Ulysses, sperne doctæPopula deliciasque Circes.Te casta tentum Penelope vocat,Vocant amici, teque aliæ vocantLegationes, te requiruntArdua multa domi forisque.Custos Sigilli tu dirimes citoPugnas forenses, bellaque principumLegatus idem terminabis:Tu (sera candida) claude fanum.”
71“Ad Illustrissimum et Excellentissimum Dominum, Dominum Whitelocke, Legatum Angliæ Extraordinarium apud Serenissimam Sueciæ Reginam. Ode.
“Vitloce, Martis deliciæ, decusGentis legatæ; te sine, languidumMœret tribunal, et cubiliIn viduo Themis ingemiscit.Denso cientes agmine cursitant,Et sempiternas te sine consuuntLites, neque hic discordiarumFinis erit, nisi tu revertas.Sed te nivosum per mare, per viasSeptentrionum, per juga montium,Inhospitales per recessusDuxit amor patriæ decorus.Legatus oras jam Sueonum videsBruma sepultas; mox quoque Galliam,Hispaniam mox cum BritannisFœdere perpetuo ligabis.Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiterGentes per omnes qua sonuit tubaDicere; cancellariusqueOrbis eris simul universi.Christina, dulcis nympha, diutiùsNe te moretur: qui merito cluesPrudens Ulysses, sperne doctæPopula deliciasque Circes.Te casta tentum Penelope vocat,Vocant amici, teque aliæ vocantLegationes, te requiruntArdua multa domi forisque.Custos Sigilli tu dirimes citoPugnas forenses, bellaque principumLegatus idem terminabis:Tu (sera candida) claude fanum.”
“Vitloce, Martis deliciæ, decusGentis legatæ; te sine, languidumMœret tribunal, et cubiliIn viduo Themis ingemiscit.Denso cientes agmine cursitant,Et sempiternas te sine consuuntLites, neque hic discordiarumFinis erit, nisi tu revertas.Sed te nivosum per mare, per viasSeptentrionum, per juga montium,Inhospitales per recessusDuxit amor patriæ decorus.Legatus oras jam Sueonum videsBruma sepultas; mox quoque Galliam,Hispaniam mox cum BritannisFœdere perpetuo ligabis.Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiterGentes per omnes qua sonuit tubaDicere; cancellariusqueOrbis eris simul universi.Christina, dulcis nympha, diutiùsNe te moretur: qui merito cluesPrudens Ulysses, sperne doctæPopula deliciasque Circes.Te casta tentum Penelope vocat,Vocant amici, teque aliæ vocantLegationes, te requiruntArdua multa domi forisque.Custos Sigilli tu dirimes citoPugnas forenses, bellaque principumLegatus idem terminabis:Tu (sera candida) claude fanum.”
73[This change was probably the consequence of the negotiations then going on between Louis XIV. and Cromwell in London, which had excited the jealousy of the Spanish Court, as is stated by Thurloe in the next page.]
73[This change was probably the consequence of the negotiations then going on between Louis XIV. and Cromwell in London, which had excited the jealousy of the Spanish Court, as is stated by Thurloe in the next page.]
A capital execution in Sweden.In the morning, in the market-place, near Whitelocke’s lodging, was an execution of one adjudged to die for a murder. The offender was brought into the midst of the market-place, which was open and spacious, and a great multitude of people spectators. The offender kneeled down upon the ground, a great deal of sand being laid under and about him to soak up his blood, and a linen cloth was bound about his eyes: he seemed not much terrified, but when the company sang a psalm, he sang with them, holding up his hands together, and his body upright, his doublet off. He prayed also with the company, but made no speech to them; nor did any other speak to the people. The executioner stood behind him, with a great naked sword in his hand and a linen apron before him, and while the offender was praying the headsman in an instant, at one back-blow, cut off his head, which fell down upon the sand; and some friends took it from the executioner, and carried it away with the body to be buried. Presently after this execution was past, two other offenders for smaller crimes were brought to the same place, to suffer the punishment of the law,which they call running the gauntlet,—a usual punishment among soldiers.
Running the gauntlet.The people stood in length in the market-place about a hundred yards, leaving an open space or lane between them of about five yards’ distance; then the offender, being naked to the waist, was brought to one end of the lane or open place. The people had rods or switches of birch given to as many as would take them; the offender was to run or go, as he pleased (and one of them walked but a Spanish pace), from one end of the lane of people to the other, twice or thrice forward and backward; and all the way as he went, the people who had the switches lashed the offender as he passed by them, harder or softer, as they favoured him. These are the most usual ways of executions which they have for criminal offences, and they do not execute men by hanging, which they say is only fit for dogs; but in cases of great robberies and murders sometimes they execute justice by breaking the offenders upon the wheel, and leave the quarters of the body upon it; some whereof were in the way as Whitelocke passed in his journey by the great wilderness.
Vestiges of the Scandinavian mythology.In the afternoon Senator Schütt came to Whitelocke and invited him to take the air to see the town of old Upsal, about a mile off; and being there, Schütt showed him three great mounts of earth, cast up by the hands of men, for monuments in memory of their ancient famous kings, whose seat had been here, and the place of their coronation. These mounts had been dedicated to three of their Pagan gods: the one to the god whom they call Teuo, who was Mars, and from him they have the name of the day of the weekTeuosdag,which we call Tuesday, and the GermansTuisconsdæg, and the LatinsDies Martis; the second mount was dedicated to their god Woden, so they called Mercury, and from thence their day of the week is namedWodensdag, which we also call Wednesday, the GermansWodensdæg, and the LatinsDies Mercurii; the third mount was dedicated to their goddess Freya, so they called Venus, and from thence comes the name of theirFriedsdag, which we call Friday, the GermansFrigdæg, and the LatinsDies Veneris.
There were also other relics of decayed mounts, which Whitelocke guessed to have been dedicated to their other gods, from whom they gave the names of the other days of the week: as, to Thor, whom they called Jupiter, and, from whence the dayThoresdag, which we call Thursday, the Germans sayThorsdæg, and the LatinsDies Jovis; another mount dedicated to their god Setorn, from whence they callSetornsdag, as we say Saturday, the GermansSæternsdæg, and the LatinsDies Saturni; another mount dedicated to Sunnan, as they call the Sun, and from thence that daySunnandag, as we say Sunday, the GermansSunnandæg, and the LatinsDies Solis; the last mount dedicated to Monan, that is the Moon, and from thence the name of theirMonandag, which we call Monday, the GermansMonandæg, and the LatinsDies Lunæ.
The war between Muscovy and Poland.In discourse upon the way, Schütt informed Whitelocke of the matter of the embassy from the Great Duke of Muscovia to the Queen of Sweden, which was to acquaint her Majesty that the Great Duke had begun a war against the King of Poland, because in a letter of his to the Great Duke he had omitted one of his great titles,—a heinous offence, and held by theGreat Duke a sufficient ground of war, and of his resolution to sacrifice the blood of his fellow-Christians to satisfy his wicked pride. Another ground of the war was because a certain Governor of a province in Poland, in a writing, had placed the name of the father of the Great Duke before the name of the present Great Duke; which was so great an indignity, that for the same the now Great Duke demanded of the King of Poland to have the head of that Governor sent to him, and that not being done, was another cause of the begun war. To this the Queen answered, that it did not appertain to her to give her opinion in a matter of this nature, whether she did approve or disapprove of what was done by the Great Duke, but she did presume that the King of Poland would therein give fitting satisfaction to the Great Duke; and that she did wish that there might be peace between these two Princes and all the Princes of Christendom. And with this answer the Envoys of the Great Duke returned as wise as they came.
Denmark threatens Hamburg.Schütt also communicated unto Whitelocke an intelligence that the King of Denmark had levied some forces which he designed against Hamburg,—pretending injuries done to him by that city in relation to his pretensions of dominion there, which probably might occasion a war between Denmark and that free city, which had strength and riches and people and wisdom to defend themselves; and Schütt advised Whitelocke that if this should be so, that then he should take his voyage some other way, and that it would be a great disturbance and danger to him to go by Hamburg and those quarters, which would be infested with soldiers, and that then it would be his best way to returnby Gothenburg; but he did persuade Whitelocke by all means to salute the Prince of Sweden by the way of his return. Whitelocke said he thought it not probable that the King of Denmark would at this time engage in a war against Hamburg, and that his levying of soldiers might breed a jealousy in the Crown of Sweden; that the certainty thereof could not be long undiscovered, and accordingly he should govern his own resolutions; that it would be difficult for him to stay in his journey to salute the Prince, but he much desired and intended it before his departure.
Although the Lord’s Day, yet the English and Scots who were in the town, and not of Whitelocke’s family, went abroad to take the air, and did not resort, as they used to do, to Whitelocke’s house to the exercises of divine worship, which were duly performed in his private family; and after thosesacra peracta, Whitelocke retired himself to his private studies and meditations upon the word of truth. This day likewise the Queen went abroad to take the air, and passed through the town in her coach, attended by many gentlemen and others in her train, to the ill example of her people, and after the bad custom of this place.
Whitelocke takes the air with the Queen.The Queen sent to Whitelocke to invite him to accompany her to take the air.
By the way Whitelocke visited Woolfeldt, who had much discourse with him about the English fleet then at sea. From him Whitelocke went to Court, and attendedthe Queen in her coach to take the air. They had not much discourse about his business, and he thought not fit to interrupt her Majesty’s pleasures with serious discourses, but sought to delight her with matters of diversion and mirth. When they were come back to the castle, the Queen said to Whitelocke:—
Queen.Tomorrow my Chancellor will present you with the articles drawn up by him, with some alterations which I judge to be reasonable; and that shall be my final resolution about them.
Wh.Hath your Majesty commanded any mention in those new articles concerning contraband goods?
Qu.There is a specification of them.
Wh.Indeed, Madam, I can hardly consent to any alteration upon the subject of contraband goods, whilst the edict of the Hollanders is in force thereupon.
Qu.After you have considered these new articles, we will speak together again about them.
Then the Queen retired to her chamber, and Whitelocke being come home, the Secretary Canterstein came to him from the Chancellor to excuse his not coming to visit Whitelocke, and said that, by the Queen’s command, the Chancellor had sent a new copy of articles to Whitelocke. He presently read them, and had much discourse with the secretary upon them, who said he did not doubt but that, after communication with the Chancellor, Whitelocke would receive satisfaction.
Whitelocke visited Piementelle, and they had this discourse:—
Piementelle.The Ambassador of Denmark did methe 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 Commonwealthhath 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
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 ofyour 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,88and 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 shouldbe 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 owncoasts. 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.
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 madea 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.
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;91but 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, Imight 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.
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 uponwhich 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.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 madeand further order thereupon shall be given by the Council.“W. Jessop, Clerk of the Council.”
“At the Council Chamber, Whitehall:
“Friday, 17 Martii, 1653.
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 madeand 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.
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 mattersso 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.
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:—