Woolfeldt’s history.This gentleman was of a noble family and extraction in Denmark, grew into great favour with the last King, whose daughter by a second wife he married; and the present King, her brother, made him Viceroy of Norway, Governor of the Isle of Zealand and of the Sound, and a Senator of the kingdom and Great Master of Denmark; and he had been employed thirteen times as an ambassador.“His lady, the daughter and sister of a king, was of excellent comeliness of person and behaviour, humbly knowing her distance, of a sweet disposition, and of rare parts, both of mind and body; especially deserving praise for her high and entire affection to her husband, who, notwithstanding his great parts and abilities, and the many perils he had undergone in the service of his king and country, yet afterall, by the whisperings and false suggestions of backbiters, his enemies, was traduced to the King for being too much a friend to the people’s liberty, and an opposer of the King’s absolute power; but beyond all this (as some gave it out), that he was too familiar with one of the King’s mistresses; so it was that the King took high displeasure against him. Parasites took the occasion to please the King by invectives against one under a cloud; his parts attracted envy, and his merits were too great for any other recompense but his own ruin.“To avoid the King’s wrath and his enemies’ malice, and to preserve his life, which was aimed to be taken away with his fortune, he was compelled to fly from his country and seek his security in foreign parts. His lady, though a tender, modest woman,—though the sister of the King regnant, high in his favour and the interest of her alliance; though pressingly enticed to cast off her affection to her husband; though unacquainted with any hardships,—yet so entire was her conjugal love and piety, that, rather than part with her husband, she would leave all her relations and pleasures of a court and her dear country, and put herself, though with child, into the disguise of a page, to attend him in his flight as his servant.“It may be imagined that such a servant was not unkindly used; but the greatest trouble was, that being on shipboard to cross the Baltic Sea, the poor page whispered the master that she had a longing desire to some cherries which she saw in the town as they came to the ship. Here was the difficulty: if her lord did not go on shore and procure some cherries for the page, it might cost her life; if he did go on shore, and in the meantime the ship should go off, he and his page would be parted, and his own life endangered. It was reason and honour that persuaded him rather to hazard his own than such a page’s life; therefore, having effectually dealt with the master of the ship for a little stay, he soon found out a pretence to go on shore, and neglected not to hasten back again with his provisionof cherries, and to find out a way of distributing a large share of them to her that longed for them. After which they happily set sail and arrived in Sweden, where, by articles between the two Crowns, those in his condition have sanctuary and protection.”
Woolfeldt’s history.This gentleman was of a noble family and extraction in Denmark, grew into great favour with the last King, whose daughter by a second wife he married; and the present King, her brother, made him Viceroy of Norway, Governor of the Isle of Zealand and of the Sound, and a Senator of the kingdom and Great Master of Denmark; and he had been employed thirteen times as an ambassador.
“His lady, the daughter and sister of a king, was of excellent comeliness of person and behaviour, humbly knowing her distance, of a sweet disposition, and of rare parts, both of mind and body; especially deserving praise for her high and entire affection to her husband, who, notwithstanding his great parts and abilities, and the many perils he had undergone in the service of his king and country, yet afterall, by the whisperings and false suggestions of backbiters, his enemies, was traduced to the King for being too much a friend to the people’s liberty, and an opposer of the King’s absolute power; but beyond all this (as some gave it out), that he was too familiar with one of the King’s mistresses; so it was that the King took high displeasure against him. Parasites took the occasion to please the King by invectives against one under a cloud; his parts attracted envy, and his merits were too great for any other recompense but his own ruin.
“To avoid the King’s wrath and his enemies’ malice, and to preserve his life, which was aimed to be taken away with his fortune, he was compelled to fly from his country and seek his security in foreign parts. His lady, though a tender, modest woman,—though the sister of the King regnant, high in his favour and the interest of her alliance; though pressingly enticed to cast off her affection to her husband; though unacquainted with any hardships,—yet so entire was her conjugal love and piety, that, rather than part with her husband, she would leave all her relations and pleasures of a court and her dear country, and put herself, though with child, into the disguise of a page, to attend him in his flight as his servant.
“It may be imagined that such a servant was not unkindly used; but the greatest trouble was, that being on shipboard to cross the Baltic Sea, the poor page whispered the master that she had a longing desire to some cherries which she saw in the town as they came to the ship. Here was the difficulty: if her lord did not go on shore and procure some cherries for the page, it might cost her life; if he did go on shore, and in the meantime the ship should go off, he and his page would be parted, and his own life endangered. It was reason and honour that persuaded him rather to hazard his own than such a page’s life; therefore, having effectually dealt with the master of the ship for a little stay, he soon found out a pretence to go on shore, and neglected not to hasten back again with his provisionof cherries, and to find out a way of distributing a large share of them to her that longed for them. After which they happily set sail and arrived in Sweden, where, by articles between the two Crowns, those in his condition have sanctuary and protection.”
In the afternoon Whitelocke went to Court, where he met with Canterstein, who excused himself that he had not yet brought to Whitelocke the Queen’s letters of full power to her Commissioners, which he said the Queen had signed two days before, and that he had been sick, otherwise he had delivered them before this time. Whitelocke asked him if his recredentials were prepared. He said they were ready for the Queen to sign when she pleased, and that nothing in his charge concerning Whitelocke should receive any delay by his occasion. Whitelocke gave him thanks for his care, and promised his remuneration.
Whitelocke entertains the Queen on May-day.This being May-day, Whitelocke, according to the invitation he had made to the Queen, put her in mind of it, that, as she was his mistress, and this May-day, he was, by the custom of England, to wait upon her to take the air, and to treat her with some little collation, as her servant. The Queen said the weather was very cold, yet she was very willing to bear him company after the English mode. With the Queen were Woolfeldt, Tott, and five of her ladies. Whitelocke brought them to his collation, which he had commanded his servants to prepare in the best manner they could, and altogether after the English fashion.
At the table with the Queen sat “la Belle Comtesse,” the Countess Gabrielle Oxenstiern, Woolfeldt, Tott, and Whitelocke; the other ladies sat in another room. Their meat was such fowl as could be gotten,dressed after the English fashion and with English sauces, creams, puddings, custards, tarts, tansies, English apples,bon chrétienpears, cheese, butter, neats’ tongues, potted venison, and sweetmeats brought out of England, as his sack and claret also was. His beer was also brewed and his bread made by his own servants in his house, after the English manner; and the Queen and her company seemed highly pleased with this treatment. Some of her company said she did eat and drink more at it than she used to do in three or four days at her own table.
The entertainment was as full and noble as the place would afford and as Whitelocke could make it, and so well ordered and contrived that the Queen said she had never seen any like it. She was pleased so far to play the good housewife as to inquire how the butter could be so fresh and sweet, and yet brought out of England. Whitelocke, from his cooks, satisfied her Majesty’s inquiry, that they put the salt butter into milk, where it lay all night, and the next day it would eat fresh and sweet as this did, and any butter new made, and commended her Majesty’s good housewifery; who, to express her contentment in this collation, was full of pleasantness and gaiety of spirit, both in supper-time and afterwards. Among other frolics, she commanded Whitelocke to teach her ladies the English salutation, which, after some pretty defences, their lips obeyed, and Whitelocke most readily. She highly commended Whitelocke’s music of the trumpets, which sounded all supper-time; and her discourse was all of mirth and drollery, wherein Whitelocke endeavoured to answer her, and the rest of the company did their parts.
It was late before she returned to the castle, whitherWhitelocke waited on her; and she discoursed a little with him about his business and the time of his audience, and gave him many thanks for his noble treatment of her and her company.
The Swedish full powers.Whitelocke sent to the master of the ceremonies to know if he had desired a time for his last audience, who promised to do it.
Canterstein brought to Whitelocke the Queen’s letters of full power to her Commissioners, under her hand and the great seal of Sweden, which were of this tenour.188Having received this commission, Whitelocke delivered to Canterstein his commission under the Great Seal of England, and the copy of his new instructions from the Protector, except what was secret in them.
Canterstein, the master of the ceremonies, and Monsieur Bloome, were frolic at dinner with Whitelocke, and made many caresses to him, and extolled the Chancellor’s care and high respect to Whitelocke,in bringing his treaty to so good an issue; and after dinner Bloome told Whitelocke that the Chancellor had advised the Queen to make a noble present to Whitelocke, which was not yet ready, and that had retarded his last audience. The master of the ceremonies, from the Queen, desired Whitelocke to have a little patience for a few days; that she expected the arrival of the Prince within six or seven days in this town, by which means Whitelocke would have a fair opportunity to salute him here, without further trouble; and that the Queen would give him audience within two days before the arrival of the Prince, and so he should receive no disturbance in his voyage. Whitelocke saw no other remedy for this but patience.
The Guinea question.Whitelocke visited Grave Eric. They fell into discourse, among other things, touching Guinea, to this effect:—
Whitelocke.It is requisite that we come to some conclusion about the business of Guinea.
Grave Eric.I think it fit; and for your further information,here is the answer in writing of the Swedes who are concerned therein unto the complaints of the English company in that business.
Wh.Will you leave the writing with me?
Gr. Eric.I shall send you a copy of it.
Wh.The complaints of the English have been proved by depositions of witnesses.
Gr. Eric.Those depositions were taken in the absence of the other party; and, if you please, witnesses may be produced here on the part of the Swedes.
Wh.Witnesses produced here will be also in the absence of the other party, though I had leisure and commission to examine them on oath.
Gr. Eric.You may see in this map of Guinea how the plantations of the Swedes, English, and Hollanders do lie, and are mingled and near to one another.
Wh.The King of that place made a grant to the English, for them only to dwell and traffic in that country; and the Swedes afterwards drove the English, by force, out of their fortifications.
Gr. Eric.The English had no fortifications there; all the fort they had was a little lodge with two rooms only in it, out of which the Swedes did not force them; and both the Hollanders and Swedes were planted in this place before any grant made to the English, and the Swedes had a grant from the same King, whereof this is a copy.
Wh.It will be material to compare the dates of these two grants: if that to the English was first, then the other to the Swedes was of no validity; and the like of the contrary. If you will favour me with a copy of the grant made to the Swedes, I will compare it with that made to the English, and return it to you.
Gr. Eric.You shall command it.
Mr. Woolfeldt, being visited by Whitelocke, told him that the Queen was extremely pleased with his treatment of her. Whitelocke excused the meanness of it for her Majesty. Woolfeldt replied, that both the Queen and all the company esteemed it as the handsomest and noblest that they ever saw; and the Queen, after that, would drink no other wine but Whitelocke’s, and kindly accepted the neats’ tongues, potted venison, and other cates which, upon her commendation of them, Whitelocke sent unto her Majesty. Woolfeldt showed a paper of consequence written by himself in Spanish, and he read it in French to Whitelocke, being perfect in those and other languages. He said, that whatsoever he wrote he did it in a foreign language, to continue the exercise of them. The paper showed how the English might be freed from paying tolls at the Sound. Whitelocke entreated a copy of this paper in French, which Woolfeldt promised.
A great quantity of snow fell and covered the houses and fields, and was hard frozen: a matter at this time strange to the English, but ordinary here.
Mr. Boteler, a Scotsman, confidently reported great news to the disparagement of the affairs of England, that the Highlanders of Scotland had given a great defeat to the English and killed five hundred of them, which news was soon confuted by Whitelocke.
A literary dinner party.The Senator Vanderlin, and his brother the master of the ceremonies; Dr. Loccenius, a civilian, Keeper of the Library in this University; another gentleman,Professor of Eloquence here; Mr. Ravius, Professor of the Eastern tongues; and a French gentleman, captain of one of the companies of Guards, doing Whitelocke the honour to dine with him, had very learned discourse, particularly of languages and of the affinity between the Swedish, English, Danish, and High Dutch tongues, whereof they gave many instances, and Whitelocke was able to add to them. The professors discoursed only in Latin, as most proper for them; the others in French; and they hold it a discourtesy if a man be not answered in the same language which he speaks. They also extolled the Prince and the Protector; and the Senator said that there was not any person who came so near to the eminency and grandeur of the Protector as the Prince of Sweden did.
The Dutch Resident salutes Whitelocke on the peace.The company being gone, Whitelocke went to the accustomed place, the great wood, to take the air; and as he was walking in the broad way there, he perceived the coach of the Dutch Resident coming towards him; and perceiving the English Ambassador to be walking there, the Resident alighted out of his coach and came on foot towards Whitelocke. Whether he came after Whitelocke in a handsome design or contrivance for their first salutation, or that it was by accident, Whitelocke did not examine, but thought fit to answer the civility of the Resident by walking back towards him to meet him.
They saluted each other and their company with great respect. The Resident began the compliment to Whitelocke in French, telling him that he was very glad of the opportunity to have the happiness to salute Whitelocke, which he would not neglect to do, perceiving him in this place; and that he would take thefirst occasion to do himself the honour to visit Whitelocke at his house. Whitelocke answered, that the Resident should be very welcome when he pleased to do that honour to Whitelocke as to bestow a visit on him; and that he was also very glad of the opportunity which had now presented itself, whereby he had the contentment of being acquainted with the Resident. They fell into general discourses, and, among the rest, of the conclusion and ratification of the treaty between the two Commonwealths, and of the advantage which thereby would arise to both of them, and to the Protestant party.193
As they were walking together the Queen passed by them, being in that wood also to take the air. When she came near, she saluted them with great respect, and spake to them aloud, “Je suis ravie de vous voirensemble, je vois que la paix est faite.” And so the Queen went on her way, and Whitelocke took leave of the Resident.
A despatch from Thurloe.At his return to his house Whitelocke found his packet from England ready to entertain him, and Thurloe’s letter was this:—
“My Lord,“Your letter of the 10th of March arrived here this morning, whereby you are pleased to give a very particular and exact account of all proceedings in this treaty you are upon; I presently communicated the contents thereof to his Highness and the Council, with whom he was willing to advise, and thereupon he was pleased to send you the instructions which your Excellence will receive herewith, which are fully agreeable to your own desire in that behalf. The former instructions had come sooner, if the issue of the Dutch treaty had been sooner known; now, through the blessing of God, it is fully concluded, and your Excellence will receive herewith the articles, as they are signed by the Commissioners of his Highness and the Lords Ambassadors of the United Provinces. They signed them upon Wednesday, at night, and the next morning the ambassadors sent them away to be ratified by their superiors, which they will do without difficulty or scruple, as we believe.“Your Excellence will see by those articles made with the Dutch, that the second and fifth article is omitted out of your instructions; that these two treaties will very well stand together; and for the notice to be given to the Dutch, it is clear to me that it will not be necessary, in respect that this treaty was not only begun, but as good as finished, before the conclusion with the Dutch.“And for the fourth article, and the proviso your Excellence is pleased to send, that being so clearly within the substance of your former instructions, I thought it needless to add any instruction about it now.“His Highness in the beginning of this week was pleasedto send for the Great Seal, and kept it in his own custody two days, and now hath disposed it unto your Excellence, Sir Thomas Widdrington, and your confrater my Lord Lisle. His Highness is very much resolved upon a good and solid reformation of the law, and proceedings in the Courts of Equity and Laws: the matter of law he hath committed unto Mr. Justice Hale and Mr. John Vaughan; the reformation of the Chancery to my Lord Widdrington, Mr. Attorney-General, and Mr. Chute,—being resolved to give the learned of the robe the honour of reforming their own profession, and hopes that God will give them hearts to do it; and, that no time may be lost, the next term is adjourned.“The French Ambassador desires very much to get a despatch of his business. His Highness hath at length appointed him commissioners to treat, but no progress hath been yet made thereupon. The speech that he made at his first audience your Excellence will receive by this.“The Portugal presseth much now to come to an agreement also, and to close the treaty which hath hanged so long; and so doth the Spaniard.“I pray for your Excellence’s safe return home and rest.“Your Excellence’s humble servant,“Jo. Thurloe.“April 7th, 1654.”
“My Lord,
“Your letter of the 10th of March arrived here this morning, whereby you are pleased to give a very particular and exact account of all proceedings in this treaty you are upon; I presently communicated the contents thereof to his Highness and the Council, with whom he was willing to advise, and thereupon he was pleased to send you the instructions which your Excellence will receive herewith, which are fully agreeable to your own desire in that behalf. The former instructions had come sooner, if the issue of the Dutch treaty had been sooner known; now, through the blessing of God, it is fully concluded, and your Excellence will receive herewith the articles, as they are signed by the Commissioners of his Highness and the Lords Ambassadors of the United Provinces. They signed them upon Wednesday, at night, and the next morning the ambassadors sent them away to be ratified by their superiors, which they will do without difficulty or scruple, as we believe.
“Your Excellence will see by those articles made with the Dutch, that the second and fifth article is omitted out of your instructions; that these two treaties will very well stand together; and for the notice to be given to the Dutch, it is clear to me that it will not be necessary, in respect that this treaty was not only begun, but as good as finished, before the conclusion with the Dutch.
“And for the fourth article, and the proviso your Excellence is pleased to send, that being so clearly within the substance of your former instructions, I thought it needless to add any instruction about it now.
“His Highness in the beginning of this week was pleasedto send for the Great Seal, and kept it in his own custody two days, and now hath disposed it unto your Excellence, Sir Thomas Widdrington, and your confrater my Lord Lisle. His Highness is very much resolved upon a good and solid reformation of the law, and proceedings in the Courts of Equity and Laws: the matter of law he hath committed unto Mr. Justice Hale and Mr. John Vaughan; the reformation of the Chancery to my Lord Widdrington, Mr. Attorney-General, and Mr. Chute,—being resolved to give the learned of the robe the honour of reforming their own profession, and hopes that God will give them hearts to do it; and, that no time may be lost, the next term is adjourned.
“The French Ambassador desires very much to get a despatch of his business. His Highness hath at length appointed him commissioners to treat, but no progress hath been yet made thereupon. The speech that he made at his first audience your Excellence will receive by this.
“The Portugal presseth much now to come to an agreement also, and to close the treaty which hath hanged so long; and so doth the Spaniard.
“I pray for your Excellence’s safe return home and rest.
“Your Excellence’s humble servant,
“Jo. Thurloe.
“April 7th, 1654.”
Whitelocke’s new instructions from the Protector:
“O. P.“Additional Instructions to my Lord Whitelocke, our Ambassador Extraordinary to her Majesty the Queen of Sweden.“Having considered the particular account you have given by your letters weekly of your negotiation in Sweden, and the delay which hath been on the part of that Court in the treaty you are upon, we might well have given you positive orders for your speedy return.“But observing that the letters and despatches between this and Sweden are a month in their way, and not knowinghow affairs may alter in that time with you, and the pretence of their delay—to wit, the uncertainty of the issue of the treaty between us and the United Provinces—being removed, as you will see by these letters, which will assure you of the full conclusion thereof, we have thought it more convenient to leave you a latitude in that particular, and to give you liberty (as we do hereby) to return home at such time as you shall find it for the service of the Commonwealth.“2. Whereas, by your letter of the 10th of March, 1654, you have represented the particular debates which you have had upon all the articles of the treaty, and the exceptions taken by the Queen upon the second, fifth, and seventh articles, you are hereby authorized to omit the second and fifth articles out of the treaty, as also the words ‘bona à suis cujusque inimicis direpta’ out of the seventh article, if the Queen shall still insist thereupon; and as for the comprehending the Dutch in this treaty with the Queen of Sweden, notice shall be given from hence, if it shall be found necessary.“3. You have hereby power to agree with the Queen of Sweden that she and her subjects may fish freely for herrings in the seas of this Commonwealth, paying the recognition of the tenth herring, or for a lesser recognition, so as it be not less than the twentieth herring, or the value thereof in money.“Whitehall, 7th April, 1654.”
“O. P.
“Additional Instructions to my Lord Whitelocke, our Ambassador Extraordinary to her Majesty the Queen of Sweden.
“Having considered the particular account you have given by your letters weekly of your negotiation in Sweden, and the delay which hath been on the part of that Court in the treaty you are upon, we might well have given you positive orders for your speedy return.
“But observing that the letters and despatches between this and Sweden are a month in their way, and not knowinghow affairs may alter in that time with you, and the pretence of their delay—to wit, the uncertainty of the issue of the treaty between us and the United Provinces—being removed, as you will see by these letters, which will assure you of the full conclusion thereof, we have thought it more convenient to leave you a latitude in that particular, and to give you liberty (as we do hereby) to return home at such time as you shall find it for the service of the Commonwealth.
“2. Whereas, by your letter of the 10th of March, 1654, you have represented the particular debates which you have had upon all the articles of the treaty, and the exceptions taken by the Queen upon the second, fifth, and seventh articles, you are hereby authorized to omit the second and fifth articles out of the treaty, as also the words ‘bona à suis cujusque inimicis direpta’ out of the seventh article, if the Queen shall still insist thereupon; and as for the comprehending the Dutch in this treaty with the Queen of Sweden, notice shall be given from hence, if it shall be found necessary.
“3. You have hereby power to agree with the Queen of Sweden that she and her subjects may fish freely for herrings in the seas of this Commonwealth, paying the recognition of the tenth herring, or for a lesser recognition, so as it be not less than the twentieth herring, or the value thereof in money.
“Whitehall, 7th April, 1654.”
The Order of the Council touching the Great Seal sent by Thurloe was this. The title of the order was thus:—
Whitelocke, Widdrington, and Lisle reappointed of the Great Seal.“Order of the Council approving of the Commissioners of the Great Seal.“Tuesday, 4th April, 1654.“At the Council at Whitehall:“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of the LordAmbassador Whitelocke to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of Sir Thomas Widdrington, Knight, Serjeant-at-Law, to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of John Lisle, Esquire, to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.“By the command of his Highness Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle were called in, and being come to the table, his Highness declared that the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke and themselves had been nominated by his Highness, and approved by the Council, to be Commissioners for the Great Seal; and his Highness did deliver unto the said Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle the said Great Seal; and then the oath appointed by the ordinance was read by the Clerk of the Council, and was taken by each of them.“ExrW. Jessop,“Clerk of the Council.”
Whitelocke, Widdrington, and Lisle reappointed of the Great Seal.“Order of the Council approving of the Commissioners of the Great Seal.
“Tuesday, 4th April, 1654.
“At the Council at Whitehall:
“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of the LordAmbassador Whitelocke to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.
“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of Sir Thomas Widdrington, Knight, Serjeant-at-Law, to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.
“Resolved, That the Council doth approve of John Lisle, Esquire, to be one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.
“By the command of his Highness Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle were called in, and being come to the table, his Highness declared that the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke and themselves had been nominated by his Highness, and approved by the Council, to be Commissioners for the Great Seal; and his Highness did deliver unto the said Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle the said Great Seal; and then the oath appointed by the ordinance was read by the Clerk of the Council, and was taken by each of them.
“ExrW. Jessop,
“Clerk of the Council.”
The Guinea Company sent by this packet a letter to Whitelocke of thanks for his care of their business, and that they could not buy the Swedes’ interest in Guinea, and referred the whole matter wholly to Whitelocke.
The examinations in the Court of Admiralty touching the ship ‘Charity,’ enclosed in Thurloe’s letters, made it appear that the Swedes had not injury done them, as they complained, and that the goods belonged to Hollanders, and not to the Swedes; but only coloured by the Hollanders under the name of Swedish ship and goods, though they were not so. Whitelocke made use of these examinations as he saw cause, and found that Martin Thysen had an interest in these goods.
Reception of the French Ambassador in London.The enclosed speech of the French Ambassador tothe Protector was full of compliment, giving him the title of “Serene Altesse,” and as much as could be well offered by the French, seeming to desire a league and amity with the Protector. The Ambassador was received with great state and solemnity, answerable to the honour of his master the King of France, with whom the Protector had a good mind to close at this time, the rather to frustrate the hopes of the King of Scots of assistance from thence, where he was now entertained, caressed, and made believe he should have all aid and furtherance for his restitution, which the Protector sought to prevent by the interest of the Cardinal Mazarin, whose creature this Ambassador was.
The Queen’s presents to Whitelocke and his suite.Lagerfeldt acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen intended to gratify him with a gift of as great value as had been bestowed upon any ambassador before; and that she having received from Whitelocke many brave horses and many native goods of England, and Whitelocke having undertaken, at his return to England, to provide for her Majesty several other commodities, she held it reasonable to requite him with some commodities of this country, if Whitelocke thought fit to accept of them. Whitelocke answered that it did not become him to prescribe bounds to her Majesty’s favour, but only to refer himself to the Queen’s judgement herein. Lagerfeldt replied that the Queen intended to bestow her gift upon him in copper, and gave order that it should be put aboard a ship, to be consigned by him to some of his friends at London, or as he pleased to dispose it.
Whitelocke desired of Lagerfeldt that although the articles were signed, that yet he in the instrument might prefix to the title these words “Serenissimi ac Celsissimi Domini,” which words Whitelocke did observe to be in the Protector’s title to the Dutch articles, which was not known to Whitelocke before the articles were signed here. Lagerfeldt promised to acquaint the Chancellor herewith, and to bring his answer.
Whitelocke waited upon the Queen, and acquainted her with his news from England, and of the consummation of the treaty of peace between England and the Dutch, whereof she said she was very glad, and thanked Whitelocke for his news. He then entreated her Majesty to appoint a day for his audience to take his leave of her Majesty, which she told him should be shortly done; then she desired his company with her in her coach, to take the air. He waited on her, and besides there was in the coach Grave Tott, Grave Vandone, and the Countess Christina Oxenstiern. The Queen was not very pleasant, but entertained some little discourses, not much of business; and after a short tour, returning to the castle, retired into her chamber, and Whitelocke to his lodging.
Lagerfeldt returned answer to Whitelocke, of his motion to insert the words “Serenissimi ac Celsissimi Domini” into the Protector’s title, that he had acquainted the Chancellor with it, who also had communicated it to her Majesty, and she willingly assented thereunto; and it was inserted accordingly.He brought with him Monsieur Carloe, Governor of the Swedish Company for Guinea, with whom Whitelocke had much discourse upon the same points as he had before with Grave Eric; and Carloe denied all that the English merchants had affirmed, and he continued before and after dinner very obstinate in it.
Secretary Canterstein brought to Whitelocke the Queen’s letters of the grant of two hundred ship-pound of copper for a present to him, which letters were thus.200
In the afternoon the master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke’s house, and presented to him, from the Queen, a handsome jewel, which was a case of gold, fairly enamelled, and having in the midst of it the picture of the Queen, done to the life, and very like her. It was set round about with twelve large diamonds, and several small diamonds between the great ones. He told Whitelocke that, by command of her Majesty, he presented her picture to him; that she was sorry it was not made up so as might havebeen worthy of his reception; but she desired, if he pleased, that he would do her the honour to wear it for her sake, and to accept the picture in memory of the friend that sent it. Whitelocke answered that the Queen was pleased to bestow a great honour upon him in this noble testimony of her favour to him, of which he acknowledged himself altogether unworthy; but her Majesty’s opinion was otherwise, as appeared by such a present as this. He did with all thankfulness accept it, and should with great contentment give himself occasion, by the honour of wearing it, to remember the more often her Majesty and her favours to him, her servant, for which he desired the master to present his humble thanks unto her Majesty.
After he had been with Whitelocke, the master went to Whitelocke’s two sons, and in the Queen’s name presented to each of them a chain of gold of five links, and at the end of the chain a medal of gold of the Queen’s picture; the chains and medals were valued at four hundred ducats apiece. Then he presented, in the Queen’s name, to Colonel Potley, to Dr. Whistler, to Captain Beake, and Mr. Earle, to each of them a chain of gold of four links, and at the end of each chain a medal of gold of the Queen’s picture; these chains and medals were valued at two hundred ducats apiece, or thereabouts.
Then he presented, in the Queen’s name, to Mr. Stapleton, Mr. Ingelo, and Mr. De la Marche, to each of them a chain of gold of three links, with a medal of gold of the Queen’s picture at the end of each chain; the chains and medals were valued at about a hundred and sixty ducats apiece. To Mr. Walker he presented a chain and medal of gold of three links,shorter than the rest, of about the value of a hundred and thirty ducats; to Captain Crispe and to Mr. Swift, to each of them a chain of gold of two links, with a medal of gold to each of them, of about the value of a hundred ducats apiece.
Disputes caused by the Queen’s presents.Walker the steward, and Stapleton, gentleman of the horse to Whitelocke, were discontented, because their chains were not of four links apiece; and they and others took exceptions because their chains were not so good and valuable as those given to Potley and Beake,—so seditious a thing is gold. But Whitelocke endeavoured to satisfy them by the reasons why the chains of Potley and Beake were better than theirs: the one having been an ancient servant of this Crown, and the other being commander of the guards of the Protector; and nothing was due to them, but only the Queen’s free gift and bounty was in all of them, and therefore not to be excepted against by any of them. Notwithstanding this admonition, they met and discoursed together in discontent about this business, and gave thereby occasion of displeasure to Whitelocke.
Whitelocke being in the mood to take the air, the Holland Resident came thither, where they walked and discoursed together; and in their return the Resident and two of his gentlemen, Vorstius and another, went in Whitelocke’s coach, who brought the Resident to his lodging, and there had a civil treatment, and found by discourse that the Resident was not well satisfied with his being in this Court. Whitelocke did not hitherto make a visit to any person since he had received his presents from the Queen, after which, in ceremony, he must first visit her Majesty to give her thanks, and then he is at liberty to visit others.
The Lord’s Day.—Monsieur Bloome, and Mr. De Geeres, the rich merchant of Sweden, after dinner with Whitelocke, discoursed much about matters not so proper for the day. Walker and Stapleton attending Whitelocke and walking in the evening, he again spake to them about their presents as formerly; but found Stapleton stiff in his opinion, and to intend to send back his present to the master of the ceremonies as refusing it; but Whitelocke required him not to do so, lest it should be taken as an affront to Whitelocke and to the Protector himself, as well as a disdaining of the Queen’s present, which was her Majesty’s free gift without any obligation.
Warrant for the copper.The warrant formerly inserted was sent to the officers of the Treasury, who thereupon made their order to the under-officers for the delivery of the copper accordingly, which order was brought to Whitelocke in the Swedish language.
The Guinea case.The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke to inform him that the Queen had appointed Wednesday next, the 10th of this month, for his last audience to take his leave. Whitelocke said he was sorry it could not be sooner. The master excused it by reason of the great affairs of the Queen upon the meeting of the Ricksdag. Grave Eric and Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke and debated with him the business of Guinea.
Grave Eric.I shall read to you this paper, which is in Latin and in French,—an answer to the complaints of the English, and denies all their allegations.
Whitelocke.The allegations of the English are proved by oath; here are the depositions.
Gr. Eric.The answers of the Swedes are upon oath likewise.
Wh.But the English are in the affirmative.
Gr. Eric.The Swedes have like complaints against the English, which are to be proved by oath in the affirmative also; and in such case the parties or their procurators must appear before the ordinary and competent judges, which will require a great deal of time; but we being to treat with you as an Ambassador, we propose that there may be an abolition of all past injuries of the one side and the other, and that there may be an agreement and friendship, and free trade there for the future.
Wh.This will be very proper for the time to come, but it will be no satisfaction for the injuries already done. I have no power from the Protector or Company of English Merchants to make any such agreement; but for what concerns the public, I can make an accord with you, and the satisfaction of damages for wrongs past may be remitted to the determination of the Commissioners.
Gr. Eric.I shall show you a project in writing, that all the houses and possessions of the one part and the other may continue in the same estate for the time to come as they are in at present.
Wh.To agree to this were to give up the right of the English merchants, and to acknowledge that they have no cause of complaint; whereas I demand in justice a reparation and satisfaction for those injuries whereof they complain.
Gr. Eric.Then the business must be decided beforethe judges, witnesses on both sides must be heard, and we must insist upon it that the houses and possessions continue in the same estate as they now are.
Wh.You must pardon me that I cannot assent hereunto.
Thus their debate broke off.
Monsieur Ravius came to Whitelocke in the name of the Bishop of Stregnes, to acquaint him that if he had any English horses which he would bestow upon the Prince, that they would be very acceptable to him, and that Whitelocke would very much gratify himself thereby. Whitelocke said that his saddle-horses were not worth the presenting to his Royal Highness, the best of them being already given away; but he had a set of coach-horses which he intended to reserve and to present unto the Prince, if he pleased to accept them. Ravius said they would be very acceptable to him.
Whitelocke compliments the Danish minister on the peace.The King of Denmark being included in the treaty between England and the Dutch, and so become a friend, Whitelocke was advised to send first a compliment to the Danish Ambassador now residing in this Court; which, when Whitelocke doubted lest thereby he might diminish the honour of England by sending to the Dane before the Dane had first sent to him, the master of the ceremonies and others instructed him that it was the constant custom for the ambassador that comes last to send first a compliment to him that had been in the Court before; whereupon Whitelocke did send one of his gentlemen to the Danish Ambassador, to visit and compliment him.
Now the secretary of the Ambassador of Denmark came to Whitelocke, in the name of his lord, to give him thanks for the honour he had done him in sending one of his servants to salute him, and to congratulate the good news of the agreement between England and the Dutch, wherein the King his master was comprised. The secretary said that the confirmation thereof was also come to his lord by the way of Holland and of Denmark, for which news his Lordship was very joyful, and would himself have given a visit to Whitelocke but that his want of health detained him in his lodging. Whitelocke told the secretary that he was very sorry for his lord’s indisposition of health, and wished his good recovery; that he was heartily glad of the news which gave him occasion to send to his lord to congratulate with him, and that he would take an opportunity to visit him in person when it might be without prejudice to his Excellence’s health.
Berkman came to Whitelocke to give him an account of a message wherein he had employed Berkman to the Marshal Wrangel, to desire him, in Whitelocke’s name, that the ship appointed to transport him might fall down from Stockholm to the Dollars, for Whitelocke to come on board her there, which would save him a hundred miles by sea from Stockholm thither, there being a nearer way by a third-part from Stockholm to the Dollars for boats to pass. Berkman said he found Wrangel very civil, and ready to do what Whitelocke should desire of him for his accommodation, and that he had ordered the ship forthwith to fall down to the Dollars; for which Whitelocke desired Monsieur Berkman to return his thanks to the Marshal.
The Ricks-Admiral sent to Whitelocke, expressing much civility and readiness to serve him, and desired to know if one ship would be sufficient for his transportation; that, if he pleased, there should be more provided for him. Whitelocke returned thanks, and that he hoped he should not have occasion to put them to the trouble of more ships for his transportation than that already ordered for him.
Whitelocke invited to the ceremony of abdication.The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke, by the Queen’s command, to know if he and his company pleased to see the meeting of the Ricksdag; that he had provided a place for that purpose, where they might be unknown and unseen, and yet see all the ceremony and hear all the harangues; that if Whitelocke would see it, the master would call him at eight o’clock in the morning and wait upon him to the place; but he said that the Danish Ambassador had some thoughts of being there also, and if he came first to the place he would take the uppermost seat. Whitelocke then desired the master to call him early enough that he might be there first, because he should hardly permit the Danish Ambassador to sit above him. The master said he would be sure to call Whitelocke early enough, but he believed that the Danish Ambassador would not be there because of his ill health.
The master told Whitelocke that Monsieur Bloome had informed him that some of Whitelocke’s gentlemen took exceptions to the presents sent them by the Queen. He protested, upon his soul and his honour, that he had no hand in the disposing of these presents, but that all was done by the officers of the Chamber of Accounts, and that the Queen did not meddle with it; but when he showed her a catalogue of the officersof Whitelocke’s house, she marked them how she would have the presents bestowed; that how the matter might be altered afterwards he was wholly ignorant, and that he had order, under the hands of the officers, to make the distribution as he had done; and he hoped none of the gentlemen would be offended with him, who had done nothing but as he was ordered by those over him. Whitelocke told him that, in so great a family as his was, it would be difficult to please every one; that these presents were the Queen’s favours, which she might distribute as she pleased, and every one ought to be contented therewith; that some of his company had discoursed hereof more than belonged to them, but that he would take order in it himself. They had also this further discourse:—
Whitelocke.Do you expect the arrival of the Prince here on Friday next?
Mast. Cer.The Queen is not assured of his arrival that day, but she will go out on horseback, accompanied with all her nobility, to meet him.
Wh.Will it be expected that I go out likewise to meet him?
Mast. Cer.That cannot be, because it will be after your last audience, and when you have taken your leave of the Queen, so that you cannot then appear in public nor in any public action, because it will be to present yourself before those of whom you had taken your leave before.
Wh.But after my last audience I may in private see the Queen?
Mast. Cer.Yes, for that is but a particular visit; and so you may visit any of your friends after your last audience.
Wh.I intend likewise to salute the Prince after my last audience.
Mast. Cer.You may do it, because it will be but a particular visit.
Wh.I hope his Royal Highness will treat me with the same civility and respect as he useth to any other ambassador.
Mast. Cer.That he will infallibly do. Monsieur Chanut, the French Ambassador, when he was in this Court, did always give the right hand to the Prince after the proposal had been made of declaring him Prince-heritier of the crown, though the Ricksdag had not then confirmed it. But Chanut made difficulty of it at the Prince’s lodging, because he was not the son of a king, yet afterwards he did it both there and elsewhere.
Wh.There is more reason for me now to do it, because the proposal is to be made of investing him with the Crown. What was the manner of the Prince’s reception of Chanut, where did he meet Chanut at his coming, and how far did he go with him at his taking leave?
Mast. Cer.The Prince received Chanut at the door of the chamber where he had his audience; and when the Ambassador went away, the Prince brought him to the same place and no further; and I believe he will give the same respect to your Excellence, and as much to you as to any public minister.
Wh.I can desire no more.
Whitelocke attends a wedding at Court.Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke and acquainted himthat there was a special article to be agreed upon touching the business of Guinea, which the Queen and the Chancellor were willing might proceed for the despatch of Whitelocke, and that Grave Eric would have come to him about it, but that he was ill and had taken physic. He told Whitelocke that the Queen said he might have his last audience that day if he pleased; but if he would be present at the solemnity of the nuptials which were this evening to be celebrated at Court between the Baron Horne and the Lady Sparre, and if he desired to see the assembling of the Ricksdag tomorrow, then it would be requisite to defer his audience till Friday, because when he had taken his leave of the Queen it would not be proper for him afterwards to appear in public. Whitelocke said he had rather be dismissed than to be present at any solemnities; that her Majesty had taken him captive by her noble presents, so that it was not fit for him to come abroad in public. He asked Lagerfeldt if the Prince would be here on Friday next; if so, then it would not be convenient to have his audience put off to that day. Lagerfeldt said he doubted that the Prince would not be here so soon.
An officer on horseback, accompanied with several other horsemen, with four kettle-drums and eight or ten trumpets beating and sounding before them, made proclamation in several parts of the town that all persons who were summoned to appear at the Ricksdag should give their attendance at the place appointed in the Queen’s castle of Upsal tomorrow by eight o’clock in the morning, upon pain of half-a-dollar mulcted for every default.
The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelockefrom the Queen, and acquainted him to the same effect as Lagerfeldt had done, touching his last audience. The master also, by the Queen’s command, invited Whitelocke to the wedding at Court this night; and if he pleased to see the manner of the assembling of the Ricksdag, that he had order to take the care of it, and that it would be no hindrance to his going away, because the Prince did not come hither till Tuesday next. Whitelocke said he was sorry that the Prince would come no sooner to this place, but since it was the pleasure of the Queen that he should wait upon her this evening, he would obey her commands; and as to the time of his audience, he submitted to her pleasure.
The Ricks-Admiral sent again to Whitelocke, to know if he would have any more ships provided for his transportation. Whitelocke returned his thanks, and that he intended not to take any of his horses with him, and therefore should not need any more ships than were already ordered.
Studely, one of Whitelocke’s servants, returned to him from Stockholm with an account that the ship appointed for his transportation was not yet ready, which retarded his voyage to his trouble.
Between ten and eleven o’clock at night the master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke’s house, with one of the Queen’s coaches, to bring him to the wedding at Court. He desired Whitelocke’s two sons to go into that coach, who excused themselves that they had not been in that coach formerly. The master said that when one went to an audience there were certain formalities to be observed, but going to a wedding was another thing; that now the Queenhad sent her coach for Whitelocke as her guest, and it was proper for his sons to go with him. Whitelocke wished them to observe the direction of the master, who governed in these things.
They went to the bridegroom’s house, where were many of his friends; his uncle the Ricks-Admiral, Marshal Wrangel, and other senators and noblemen. As soon as Whitelocke alighted out of the coach, the bridegroom’s brother was there to receive him and bid him welcome; near the door the bridegroom met him, and gave him thanks for the favour in honouring his wedding with his presence. Whitelocke said he was very ready to testify his respects to the nobility of this country, and particularly to himself, and took it for an honour to be invited into such company.
Whitelocke was instructed by the master of the ceremonies, that by the custom of this country the bridegroom takes place of the King, and the bride of the Queen, during the solemnities of the wedding; accordingly Whitelocke gave the right hand to the bridegroom.
After a little discourse they took their coaches;—first the gentlemen, then the Lords, then the Senators, then the Ricks-Admiral and Senator Bundt, who, being next of kin, was to give the bride in marriage; after Bundt went Whitelocke, and after him the bridegroom, who had precedence in the Queen’s coach, which went last, and Whitelocke next before it, and the other coaches in their order; the bridegroom’s coach last of all, as the best place. The like order they observed in their going in the castle. At the head of the stairs the master of the ceremonies met them, and brought them to the presence-chamber,where the Queen was with the bride and a great company of gallant ladies. The bridegroom kissed her Majesty’s hand, and then the bride’s hand; the rest of the company did the like. Between the Queen and Whitelocke passed a little discourse.
Whitelocke. Madam, I give you humble thanks for your invitation of me to these solemnities.
Queen.It is an honour to us that such an Ambassador will be present at our ceremonies.
Wh.I likewise return my most humble thanks to your Majesty for your many favours, and the noble presents you have been pleased to bestow on me and on my company.
Qu.Sir, you mock me; I am troubled I could not do according to that respect which I bear you. This is only a custom of our country to persons of your condition, and I hope you will take it in good part.
Wh.It is more suitable to your Majesty’s bounty than to anything I can call desert in me, who have a most grateful sense and acceptance of your Majesty’s favours.
Ceremony of the marriage.The bride and bridegroom were both clothed in white tabby, his suit laced with a very broad gold and silver lace. The bride had on her head a coronet set full of diamonds, with a diamond collar about her neck and shoulders, a diamond girdle of the same fashion, and a rich diamond jewel at her breast, which were all of them of great value, and by some reported to be the Queen’s jewels, lent by her to the bride for that time.
They went all to the great hall; first the noblemen, then the senators, then the bridegroom between Bundt and Whitelocke, then the bride between two Graves,then the Queen and her Guards. Then the Queen presently took her chair of state; at her right-hand at a little distance sat the bride against her; at the Queen’s left-hand sat the bridegroom, next to him Whitelocke, and then Bundt. After they were all sat, Bundt rose up and went towards the Queen, and spake in Swedish with a loud voice to this effect, as it was interpreted to Whitelocke:—That Baron Horne, a gentleman there present, of an ancient and noble family, desired to have in marriage a lady who was servant to her Majesty, of the ancient and noble family of the Sparres; then he spake much of the pedigrees and in the praise of both the families; after that he addressed himself to the bride and bridegroom, giving them good counsel as to the condition which they were entering into, and their demeanour to one another. Then some friends led the bridegroom to a place in the midst of the hall purposely railed in, and then they fetched the bride thither also and placed her by the bridegroom; then a grave churchman, one of the Queen’s chaplains, turning himself to the Queen, pronounced the words of marriage after a form in a book which he read, and being interpreted to Whitelocke, he found it the same in effect with the words of marriage in the English Liturgy. The ceremony of joining them in marriage being ended, two Graves with torches came to the bridegroom and bride and led them around; two other Lords with torches followed after them, many ladies two by two. The bride being brought to her seat by the bridegroom, he then took the Queen by the hand and they walked between the torches; then the bride came and took Whitelocke by the hand andthey walked after the Queen. Whitelocke brought the bride again to her place, and being instructed that he was to take the Queen and march the round with her also, Whitelocke did it, and all this was a solemn walking to the sound of drums and trumpets. After which, every one returned to their places, and then they set to dancing of the brawls; and the Queen came to Whitelocke to take him out to dance with her, who excused himself.
Whitelocke dances with the Queen.Whitelocke.Madam, I am fearful that I shall dishonour your Majesty, as well as shame myself, by dancing with you.
Queen.I will try whether you can dance.
Wh.I assure your Majesty I cannot in any measure be worthy to have you by the hand.
Qu.I esteem you worthy, and therefore make choice of you to dance with me.
Wh.I shall not so much undervalue your Majesty’s judgement as not to obey you herein, and I wish I could remember as much of this as when I was a young man.
After they had done dancing, and Whitelocke had waited upon the Queen to her chair of state, she said to him—
Qu.Par Dieu!these Hollanders are lying fellows.
Wh.I wonder how the Hollanders should come into your mind upon such an occasion as this is, who are not usually thought upon in such solemnities, nor much acquainted with them.
Qu.I will tell you all. The Hollanders reported to me a great while since that all thenoblesseof England were of the King’s party, and none but mechanics of the Parliament party, and not a gentlemanamong them; now I thought to try you, and to shame you if you could not dance; but I see that you are a gentleman and have been bred a gentleman, and that makes me say the Hollanders are lying fellows, to report that there was not a gentleman of the Parliament’s party, when I see by you chiefly, and by many of your company, that you are gentlemen.
Wh.Truly, Madam, in this they told a great untruth to your Majesty, as I believe they have done in several other particulars. I do confess that the greatest part of our nobility and gentry were of the King’s party, but many of them likewise were of the Parliament’s party; and I, who am sent to wait upon your Majesty, can, without vanity, derive to myself an ancient pedigree of a gentleman. They would not have given the honour to any but a gentleman to kiss your Majesty’s hand, and you are pleased to do your servant right, and his company, by acknowledging that our superiors have commanded gentlemen to wait on you.
Qu.I assure you that I esteem it the greater honour done to me, and you are the more welcome to me because you are a gentleman; and had I not known and found you to be so, your business would not have been so well despatched as it is. I see you have all the qualities of a gentleman, and I believe that you were excellent in your music and dancing in your younger days.
Wh.I was bred up in the qualities of a gentleman, and in my youth was accounted not inferior to others in the practice of them; but it is so long since I used this of dancing, especially after we learned to march, that had it not been to obey your Majesty, I should hardly have been drawn to discover my deficiencies.
Qu.You have discovered nothing but what tends to your honour and to my contentment; and I take it as a favour that you were willing to lay aside your gravity and play the courtier upon my request, which I see you can do so well when you please.
After the dancing ended, there was brought into the hall a sumptuous banquet, the Hof-Marshal with his silver staff ushering it, and after that distributed. The Queen and all the company went back in the same order to the presence-chamber, and there the Queen bid the bride and bridegroom good-night, and so all went to their lodgings, divers of the nobles waiting on the bride to her chamber.
The Queen told Whitelocke that she believed the Prince would be here on Tuesday next, and that Whitelocke should have his audience on Friday next. Whitelocke took his coach, after it had waited nine hours at the castle.
The abdication of Queen Christina.Early in the morning the master of the ceremonies came to accompany Whitelocke to the castle, to see the manner of the assembly of the Ricksdag, and brought him and his company to the castle to an upper room or gallery, where he sat privately, not taken notice of by any, yet had the full view of the great hall where the Ricksdag met, and heard what was said. The Danish Ambassador did forbear to come thither, as was supposed, because of Whitelocke being there. The French Resident sat by Whitelocke, and conversed with him.
The great hall, two stories high, was prepared for the Assembly. An outer chamber was hung with clothof Arras; in the antechamber to that were guards of the Queen’s partisans; in the court was a company of musketeers. The great hall was hung with those hangings which were before in Whitelocke’s lodgings, with some others added, and was very handsome. On each side of the hall, from the walls towards the middle of the room, forms were placed, covered with red cloth, for seats for the Members, and were all alike without distinction, and reached upwards. Three parts of the length of the hall, in the midst between the seats, was a space or lane broad enough for three to walk abreast together. At the upper end of the hall, on a foot-pace three steps high, covered with foot-carpets, stood the chair of state, all of massy silver, a rich cushion in it, and a canopy of crimson velvet richly embroidered over it. On the left side of the chair of state were placed five ordinary chairs of crimson velvet, without arms, for the five Ricks-officers; and on the same side below them, and on the other side from the foot-pace down to the forms, in a semicircular form, were stools of crimson velvet for the Ricks-Senators.
About nine o’clock there entered at the lower end of the great hall a plain, lusty man in his boor’s habit, with a staff in his hand, followed by about eighty boors, Members of this Council, who had chosen the first man for their Marshal, or Speaker. These marched up in the open place between the forms to the midst of them, and then the Marshal and his company sat down on the forms on the right of the State, from the midst downwards to the lower end of the hall, and put on their hats. A little while after them entered at the same door a man in a civil habit of a citizen, with a staff in his hand, followed by about a hundred andtwenty citizens, deputies of the cities and boroughs, who had chosen him to be their Marshal. They all took their places upon the forms over-against the boors in the lower end of the hall, and were covered. Not long after, at the same door, entered a proper gentleman richly habited, a staff in his hand, who was Marshal of the Nobility, followed by near two hundred lords and gentlemen, Members of the Ricksdag, chief of their respective families, many of them rich in clothes, of civil deportment. They took their seats uppermost on the right of the State, and whilst they walked up to their forms the citizens and boors stood up uncovered; and when the nobility sat and put on their hats, the citizens and boors did so likewise. A little after, at the same door, entered the Archbishop of Upsal with a staff in his hand, who by his place is Marshal of the Clergy. He was followed by five or six other bishops and all the superintendents, and about sixty Ministers, Deputies, or Proctors of the Clergy. While they walked up to their places all the rest of the Members stood up uncovered; and when they sat down on the uppermost forms on the left side of the State, and put on their hats and caps, the rest of the Members did the like; these were grave men, in their long cassocks and canonical habit, and most with long beards.
All the Members being thus sat, about a quarter of an hour after entered the Captain, followed by divers of the Queen’s Guard, with partisans. After them came many gentlemen of the Queen’s servants, uncovered, with swords by their sides and well clad, two and two together. After them came the Ricks-Senators in their order, the puisne first. After them theRicks-officers, all bare. After them came the Queen, and kept off her hat in the hall, some of the officers of the Court and pages after her. In this order they went up in the open place in the midst of the forms, all the Members standing up uncovered. The Queen’s company made a lane for her to pass through, and she went up to her chair and sat down in it; and all the company, except the members of the Council, went out of the hall, and all the doors were shut; the Members sat in their places uncovered.
After the Queen had sat a little, she rose, and beckoned to the Chancellor to come to her, who came with great ceremony and respect; and after a little speaking together he returned to his place, and the Queen sat down again a little time; then rising up with mettle, she came forward to the utmost part of the foot-pace, and with a good grace and confidence spake to the Assembly, as it was interpreted to Whitelocke, to this effect:—