A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 19

"Her Majesty hath showed extraordinary affection and respect to my Lord Protector; so hath the Chancellor and his son Grave Eric, and my Lord Lagerfeldt, etc."

[SN: Whitelocke's interview with the Queen after the signing of the treaty.]

Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and gave her an account of the signing and sealing of his articles; whereupon she said:--

_Queen._ I am glad that this business is done to your satisfaction.

_Whitelocke._ There remains only your Majesty's sealing your letters of full power to your Commissioners who treated with me.

_Qu._ I sealed them this morning.

_Wh._ Then my humble suit is, that your Majesty would appoint a day for my audience to take my leave.

_Qu._ This is Sat.u.r.day, but if you desire it you may have it on Friday next.

_Wh._ Would your Majesty's leisure permit to give me audience on Tuesday or Wednesday next, they being no holidays?

_Qu._ The a.s.sembly is to sit on Tuesday, and at their first meeting I shall have a great deal of business with them, which will hinder me from any other affairs.

_Wh._ I humbly pray your Majesty to appoint it as soon as your own leisure will permit, for I shall have many businesses and ceremonies after it to perform, before my going away.

_Qu._ On Monday next I will appoint a day; and touching the secret article, about which I formerly discoursed with you, I have now altered my opinion, and am resolved to follow the advice that you and Mr.

Woolfeldt have given me. I will write a letter under my own hand to the Protector to the effect you advised, and deliver it to you to be presented to him.

_Wh._ This will be much the better way.

_Qu._ I desire you to be careful of the letter; and before I seal it I will show it to you for your advice in it.

_Wh._ Madam, I shall have a special care of it, and to procure an answer of it from the Protector, I hope, to your Majesty's contentment, that you may make use of it if there shall be occasion; and I believe the Protector will be a firm friend to your Majesty.

_Qu._ I doubt it not, nor your respects to me.

_Wh._ I am engaged by your many favours to serve your Majesty with all faithfulness.

_Qu._ I had some clothes in a s.h.i.+p coming hither, and the s.h.i.+p is taken, and my clothes detained in England, so that I cannot get them to wear.

_Wh._ If your Majesty want clothes, I have a piece of English stuff at my house, which cost two s.h.i.+llings a yard; and, if that were not too dear for your Majesty's wearing, I would send it to you.

_Qu._ Two s.h.i.+llings a yard is dear enough for me: I pray send your stuff hither, and I shall willingly accept of it, and thank you for it.

_Wh._ Will your Majesty be pleased on Monday next to go into England?

_Qu._ Hardly so soon; yet perhaps I may one day see England. But what is your meaning in this?

_Wh._ Madam, Monday next is the first day of May, a great day in England; we call it May-day, when the gentlemen use to wait upon their mistresses abroad to bid the Spring welcome, and to have some collation or entertainment for them. Now your Majesty being my mistress, if you will do me the honour, that, after the custom of England, I may wait on you on May-day, and have a little treatment for you after the manner of England; this I call going into England, and shall take it as a very great favour from your Majesty.

_Qu._ If this be your meaning of going into England, I shall be very willing, as your mistress, to go with you on Monday next, and to see the English mode.

Lagerfeldt and the master of the ceremonies dining with Whitelocke, he inquired of them what was to be done by him as to presents to any of the Queen's servants or officers who had done him respect in his business, or being here, and what other things were requisite to be done by him, according to the usage of amba.s.sadors in this Court before their going away, and when he might obtain his audience to take his leave. The master of the ceremonies gave him good and chargeable instructions; and Lagerfeldt agreed in most points with him, and, upon Whitelocke's entreaty, undertook to see that the letters of full power to the Queen's Commissioners, and the recredentials to Whitelocke, should be perfected and brought to him, and a day of audience appointed.

Lagerfeldt told Whitelocke that the Queen was willing to present him with some of this country's commodities, as copper, to carry with him into England, if it would be as acceptable to him as other presents of diamonds and the like; and he said he hoped there was no order of the Commonwealth of England to forbid the receiving of such presents by their public ministers. He said, that formerly he asked of Monsieur Chanut, the French Amba.s.sador here, if he would accept a present of copper, and he willingly accepted it, and carried it with him, saying, that he rather desired copper than diamonds or jewels, because he could better sell the copper than jewels, and make money of it.

Whitelocke said, that whatsoever her Majesty pleased to bestow on him should be welcome to him, and that he liked the commodities of this country as well as those of the Indies, and that for Chanut's reason. He said that the Protector had not forbid him to receive any testimonies of the Queen's respect to him, as she used to do to all public ministers; that the order of the Commonwealth forbidding gifts or presents to public ministers was not now in force; that he thought her Majesty's bounty to him, and his justification of the acceptance of it, might be the more from such valuable presents as her Majesty had done him the honour to receive from him, and his intention to bestow all his horses upon her, and such as she would appoint, which, for the honour of the Commonwealth, he would not sell.

_April 30, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke accepts a present of copper.]

Berkman and Monsieur Bloome dined with Whitelocke, and took occasion to magnify the respects of the Chancellor and his son, Grave Eric, to the Protector and to Whitelocke, who was not backward to join in those eulogies, and to acknowledge the respects. Berkman said that Canterstein was to bring some writings to Whitelocke, and that Lagerfeldt had spoken to the Queen to present Whitelocke with some copper; that she had given order for two hundred s.h.i.+p-pound of copper to be brought from the mines to Stockholm, to be put aboard Whitelocke's s.h.i.+p, ready to be carried away with him; that every s.h.i.+p-pound was here worth forty dollars, and was as much as three hundred English pounds, which he cast up in the whole to the value of about 2500 sterling. And Whitelocke was satisfied in his own conscience that he might honourably receive it, having given to the Queen as many presents already as were worth 1000, and engaged to her his horses, which were worth about 2000 more, besides the gifts and gratuities which he had liberally given, and intended to give, to the Queen's servants and officers; and that, in recompense of above 3000 given away, he might well receive a present of the value of 2500.

Grave Leonhough visited Whitelocke, and had much discourse with him, not so proper for this day.

FOOTNOTES:

[85] [An ingenious device of Whitelocke's to lead the Spaniard to hasten the business of the treaty with Sweden, which he was suspected of having r.e.t.a.r.ded.]

[86] The French, and English copies of the pa.s.sport were these:--

"Comme ainsi soit que Don Antonio Piementel de Prado, Envoye Extraordinaire de sa Majeste le Roi d'Espagne a sa Majeste la Reine de Suede, soit maintenant sur son retour de ce lieu a Neufport en Flandres, dont son Excellence est Gouverneur; et qu'il ait juge a propos d'envoyer partie de son train et bagage par mer de Hambourg a Dunquerque, ou public autre port des Provinces Unies a present sous l'obeissance de sa dite Majeste le Roi d'Espagne; et pour leur procurer d'autant plus sur convoi, m'ait desire, comme Amba.s.sadeur Extraordinaire de son Altesse Monseigneur le Protecteur de la Republique d'Angleterre, d'Ecosse, et d'Irlande, vers sa Majeste la Reine de Suede, de lui donner pa.s.seport: ces presents sont pour requerir tous ceux qui ont commandement par mer ou par terre, et tous officiers et autres de la dite Republique auxquels il peut appartenir, de permettre le porteur des presents, Joos Froidure, serviteur du dit Don Antonio Piementel, avec son navire et biens sous sa charge (a savoir, vingt caisses contenantes toutes sortes de meubles, comme vaisselle d'argent, tap.i.s.series, linges, habits, lits de camp, et autres coffres et choses pareilles, et tout conduit par le susdit Joos Froidure, et les caisses marquees D. A. P.), de pa.s.ser paisiblement et sans empechement quelconque jusqu'au dit Dunquerque, ou autre port des Provinces Unies de present sous l'obeissance de sa dite Majeste le Roi d'Espagne. Donne sous ma main et sceau, a Upsale en Suede, ce 4eme d'Avril, 1654. B. WHITELOCKE."

"Whereas Don Antonio Pimentel de Prado, Envoy Extraordinary from his Majesty the King of Spain unto her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, is now upon his return from this place unto Newport, in Flanders, whereof his Excellence is Governor, and hath thought fit to send part of his train and goods from Hamburg by sea unto Dunkirk, or some other port now in obedience to his said Majesty the King of Spain, in the Low Countries; and, for the better conveyance of them, hath desired a pa.s.s from me, being Amba.s.sador Extraordinary from his Highness my Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, unto her said Majesty the Queen of Sweden; these are therefore to desire all commanders by sea or land, and all officers or others, of the said Commonwealth, whom it may concern, to permit the bearer hereof, Joos Froidure, servant unto the said Don Antonio Pimentel, with the s.h.i.+p and goods under his charge, viz.

twenty chests or packages, containing all sorts of household stuff, as vessels of silver, tapestries, linen, apparel, field-beds, and other coffers and such like things, marked with D. A. P., to pa.s.s unto the said port of Dunkirk, or any other port now in obedience unto his said Majesty the King of Spain in the Low Countries, quietly and without any molestation. Given under my hand and seal, at Upsal, in Sweden, this 4th day of April, 1654. B. WHITELOCKE."

[88] [It is curious to remark at the present time (1855) how the same questions have arisen out of the state of war. The list of contraband articles established by Whitelocke's treaty is still in force as between England and Sweden, and Liege is still the great resource of the Continent for arms.]

[90] [Cromwell was already preparing the two armaments at Portsmouth, one of which afterwards became the Mediterranean fleet, under Blake, of thirty-five s.h.i.+ps, and the other, of thirty-two s.h.i.+ps, sailed in the following year under Penn and Venables for the West Indies.]

[91] [This gentleman is doubtless the same M. Woolfeldt whom Whitelocke frequently refers to; for in a ma.n.u.script addressed to his children, Woolfeldt is mentioned by name as a person entertaining similar sentiments towards his native country. He was a Danish n.o.bleman nearly connected by marriage with the King of Denmark, but who had incurred the displeasure of the Court, and been driven into exile on account of this marriage.]

[130] "Whereas Peter Gerbrant, citizen of Stockholm, and commander of a s.h.i.+p belonging to her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, called the 'Sudermanland,' loaden with corn and other Swedish merchandises, is now bound for Lisbon, in Portugal, and, for his better pa.s.sage, hath desired of me, being Amba.s.sador Extraordinary from his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, unto her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, to give him my pa.s.s and letters recommendatory: These are therefore to desire all commanders and officers by sea or land, and all others of the said Commonwealth whom it may concern, to permit the said Peter Gerbrant, together with his said s.h.i.+p and lading, to pa.s.s unto the said port of Lisbon quietly and without any molestation; and so to return from thence unto Stockholm, with such lading as the said master shall there think fit to take into his s.h.i.+p.

Given under my hand and seal at Upsal, in Sweden, this 14th day of April, 1654. B. W."

[131] "Whereas the bearer hereof, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Halsall, had a pa.s.s from Colonel Robert Lilburne, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Scotland under his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, to transport himself, his servant, and necessaries into Sweden upon his occasions, and, having despatched his business, he hath made his request to me, being Amba.s.sador from his said Highness the Lord Protector to her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, to grant him my pa.s.s for his return into Scotland: These are therefore to desire all commanders by sea or land, and all officers and others of the said Commonwealth whom it may concern, to suffer him, the said Lieutenant-Colonel Halsall, quietly to pa.s.s into Scotland, he acting nothing prejudicial to the Commonwealth aforesaid; and further I desire that the Commander-in-Chief in Scotland will be pleased to show unto him, the said Lieutenant-Colonel, such favour at all times as he shall there deserve. Given under my hand and seal, at Upsal, in Sweden, this 14th of April, 1654. B. WHITELOCKE."

[142] [These words show that the contest between the French and Spanish alliance in London was still going on; but they did not convey the truth to Whitelocke, for it was against Spain that the great armament previously mentioned was destined to be used, in the expedition to St.

Domingo and the conquest of Jamaica.]

[168] The treaty thus signed ran in the following terms:--

[SN: Text of the treaty.]

"We whose names are subscribed, Axel Oxenstiern, Chancellor of the Kingdom and Provincial Judge of the West Norlanders, of Lapland, Heredalia, and Jemptia, Earl of South Morea, free Baron in Kimitho, Lord in Tiholme and Tydoen, Knight of the Golden Spur; and Eric Oxenstiern, son of Axel, General President of the College of Trade, Earl of South Morea, free Baron in Kimitho, Lord in Tydoen, Viby, and Gorwallen, Senators of the Kingdom of Sweden, and Plenipotentiary Commissioners of the most Serene and most Potent Prince and Lady the Lady Christina, by the grace of G.o.d Queen of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, Great Prince of Finland, Duke of Esthonia, Carelia, Bremen, Veherden, Stettin, Pomerland, Ca.s.subia and Vandalia, Prince of Rugia, and Lady of Ingria and of Wismar; do make known and testify that formerly there hath been a great amity between the Swedish and English nations, for which, to renew and increase the profit of it, it very well happened that the most ill.u.s.trious and most excellent Lord Bulstrode Whitelocke, Constable of Windsor Castle, and at this time one of the Keepers of the Great Seal of England, being sufficiently authorized to treat of the following affairs, came to the S.R.M. our Lady, by commandment and in the name of Oliver, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Amba.s.sador Extraordinary from these countries and of the aforesaid Commonwealth. The same also our most S.R.M. hath benignly commanded us, who have the same and sufficient power, that after we should have considered with the aforesaid Lord Amba.s.sador about the things which would be judged the most convenient to establish the liberty of commerce and navigation, and to corroborate the mutual amity in this time, that some certain things should be determined and written in form of articles of mutual alliance.

"Therefore we, after a good deliberation together, agreed touching the affairs hereafter written, as they are by these following laws which are in this treaty, and by their clear words and without difficulty expressed. That is:--

"1. That hereafter there be a good, sincere, firm peace and correspondence between the Queen and Kingdom of Sweden and the Lord Protector and the aforesaid Commonwealth, and between all and every one of the dominions, kingdoms, countries, provinces, islands, lands, colonies, towns, peoples, citizens, inhabitants, and all and every one of the subjects of either of the party, so that they may mutually embrace in entire love and affection.