A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 20

"2. The aforesaid confederates and subjects, people and inhabitants of either, shall, when occasion shall be presented, advance the common profit, and shall, if they know of any imminent danger or conspiration or machination of the enemies, admonish one another, and shall hinder them as much as lies in their power. Neither shall it be permitted to any of the confederates to do or treat by him, or by any other whatsoever, to the prejudice or damage of the lands and dominions of either, whatsoever they be, or in whatsoever place, either by sea or land. The enemies or rebels or adversaries shall in nowise be suffered, neither shall the rebels or traitors who undertake under the State of the other be received in his countries, and shall much less give them counsel, aid, or favour, nor shall admit that his subjects, people, or inhabitants should do anything like.

"3. The Queen and Kingdom aforesaid and the Lord Protector and Commonwealth aforesaid shall, as much as in them lies, endeavour to take care, with all candour and affection, to remove all the hindrances which hitherto have interrupted the liberty of navigation and commerce between both the nations, as much in the dominions, lands, seas, and rivers of either of the confederates with other people and nations. They shall also endeavour to advance and defend the liberty of navigation and commerce against all sorts of disturbers for the reasons agreed upon in this treaty, or upon which hereafter they may agree, nor shall suffer, either through themselves, their subjects, or people, any offence to be committed or done against this inst.i.tution.

"4. For it is consented and agreed that the inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid confederates be free to travel by sea or land into the kingdoms, countries, provinces, lands, islands, towns, cities, villages, walled or unwalled, fortified or no, ports, dominions whatsoever freely, or without safe-conduct, general or special, to go and thence to return, and thence to stay or pa.s.s over, and all the while to buy victuals and things necessary for their use, and are to be treated with all benevolence. And also it shall be lawful for the subjects, citizens, and inhabitants of either of the confederates to exercise merchandise and commerce in all places wherein any commerce hath hitherto been exercised, and the same merchandise may be carried in or forth according to their pleasure, paying nevertheless the usual tax, and observing the laws and ordinances of the aforesaid Kingdom and Commonwealth; supposing on both sides that the people, subjects, and inhabitants of either of the confederates shall have and possess in the countries, lands, dominions, and kingdom of the other as full and ample privileges, and as much freedom, liberty, and immunity, as any stranger possesseth, or shall possess, in the said dominions and kingdoms.

"5. The merchants, masters of s.h.i.+ps, pilots, seamen, and others, their s.h.i.+ps, merchandise, and all goods in general of the said confederates and their subjects and inhabitants, shall not be apprehended or detained in the lands, ports, sh.o.r.es, harbours, or dominions whatsoever in alliance with the other, for any public use, expedition of war, or other cause, much less for any private man's use by virtue of any edict, general or special; neither shall they be molested or constrained by violence or injury or anything of that kind: provided that arrests be not prohibited if they are made according to the ordinary form of law, justice, and equity; they shall not neglect the punishment of any for private affection.

"6. And if one or more s.h.i.+ps of the subjects, citizens, or inhabitants, be they of war or of burden and private men's, shall be forced by tempests, or pursued by pirates and enemies, or any urgent necessity to the harbour or sh.o.r.es of the other confederate, and be forced to call for protection, they shall be received there with all benignity, humanity, and friends.h.i.+p, and at no time to be hindered, and all victual, reparation, and things fit for use at the ordinary price; they shall not be prohibited to depart or go out of the port or harbour by any pretence whatsoever, as long as they have not committed anything against the statutes, ordinances, and custom of the place where their s.h.i.+ps are brought and where they shall sojourn.

"7. Likewise, if one s.h.i.+p or more of war or of private men of the other confederate, and of the subjects and inhabitants, shall be s.h.i.+pwrecked or cast on the coast of the dominions of the other confederate, or for the future may suffer detriment, they may be relieved and helped at a price agreed on, so that whatsoever shall be saved from the s.h.i.+pwreck shall be preserved and restored to the true owner or his factor.

"8. And if the subjects and inhabitants of the other confederate, whether they be merchants, their factors, servants, masters of s.h.i.+ps, pirates, seamen, or others, have occasion to travel into the dominions of the other confederate, or if anything shall come in their name before a court of justice, or suits for their debts, or for any other lawful reason wherein they may need the help of the magistrate; in these things he shall be benign and ready for equity's sake, and shall administer justice without delay or unnecessary circ.u.mstances, and they shall not be hindered in their journey by any pretence, but whithersoever they go are to be used friendly, and shall have the liberty either in going or returning to carry and wear arms for their private defence, and to walk into the harbours, seaports, and in any public place of the other confederate armed; provided they give no occasion of just suspicion to the governors or magistrates of any place of any design against the public or private peace, but chiefly they are to behave themselves modestly, and to live without any injury.

"9. It is lawful for the foresaid confederates and both their people to buy and export out of any of their countries, dominions, and kingdoms, all sorts of arms and provision of war, and freely and safely to carry their s.h.i.+ps into what ports, stations, and harbours of the other confederate they please, and there to sojourn and from thence to go; and they are to carry themselves modestly, peaceably, and conform to all the laws and customs of the place, and they may trade there without any hindrance; likewise the s.h.i.+ps of war have free leave to come to the ports, havens, and stations of the other confederates. But nevertheless, if there be a manifest suspicion in their number, they may forbid their access, without they have obtained leave of the confederate in whose ports they are (unless they are drawn in by tempests, or force, or danger, or chief magistrate), and are not to stay longer than the governor or chief magistrate will give them leave.

"10. It shall be lawful for the subjects and inhabitants of the kingdom of Sweden to travel into all the countries of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and likewise to pa.s.s beyond land or sea, and other people that commerce with them, to exercise trade in all kind of merchandise, and to bring them thither and carry thence at their pleasure. The people of the aforesaid Commonwealth shall enjoy the same liberty in the kingdoms, dominions, and territories of the Queen and kingdom of Sweden, but upon condition that they shall observe the respective laws, ordinances, and particular rights of both nations, and of those things which concern the traffic.

"11. Although it be prohibited by the former articles of this league and friends.h.i.+p, that neither of the confederates shall give aid or a.s.sistance to the enemies of the other, nevertheless it is no way to be understood that it is denied to the confederate and his subjects and people who is not in war to have commerce and navigation with the enemies of that confederate who is in war: provided only in the meantime, until it may be more fully agreed upon, all laws hereunto pertaining, that none of those commodities called contraband (of which a special designation or catalogue shall be agreed upon within four months from this time) shall be carried to the enemies of either, upon peril that if they be found out by the other confederate, they shall be taken as prize without hope of rest.i.tution.

"12. But lest this free navigation or pa.s.sage by land or sea with other nations, of the one confederate, his subjects, or people, during the war of the other confederate, should be a deceit to the other confederate, and may conceal commodities and hostile goods by deceit, pretending the name of a friend, for that reason, to remove suspicion and fraud, it is thought fit that the s.h.i.+ps, waggons, merchandises, and men belonging to one of the confederates, in their journeys and navigations shall be armed with letters of safe-conduct, commonly called pa.s.sports and certificates, which shall be signed by the chief governor or magistrate of the province or city from whence they come, and in all them those forms to be observed which shall be agreed upon within the s.p.a.ce of four months next ensuing; but where the merchandises, goods, s.h.i.+pping, and men of one of the confederates, or of his subjects or people, in the open sea, straits, ports, stations, lands, and places whatsoever, shall be met with by the s.h.i.+ps of war, public or private, or by the men, subjects, and people of the other confederate, or by any means shall be in one place together, then exhibiting only their letters of safe-conduct and certificates, nothing shall be further required of them, nor inquired of them, nor inquiry made as to their goods, s.h.i.+pping, or men any further, much less shall any injury, damage, or trouble be offered to them, but, as is before signified, they shall be freely dismissed to proceed in their intended journey. And in case anything be done by either party contrary to the genuine sense of this article, either of the confederates shall cause severe punishment to be inflicted upon those who shall do contrary hereunto, their subjects and people, and shall take care that satisfaction be made without delay to the other grieved confederate, or his subjects and people, fully of all their losses and expenses.

"13. Also, if it shall fall out hereafter during this friends.h.i.+p and league, that any of the people and subjects of either of the confederates shall take part with, or design anything against this league, the agreement between the aforesaid confederates shall not thereby be interrupted or dissolved, but nevertheless shall continue and wholly remain; but those particular persons only who have broken this league shall be punished, and right and justice shall be administered to those who have received injury, and satisfaction shall be made of all damages and wrong within a twelvemonth's time after rest.i.tution demanded. And if the foresaid delinquents and persons guilty of the violence committed shall not yield themselves and submit to justice, or within the prefixed time shall refuse to make satisfaction, they, whosoever they are, shall at length be proclaimed enemies to both States, and their estates, goods, and whatsoever things they have shall be confiscated and sold for a just and full satisfaction of the wrongs by them done, and those offenders and guilty persons, where they shall come into the power of either State, shall suffer also deserved punishment according to the nature of their offence. But rest.i.tution and satisfaction for the losses and damages which either of the confederates hath suffered by the other during the war between England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands shall be made and afforded without delay to the party wronged, or to his subjects.

"14. The present treaty and confederation shall not at all derogate from the pre-eminence, right, and dominion whatsoever of either of the confederates in their seas, straits, and waters whatsoever; but they shall have and retain the same to themselves in the same fulness as they have hitherto enjoyed the same, and of right belongs unto them.

"15. Whereas therefore it is the princ.i.p.al purpose of this league that the same freedom of navigation and merchandising as is expressed in the former articles should be and remain to either confederate, his subjects and people, in the Baltic Sea, the Strait of the Sound, the Northern, Western, British, and Mediterranean Seas, and in the Channel and other seas of Europe, it shall therefore earnestly be endeavoured by common counsel, help, and a.s.sistance, that the foresaid mutual freedom of navigation and commerce shall be established and promoted in all the before-mentioned seas, and, if occasion require, shall be defended against disturbers who would interrupt it, prohibit, hinder, constrain, and force it to their own will and the injury of the confederates; and both the confederates shall willingly and mutually afford their goodwill and readiness to promote the benefit and to take away the prejudice of either of the confederates, always saving to either nation the leagues with other kingdoms, commonwealths, and nations which have been heretofore made and are in force; but neither of the confederates for the future shall make any league or alliance with any foreign people or nations whatsoever to any prejudice of this present mutual league, without the knowledge beforehand and consent of the other confederate; and if anything shall hereafter be agreed otherwise, it shall be void, and shall wholly give way to this mutual agreement; but of the manner of mutual aid or a.s.sistance to be given for defence of this league, and freedom of commerce and navigation, where it shall be necessary and reason shall require it, it shall be specially agreed upon according to the circ.u.mstances of time and all other things.

"16. Concerning other advantages to be enjoyed, and rules according to which the s.h.i.+ps of war shall demean themselves which shall come into the ports or stations of the other confederate, of the trade to be had in America, also of the commodities of fis.h.i.+ng for herrings and other fish whatsoever, of the staples and marts to be appointed for trade, and of other matters and conditions which may be required for the greater evidence of the former articles, as by a particular treaty and mutual contract shall be hereafter agreed.

"17. But those matters which we have agreed in the former articles shall forthwith from this moment of time obtain full force and be sincerely and rightly observed by either party, and by all who are under their obedience, faith, and command. And to the end that for the time to come they may be the more established, and remain firm as well by her Royal Majesty as also by the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the territories thereunto belonging, in the name of his Highness and the said Commonwealth, these presents, with the proper subscriptions of the hands of her Majesty and of his Highness, shall be subscribed, signed, and ratified.

"In confirmation of all these things which are above written, and for sufficient testimony thereof that on the part of her Royal Majesty our most clement Lady they shall be most religiously and fully observed, and be ratified within the time prefixed, we have subscribed these presents with our proper hands, and armed them with our seals. Dated at Upsal, the 11th day of April, in the year 1654.

"AXEL OXENSTIERN, "ERIC OXENSTIERN AXELIUS."

MAY.

_May 1, 1654._

[SN: Preparations for departure.]

Lagerfeldt, Berkman, and the Syndic of Gothenburg, after dinner with Whitelocke, discoursed and advised him touching his departure. Lagerfeldt said he believed the Queen would give Whitelocke audience on Friday next, before which time her presents would not be ready for Whitelocke and his company; he said also, that he heard the Prince intended to be in this town within a few days, and if it should be so, then it would be better for Whitelocke to stay here, and expect his coming hither to salute him here, than to go out of his way so far as to the Prince's Court; in which matter Whitelocke said he would entreat the Queen's advice. Lagerfeldt said further, that the Queen had commanded some copper to be brought to Stockholm, and to be put aboard the s.h.i.+p where Whitelocke was to be embarked, or in some other s.h.i.+p as he should appoint, it being a present intended for him by the Queen.

The Syndic acquainted Whitelocke that the city of Gothenburg would send into England, to prepare there for an accord concerning traffic between the English merchants and that town, wherein they hoped to have the a.s.sistance of Whitelocke at his return to England, wherein he promised his advice and furtherance.

A Danish gentleman of quality and experience gave a visit to Whitelocke, advised him the way of his journey, and gave him good information touching Denmark, to be communicated to the Protector, as that the English merchants might pa.s.s the Sound without paying any tax, if the Protector would insist upon it. Whitelocke, in drollery, asked him why he would discover these things to a stranger, which turn so much to the prejudice of his own country. He answered that he did this to testify his respects to the Protector, and that he did not betray his country, but his country had betrayed him; and that was his country where he breathed and had present nourishment.[184]

Mr. Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke, and, among other discourses, related to him the story of this gentleman and his lady, which was to this effect, by his and others' relation:--

[SN: Woolfeldt's history.]

This gentleman was of a n.o.ble 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 amba.s.sador.

"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 after all, 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 hards.h.i.+ps,--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 s.h.i.+pboard 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 s.h.i.+p. Here was the difficulty: if her lord did not go on sh.o.r.e and procure some cherries for the page, it might cost her life; if he did go on sh.o.r.e, and in the meantime the s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p for a little stay, he soon found out a pretence to go on sh.o.r.e, and neglected not to hasten back again with his provision of 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.

[SN: 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 fas.h.i.+on.

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 fas.h.i.+on and with English sauces, creams, puddings, custards, tarts, tansies, English apples, _bon chretien_ pears, cheese, b.u.t.ter, 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 n.o.ble 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 b.u.t.ter 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 b.u.t.ter into milk, where it lay all night, and the next day it would eat fresh and sweet as this did, and any b.u.t.ter 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, whither Whitelocke 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 n.o.ble treatment of her and her company.

_May 2, 1654._

[SN: 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.[188] Having 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 n.o.ble present to Whitelocke, which was not yet ready, and that had r.e.t.a.r.ded 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.

_May 3, 1654._

[SN: 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.