A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 26

Then Whitelocke took his leave, and kissed her Majesty's hand, who gave him the _adieu_ with great respect and civility. He was conducted back to his coach with the same ceremony as he was brought to his audience; and the same two senators, with the master of the ceremonies, returned with him to his house, and after usual compliments pa.s.sed between them, they returned to the Court.

The trouble of the day was not yet ended; but after Whitelocke had come from the Court, Lagerfeldt brought to him the articles touching Guinea which were agreed upon and signed and sealed by the Queen's Commissioners, as the other part of them was by Whitelocke.[240]

After the great toil of this busy day, a yet greater toil must be undergone by Whitelocke to make his despatches for England. By his letters to Thurloe he again acquainted the Council with the good conclusion of his treaty, and with his taking leave of the Queen in his last audience; and sent him copies of the speeches, and gave an account of the business of Guinea, with all material pa.s.sages since his last letters, and his resolution and way of return home. He also answered the letters of every one of his friends, which were very many; but that to his wife, as he was afterwards informed, caused much trouble and pa.s.sion, that by this date of the letter, 12th May, she perceived that he was not removed from Upsal in his journey to return homewards.

_May 13, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke takes leave of his friends.]

Whitelocke began his visits and compliments to take his leave of his friends in this Court; and herein he was to be very exact, and not to omit any one who had given him the honour of former visits. He, to be the less subject to mistakes, set down in writing the names of those whom he was to visit, which made a long catalogue; but he must get through it, as part of the business of an amba.s.sador. And this day he began by visiting the French and Holland Residents, and the Grave Leonhough, whose discourses were concerning the peace between England and the Dutch, the English strong fleet at sea, of the Queen's resignation, and other general themes not necessary to be repeated.

[SN: The Sound Dues.]

Woolfeldt gave a visit to Whitelocke and discoursed on the same subjects, but more particularly of the interest of England and the payment of toll to the King of Denmark at the Sound, wherein Whitelocke had good information from him, and such as, if it had been hearkened unto, would have been of great advantage to the Protector and Commonwealth of England. So great an interest Whitelocke had gained in the affection and friends.h.i.+p of this gentleman, that he would not conceal from him anything that he knew, who knew more than any other that Whitelocke met with concerning the Sound, the King of Denmark, the Court and courtiers here, or whatsoever related to Whitelocke's business and to England.

_May 14, 1654._

This Lord's Day Sir George Fleetwood did Whitelocke the favour to bear him company at his house, and told him that the Queen and her Lords were pleased with his deportment at his last audience, and with his speech then made, which they commended, but is here omitted. He and others also acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen took great pleasure at his carriage at the solemnity of the nuptials at Court, and that he would dance with them; and both the Queen and her courtiers said that the English Amba.s.sador knew how to lay aside the gravity of an amba.s.sador when he pleased, and could play the courtier with as good a grace as any one that ever they saw, with much to the like effect.

_May 15, 1654._

[SN: A private audience of the Queen.]

Whitelocke visited Marshal Wrangel and General Wittenberg, and went from thence to the castle to visit Grave Tott, who told him that the Queen had altered her purpose of sending him into England, and would do him the honour to retain him with her, but that yet he hoped in a short time to see England. Whitelocke said he should be glad to meet him, and to do him service there. They discoursed of the Queen's residence in Pomerland, or some other place near this country, and of the discommodities and inconveniences which would arise thereby. Whitelocke told him that if the Queen had leisure, that he should be glad to wait on her; and Tott went presently to know her pleasure, and promised to bring word to Whitelocke if he might see the Queen, and did it at the Lady Jane Ruthven's lodging, whither Whitelocke was gone to take his leave of that lady; whence he brought Whitelocke to the traverse of the wardrobe, where her Majesty came to him and conducted him into her bedchamber, where they thus discoursed:--

_Whitelocke._ I humbly thank your Majesty for admitting me to be present at the meeting of the Ricksdag.

_Queen._ How did you like the manner and proceedings of it when you were there?

_Wh._ It was with the greatest gravity and solemnity that I ever saw in any public a.s.sembly, and well becoming persons of their quality and interest.

_Qu._ There be among them very considerable persons, and wise men.

_Wh._ Such an a.s.sembly requires such men, and their carriage showed them to be such; but, Madam, I expected that your Chancellor, after he spake with your Majesty, should, according to the course in our Parliaments, have declared, by your direction, the causes of the Council's being summoned.

_Qu._ It belongs to the office of the Chancellor with us to do it; and when I called him to me, it was to desire him to do it.

_Wh._ How then came it to pa.s.s that he did it not, when his place and your Majesty required it?

_Qu._ He desired to be excused, and gave me this reason, that he had taken an oath to my father to use his utmost endeavour to keep the crown on my head, and that the cause of my calling this Diet was to have their consents for me to quit the Crown; that if he should make this proposition to them, it would be contrary to the oath which he had taken to my father, and therefore he could not do it.

_Wh._ Did not your Majesty expect this answer?

_Qu._ Not at all, but was wholly surprised by it; and when the Ricksdag were met, my Chancellor thus excusing himself, there was n.o.body appointed by me to declare to them the cause of their meeting; but rather than the a.s.sembly should be put off, and nothing done, I plucked up my spirits the best I could, and spake to them on the sudden as you heard, although much to my disadvantage.

_Wh._ Indeed, Madam, you were much surprised; and I cannot but wonder that you should have no intimation given you beforehand of your Chancellor's resolution; but your Majesty will pardon me if I believe it proved no disadvantage to you, when I had the honour to see and hear with how excellent a grace and how prince-like your Majesty, in so great an a.s.sembly and on a sudden, delivered your mind and purpose.

_Qu._ You are apt to make the best construction of it; you see I did adventure upon it, remembering that they were my subjects, and I their Queen.

_Wh._ Madam, you spake and acted like yourself, and were highly complimented by the several Marshals, but above all the rest by the honest boor.

_Qu._ Was you so taken with his clownery?

_Wh._ It seemed to me as pure and clear natural eloquence, without any forced strain, as could be expressed.

_Qu._ Indeed there was little else but what was natural, and by a well-meaning man, who has understanding enough in his country way.

_Wh._ Whosoever shall consider his matter more than his form will find that the man understands his business; and the garment or phrase wherewith he clothed his matter, though it was rustic, yet the variety and plain elegancy and reason could not but affect his auditors.

_Qu._ I think he spake from his heart.

_Wh._ I believe he did, and acted so too, especially when he wiped his eyes.

_Qu._ He showed his affection to me in that posture more than greater men did in their spheres.

_Wh._ Madam, we must look upon all men to work according to their present interest; and so I suppose do the great men here as well as elsewhere.

_Qu._ Here I have had experience enough of such actings; I shall try what they do in other places, and content myself, however I shall find it.

_Wh._ Your Majesty will not expect to find much difference in the humours of men, as to seeking themselves, and neglecting those from whom they have received favours.

_Qu._ It will be no otherwise than what I am armed to bear and not to regard; but your particular respects I shall always remember with gratefulness.

_Wh._ Your Majesty shall ever find me your faithful servant. Do you intend, Madam, to go from hence to Pomerland?

_Qu._ My intentions are to go presently, after my resignation, to the Spa; but wheresoever I am, you have a true friend of me.

_Wh._ There is no person alive more cordially your Majesty's servant than I am.

_Qu._ I do believe it, or else I should not have communicated to you such things as I have done.

_Wh._ Your Majesty hath therein expressed much confidence in me, which I hope shall never deceive you, however my want of abilities may not answer your Majesty's favours to me.

_Qu._ I have no doubt of your faithfulness, and you have sufficiently manifested your abilities. Give me leave to trouble you with the company of a gentleman, my servant, whom I purpose to send over with you to England, to take care for those things which I desire to have from thence.

_Wh._ He shall be very welcome to me and my company, and I shall give him my best a.s.sistance for your Majesty's service.

_Qu._ I shall thank you for it, and command him to obey your directions.

_Wh._ Madam, if you please to accept a set of black English horses for your coach, I shall take the boldness to send them to your stables; and pray your Majesty that the Master of your Horse may furnish me for my journey to Stockholm.

_Qu._ I do thankfully accept your kindness, and all mine are at your service.

_Wh._ I have interrupted your Majesty too long. I desired the favour of this opportunity to present my most humble thanks to your Majesty for all your n.o.ble favours to me and my company.

_Qu._ I entreat your excuse for the meanness of my presents. I could not do therein what I desired, nor after your merit.