A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 4

She replied, that would be his best way, and that she would give order for some of her s.h.i.+ps to be ready to transport him; for which Whitelocke thanked her Majesty.

She discoursed much of England, and asked many questions about the Thames and other rivers of England, and of their havens and armies; whereof Whitelocke gave her a full account. She asked him in how many days one might go from Plymouth to St. Sebastian, and many other things on that subject. They also discoursed of religion and the wors.h.i.+p and service of G.o.d; wherein Whitelocke spake plainly and freely to her Majesty, and told her that those who made a mock at religion, and were Atheists in their opinion, were not only most miserable in their own condition, but brought others likewise into misery; and all of them would find that G.o.d would not be mocked, nor such conversation be excused, but would be brought into a sad account in the end; and that there was no foundation in any such people, or in their opinions, but what was sandy and would fail, and all building thereupon would totter and fall down and become rubbish; that the only solid comfort and true wisdom lay in the sincere wors.h.i.+p and service of G.o.d, which was not only agreeable to the doctrine of truth, but to reason itself. To this, and much of the like discourse, the Queen was very attentive, and seemed pleased with it.

_March 16, 1653._

[SN: Despatches from England.]

Whitelocke received his letters from England, and in those from Thurloe he writes thus:--

"The particular account your Excellence gives of your negotiation is very acceptable here, as is also your dexterous management thereof.

The paper you were pleased to send to me shall be represented to the Council; and your Excellence may be a.s.sured that a due care will be taken of that business, as well for justice' sake as that your present business be not hindered by things of this kind. The bales of the Queen's goods shall also be taken care of, and any omissions which have been therein rectified; and I do a.s.sure your Excellence that the Queen's Commissary here hath such speedy and effectual despatches in everything he makes application for, that I know he cannot but give notice of it to the Queen."

Then he gives in his letters a full relation of the state of the Dutch treaty, and all particulars of it, and the likelihood of its taking effect; and gives intelligence of the French news; and sends copies of Beningen's letters from Upsal to the States, and of the posture of affairs in England, Scotland, and Ireland: and concludes,--

"Therefore, with my humble thanks for your Excellence's favour to me of your weekly letters, and hearty wishes for your safe and honourable return to your friends and relations here, I rest,

"Your Excellence's most humble and faithful servant,

"JO. THURLOE.

"_February 16, 1653._"

Whitelocke received many letters from his private friends, his brothers-in-law, Mr. Hall, Mr. c.o.kaine, Mr. Eltonhead, Sir Charles Woolsey, Colonel Sydenham, and one from Mr. Selden, which for the extraordinary respect thereof, and the person's sake (of whom the Queen made often inquiry), is fit to be remembered, and was thus:--

[SN: Letter from Selden.]

"_To his Excellence the Lord Whitelocke, Lord Amba.s.sador to her Most Excellent Majesty of Sweden._

"May it please your Excellence,

"There is nothing happens here that can be worthy of your knowledge but you meet with it doubtless long before I could send it,--indeed, I think, long before I know it,--so that I cannot present you with any English news: my still keeping in from the open cold air makes me a mere winter stranger in my own country. The best news I have heard since I had the honour to see you, and that which brought me with it an ample store of gladness, was the a.s.surance of your Excellence's safety, which a false rumour with great confidence had utterly destroyed here. There is none living can with more hearty affection wish all happiness to you, and good success in your great employment there, and a safe and timely return, than doth most really,

"Your Excellence's most obliged "and most humble servant, "J. SELDEN.

"_Whitefriars, February 10, 1653._"

The occasion of that pa.s.sage in his letter of a false rumour was news brought into England that Whitelocke was stabbed and murdered in Sweden; and thus his death was with much confidence reported from several hands, and from divers intelligences out of several parts of Christendom.

Whitelocke's friends were much startled at this news, and the more because of former intelligences of designs of that nature against him, whereof they wrote him word; and he was glad to read the news, and that, through the goodness of G.o.d, he was able to confute those reports. They were kept from Whitelocke's wife by the care of his friends, till one in gladness came to give her joy that the ill news of her husband was not true; which brought the whole matter to her knowledge, and herself to great perplexity upon the sudden apprehension and fright of it, though there was no truth in it.

Whitelocke, that he might not seem wholly to neglect the Queen's favour, had sent a packet of his letters which had no secrets unto Monsieur Bonele, the Queen's Commissary in England, who wrote back an account to Whitelocke of his care of them, and of the command he had received from the Queen so to do, and prayed Whitelocke to speak to the Queen on Bonele's behalf.

_March 17, 1653._

[SN: Prince Adolphus visits Whitelocke.]

Prince Adolphus visited Whitelocke, and they discoursed much of England and of Whitelocke's business; whom the Prince persuaded to stay in patience for an answer, and he doubted not but that he would receive satisfaction. Whitelocke said that hitherto he had been very patient, and would continue so, and not importune anybody to speed his answer, being it concerned both nations; and he believed that Sweden would be as well disposed to entertain the amity of England as England had been in the offer of it. But Whitelocke thought fit to inform the Prince and some others that he thought his residence here would not be long, and that as soon as my Lord Protector should send his letter for his return to England (which he expected in a short time), he would presently take his journey. They discoursed also touching his brother, who was to succeed, and of the brotherly affection between them; as also of the proposal which had been heretofore made in the Ricksdag of the Queen to marry his Royal Highness, and the Council's advice and endeavours to further the same; and how it was not brought to pa.s.s, the Queen being wholly adverse to marriage, but causing the succession of the Prince Palatine to be enacted by the Ricksdag after her Majesty, if she had no children. And in these particulars the Prince was free in his discourse, but Whitelocke thought not fit for him to be so.

[SN: Letter of Jonathan Pickes.]

Whitelocke communicated to some of his company a letter which he received from a member of a congregation in London, which was thus:--

"_For his Excellence the Lord Amba.s.sador Whitelocke at Sweden._

"My Lord,

"The wise and holy carriage of Solomon before the Queen of Sheba are more lasting monuments of his praise than his targets of gold, or magnificent temple. The glory of saints is a glorious name, by which, though dead, yet they speak. G.o.d will not be ungrateful, nor unfaithful to forget or not to recompense any labour of love. The interest of Christ,--what greater jewel in the world! and yet how little liked and loved by the world! All seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. The best, the n.o.blest, the most lasting, yet not minded: our own things, poor, low, uncertain, unsatisfactory, yet pursued. The heart runneth after the wedge of gold, and the mind seeks for greatness. Give me honour, or else I die: a crown here is more desired than heaven hereafter. Divine love hath great danger accompanying it, but the recompense is answerable: 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' Learned Paul counts all things but dung and dross to holy Christ; and Moses esteemed reproaches for Christ, and afflictions with the people of Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt or the honours at Court. And now, Sir, will you have the meaning of all? It is only a Christian motive to you to eye the highest Lord and the best interest with the greatest industry; that his honour, which is best of all, be dearer to you than all country honour: life, world, are not to be named in the day of his glory. Oh mind him who will not forget you in the least! There's none in heaven like him: can there be anything on earth compared to him? Two things are chiefly to be minded in all actings,--the springs from whence, and the centre to which, all moves. If love to G.o.d be the spring of all, and glory for G.o.d the centre of all, then the heart is upright in all. Remember the blessed sound, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a little, but thou shalt be enjoyer of much; enter into thy Lord's joy.' And truly, Sir, you have been not a little in my thoughts to G.o.d for you; so hath it emboldened me thus to speak to G.o.d for you. My soul and many more have been set a-praising G.o.d on your behalf, for that n.o.ble Christian testimony and dislike of that wicked custom of cup-health pledging; whereas a Christian's health is G.o.d, and his cup salvation. And blessed be the Lord, that did give you to dislike the ball of pleasure, and that the Lord of that day was so precious. Go on n.o.bly for the Lord; give your testimony against the wicked customs of a strange country or dying world; bear his image in all your transactions, and follow his steps who was the most glorious Amba.s.sador that ever was; and in this motion the Lord fill your sails with his gales, make you holily successful, and give you to see your land and relations full of heavenly fruition, is the humble and hearty desire of one of the least sons of Zion, ready to serve the Lord in you or yours.

"JONATHAN PICKES."

_March 18, 1653._

Doctor Whistler made a copy of Latin verses upon the Queen's abdication, which, for the ingenuity and fancy, were worthy the sight of a Prince; and Whitelocke sent them to the Queen, who was much taken with them.

Whitelocke was so pleased with those verses that, having a little leisure, himself turned them into English.[41]

Whitelocke having sent to know if the Queen were at leisure that he might wait upon her, she returned an excuse that she was not well: she came away sick from the public schools, where she had been to grace the disputations of a young Swedish Baron with her presence.

[SN: Effect of the peace with Holland.]

Senator Bundt visited Whitelocke, and discoursed with him in English, which he spake indifferently well, and was the only Swede he conversed with in that language. Part of their discourse was to this effect:--

_Bundt._ Mr. Beningen, the Holland Resident in this Court, acquainted me that his superiors have concluded the agreement with England: only some provinces desire a more express inclusion of the King of Denmark than is yet contained in the articles; and they are much troubled that, being upon the conclusion of the treaty, you make so great preparations of war, and have so powerful a fleet at sea; and we here do much wonder what should be your design to have so strong a fleet, and so soon out at sea.

_Wh._ The design is for the defence of the Commonwealth; and it is our custom not to trust to the success of any treaties, which is uncertain, but to prepare for all events. If the treaty be agreed, it will be religiously observed on our part, and the navy will be employed to scour the seas of pirates and enemies, that trade may be free and safe; and we always use in time of peace to have a fleet at sea; and if the war continue, we shall be the more ready, by the blessing of G.o.d, to maintain our right. But what suspicion have you here of our navy?

_Bundt._ We suppose it may be employed to open the pa.s.sage of the Sound, and make the trade and navigation there free.

_Wh._ The hindrance of navigation there is more prejudicial{2} to Sweden than to England. We can have our commodities at Gothenburg and in other places, without pa.s.sing the Baltic Sea.

_Bundt._ Many amongst us know not what to think of your fleet, and it troubles some.

_Wh._ I hope we shall be in nearer amity, and then you will be pleased at it. Have the Senators consulted about the matters of my treaty, or of remitting it to the new King?

_Bundt._ We have not advised any such thing, but believe the best way for effecting your business will be by the Queen herself; and if any tell you the contrary, they are much mistaken in the affairs of this kingdom, and do not give you a right understanding of them.

This being wholly contrary to what was informed by Monsieur Bloome, the Chancellor's creature, caused Whitelocke the more to mind it, and endeavour to obviate that prejudice of delay to his business; and finding by this discourse with Bundt how much the Dutch Resident and others here were amused at the English fleet now at sea, he made use thereof, and gave advice of it to his superiors in England.

_March 19, 1653._

[SN: Intrigues of the Dutch Resident against Whitelocke.]

Whitelocke sent to inquire of the Queen's health; and it being the Lord's Day, she was in her chapel. Divers English and Scots of the town came to Whitelocke's house to hear sermons there; and among them was Monsieur Ravius, who acquainted Whitelocke that one of the Queen's chaplains asked Ravius how long Whitelocke intended to stay in Sweden. Ravius said he would shortly return to his own country. The chaplain replied, he did not believe that, but he thought Whitelocke would stay here a long time, and that he durst not return to England because of the displeasure of the Protector against him. And when he was answered that Whitelocke came hither not in the posture of a man out of favour, and that the Protector since his accession to the Government had sent him new credentials, and expressed much favour to him, and sent to be certified what respect the Queen gave him, the chaplain replied that Whitelocke was sent hither purposely to be removed out of England, and because he had been of the former Parliament; to which Ravius said, that many who were of the former Parliament were now in public offices, as Whitelocke was.

There was cause to believe that this and many the like stories were feigned by the Holland Resident and other enemies of the Commonwealth, to asperse Whitelocke and his business, and to give some obstruction to it; but Whitelocke took little notice of such things, only he thanked Monsieur Ravius for his defence of Whitelocke and of the truth.

It was also related to Whitelocke that the inauguration of his Royal Highness could not probably be performed till the feast of St. John the Baptist, and that then nothing could be concluded in his business till the feast (as they expressed it) of the Holy Archangel St. Michael next following, because it was fit to be remitted to the Prince for his final agreement thereunto; and so the treaty must necessarily receive a deferring till that time, which, they said, would be best for Whitelocke's affairs. Whitelocke told them that it would be somewhat difficult to persuade him that such a delay of his business would be best; he was sufficiently convinced of the contrary, and that such an obstruction would render his treaty wholly fruitless both to England and Sweden, and that he hoped to be himself in England long before the time which they prefixed for the beginning of his treaty with the new King; and that he daily expected the commands of the Protector touching his return home, which he should readily and willingly obey, whether his treaty here should be concluded or not. He spake the more to this effect, and the oftener, that the same might come to the ear of the Chancellor and other senators.