Transcriber's note
The original has many inconsistent spellings in all the languages used. A few have been made for obvious typographical errors; they have been noted individually. Footnotes are numbered with the page on which they start.
JOURNAL
OF
THE SWEDISH EMBASSY
IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.
A JOURNAL
OF
THE SWEDISH EMBASSY
IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.
IMPARTIALLY WRITTEN BY THE
AMBASSADOR BULSTRODE WHITELOCKE.
FIRST PUBLISHED
FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT
BY
DR. CHARLES MORTON, M.D., F.S.A.,
LIBRARIAN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
A NEW EDITION,
REVISED BY
HENRY REEVE, Esq. , F.S.A.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME II.
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief, but a faithful ambassador is health.
Proverbs xiii. 17.
LONDON:
LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
1855.
PRINTED BY
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET,
LINCOLNS INN FIELDS.
JOURNAL
OF
THE SWEDISH EMBASSY
IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.
March 1, 1653.
Whitelocke continues the negotiation. Now was the heat of Whitelockes business, and many cross endeavours used to render all his labours fruitless, and to bring his treaty to no effect. But it pleased God, in whom his confidence was placed, to carry him through all his difficulties, and to give his blessing and success to this negotiation.
Whitelocke gave a visit to the Count de Montecuculi, to give him the welcome home from his journey with the Queen; who said he had commands to kiss the hand of the Prince of Sweden, and took the opportunity of accompanying her Majesty when she went to meet the Prince. He communicated nothing of the business to Whitelocke, nor did he think to inquire it of him.
After Whitelocke returned home, the Resident of France and Woolfeldt met at his house to visit him, and staid with him three hours. They had much discourse of France, and of the Duke of Lorraine, and of the policy of the Spaniard in entertaining that Duke in his service; by means whereof the country where the Dukes soldiers were quartered was better satisfied than with the Spanish forces, so that there was no tax levied for them, only they took free quarter, and sometimes a contribution upon the receiving of a new officer. And Woolfeldt said, that whereas all other Princes give wages to their officers and soldiers, the Duke gives no pay; but when he makes an officer, the officer pays money to the Duke for his commission; and that he knew a captain of horse who gave a thousand crowns for his commission, which the captain afterwards raised upon the country, and the Duke connived at it. He told how he was employed to treat with the Duke for the transportation of five thousand foot and three thousand horse into Ireland, to assist our King; which the Duke undertook on condition to have a hundred thousand crowns in ready money, and ships to transport his men from some haven in France, none of which could be effected.
Advances from France. After Woolfeldt went away, the French Resident asked Whitelocke whether France were comprised in the treaty with Holland. Whitelocke said he had no information thereof. The Resident replied, that his master would willingly entertain a good friendship and correspondence with England; and Whitelocke said, he believed England would be ready to do the like with France. The Resident said, he observed by their discourse that Whitelocke had been in France, and that the late King would have given him the command of a troop of horse in France; and he hoped that Whitelocke would retain a good opinion of that country, and be their friend. Whitelocke replied, that he was very civilly treated in France, and believed that he should have served the late King there, if, by a sudden accident or misfortune, he had not been prevented, and obliged to return for England sooner than he intended; and that he should be always ready (as he held himself engaged) to pay all respects and service to that Crown, as far as might consist with the interest of the Commonwealth whom he served.
March 2, 1653.
Senator Schtt explains the delay in the negotiation. Notwithstanding his great words against the Commonwealth and present treaty, yet Monsieur Schtt was pleased to afford a visit to Whitelocke, and they fell (amongst many other things) upon the following discourse :
Schtt. My father was formerly ambassador from this Crown in England, where I was with him, which occasioned my desire to be known to you.
Whitelocke. Your father did honour to this country and to ours in that employment, and your Excellence honours me in this visit.
Sch. England is the noblest country and people that ever I saw: a more pleasant, fruitful, and healthful country, and a more gallant, stout, and rich people, are not in the world.
Wh. I perceive you have taken a true measure, both of the country and her inhabitants.
Sch. This is my judgement of it, as well as my affection to it.
Wh. Your country here is indeed more northerly, but your people, especially the nobility, of a much-like honourable condition to ours; which may cause the more wonder at her Majestys intention of leaving them, who are so affectionate to her.
Sch. Truly her Majestys purpose of resignation is strange to foreigners, and much more to us, who are her subjects, most affectionate to her.
Wh. It is reported that she hath consulted in this business with the Senators, whereof you are one.
Sch. Three Senators are deputed to confer with the Prince of Sweden, upon certain particulars to be observed in the resignation; and I hope that your Excellence will consider the importance of that affair, and will therefore attend with the more patience the issue thereof, being necessary that the advice of the Prince be had in it.
Wh. Have the three deputed Senators any order to confer with the Prince about my business?
Sch. I believe they have.
Wh. I had been here two months before the Queen mentioned this design of hers to the Council, and have staid here all this time with patience, and shall so continue as my Lord Protector shall command me; and as soon as he requires my return I shall obey him.
Sch. The occasion of the delay hitherto was the uncertainty of the issue of your Dutch treaty; and at this season of the year it was impossible for you to return, till the passage be open.
Wh. I believe the alliance with England meriteth an acceptance, whether we have peace or war with Holland; and for my return, it is at the pleasure of the Protector.
They had much other discourse; and probably Schtt was sent purposely to excuse the delay of the treaty, for which he used many arguments not necessary to be repeated; and he came also to test Whitelocke touching advice to be had with the Prince about this treaty, whereunto Whitelocke showed no averseness.
Treacherous reports to England. Whitelocke received his packet of two weeks from England. In a letter from his wife he was advertised that the Protector had spoken of his voyage to Sweden as if Whitelocke had not merited much by it, though he so earnestly persuaded it; and his wife wrote that she believed one of Whitelockes family was false to him; and upon inquiry she suspected it to be , who gave intelligence to the Protector of all Whitelockes words and actions in Sweden, to his prejudice, and very unbeseeming one of his family. This Whitelocke, comparing with some passages told him by his secretary of the same person, found there was cause enough to suspect him; yet to have one such among a hundred he thought no strange thing, nor for the Protector to alter his phrase when his turn was served. And though this gave ground enough of discontent to Whitelocke, yet he thought not fit to discover it, nor what other friends had written to him, doubting whether he should be honourably dealt with at his return home; but he was more troubled to hear of his wifes sickness, for whose health and his familys he made his supplication to the great Physician; and that he might be as well pleased with a private retirement, if God saw it good for him, at his return home, as the Queen seemed to be with her design of abdication from the heights and glories of a crown.
