May 19, 1654.
The Sound Dues. Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke in the morning, and brought with him a paper concerning the Sound, written in French with his own hand, wherein he showed much affection to the Protector and to England, and as much distaste to his own country. The paper Whitelocke laid up, and transcribed in a larger treatise.
Effect of the Prince’s visit. Woolfeldt acquainted Whitelocke that the public ministers in this Court discoursed much of the extraordinary respect showed by the Prince to the English Ambassador, both in his reception and the Prince’s visit to him. And particularly the Danish Ambassador was greatly discontented, and said that never any ambassador had that honour done him before, and it was so far beyond what he had received that he knew not how to bear it; that the entertainment of public ministers of the same character ought to be with the same ceremony, and not one to be preferred so much as the English Ambassador had been before others of equal quality with him, and much matter of complaint of that nature; which being reported to the Prince, he said that neither the Danish Ambassador nor any other public minister had cause to complain that he had not given them the respect due to their several qualities; and if he, out of a particular affection to the English Protector and Ambassador, had a mind to express more than ordinary particular respects to them, it was no wrong or cause of complaint to any other public minister, who had what was due to him, because another had perhaps more than was due to him; and he said he understood not why his condition should render him less capable than other gentlemen to show particular respects where they did bear a particular affection.
General Douglas, a Scottish gentleman in great favour and honour in this country, came late this year to the Court, being hindered by a violent ague upon his coming hither. He made frequent visits to Whitelocke, and expressed much of respect and civility to him as his countryman.
Whitelocke dines with General Douglas. This day Whitelocke was to dine with Douglas by a solemn invitation; and during the whole time of his residence in this Court he never was invited to any of their tables, but now to Douglas, and before to Grave Eric, notwithstanding the freedom of his table to most of them. With Whitelocke were invited his two sons, Potley, Beake, and Croke. There they met Grave John Oxenstiern, Wrangel, Wittenberg, Bundt, Horne, Vanderlin, Colonel Bannier, and one of the Prince’s servants. Of these that thus met, nine had been in commission as generals, two of the English and of the Swedes seven, which was noted as very observable. They sat at table in the same manner as they did at Grave Eric’s entertainment, Whitelocke in the midst of the table, the company in their ranks on either side, and all the dinner they sat bare.
The entertainment was very high and noble, as could be had in this place, and four courses very full, which made a long dinner, in which time Whitelocke was solicited often to begin and pledge healths, which he would not do, but left others to their liberty, as he desired his. The healths they drank among themselves were in large beer-glasses of sack, which made them discourse the more freely; and most of it was of England and the late troubles there, of particular passages of the war, of Scotland, of the fleet now at sea, and the Dutch treaty; in all which Whitelocke gave them some satisfaction, as they did to him touching the Queen’s resignation, the present Ricksdag, and the new King’s coronation.
Whitelocke receives a jewel from the Prince. The same gentleman who had been before from the Prince with Whitelocke, a Baron of great account, first gentleman of the Prince’s bedchamber, a proper, well accomplished person, came to Whitelocke by command of the Prince, with remembrance of his Highness’s hearty respects and affection to Whitelocke. After some compliments passed, the Baron took out of his pocket a little box of crimson velvet, and told Whitelocke that his Royal Highness had commanded him to present to Whitelocke that token of the Prince’s love and respects to him, and, opening the box, showed to Whitelocke a noble jewel, a case of gold enamelled, the one side of it set thick all over with diamonds, some of them fair ones, and on the other side was the Prince’s picture, lively and well taken.
The Baron said to Whitelocke that the Prince desired his excuse because in so short a time he could not procure a better present, but he desired Whitelocke to accept of this as a testimony of his affection to him. Whitelocke answered, that he had not merited so much favour from his Royal Highness, but desired the Baron to return his hearty thanks to the Prince, which he would also do himself when he had the honour to come in his presence.
Account of presents made by Whitelocke. Upon this occasion Whitelocke took account of the presents which he had in this Court, besides the several and many gratuities and rewards which he had formerly bestowed on many of the Queen’s inferior servants, as musicians, guards, pages, lacqueys, trumpets, coachmen, wardrobe men, and others; to whom he had been liberal, to a considerable sum, necessary in his judgement to be done for the honour of his nation, and agreeable to what had been constantly by ambassadors there before him.
Besides these smaller matters, first he sent to the Queen eight black English horses, very handsome, large, brave, and useful horses for the coach, and now in good case; four saddle-horses he had formerly presented to her, all of them were in this place worth to be sold £1000. The looking-glass which he gave the Queen when she was his Valentine was worth £100, besides an English Bible richly bound, English stuffs, a cabinet of spirits, and other smaller presents. The Queen’s officers gave no reward to Whitelocke’s gentleman of his horse, the clerk of his stable, or to his coachman and people that carried them, though it was presumed that the Queen had ordered it, as she had done upon other the like occasions.
To the Prince Whitelocke presented seven bay English horses, very handsome and serviceable for the coach; for which the Prince returned many thanks, being most acceptable to him, as he expressed, and sent a chain of gold of the value of two hundred ducats to Captain Crispe, yeoman of Whitelocke’s stables, and twenty-five ducats to the servants of Whitelocke’s stable. To the Prince, Whitelocke also presented a young English gelding of Fenwicke’s breed, very handsome and mettlesome; the more esteemed by Whitelocke, and afterwards by the Prince, when he heard that it had been given to Whitelocke by his General.
To the old Chancellor Whitelocke presented a hogshead of good Canary wine, and a sober, handsome, strong, well-paced English pad nag, and one of his richest saddles. To Wrangel he gave an English gelding; to Tott another; to Wittenberg another; to Steinberg another; to Douglas another; and to such of the great men as the Queen directed. To Lagerfeldt he gave a clock, excellently made, which he used to have constantly with him.
To Secretary Canterstein he sent his secretary Earle with a silver standish, curiously wrought; at sight of which Canterstein seemed much discontented, till Earle showed him the manner of opening the standish, and in it forty pieces of English gold, of jacobuses, which made the present very acceptable. In like manner Whitelocke sent to the master of the ceremonies an English beaver hat, with a gold hatband, and a pair of rich English gloves; at which the Master seemed offended, saying that ambassadors used to send better presents to the master of ceremonies; but being desired to try if the gloves would fit him, he found therein forty twenty-shilling pieces of English gold, and thereby much satisfaction in the present.
To Grave Eric’s lady Whitelocke presented a clock of the new make, to hang by the wall, set in ebony, with rich studs of silver. To “la Belle Comtesse,” the Lady Jane Ruthven and other ladies, he presented English gloves, ribbons, silk stockings, and the like, which are of great account with them.
All the presents given away by Whitelocke in this court were estimated above £3000, and the jewels and copper bestowed on him were near the same value; so that none could accuse him to be a receiver of rewards, or that he had enriched himself by this employment.
Whitelocke takes leave of the Prince and exhorts him. Whitelocke had desired this day another audience of the Prince to take his leave; and towards the evening the master of the ceremonies came with two of the Queen’s coaches and brought Whitelocke to the Prince’s lodging, who received him with the like or greater respect than he had done before. They went directly together to the Prince’s cabinet, where two chairs were set. They discoursed about half an hour upon the same subjects as their last discourse was; and now also Whitelocke earnestly advised the Prince to those things which would tend to the honour of God and to the reformation of disorders, drunkenness, swearing, and profanation of the Lord’s Day, which Whitelocke told him God would require at his hands to see reformed when he should be called to the government of this kingdom, with much to the like effect; esteeming it seasonable for him to take this opportunity of pressing these things to the Prince, as he also did liberty of conscience, and what he hoped was for promoting the interest of Christ in these countries. The Prince gave good ear to these things, and seemed sensible of what was said to him; and by his answers gave hopes that when he should come to the opportunity he would endeavour the reformation of those great reigning sins in his country, whereof he professed his own detestation.
Whitelocke going to take his leave, the Prince desired him to stay longer, as pleased with the discourse on this subject; but Whitelocke was desired by the master of the ceremonies not to continue longer with the Prince, because the Queen staid within purposely for Whitelocke’s coming to her. At his parting the Prince desired Whitelocke to testify his respects to the Protector and Commonwealth of England; and told Whitelocke that he might assure himself of a most entire affection to his person from the Prince, who wished him a happy return to his own country.
Visits the Queen, to take leave; From the Prince Whitelocke made a visit to the Queen. Grave Tott conducted him to her bedchamber, where they discoursed about half an hour touching her Majesty’s affairs. She again mentioned her purpose of going to the Spa, and to go thither by land; she desired Whitelocke not to speak much of it; she said that perhaps she might yet see him at Stockholm, but, if she did not, that she would write a letter to the Protector, and send it thither to Whitelocke, upon the subject of which they had formerly spoken.
Whitelocke advised her, as he had done before, and promised to take care of her letter to the Protector, and to improve his interest the best he could for effecting what her Majesty desired, in case there should be occasion for it. She thanked Whitelocke for his advice, wherewith she seemed to be pleased, and resolved to observe it; and expressed very great respect and affection to the Protector and to Whitelocke, whom she desired to assure the Protector in her Majesty’s name of the sincere affection and honour which she did bear him, and which she should continue, in whatsoever condition she should be. She wished Whitelocke a happy voyage, and with many compliments, full of great respect and civility, but not so cheerful as formerly; she twice gave him her hand to kiss, and so took leave of him.
and the Chancellor. From the Court Whitelocke went and visited the Chancellor, and delivered to him (what he had before promised and was put in mind to do) an engagement under his hand to procure a supply of the defect of power, which they excepted to in his commission. The engagement was thus:—
“Polliceor plenam me mihi potentiam ac facultatem procuraturum à sua Serenissima Celsitudine Domino meo, Domino Protectore Reipublicæ Angliæ, Scotiæ, et Hiberniæ, intra trimestre spatium, ab appulsu meo in quemlibet portum Angliæ, ad supplendum qualemcunque defectum facultatis ac potentiæ mihi antehac datæ, ad tractandum cum Serenissima Majestate sua Regina Sueciæ aut commissariis suis, et ad rata habenda omnia, quæ inter Majestatem suam vel suos commissarios et me conclusa fuerint. Datum Upsaliæ 18o Maii, anno Domini 1654.
“Bulstrode Whitelocke.“
The Chancellor and Whitelocke fell into discourse touching their Ricksdag; part whereof follows.
The Swedish Diet and Constitution. Whitelocke. I received much satisfaction in the favour of being admitted to see the manner of the meeting and proceedings of your Ricksdag, and shall be glad to be instructed by you touching some of the passages of it.
Chancellor. I shall be ready to inform you the best I can in these matters, and I have had some experience in them.
Wh. In that and all other matters touching the government of this kingdom, I believe no man’s experience or judgement will be opposed to yours. I pray, Father, let me know the ground of proposals being made by the Queen to the Ricksdag, and whether it be as I have heard, that they consult of nothing but what is first proposed to them by the Queen.
Chan. That is very true, and is the ground of our quiet and of avoiding factions among us; for where a Council consists of seven or eight hundred men, as our Ricksdag doth, and they hold themselves to have an equal liberty and power, and are most of them active spirits; if every one amongst them might move and propound what he pleased according to his own fancy, there would never be an end of proposals and debates, and they would break out into several factions and the greater affairs of the kingdom be retarded, and many times thrust out to make way for lesser matters for the most part but of private interest. Therefore the wisdom of our Government hath so ordered it that nothing is to be consulted upon or debated by the Ricksdag, but what is first proposed to them in writing by the King, who hath the advice of the Senators therein; and such matters as are by them judged necessary for the good of the kingdom are by the King proposed to the Ricksdag for their counsel in them.
Wh. This may be a good way to preserve your quiet; but may it not be ill for the rights and liberty of the people? As to instance in particular, if it be requisite that a new law be made relating to the people’s liberty, wherein the former laws may be defective, by this course it rests only in the power of the King and Senate whether this matter shall ever come to consideration or not; for, unless they will propound it, no consideration can be had of it; and though it may be necessary as to the people’s rights, yet then probably it may be against the King’s power, and in that case the King will never propose it to the Ricksdag, because it makes against his power and prerogative; and so the people are by this course debarred of the means of supplying any defect as to their rights and liberties, unless the King, to lessen his own power, will first propose it to them.
Chan. This were an inconvenience if the people’s rights and liberties were not already settled; but, by our laws, the boundaries of the King’s power and of the people’s rights are sufficiently known and established, as the King can make no law nor alter or repeal any, nor impose any tax, nor compel men to go out of the kingdom without the assent of the Ricksdag; and in that Council, which is supreme in this kingdom, every man’s vote and assent is included by the deputies of the Clergy, Boroughs, and Boors, which are respectively elected, and by the chiefs of the Nobility; so that all sorts of people have their share, either in person or by their deputies, in the Supreme Council of the kingdom, by whom only those great matters can be done; and this being certain and settled, any alteration in those points tends but to further uncertainty and mischief. And if debates might be had of additions to the King’s power, or to the people’s liberty, it would but occasion attempts of encroaching of one upon the other, and bring trouble and uncertainty to both; whereas they being already clearly defined and known, and that there is no means of altering either of them, both the King and people are content with what they have, and endeavour nothing of disquiet unto either.
Wh. But this further debars the people from having any new law at all made, except such only as the King shall think fit, for he only can propose them; and it is a necessary thing to supply defects in laws and to make new ones, according as times and circumstances varying shall minister occasion.
Chan. There is nothing more prejudicial to any government than multitude of laws, which is prevented by this course of ours; nor is there any necessity of new laws where both the public rights and private men’s property are provided for by the laws in being, which in all nations is from the original of their civil settlement taken care of. And though time and variety of accidents may occasion some defects in old laws, yet it is better they should be borne with than an inundation of new laws to be let in, which causeth uncertainty, ignorance, different expositions, and repugnances in the laws, and are the parents of contention.
Wh. But I suppose your Ricksdag hath liberty to complain of maladministration and corruption in officers and judges, and to punish them and cause redress of grievances; else the people are remediless against those public crimes, without the grace and favour of the Prince to do it of himself, which every Prince in all times will not do.
Chan. The Ricksdag may complain to the King of any offence or misdemeanour committed by any great officer, and of any public grievance to the people; whereupon the King and Senate are very ready (as it behoves them in justice and prudence) to give a remedy, which they are the more induced to do, because otherwise the people’s Deputies, who have the power of the purse, may be the more backward to supply the King’s occasions with money or men; and this is a good tie upon the Court, to procure justice and redress of grievances.
Wh. Your laws are founded upon great reason and prudence, and in these and most other main parts and particulars of them, ours are the same in England; but a liberty of proposing anything in our Parliament belongs to every member of it.
Chan. That hath been a great occasion of all your troubles.
Wh. I expected to have heard my father, the Ricks-Chancellor, to have made an harangue in the Ricksdag, to have acquainted them, as it is with us, with the causes of their meeting.
Chan. I confess it belongs to my place to have done it; but, by reason of an oath I had taken to my king, to endeavour to keep the crown on his daughter’s head, and this assembly was called that she might resign it; therefore I desired to be excused from making that proposal.
Wh. Indeed her Majesty spake herself with an excellent grace and spirit, which was a wonder to see it done by a young lady to so great and grave an assembly; and the matter of her speech, as it was interpreted to me, was pertinent and full of weight.
Chan. Indeed she spake very well and materially, and like a prince.
Wh. I am sorry my time calls me away from further enjoyment of my father’s excellent conversation.
Chan. I shall be glad if my noble son would afford me more of his company, in which I take so much contentment.
Wh. My journey tomorrow hastens me away, and occasions your less trouble.
Chan. I pray assure the Protector of the respect and high value I have for him, and of my devoted mind to serve him in anything within my power in this kingdom.
Wh. You have been pleased largely to testify this in my transactions, and your noble favours and respects to your son.
Chan. You may be confident of my affection and love to you; and I desire you to be a friend to my countrymen in England, and to take upon you their patronage in all just causes.
Wh. I shall be ready upon all occasions to perform all good offices to your Excellence and to your family, and to all of this nation; and shall satisfy the Protector of your affections for him, and of your kindness to his servant.
Chan. I am now an old man, and whilst I continue alive I shall do all that lies in my power to serve the Protector and the Commonwealth of England, and shall embrace your Excellence with a special bond of friendship, and will leave it in charge to my sons, when I am dead, to do the same.
Wh. I shall also enjoin my children to continue that obligation of friendship which I have contracted with your Excellence and your family.
Chan. I shall but add this further, to pray to God that of His mercy He would vouchsafe to you a prosperous return to your own country, and that you may find there all your family and friends in a comfortable and happy condition.
Takes leave of Oxenstiern. Thus the Chancellor and Whitelocke took leave of one another with as much kindness and respect as could be expressed.[283]
Whitelocke being returned to his house, Grave John Oxenstiern came to visit him; and having heard that Whitelocke took it ill that he had put off a visit desired by Whitelocke to this high Grave, yet now he was pleased to descend to excuse it to Whitelocke, because his lodging was strait and inconvenient, not fit to receive a person of Whitelocke’s quality, and his lady was at that time very much indisposed in health.
The Senator Benk Schütt came in the evening to visit Whitelocke, and discoursed freely with him touching the Queen’s resignation and their new King, and did not testify much of respect to the Chancellor by informing Whitelocke that yesterday, at the castle, there was a great rub, as he called it, given by the Queen to the Chancellor before the Prince and the rest of the Senators; the occasion whereof was about the island of Elsey, which the Queen desired as part of her provision, to which the Chancellor said, that it was worthy the consideration; the Queen replied, “What! is my integrity then questioned?” The Chancellor answered, that he did not question her Majesty’s integrity, but spake only for her security and better satisfaction in what she desired. The Queen said, “I understand Swedish well enough, and it was not becoming you to question my integrity at all.” Schütt said, that at this passage the rest of the senators were pleased, and that the Prince seemed in this, and all other occasions, to be of the Queen’s mind, and to grant her more rather than less of what she desired, which was wisdom in him.
Senator Vanderlin visited Whitelocke, and, among other discourses, acquainted him the passages of the proposal for the Queen to have married the Prince; that for this purpose the Prince was sent for out of Germany, and the Queen seemed inclinable to the match; yet, after the Prince was come, she used him with a strangeness which was occasioned by the whisperings of Grave Magnus de la Gardie to the Queen, that when the Prince was in Germany he was too familiar with some ladies; at which information, he said, the Queen was so enraged that the Prince should go to other women, that she thereupon resolved not to marry him, but was otherwise very courteous and full of respect to him. Whitelocke did not dispute the authenticness of this relation, but wondered at it from a senator, touching him who was to be a king, and to use so much freedom on such a subject to a stranger.
General Douglas, the Ricks-Admiral, and Senator Bielke, also visited Whitelocke this evening while Vanderlin was with him; they discoursed of the discontent which the Dutch Resident expressed before his going away, because more respect was shown to Whitelocke by the Queen and Prince, and by the Senators and great men here, than they had shown to the Dutch Resident, who said he was a public minister as well as the English Ambassador. Whitelocke said it was true, as the Dutch Resident had remembered, that he was a public minister; and it might be supposed, that being so, he should understand the difference between a Resident and an Ambassador Extraordinary; and also between the Commonwealth of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and that of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Swedish Lords replied, that if the Dutch Resident did not understand it, nor himself, that yet it was sufficiently known in this place, and that the Resident was but laughed at for his exceptions, as being without cause, and showing his want of experience in matters of this nature.
After the Ricks-Admiral and Bielke were gone, Vanderlin and Douglas staid with Whitelocke and used great freedom of discourse with him, expressing extraordinary respect to the Protector and Commonwealth of England, and very much affection and kindness to Whitelocke, in whom they expressed great confidence. They staid with him till past twelve o’clock at night, inconvenient in respect of his intended journey the next day; but their company was very pleasing, and they took leave with great civility and kindness from each to other of them.