In their journey to take the air the Resident and Whitelocke had much discourse touching the images in their church, and about the observation of their Sabbath; wherein the Resident was furnished with the usual arguments of the Papists, and was answered by Whitelocke, and was not so positive as most of his persuasion use to be. He discoursed also about the Dutch treaty in England, to get from Whitelocke what he could to report to the Danish Ambassador and Dutch Resident; for which he was fitted by Whitelocke’s answers to him.
April 23, 1654.
Whitelocke punishes two of his retinue for neglect of the Lord’s Day. This being the Lord’s Day, many gentlemen of the English and Scots nation then in town came to Whitelocke’s house to the morning sermon, and most of them staid the afternoon sermon also. And so many strangers being there attentive in the holy duties, it gave the greater cause of scandal and offence to Whitelocke that divers of his own family were absent, whereas, by his orders, they were all enjoined to a constant attendance, especially at those religious exercises; nevertheless some of them (particularly Mr. Castle and Andrew Potley) were therein more in fault than others, and, after many admonitions, would not reform, but made it their common practice almost every Lord’s Day in the afternoon to be absent, and to go abroad and take the air. Whitelocke considering the reproach and scandal, and the ill example hereby to his family, and the doing of that by some of them against which he had spoken so much here to the people of this place, upon which it would be collected that either he had not the power over his own people to order them as he judged fit, or else that he and the rest of his company were dissemblers, and found fault with that in others which they either acted or tolerated in themselves;—Whitelocke finding two absent on this day, he gave order to his steward to see their trunks and goods carried out of his house, and themselves dismissed of further attendance on him, and removed from his family. Yet afterwards, upon the interceding of others for them, and their own submission, the punishment was suspended; and when they perceived that Whitelocke was in earnest, it caused a reformation, both in those two and in others, as to this duty and in other particulars.
The Queen returns to Upsal. About nine o’clock this evening the Queen came to town. She had in her train but one coach with six horses, and three horsemen; so little ceremony did she observe as to her own port, but would rather make this sudden and private return than break her word with Whitelocke, whom in a compliment she had promised to be here again within a few days; and she kept her word honourably and constantly. But Whitelocke was sorry that she continued her old custom, too frequent here, of travelling upon the Lord’s Day.
April 24, 1654.
Whitelocke pays his court to the Queen. Whitelocke waited on the Queen to give her the welcome home, and found her lodgings changed, leaving the better rooms for the Prince. She excused her long stay out of town, and said she would now have no more delay in his business, but it should be forthwith despatched. Whitelocke told her that the Chancellor and his son were not yet come to town, but he humbly thanked her Majesty for the speed of her return. She assured him that her Chancellor and his son would be in town the next day, and that she should not have come to town so soon but for his business; that the day after her Chancellor’s coming the articles might be signed. She likewise discoursed with him about the secret article, that in case those here should not perform justly with her, that then the Protector should not be bound by this treaty. Whitelocke told her that Woolfeldt and he had conference about it, and had fully considered it, and were both of opinion that it would be unfit for her Majesty to make such an article, and it might turn to her prejudice; but Whitelocke said, that if she pleased to write to the Protector, and to leave her letters with Whitelocke to procure an answer from his Highness to her Majesty, whereby his care for her good and assistance to her might appear, and the letter to be fit to be shown, it might be of more advantage to her than such a secret article, to which he was not empowered to assent, but it must be remitted to the Protector; and whether he would consent to it in that way or not, was doubtful; and when it should be known to those here, it would be distasteful. Upon this the Queen seemed fully satisfied as to the secret article to be laid aside and not more thought on.
Whitelocke advised her as formerly touching her liberty, and not long continuing here after her resignation; and she thanked him for his advice, and said, that in case those here should not deal justly with her, she hoped she should find the Protector a friend to her, and that she did put herself upon his nobleness and friendship. Whitelocke told her, that the Protector was a great lover and maintainer of justice and honour, and had a particular affection to her Majesty, which he believed she would find him ready to manifest upon this or any other occasion, and find him a true friend to her; wherewith (poor lady!) she seemed much comforted, having brought her affairs to so low an ebb as this was, and thus high was the Protector’s reputation here. As to the general business of the treaty with Whitelocke, she said it would be fit to have the articles signed tomorrow, and that Whitelocke soon after should have his audience, and she would give order to have it done accordingly.
She asked Whitelocke if he would bear her company to take the air, which he did; and she riding a horse managed to the great saddle, who was troublesome, she came into her coach, and caused Whitelocke to sit in the same boot with her, that they might discourse the more privately. There were also in her coach the Senator Rosenhau, Grave Tott, and Steinberg.
Whitelocke presents his black horses to the Queen, The Queen freely told Whitelocke that if he would not sell his horses, as she understood he would not, that yet she should take it for a favour if he would let her have one of his sets of coach-horses, which would do her great service in her intended journey, they being fitter for travel than any she had. Whitelocke told her they were all at her Majesty’s service; that he thought it not becoming him to sell them, but if she pleased to accept them, she should freely have them; that he thought his black horses fittest for her and best, and there were eight of them, and the other set he intended to present unto the [Prince]; that, she said, would be very well, and she kindly thanked him and accepted of his compliment.
some distilled waters, Whitelocke also told the Queen that he had a small cabinet of glasses of spirits of waters, essences of excellent kinds, extracted; but he believed that her Majesty did not much esteem such things, and they were too inconsiderable to make a present of them to the Queen-mother, if she had any liking of them. The Queen said her mother was much pleased with such essences, and that she would send them to her from Whitelocke. He asked when he should bring them, and an English Bible which he promised to the Queen. She said, tomorrow if he pleased, and that at all times he should be welcome to her.