A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 8

The Queen said she would despatch his business within a few days, and, she hoped, to his contentment. Whitelocke told her it was in her Majesty's power to do it; that he could not stay until the change whereof people discoursed, and that he had her Majesty's promise for his despatch, which he knew she would not break.

Then the Queen fell into other discourses, and in particular of poetry; which occasion Whitelocke took to show her a copy of Latin verses made by an English gentleman, a friend of Whitelocke's, and sent over to him hither, and which he had now about him, and knew that such diversions were pleasing to the Queen.[71]

At his leisure hours, Whitelocke turned these verses into English, which ran thus:--

"_To the most Ill.u.s.trious and most Excellent Lord, the Lord Whitelocke, Amba.s.sador Extraordinary to the Most Serene Queen of Sweden. An Ode._

Whitelocke, delight of Mars, the ornament Of gownmen, from thy country being sent, Tribunals languish; Themis sad is led, Sighing under her mourning widow's bed.

Without thee suitors in thick crowds do run, Sowing perpetual strife, which once begun, Till happy fate thee home again shall send, Those sharp contentions will have no end.

But through the snowy seas and northern ways, When the remoter sun made shortest days, O'er tops of craggy mountains, paths untrod, Where untamed creatures only make abode, Thy love to thy dear country hath thee brought, Amba.s.sador from England. Thou hast sought The Swedish confines buried in frost, Straight wilt thou see the French and Spanish coast; And them fast bind to thy loved Britany In a perpetual league of amity.

So wilt thou arbitrator be of Peace, Her pious author; thou wilt cause to cease The sound of war, our ears it shall not pierce; Thou wilt be Chancellor of the universe.

Christina, that sweet nymph, no longer shall Detain thee; be thou careful not to fall, Prudent Ulysses, under those delights To which the learned Circe thee invites.

Thy chaste Penelope doth call thee slow; Thy friends call for thee home; and they do know New emba.s.sies, affairs abroad, at home, Require thy service,--stay till thou dost come.

Thou, Keeper of the Seal, dost take away Foreign contentions; thou dost cause to stay The wars of princes. Shut thou Ja.n.u.s' gate, Amba.s.sador of peace to every state."

The Queen was much delighted with these and other verses which Whitelocke showed her; read them over several times, and desired copies of them, which Whitelocke sent her; and in this good humour she wished Whitelocke to leave with her a copy of his articles as he had now revised them, and to come to her again the next day, when she would give him a further answer, and, she hoped, to his contentment.

[SN: Spain suspected of intriguing against the treaty.]

Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke, and excused his long absence by reason of the holidays. He informed Whitelocke with much freedom, that it was against the interest of Spain that England and Sweden should be in alliance together, and that Whitelocke's negotiation had been hindered by the Spanish Resident here, more than by any other. Whereunto Whitelocke said little positively, but compared his words with the late carriage of Piementelle,--especially since Whitelocke did not so heartily entertain the Queen's motion (which probably Piementelle put her upon) to have the Spaniard included in the league with England and Sweden, which Whitelocke was not empowered to treat upon, and Whitelocke also remembered the deferring of his audiences lately desired.[73] But these things he was to keep to himself, and to court Woolfeldt, which he did, and Piementelle likewise, who came to visit Whitelocke whilst Woolfeldt was with him, and made the same excuse as he had done for his long absence. They had much general discourse, but nothing (as usually before) touching Whitelocke's business. Piementelle said he purposed to depart from Upsal within seven or eight days; that yesterday he had taken his leave of the Queen, and came in the next place to take his leave of Whitelocke, who gave him thanks for this honour, and said he was sorry for the departure of Piementelle, whereby he should have a very great loss in being deprived of the acceptable conversation of so honourable a friend.

[SN: Despatches from England complaining of delay.]

Whitelocke received many letters from England; in those from Thurloe he saith:--

"I am sorry your last letters give us no greater hopes of that which we so much long for, to wit, your Excellence's speedy return home; it seeming by them that the treaty was not much advanced since your last before, notwithstanding the great care and diligence used by your Excellency for the promoting thereof, as also the great acceptance you have with the Queen and Court, as is acknowledged by other public ministers residing there. It is now more than probable they will expect the issue of the Dutch business before they will come to any conclusion; as also to see what terms we are like to be upon with France, that so the Queen may manage her treaty with England accordingly, which I suppose she may not be long ignorant of. In the meantime his Highness thinks he is somewhat delayed on her part."

Then Thurloe relates all the pa.s.sages of the Dutch Amba.s.sadors, and that, in effect, they had agreed to the articles; of the endeavours of the French to have a league with the Protector, and no less of the Spaniard.

And he writes at large the news of the Archduke, as also that of Scotland and Ireland, and confutes the rumour of a discontent in the army of the Protector.

In another letter from Thurloe of a later date, received by the same post, he saith thus:--

"His Highness understands by your Excellence's last letters, that the treaty with the Queen of Sweden will much depend upon the treaty with the Dutch here, and until the issue of that be known no great matter is to be expected from your negotiation: concerning which, it being very probable that before the next ordinary it will be seen what issue the Dutch treaty will be brought unto, his Highness will refer his further directions to you till then; leaving it to your Excellence to proceed upon the former instructions as you shall find it convenient, and for his service according as affairs now stand."

The clause in this letter, of referring further directions till after the issue of the Dutch treaty, was some trouble to Whitelocke's thoughts, fearing it might delay his return home; but he laid hold upon the latter part of this letter, whereby it is left to Whitelocke to proceed upon the former instructions as he should find it convenient and for his Highness's service; which, as it reposed a great trust in Whitelocke, so it gave him warrant to conclude his treaty, and obliged him to the more care to perform that trust which they had so fully put in him.

[SN: Claim on behalf of the Swedish ships in England.]

Mr. Bonnele representing to the Protector the losses which the Swedes suffered by the ships of England, the Protector caused an answer thereunto to be returned, the copy whereof was sent by Thurloe to Whitelocke, and was thus:--

"Whereas Mr. Bonnele, Resident of the Queen of Sweden, hath, by a paper of the 4th of March, remonstrated to his Highness that several ships and goods belonging to the said Queen and her subjects are taken at sea by the ships of this State, and brought into these parts, contrary to the declaration of the Council of State, 1st April, 1653, whereby they did declare, that for preventing the present obstruction of trade, all ships truly belonging to the Queen or her subjects, of Sweden, that should bring with them certificates from her said Majesty, or the chief magistrate of the place from whence they come, grounded upon the respective oaths of the magistrates and loaders that the said ship and lading do belong _bona fide_ to the said Queen or her subjects, and to no stranger whatsoever, should and might freely pa.s.s without interruption or disturbance. His Highness hath commanded that it be returned in answer to the said Resident, that although the said declaration was to be in force for the s.p.a.ce of three months, in which time a form of pa.s.sport and certificates was to be thought of for preventing fraud and collusion, yet no provision of that nature having been yet agreed upon, and it being contrary to his intention that the goods and ships belonging to her said Majesty or subjects (with whom he desires to conserve all good correspondence) should in the meantime suffer inconvenience or prejudice by the ships of this State, hath renewed, as he doth hereby renew, the said declaration with respect to the present treaty now on foot between the two nations, wherein some course may be provided for preventing the said frauds.

"And to the end there may be the better effect of this declaration, his Highness hath given order to the Judges of the Admiralty that if any ships or goods be brought into these parts belonging to her Majesty or subjects, that the producing of certificates according to the said declaration, in open Court and upon oath made by them that do produce such certificates, that they are good and authentic, and obtained without fraud or deceit, that the Judges shall thereupon (there being no proof before them to the contrary) discharge the said ships or goods without further delay. Provided that such ships were not bound with contraband goods to the ports or harbours of any of the United Provinces.

"For the herring-buss, there having been proceedings thereupon in the Court of Admiralty, and a sentence of condemnation given against her as belonging to the enemies of this State, his Highness does not conceive that it can be expected from him to interpose in matters belonging to the decision of that Court; besides, the law having in the ordinary course provided a remedy, by way of appeal, in case of wrong or injustice done by that Court.

"For the goods of Mr. Alexander Cecconi, supposed to be taken by a ship belonging to this State, orders have been given by the Council concerning them, and some return made upon those orders; and the said Commissary may rest a.s.sured that speedy and effectual justice will be done in that particular.

"JO. THURLOE.

"_March 10th, 1653._"

These orders of the Council Whitelocke caused to be translated into Latin, that he might communicate them as he saw occasion.

_March 31, 1654._

[SN: Reports to England.]

Whitelocke despatched a great number of letters to his friends in England: in those to Secretary Thurloe he gave a full account of all transactions of his negotiations and pa.s.sages here since his last letters.

This day, though the post-day, Woolfeldt again visited Whitelocke, to his no little interruption in his despatches; yet from him Whitelocke learned many things in relation to Denmark, for the advantage of England, and Woolfeldt testified great affection and respect to the Protector and Commonwealth. He was also interrupted by his attendance upon the Queen, according to her appointment. The Chancellor came forth from her as Whitelocke went in, and he told Whitelocke that the Queen, hearing of his being without, had sent to desire him to come in to her. Whitelocke read some of his news to the Queen, and the paper which the Protector had caused to be given to her Commissary Bonnele at London; upon which Whitelocke took the boldness a little to paraphrase, and her Majesty was well pleased with it. They fell into discourse of the treaty, much to the same effect as formerly; but Whitelocke staid the less time with her Majesty, because he presumed that the Chancellor and his son waited without to speak with her about his business. She promised Whitelocke to send him an answer of his business the next day, and that one of her ships should be ready at the Dollars (the mouth of the haven of Stockholm) to transport him to Lubeck when he should desire it; which was acceptable to Whitelocke to think on, and he thanked her Majesty for it.

Thus was March pa.s.sed over, full of trouble, yet nothing effected in his business.

FOOTNOTES:

[41] [The Amba.s.sador's verses I have ventured to omit, as alike dest.i.tute of elegance, point, or metre.]

[71] "_Ad Ill.u.s.trissimum et Excellentissimum Dominum, Dominum Whitelocke, Legatum Angliae Extraordinarium apud Serenissimam Sueciae Reginam. Ode._

"Vitloce, Martis deliciae, decus Gentis legatae; te sine, languidum Moeret tribunal, et cubili In viduo Themis ingemiscit.

Denso cientes agmine cursitant, Et sempiternas te sine consuunt Lites, neque hic discordiarum Finis erit, nisi tu revertas.

Sed te nivosum per mare, per vias Septentrionum, per juga montium, Inhospitales per recessus Duxit amor patriae decorus.

Legatus oras jam Sueonum vides Bruma sepultas; mox quoque Galliam, Hispaniam mox c.u.m Britannis Foedere perpetuo ligabis.

Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiter Gentes per omnes qua sonuit tuba Dicere; cancellariusque Orbis eris simul universi.

Christina, dulcis nympha, diutius Ne te moretur: qui merito clues Prudens Ulysses, sperne doctae Popula deliciasque Circes.

Te casta tentum Penelope vocat, Vocant amici, teque aliae vocant Legationes, te requirunt Ardua multa domi forisque.

Custos Sigilli tu dirimes cito Pugnas forenses, bellaque principum Legatus idem terminabis: Tu (sera candida) claude fanum."

[73] [This change was probably the consequence of the negotiations then going on between Louis XIV. and Cromwell in London, which had excited the jealousy of the Spanish Court, as is stated by Thurloe in the next page.]

APRIL.

_April 1, 1654._

[SN: A capital execution in Sweden.]

In the morning, in the market-place, near Whitelocke's lodging, was an execution of one adjudged to die for a murder. The offender was brought into the midst of the market-place, which was open and s.p.a.cious, and a great mult.i.tude of people spectators. The offender kneeled down upon the ground, a great deal of sand being laid under and about him to soak up his blood, and a linen cloth was bound about his eyes: he seemed not much terrified, but when the company sang a psalm, he sang with them, holding up his hands together, and his body upright, his doublet off. He prayed also with the company, but made no speech to them; nor did any other speak to the people. The executioner stood behind him, with a great naked sword in his hand and a linen ap.r.o.n before him, and while the offender was praying the headsman in an instant, at one back-blow, cut off his head, which fell down upon the sand; and some friends took it from the executioner, and carried it away with the body to be buried. Presently after this execution was past, two other offenders for smaller crimes were brought to the same place, to suffer the punishment of the law, which they call running the gauntlet,--a usual punishment among soldiers.

[SN: Running the gauntlet.]

The people stood in length in the market-place about a hundred yards, leaving an open s.p.a.ce or lane between them of about five yards' distance; then the offender, being naked to the waist, was brought to one end of the lane or open place. The people had rods or switches of birch given to as many as would take them; the offender was to run or go, as he pleased (and one of them walked but a Spanish pace), from one end of the lane of people to the other, twice or thrice forward and backward; and all the way as he went, the people who had the switches lashed the offender as he pa.s.sed by them, harder or softer, as they favoured him. These are the most usual ways of executions which they have for criminal offences, and they do not execute men by hanging, which they say is only fit for dogs; but in cases of great robberies and murders sometimes they execute justice by breaking the offenders upon the wheel, and leave the quarters of the body upon it; some whereof were in the way as Whitelocke pa.s.sed in his journey by the great wilderness.

[SN: Vestiges of the Scandinavian mythology.]