1653.

Nov. 15.

16.

Towards night, thirty foldiers were fent to Whitelocke's lodging to keep guard there, wherat Whitelocke tuck exception, not being firft acquainted with it, and, by his condition, priviledged from fuch things to be impofed on him butt the landtzhere and Berkman alleadged it to be a cuftome, and conftant refpect in this countrey, where any foldiers were, to fend fome as guards to ambassadors; wherewith Whitelocke was fatisfyed, and the foldiers were quiet and civill; commending the english ambassador's hofpitality, fuch as they were not accustomed to; and thankfully accepting the meate, and drinke, and money, which the ambassador gave them; the expection wherof by them was fome motive to this their respect.

Berkman poasted away early to the court, to give the queen notice of Whitelocke's arrivall; and, about nine a'clock, came an officer from the magiftrates of the citty to Whitelocke, to know if he were att leifure to give them leave to waite on him; and, was anfweared, that they fhould be wellcome whenfoever they pleased to come : within an hower came to him to his inne, the three pref dents, who are the principal magiftrates of the town, with the fyndick, who is in nature of recorder, and twelve, called affiftants.

Whitelocke being come forth to them in the outer roome, after falutations, the first president made a fett speech in *For the latin to this effect*:

original fee appendix A.

"Moft excellent lord ambaffador,

"The citty of Gothenbergh, whofe fervants we are, doe, by us, falute your excellence, and congratulate your fafe arrivall att this place, to which you are most "wellcome. ∞ They

Nov. 16.

"They intreate your excellence to excufe the manner 1653. "of your reception heer; they doe acknowledge, that "heerin they have not demeaned themselves as was requi"fite towards fo great a perfon, and of fuch condition "as you are all things were unfuitable to a negotiation "from the free common-wealth of England, and to the "conmaund of our moft ferene queen; and were farre "otherwife then was agreeable to the intention and defire of this citty.

"The fuddein and unlooked-for comming of your ex"cellence, from your fhip, did prevent all due offices ;

6.6

yett they hope, and intreate your excellence, that you "will not take it in ill part; and doe affure you, that as long as you fhall be pleafed to make your residence in "this citty, what commaunds your excellence shall impofe uppon us, we shall obferve, and not be wanting in "all honor and respect towards the free common-wealth "of England, and the affayres wherwith your excellence "is trusted: and they doe heerin with their own happi66 nes, when they wish into your excellence all prosperity "and good fucceffe in the buifnes committed to your care "and charge."

The prefident delivered this with a gracefull mienne, and many ceremonies, bowing himfelfe when he named the queen, or the common-wealth, or the ambassador..

After a little pause, and faluting them, Whitelocke anfwered in latin to this effect *:.

"Moft honord gentlemen,

"I give you many thankes, for that by this civility and respect to me (their fervant) you manifeft the esteem 6.6 you

* See ap pendix B..

1.653. "

Nov. 16.

you

have for the common-wealth of England, wherof I fhall not fayle to certefy my fuperiors.

"And I doe not doubt, butt that my reception heer "had bin anfwearable to your expreffions, had not my "unexpected arrivall prevented it; for which I desire your "excufe to those who having bin long att fea, toffed with

many tempefts, and contrary winds, had an earnest de"fire to come on floare. And I fhall hope, in a fhort "time, to have the opportunity of giving thankes to her "majefty, for her commaunds as to my reception. I "doubt not butt that the good and great God, who hath brought me and my company fafe to this honorable citty, " and preserved us in our daungerous voyage, will still goe along with us, and vouchfafe his gratious fuccefle "to the buifies committed to my trust, and to all other "the affayres of the common-wealth of England."

66

After this, they fell into generall difcourfes in latin, which moft of them, and the fyndick, fpake very well, and which is not ufuall for burgers elsewhere: they offered their fervice for Whitelocke's accomodation heer, and in his land journey, and took their leaves with much ceremony and civility. Whitelocke brought them to the doore of the inne where he lodged.

Some of his officers and gentlemen were appointed by Whitelocke to confider of fome orders, and prefent them to him, for the better regulating, and government of his family.

In the afternoon he was vifited by collonel Sinclere, of whom he learnt the number, pay, and difcipline of their foldiers heer, and the manner of their fortifications.

Nov. 16.

This day his tronkes and goods could not be brought on 1653. floare, by reafon of the ill weather. In the evening, about twenty men and boyes, with lanthornes and candles, came to Whitelocke's lodging, and fang in parts, with indifferent good skill and voyces; they were choristers, and their mufick fuch as they had in their churches: the end was a reward of eight ricks dollars.

The reft of Whitelocke's goods were brought on fhoare to the town, being butt three miles from the fhips; and his horfes were lifted on fhoare; and which was wondered att, after fo long and tempeftuous a voyage, not one of thirtytwo horses was fpoyled, lame, or hurt, when they came on fhoare.

The goods in the Fortune being moftly provifions, Whitelocke intended to have fent by fea to Stockholme; butt by advice of the magistrates of Gothenbergh, that it would not be fo cheape nor fecure, as to fend them by land; and that the froft being come, if it should hold, the goods could not be brought by fea to Stockholme till the next spring: Whitelocke ordered them also to be brought on shoare.

Amongst all his people, after fo long and daungerous a fea voyage, and fo much fea-ficknes (fuch was the wonderfull goodnes of God) that now being come togither, not one of them was ill, or had the leaft hurt. Whitelocke held it his, and their duety, to returne all thankfullnes to God for his mercy and preservation; and, for that end, appointed all his people to meet the next morning att his lodging, to keep it a day of thanksgiving for his mercy,

The fyndick came courteously to Whitelocke to know if he wanted any thing, wherin he might serve him; he was VOL. I. T a civill

17.

Nov. 17.

1653. a civill perfon, and spake good latin and french: Whitelocke was courteous to him att dinner, and, in the afternoon, fent doctor Whistler, Mr. Ingelo, and Mr. de la Marche, with the fyndick, to the chiefe president, to thank him and the rest of the magistrates for their refpects; and to advise with them about his land journey, and the conveyance of his goods to Stockholme,

Whitelocke thought fitt to fend two of his own fervants, Andrew Potley, and Meredith (who both spake good high dutch, which is generally understood in Sweden) with letters to prince Adolphe, grand mafter of Sweden, the prince Palatins brother, and other letters to the ricks chancellor * See ap- Oxenstierne, to this purpose *

pendix,

C.

The english of the letter was this:

To his Highnes the Great Mafter of the Kingdome of
Sweden.

"Moft illuftrious fir,

L

"According to the commaunds which I have received " from the parlement of the common-wealth of England, to performe an ambafly to your moft ferene queen; 'I have att length arrived att Gothenbergh, where I hoped "to have met her majefty, from a relation in England, by a creditable perfon, given unto me: butt being disappointed of my hopes, and not knowing whither to bend my course for the performance of my charge, I held it "fitt, by my fervant, with thefe letters to certify your "highnes heerof, that you might be pleased to gratify me

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with a fignification of the place, whither I may repayre

to