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1653.

Sept. 28.

29.

30.

Wednesday, 28th September, 1653.

Att the councell of state att Whitehall. Ordered, "That "it be fignified to the lord commiffioner Whitelocke, that "if his lordship shall thinke fitt to nominate a fitt perfon "to goe with him as another chaplein in his ambassy into "Sweden; the councell will therupon be ready to advance "100l. unto him, as hath bin done to thofe made choice "of by the lord L'Ifle.

Ex'. Jo. THURLOE, fec"."

Uppon this vote, more application was made than formerly for this imployment.

Mr. Lagerfeldt fent his fervant to Whitelocke to excuse his not comming to him this day, as was appointed; which fome fuppofed he did in point of state, bicause he was not admitted to his vifit fo foon as he expected; therfore he would not come fo foone as was by Whitelocke appointed.

Whitelocke went to the generall, and informed him of the fhortness of the allowance voted by the councell for his expences in his ambafly, not fufficient to defray the charges therof in fuch a manner, as would be for the honor of the common-wealth, and the fecurity of their fervant; wherof Cromwell feemed very fenfible, and promifed to move the councell for an increase of it.

A meffenger of the councell brought to Whitelocke a copy of the inftructions which had bin prepared for the lord L'Ifle, when he was to have gone ambaffador to Sweden; and Whitelocke was defired to peruse them, and give

his opinion what he thought fitt to be altered or added to 1653. them. He gave the messenger a note under his hand for the receipt of them.

He

Lagerfeldt, in the afternoon, vifited Whitelocke. was tall, of an ingenious countenance, and civil behaviour; his carryage was in the port of a publique minister, rather above, than below his character.

He was attended with fix gentlemen, well habited, and four lacquayes in liveryes, decent, butt not rich or gawdy. Whitelocke mett him att the doore of his house, where (after falutations) Lagerfeldt fpake, in good latin, to this effect:

Lag. Moft excellent lord ambaffador, I being acquainted from your excellence, that the parlement of the commonwealth of England have defigned you to goe ambassador to her most serene majesty the queen of Sweden, my most gratious miftris; I have defired the permiffion of this vifit, to give your excellence thanks for your respects therin: and in the name of her majefty (whofe publique minister I have the honor to be to this common-wealth) I doe congratulate the great and deserved honor conferred on you by the parlement.

Whitelocke anfwered him in latin to this effect:

Sept. 30.

Wh. My lord, you are pleased to conferre uppon me a great addition of honor by the favour of this vifit, and by testifying the respects of her majesty, your gratious miftris, to me her humble fervant; and that by fo noble a perfon as your lordship, her majefty's publique minifter to this com

mon

1653. mon-wealth: I intreate this further favour from you, that your lordship will be pleafed to enter into this houfe, and to accept the command of it.

Sept. 30.

They went in togither; the precedence given by Whitelocke to Lagerfeldt, bicause he was a ftranger, and according to the custome of his, and other forrein countryes.

Whitelocke appointed fome of his fervants, who spake latin and high dutch, to entertaine Lagerfeldt's gentlemen with discourse and wine. Lagerfeldt and he fate togither in the withdrawing-roome, and fometimes walked in the garden they had many complements paft between them; Lagerfeldt commending the choice of Whitelocke to be ambaffador to his miftris, and Whitelocke's abilities for it, &c. Whitelocke modeftly excufing his want of them, and advancing the honor and greatnes of the queen and nation of Sweden, and profeffing his refpects and affection to them.

Lagerfeldt highly extolled the generofity and civility of the queen to strangers, especially to publique minifters, and faid, it would be as high to Whitelocke as to any; and that there was no doubt but that he would have good fucceffe in his buifnes, to which he knew her majefty, his miftris, was very well inclined.

Whitelocke afked his advice, which way would be beft for him to take his journey; and Lagerfeldt was pofitive, that the best way for him would be by Gothenburgh: that if he should goe that way by land, he muft travayle through the Lowe Countryes, and Denmarke, both which were ennemies to England; and to goe by fea to Stockholme, would

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be daungerous att this time of the year; and if froft fhould 1653. take them, it would be impaffable.

Whitelocke inquired of him touching the land journey from Gothenburgh to the court, and what accomodations were to be had by the way in that countrey.

Lagerfeldt faid, that the journey by land would be long, neer 400 miles English, butt the way was good: and that the queen would give command, that no accomodations or provifions for him fhould be wanting, which the countrey would afforde; and they were very good, though not fuch as travaylers ufe to meet with in England.

They difcourfed of the murder of Ayfcham, and Doriflaus, in Spayne, and in the Low Countryes, being publique minifters fent abroade by the parlement to which Lagerfeldt faid, that there was not the leaft daunger of any fuch thing to be attempted in Sweden; that the queen, and her fubordinat officers, were extraordinary carefull to prevent any fuch barbarous act; and that neither her fubjects, nor any ftraungers, durft commit, or prefume to attempt, any fuch thing in her kingdome; and if they should, the lawe was extreamly fevere in thofe cafes. Butt he faid, that never any fuch fact had bin perpetrated among them: and Whitelocke, as to his life and freedome from affacination, might be as fecure there as in any countrey in the world, and as in his own countrey.

Lagerfeldt fpake much, how necessary it was for the common-wealth of England to answer the refpects of the queen, his miftris, who had fent hither feverall publique ministers, and had received yett none from hence, which the expected as a civility due to her; and that the and that the treaty between

the

Sept. 30.

1653. the two nations could not be fo well concluded, without an ambassador from England, to be there uppon the place.

Sept. 30.

Much other discourse they had about the coldnes of the country, which Lagerfeldt said, might very well be indured, with warme cloathing, and good fuell, wherof they had plenty. Much other difcourfe paffed between them, about the treaty, and divers other particulars; till, with long talking and walking, Whitelocke became very weary : and after many complements and ceremonies, Whitelocke brought him to his coach; and fo they parted.

OCTOBER.

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