Then Whitelocke gave the chancellor a paper of his ani- 1654. madverfions uppon his articles. The debate began uppon Aprill 5.

the ninth article; and as to the fale of goods taken from ennemies, and prohibiting the buying of armes, the chancellor faid, this would abolish their trade, and would be of no advantage to England; bicause those armes, and equally as good, might be had from other places; and if the English did light uppon them, they would have the benefit by it.

Whitelocke faid, it would be a great inconvenience to furnish the ennemies of either nation with armes, which could not be had elsewhere then in England or Sweden, and that this claufe would putt a bridle in the mouths of the ennemies of either nation.

The chancellor and his fon replyed, that armes might be had in the province of Liege, and in many other places in Germany; that Sweden fcarce afforded any other commodities butt armes, or fuch things as were ferviceable for war; and that the queen would, by no means, be induced to that claufe, as Whitelocke would have it.

Then they debated uppon the eleventh article; the iffue wherof was, for Whitelocke to confent to a speciall defignation of prohibited goods.

Whitelocke defired, that the catalogue and defignation of them might be referred to his returne into England, and he would agree, that, within two moneths after that, there should be a fpecification of prohibited goods in the name of the protector.

1

The chancellor urged, that the fpecification might be now agreed uppon, and produced a paper fpecifying them, which (they alleadged) was delivered by the councell in England unto Bonnele. Whitelocke faid, he did not remember the fame, and that he was ignorant what goods were prohibited by the dutch placart, which was fitt to be known before any specification made by him.

Uppon the twelfth article Whitelocke urged, that, as to the forme of the letters of fafe conduct, it might also be referred to his returne into England; they produced a forme exhibited by Lagerfeldt to the councell in England, and defired, that the fame forme might be now agreed uppon.

Whitelocke anfweared, that the councell of state had not approved the forme given in by Lagerfeldt, and, therfore, it was not fitt for him to confent to it; nor could he apprehend any reafon why they fhould not confent to referre the agreement of a forme unto his returne to England; and the rather, bicaufe, in the meane time, the fubjects of the queen might injoy the benefit of an edict made by the protector in great favour of them, which declaration Whitelocke had caused to be delivered to the chancellor.

To the thirteenth article, as to fatisfaction of damages, their debate was to the like effect as formerly.

Uppon the fixteenth article they had alfo debate. Whitelocke desired, that the words (de ufu littorum in pifcatione) might be altered to thefe words, de pifcatione et ufu littorum: they alleadged, that this would feem to deny their fishing uppon their own coafts; Whitelocke faid, the other would feem, as if England had given up their right as to

the

the fishing, and left all att liberty to those that pleased to 1654. take it. Aprill 5.

This was the fum of the debate of neer three howers. The conclufion was, that they would certefy the queen of all thefe matters, and in a fhort time acquaint Whitelocke with her answear; which he defired might be as speedy and pofitive as they pleafed, bicaufe, if they should reduce him to that neceffity, that, before he could agree, he must fend to the protector to know his pleasure, he could not receive an anfwear of his letters in leffe then two moneths fpace, within which time the queen purposed to refigne her governement, and then his commiffion would be att an

end.

The chancellor faid, he defired Whitelocke should be fpeedily in England, not only for the fake of his wife and children, butt likewife bicause then they could promise themselves, that they had a good friend in England.

Whitelocke vifited the french refident, who was very inquifitive what might be the defigne of the english fleet now att fea; wherunto, as to much other of his difcourfe, Whitelocke did not much ftudy for anfwears, only he was carefull not to lett fall any words, which might leffen their amusement about the fleet.

In the evening Woolfeldt vifited Whitelocke, and dif coursed of the fame matter; wherof Whitelocke made fome ufe, and of this gentleman, to heighten their jealoufyes about this fleet.

Woolfeldt acquainted Whitelocke, that the ambassador of Denmarke had made a complaint against him to the queen,

that

Aprill 5.

1654. that Woolfeldt had deceived the late king of Denmarke of certain fums of money, which he fhould have disbursed for the late king of England against the parlement; and that the prefent king of Denmarke having bin informed, that Woolfeldt had loft his papers att sea, and so could not produce his acquittances, the king tooke the advantage therof against Woolfeldt, and now, by his ambaffador, charged him before the queen for those moneys: butt that he dif appointed the danish ambassador by producing, before the queen, his papers and acquittances, which his ennemies believed had bin loft; and fo was juftifyed before the queen, to the great difcontent of the ambaffador.

Whitelocke faid, he was very glad that Woolfeldt came fo well off, and that he perceived the queen had, by the treaty, a capacity, as well as by his refidence, to examine and doe right in fuch matters.

This day Whitelocke had difcourfe, about Norwey and the Sundt, with a danifh gentleman of great quality and experience whom he had obliged, who defired to have his. name concealed; butt part of this difcourfe followes :

Da. Now is a good time for the protector to fend fome ships towards these parts.

Wh. What places are there in Norwey, confiderable as to the intereft of England?

Da. There are two places in Norwey, not farre from Gothenbergh, which are easy to be taken, and are excellent harbours, wherin England might keep fome fhips constantly, and commaund all that paffe by to the Baltick fea.

Wh.

Wh. What are the names of thofe places?

Da. The one of thofe havens is called Marftrang, butt that I doe not like fo well, bicaufe of the Pater Nofter rockes, which are very dangerous for comming out, if the wind fitt northerly; and the fort there is commaunded by the hilles neer it.

Butt the other place, called Flecker Town, is an island, and hath a going in and comming out two wayes it is an excellent harbour, and ships may ride in it att fuch a distance from the land (being a broade water), that none from the land can hurt them.

There is a little fort in this island which may eafily be taken, not having above forty or fifty men in it, and the workes decayed: thofe who affayle it muft land their men on the fouth eaft fide of the ifland, the fort being on the other fide, and they may easily be mafters of it; and from thence having some ships, they may goe in and out att their pleasure, and commaund all paffing by; and none can come into the harbour to them, if they make up the fort, which is foon done, and the paffage not above muskett flott to be commaunded; and there are no gunnes there of any confideration att this time.

Wh. How fhall they doe for victualls there to gett fresh from the land?

Da. There is plenty of butter and cheese, fheep and hogges; and the poor countrey people will be no trouble to you, butt be willing to be commaunded by you.

Wh. What townes are there neer it?

1654.

Aprill 5.

Da.