A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. | Page 4

Sweden, between whom and these
nations there hath always been a firm amity and strict alliance; and
therefore we have given instructions to the said Lord Whitelocke,
answerable to such good desires, earnestly requesting your Majesty to
give unto him favourable audience as often as he shall desire it, and full
belief in what he shall propound on the behalf of these dominions. And
so we heartily commend your Majesty and your affairs to the Divine
protection. Given at Whitehall this 23rd of December, Old Style, 1653.
"Your good friend, "OLIVER P."
The following instructions were under the hand and private seal of the
Protector:--
_"An Instruction for B. Whitelocke, Constable, etc., Ambassador
Extraordinary from the Commonwealth of England to the Queen of
Sweden._
"Whereas you were lately sent in the quality of Ambassador
Extraordinary from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England

unto her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, for the renewing and
contracting an alliance and confederation with that Queen and Crown,
according to the commission and instructions you received from the
said Parliament and the then Council of State; And whereas, since your
departure hence, the then Parliament hath been dissolved, and the
Government is settled and established in such a way that you will
understand by letters from Mr. Thurloe, Secretary of the Council, who
is directed to give unto you a full account hereof: Now lest the work
you are upon (which is so necessary in itself to both the nations, and so
sincerely desired on our part) should be interrupted or retarded by
reason of the said change of affairs, and the question that may arise
thereupon concerning the validity of your commission and instructions,
I have thought fit, by advice of the Council, to write unto her Majesty
new letters credential, a copy whereof you will receive herewith, which
letters you are to present to the Queen. And you are also, by virtue of
these presents, to let her Majesty know that the alteration of the
Government here hath made no change in the good intentions on this
side towards her Majesty and her dominions; but that she shall find the
same readiness in me to maintain and increase all good intelligence and
correspondence with that Queen and Crown as in any the former
governors of these nations. And to that end you are hereby authorized
to proceed in your present negotiation, and to endeavour to bring the
treaty with her Majesty to a good conclusion according to the tenour
and effect of the commission, powers, and instructions you have
already received, and which I shall by any further act ratify and confirm
according as the nature of the business shall require.
"Before your Lordship deliver these letters credential to the Queen, or
make any addresses to her, you are to inform yourself fully of the
reception you are like to have, and whether her intentions be to come to
a treaty of amity with this State as the Government is now established,
that no dishonour may befall us or these dominions in your addresses
upon these letters and instructions. Given at Whitehall this 23rd of
December, 1653.
"OLIVER P."

Whitelocke made many despatches this day to England.
_March 4, 1653._
[SN: The Queen talks of visiting the Protector.]
Whitelocke waited on the Queen and showed her part of the letters
which he received from England, whereupon she again asked him if the
Protector were _sacré_? Whitelocke said, No, and that his letters
mentioned only a solemnity of entertaining the Protector by the City of
London. Whitelocke also communicated to her Majesty the Protector's
letter to him, and the expression that Whitelocke should assure her
Majesty of the Protector's constant and real intentions to settle a firm
alliance with the Queen; which, she said, she was also most ready to
make with the Protector.
Whitelocke then said it might be fit to make some progress in his treaty
upon his articles, and particularly in those which concerned amity and
commerce, and had no dependence on the issue of the treaty with
Holland, and therefore might be had in consideration before the other
were fully concluded, and the rest of the articles might be considered
afterwards; which the Queen said should be done, and that she would
send an ambassador to the Protector. She was very inquisitive
concerning London and our Universities; by her discourse gave him to
imagine she had thoughts of travelling into France, Spain, Italy, and
into England; and asked Whitelocke if he thought the Protector would
give way to her coming thither. Whitelocke answered, that the
Protector would bid her Majesty very welcome thither.
He was alone with her near two hours, and at his taking leave she
desired him to come to her again on Monday next, and that then she