A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. | Page 9

alone until
the issue of the Dutch treaty.
6. The sixth article, she said, was reasonable.
7. She took exception to the words "bona à suis cujusque inimicis
direpta," which, she said, was a breach of her neutrality. To that
Whitelocke answered as before upon the fifth article; and she desired it
might be passed over as the second and fifth articles, till the issue of the
Dutch treaty were known. She said she would desire the liberty of
fishing for herrings. Whitelocke told her that upon equal conditions he
presumed his Highness would consent to that which should be fit. She
asked what conditions he would demand. Whitelocke said, those
matters of commerce would be better agreed upon with the advice of
merchants.
8. The eighth article she said was equal.
9. There was no difference upon it.
10. She judged fit to be agreed upon.
11. She made some short observations, which by explanation
Whitelocke cleared, and she agreed.
12. The like as upon the eleventh article.
13. To this article she read in Latin an objection to the proviso, and said
it was reasonable that, if they did break bulk, they should pay custom
for so much only as they sold. Whitelocke told her that objection
showed that there were great men merchants in Sweden, and that the
objection was more in favour of the merchants than of herself. She said
the merchants were crafty indeed; and she did not much insist upon it.
14. The last article which Whitelocke had given in. To this she said it

was fit that the men-of-war that should come into the other ports should
be to a number ascertained, to avoid suspicion. Whitelocke said he
would agree thereunto, with a caution, as in the first article, to be added:
if they should be driven by tempest, force, or necessity, then to be
dispensed with.
Whitelocke desired her Majesty to give him a copy of her objections.
She told him, they were only a few things which she had written with
her own hand, upon her apprehension of the articles, and that he should
have them in writing; but she desired him not to acquaint any person
here with this conference.
_March 10, 1653._
[SN: Whitelocke's despatches to England.]
Upon yesterday's conference with the Queen, Whitelocke wrote the
passages thereof at large to Thurloe, to be communicated to the Council
in England, and to pray their direction in some points which are set
down thus in his letters:--
"I shall desire to know the pleasure of my Lord Protector and Council,
whether, in case I shall conclude those articles of amity and commerce,
omitting the second, fifth, and seventh articles, if his Highness will be
pleased to approve thereof. I confess my humble opinion is (unless I
receive commands to the contrary) that in case the peace be concluded
between us and Holland, and Denmark included, it will be no
disadvantage to us to conclude the alliance here, omitting the second,
fifth, and that part of the seventh article against which her Majesty
objected, if she shall insist upon it.
"Another point wherein I pray direction is upon the sixteenth article of
your treaty with the Dutch, that either Commonwealth shall be
comprehended, if they desire it, in treaties with other Princes, and
notice to be given of such treaties; whether in case your treaty with the
Dutch shall be agreed, that then notice ought to be given to them of the
treaty with the Queen of Sweden, and the Dutch to be offered to be
comprehended therein; or whether, the treaty here being begun before

that with the Dutch concluded, there will be any cause to give such
notice to them, or to give notice to the Queen of your treaty with the
Dutch; which you will be pleased to consider.
"I am very willing to hasten homewards when I may obtain my Lord's
order; and that it will be no prejudice here to your service, as I conceive
such a conclusion would not at all be.
"I presume you have heard of the news at Antwerp, which is very fresh
here this week, that the Archduke hath imprisoned the Duke of
Lorraine in the castle of Antwerp, which caused the gates of the town
to be shut; and that hath occasioned to your friends here the loss of the
comfort of this week's letters from England, the post being stayed there,
as I was certified from your Resident at Hamburg."
Many despatches were made by Whitelocke to his friends in England,
as his constant course was.
_March 11, 1653._
[SN: Admiral Oxenstiern visits Whitelocke.]
The Ricks-Admiral visited Whitelocke. He discoursed of the treaty here,
and said that the Queen had not yet informed the Council of it in
particular. He much