Part 27

Wh. I only give my humble advice to your Majesty, out of my own experience, of the great comfort, wisdom, and true pleasure which is to be met with in this book, and nowhere else, and that all things out of it are of no value.

Qu. I am full of the same opinion; but there are too many who have not so venerable an opinion of it as they ought to have.

Wh. There are indeed, Madam, too many who mock at this book, and at God himself, whose book it is; but these poor worms will one day know that God will not be mocked, and that they and their reproaches will sadly perish together; and I am glad to hear your Majesty's distaste of such wicked ones.

Qu. Surely every good Christian ought to distaste such men and such opinions.

They had much more discourse upon the same subject, wherein Whitelocke spake the more, because he found the Queen more inclined to it now than he had perceived her to be at other times.

Being come from the Queen, he spake with Grave Eric in another room, whose opinion was that it would be fit to sign the articles on the morrow, and said that his father would be returned time enough to do it. Whitelocke doubted that, by reason of his weariness after his journey, it might not be then convenient. Eric replied, that there would be nothing to be done that would occasion trouble, the signing and putting the seals to the articles already prepared and agreed on was all that was to be done. Whitelocke demanded if the power given by the Queen to her Commissioners were sealed. Eric said it was not, but that Canterstein would be in town this evening, and would see all done.

April 26, 1654.

Grave Eric came to Whitelocke's house, and this discourse passed between them:--

Whitelocke. It seems to me somewhat strange that after all things agreed between her Majesty's Commissioners and me, I should yet attend three weeks to obtain one half-hour for the signing of the articles.

Grave Eric. The Queen's going out of town hath occasioned it, and the great business touching her resignation, which hath so taken up all men's thoughts and counsels, that there hath been hardly room left for any other matter; and when the Queen goes away, those of the Council also take the liberty to go into the country; and upon such extraordinary changes as these are, it is no strange thing for public ministers to be retarded; and the same thing hath been practised upon your changes in England.

Wh. I have not observed, either in England or elsewhere, that after an agreement upon a treaty, and nothing remaining but to sign and seal, that they have used afterwards to delay it three weeks together; yet I am willing to promise myself that the servant of the Protector may expect from this Crown as much respect as any other public minister.

Gr. Eric. There hath been more respect showed to you than hath been accustomed to any other. I believe your business may be despatched in half an hour; and if my father return this evening time enough to do it, it may be done this night; if not, then without fail tomorrow morning.

Wh. I am the more earnest herein, looking upon it as my duty to the Protector and my respect to this Crown, to avoid any occasion of discontent between the two nations; and therefore I shall freely tell you that it will be very material to have the articles signed this day or tomorrow, before I receive this week's letters, by which I expect to understand that the articles between England and Holland are signed; among which articles one is, that neither the one nor the other confederate shall make any alliance with any other prince or state, without first giving notice thereof to the other confederate. Now if the articles between the Protector and the Queen be signed before I have notice of this by the Dutch articles being signed, the signing of our articles here first will be without exception in this point; but if I receive this information from England before the articles be signed here, it will be doubtful whether then I shall be in a capacity afterwards to sign the articles here, whereupon sundry inconveniences will ensue, which I would willingly prevent.

Gr. Eric. This is indeed a material point, and I am much startled at it. I shall go and see if my father be come to town, that I may acquaint him with it, and doubtless the business may be finished tomorrow.

Wh. What do you resolve to do in the matter I proposed touching Guinea?

Gr. Eric. The person concerned in that business is now in town; I shall bring him to you to give you information therein, and upon speaking together we may come to some conclusion in it. I think the best way will be to prepare an article to this purpose, that all injuries done by the one or the other party in the several plantations in Guinea, and the satisfaction and damages to be given to the parties grieved, be upon the whole matter remitted to the consideration and arbitrement of persons to be chosen, as well by the company of English merchants trading to those parts as of the merchants of this country having interest in the plantations there.

Wh. I think this may be a good expedient for this business; and I shall rather submit to it than depart from hence, without any agreement at all, to have this matter, either now or at some other time, to be taken into consideration; and therefore if you please to direct an article to be drawn up to the effect proposed by yourself, and to send it to me to be perused, I shall be willing to consent to any reasonable settlement of this business; so as my countrymen, the English merchants interested in that plantation, may have no cause to believe that I have neglected what was specially recommended to me on their behalf, and that my superiors may see my care in this as well as in other matters.

In the evening Monsieur Bloome sent word to Whitelocke that the Chancellor was come to town, and that Canterstein was expected this night.

Presently Whitelocke sent to the Chancellor to know how he did after his journey, and when he might have the liberty to visit him. The Chancellor answered that he was well, and purposed this evening or tomorrow morning to go to the Queen, and afterwards he would send to Whitelocke to let him know what time they might meet to finish his business. This seemed to Whitelocke a little different from the ordinary rules of civility--that when he sent to the Chancellor to know at what time he might come to him, the Chancellor answered that his purpose was to go to the Queen; but Whitelocke hoped that the intent was to receive her Majesty's direction in his business.

April 27, 1654.

Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke from the Chancellor to tell him that the Chancellor was come to town purposely for the signing of the articles. Whitelocke said he was much obliged to the Chancellor for so great a favour, and that, after three weeks elapsed since the articles were agreed, he might now hope it would be thought seasonable to confirm that agreement with hand and seal. Lagerfeldt answered that it might be done this day, and therefore he came to Whitelocke that his secretary might meet with the Queen's secretary, and they together might examine the books, which in the evening may be signed and sealed by both parties.

Whitelocke. Hath Monsieur Canterstein procured the Queen's patent to authorize her Commissioners to conclude this treaty?

Lagerfeldt. It must be done before the signing of the articles, and then you may have your audience when your Excellence pleaseth.

Wh. It were fit to have that done.

Lag. I know not whether the presents which her Majesty intends to make to your Excellence and your company be yet ready; and I know the Queen intends to express as much honour to you as she hath done to any ambassador whatsoever.

Wh. I desire no greater honour than the despatch of my business, and liberty to return home.

Lag. I shall serve your Excellence therein to the utmost of my power.

In the afternoon Whitelocke sent his son James and his secretary Earle, and Swift, with the articles and papers touching his business, unto Canterstein, where they examined them and corrected what was mistaken. They asked at what hour Whitelocke might repair to the Chancellor for signing the articles. Canterstein answered, that the Chancellor was weary with his journey; but he went to him and brought word that, if Whitelocke would come to the Chancellor about five or six o'clock this evening, he would be ready to confer with him. This being reported to Whitelocke by his son, he sent him back to Canterstein to know whether the Queen had sealed the grant of power to her Commissioners, who brought word that it was not done, and that the Queen went out of town this evening, and returned not till tomorrow.