A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653

Page 1 of 230

All material added by the transcriber is surrounded by braces {}. The original has many inconsistent spellings in all the languages used. A few corrections have been made for obvious typographical errors; they have been noted individually. Superscripts in the original are indicated by the ^ character. Side notes are enclosed in brackets and preceded with SN, thus [SN: side note]. Footnotes are numbered with the page on which they start.}

JOURNAL OF THE SWEDISH EMBASSY IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.

A JOURNAL OF THE SWEDISH EMBASSY IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.

IMPARTIALLY WRITTEN BY THE AMBASSADOR BULSTRODE WHITELOCKE.

FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT BY DR. CHARLES MORTON, M.D., F.S.A., LIBRARIAN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

_A NEW EDITION_, REVISED BY HENRY REEVE, ESQ., F.S.A.

IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME II.

"A wicked messenger falleth into mischief, but a faithful ambassador is health." PROVERBS xiii. 17.

LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 1855.

PRINTED BY JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.

JOURNAL OF THE SWEDISH EMBASSY IN THE YEARS 1653 AND 1654.

MARCH 1, 1653.

[SN: Whitelocke continues the negotiation.]

Now was the heat of Whitelocke's business, and many cross endeavours used to render all his labours fruitless, and to bring his treaty to no effect. But it pleased God, in whom his confidence was placed, to carry him through all his difficulties, and to give his blessing and success to this negotiation.

Whitelocke gave a visit to the Count de Montecuculi, to give him the welcome home from his journey with the Queen; who said he had commands to kiss the hand of the Prince of Sweden, and took the opportunity of accompanying her Majesty when she went to meet the Prince. He communicated nothing of the business to Whitelocke, nor did he think to inquire it of him.

After Whitelocke returned home, the Resident of France and Woolfeldt met at his house to visit him, and staid with him three hours. They had much discourse of France, and of the Duke of Lorraine, and of the policy of the Spaniard in entertaining that Duke in his service; by means whereof the country where the Duke's soldiers were quartered was better satisfied than with the Spanish forces, so that there was no tax levied for them, only they took free quarter, and sometimes a contribution upon the receiving of a new officer. And Woolfeldt said, that whereas all other Princes give wages to their officers and soldiers, the Duke gives no pay; but when he makes an officer, the officer pays money to the Duke for his commission; and that he knew a captain of horse who gave a thousand crowns for his commission, which the captain afterwards raised upon the country, and the Duke connived at it. He told how he was employed to treat with the Duke for the transportation of five thousand foot and three thousand horse into Ireland, to assist our King; which the Duke undertook on condition to have a hundred thousand crowns in ready money, and ships to transport his men from some haven in France, none of which could be effected.

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