Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 5 to 8, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772
The diary entry:
The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the queen to excuse Whitelocke's not having had audiences when he desired them; which, he said, was bicause her majesty had bin so full of buisnes, which had hindred her, and perticularly bicause of the holydayes; butt, he said, if Whitelocke pleased to have his audience to-morrowe, the queen would be glad to see him. Whitelocke desired the master to returne his thankes to her majesty for her favours, and to lett her know, that he should be ready to attend her att such time as she should appoint: the master said, he would acquaint her majesty heerwith, and so went away in the midst of dinner.
The lord Douglas, a Scottsman, came to visit Whitelocke: he is an antient servant to this crowne, he was a page to king Gustavus Adolphus, and by him preferred to military commaund; wherin he quitted himselfe so well, that he was promoted to be generall of the horse, and was now a baron and ricks-stalle master, or master of the horse, in Sweden.
He excused himselfe that he had not oftener visited Whitelocke, being hindred by his sicknes of an ague, which had held him thirty weeks, and had not yett left him. He said, that the next day after his arrivall heer, the queen asked him, if he had bin to see the english ambassador, and that Whitelocke was much obliged to the queen for her good opinion of him: wherof, Whitelocke said, he had received many testimonies, and of her respects to the protector and common-wealth, as well as to their servant.
Douglas said, that, besides her respect to the protector, she had a perticular respect for Whitelocke; with much discourse of that nature.
He then went to visite his old camerade colonell Potley, who was ill and kept his chamber.
He fell uppon the discourse, that it would be convenient for Whitelocke to stay heer till the coronation of the new king, that the treaty might be concluded by him: to which the same answears were given by Whitelocke, as he had before given to the master of the ceremonies.
Whilest the lord Douglas was in Whitelocke's house, Grave Eric came to Whitelocke, by commaund of the queen, to excuse the delay of his buisnes, and that some of his audiences had bin remitted: he said, her majesty had bin informed by the master of the ceremonies, that Whitelocke should say, he had demaunded audiences three times, and could not obtaine one. Whitelocke answeared, that there was a little mistake therin, though there was something neer it, and said, it was not his desire to occasion trouble to her majesty.
Eric answeared, that the queen desired Whitelocke would excuse her by reason of the holy-dayes, during which time, they did not use, in this countrey, to treate of any buisnes, and that the queen had likewise many other hinderances; butt that, whensoever it should please Whitelocke to come to her majesty, he would be very wellcome. ...
Piementelle sent to Whitelocke to move the queen to graunt her pardon to a Swede who had killed another, for which, by the law, he was to dye; and Piementelle offered to second Whitelocke, if he would intreat the queen for her pardon to the homicide.
Whitelocke desired to be excused heerin, alleadging, that he being a publique minister, it was not proper for him, nor for Piementelle, to interpose with her majesty in a matter of this nature, and perticularly touching her own subjects, and in a matter of bloud; butt this denyall Piementelle seemed to take ill, and to be more strange to Whitelocke afterwards.
The holy-dayes being past, Piementelle had his audience appointed this day to take his leave of the queen: Whitelocke sent his son James, and some others of his gentlemen, to be present att it, who reported to Whitelocke, that Piementelle spake to the queen in spanish, and that she answeared him in swedish, which was interpreted by Grave Tott; that Piementelle observed very much ceremony, and when he made his publique harangue to the queen, he grew very pale and trembled, which was strange for a man of his parts, and who had bin so frequent in his conversation with her majesty: butt, some said, it was a high complement, acted by the Spanyard to the life, to please the queen, who tooke delight to be thought, by her majesty and presence, to putt a dread and daunting uppon foreiners; which, in a trueth, she was noted often to doe, when publique ministers had their audiences in solemnity with her majesty.
With modernised spelling for easier reading:
The Master of the Ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the Queen to excuse Whitelocke's not having had audiences when he desired them, which he said was because Her Majesty had been so full of business which had hindered her, and particularly because of the holidays; but, he said, if Whitelocke pleased to have his audience tomorrow, the Queen would be glad to see him. Whitelocke desired the Master to return his thanks to Her Majesty for her favours and to let her know that he should be ready to attend her at such time as she should appoint. The Master said he would acquaint Her Majesty herewith, and so went away in the midst of dinner.
The Lord Douglas, a Scotsman, came to visit Whitelocke. He is an ancient servant to this Crown; he was a page to King Gustavus Adolphus, and by him preferred to military command, wherein he quitted himself so well that he was promoted to be General of the Horse, and was now a baron and Rixstall-master, or Master of the Horse, in Sweden.
He excused himself that he had not oftener visited Whitelocke, being hindered by his sickness of an ague, which had held him thirty weeks and had not yet left him. He said that the next day after his arrival here, the Queen asked him if he had been to see the English ambassador, and that Whitelocke was much obliged to the Queen for her good opinion of him; whereof Whitelocke said he had received many testimonies, and of her respects to the Protector and Commonwealth, as well as to their servant.
Douglas said that, besides her respect to the Protector, she had a particular respect for Whitelocke, with much discourse of that nature.
He then went to visit his old comrade Colonel Potley, who was ill and kept his chamber.
He fell upon the discourse that it would be convenient for Whitelocke to stay here till the coronation of the new king, that the treaty might be concluded by him, to which the same answers were given by Whitelocke as he had before given to the Master of the Ceremonies.
Whilst the Lord Douglas was in Whitelocke's house, Grave Erik came to Whitelocke, by command of the Queen, to excuse the delay of his business, and that some of his audiences had been remitted. He said Her Majesty had been informed by the Master of the Ceremonies that Whitelocke should say he had demanded audiences three times and could not obtain one. Whitelocke answered that there was a little mistake therein, though there was something near it, and said it was not his desire to occasion trouble to Her Majesty.
Erik answered that the Queen desired Whitelocke would excuse her by reason of the holidays, during which time they did not use, in this country, to treat of any business, and that the Queen had likewise many other hindrances, but that, whensoever it should please Whitelocke to come to Her Majesty, he would be very welcome. ...
Pimentel sent to Whitelocke to move the Queen to grant her pardon to a Swede who had killed another, for which, by the law, he was to die; and Pimentel offered to second Whitelocke if he would entreat the Queen for her pardon to the homicide.
Whitelocke desired to be excused herein, alleging that, he being a public minister, it was not proper for him, nor for Pimentel, to interpose with Her Majesty in a matter of this nature, and particularly touching her own subjects, and in a matter of blood; but this denial Pimentel seemed to take ill, and to be more strange to Whitelocke afterwards.
The holidays being past, Pimentel had his audience appointed this day to take his leave of the Queen. Whitelocke sent his son James, and some others of his gentlemen, to be present at it, who reported to Whitelocke that Pimentel spake to the Queen in Spanish and that she answered him in Swedish, which was interpreted by Grave Tott; that Pimentel observed very much ceremony, and when he made his public harangue to the Queen, he grew very pale and trembled, which was strange for a man of his parts, and who had been so frequent in his conversation with Her Majesty. But, some said, it was a high complement, acted by the Spaniard to the life to please the Queen, who took delight to be thought, by her majesty and presence, to put a dread and daunting upon foreigners, which, in a truth, she was noted often to do when public ministers had their audiences in solemnity with Her Majesty.
_-_Livrustkammaren_-_91525.tif.jpg)
Above: Kristina.
Above: Erik Oxenstierna.
Above: Antonio Pimentel.
Above: Claes Tott.
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Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
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