Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 8 to 11; page 476 (appendix), by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772
The diary entry:
One of the queen's lacquayes came to Whitelocke's house, in dinner time, to desire him from the queen to come to her att two a'clocke. Whitelocke was a little sensible of the quality of the messenger, and therfore himselfe would not speak with him, butt sent his answear by one of his servants, and accordingly waited on the queen.
He was mett att the guard-chamber by Grave Tott, and divers of the queen's servants, with more solemnity then ordinary, and presently brought to the queen.
After her excuse of his not having had audiences, she fell into discourse of his buisnes: Whitelocke presented to her a forme of articles, according to his own observations uppon those articles he had formerly given in, and uppon those he received from Grave Eric.
Theruppon the queen said to him, "you will not consent to any one of my articles, butt insist uppon all your owne." Whitelocke showed her wherin he had consented to divers of her articles, and for what reasons he could not agree to the rest; they had much discourse uppon the whole, to the same effect as hath bin before remembred.
The queen told Whitelocke, that if those articles should not be concluded, that, nevertheless, the amity between the two nations might be continued. Whitelocke answeared, that it would be no great testimony of amity, nor proofe of respect, to the protector and common-wealth, to send back their servant, after so long attendance, without effecting any thing.
The queen said, she would dispatch his buisnes within a few dayes, and, she hoped, to his contentment. Whitelocke told her, it was in her majesty's power to doe it; that he could not stay untill the change wherof people discoursed, and that he had her majesty's promise for his dispatch, which he knew she would not breake.
Then the queen fell into other discourses, and, in perticular, of poetry; which occasion Whitelocke tooke to shew her a coppy of latin verses, made by an english gentleman, a friend of Whitelocke's, and sent over to him hither, and which he had now about him, and knew that such diversions were pleasing to the queen.
Att his leisure howers, Whitelocke turned these verses into english, which ran thus:
"To the most illustrious, and most excellent lord, the lord Whitelocke, ambassador extraordinary to the most serene queen of Sweden. An Ode.
Whitelocke, delight of Mars, the ornament
Of gowne men, from thy countrey being sent,
Tribunalls languish, Thernis sad is led,
Sighing unter her mourning widdowes bed:
Without thee suitors in thick crowdes doe run,
Tribunalls languish, Thernis sad is led,
Sighing unter her mourning widdowes bed:
Without thee suitors in thick crowdes doe run,
Sowing perpetuall strife, which once begun,
Till happy fate thee home againe shall send,
Those sharpe contentions will have no end.
Butt through the snowy seas, and northern wayes,
Till happy fate thee home againe shall send,
Those sharpe contentions will have no end.
Butt through the snowy seas, and northern wayes,
When the remoter sun made shortest dayes;
Ore tops of craggy mountains, paths untrode,
Where untam'd creatures only make abode.
Ore tops of craggy mountains, paths untrode,
Where untam'd creatures only make abode.
Thy love to thy deare countrey hath thee brought
Ambassador from England; thou hast sought
The swedish confines buryed in frost,
Straight wilt thou see the french and spanish coast;
And them fast bind to thy lov'd Britanny,
In a perpetuall league of amity.
So wilt thou arbitrator be of peace,
Her pious author; thou wilt cause to cease
Straight wilt thou see the french and spanish coast;
And them fast bind to thy lov'd Britanny,
In a perpetuall league of amity.
So wilt thou arbitrator be of peace,
Her pious author; thou wilt cause to cease
The sound of war, our ears it shall not pierce;
Thou wilt be chancellor of the universe.
Christina, that sweet nimph, no longer shall
Detaine thee, be thou carefull not to fall,
Prudent Ulisses under those delights,
To which the learned Circes thee flowe,
Thy friends call for thee home, and they doe knowe
New ambassyes; affayres abroade, att home
Require thy service, stay till thou do'st come.
Thou keeper of the seale, do'st take away
Forein contentions; thou do'st cause to stay
The warres of princes: shutt thou Janus gate,
The queen was much delighted with these, and other verses, which Whitelocke showed her, read them over severall times, and desired coppyes of them, which Whitelocke sent her: and, in this good humor, she wished Whitelocke to leave with her a coppy of his articles, as he had now revised them, and to come to her againe the next day; when she would give him a further answear, and, she hoped, to his contentment. ...
Require thy service, stay till thou do'st come.
Thou keeper of the seale, do'st take away
Forein contentions; thou do'st cause to stay
The warres of princes: shutt thou Janus gate,
Ambassador of peace to every state."
The queen was much delighted with these, and other verses, which Whitelocke showed her, read them over severall times, and desired coppyes of them, which Whitelocke sent her: and, in this good humor, she wished Whitelocke to leave with her a coppy of his articles, as he had now revised them, and to come to her againe the next day; when she would give him a further answear, and, she hoped, to his contentment. ...
With modernised spelling for easier reading:
One of the Queen's lackeys came to Whitelocke's house, in dinner time, to desire him from the Queen to come to her at two o'clock. Whitelocke was a little sensible of the quality of the messenger and therefore himself would not speak with him, but sent his answer by one of his servants and accordingly waited on the Queen.
He was met at the guardchamber by Grave Tott, and diverse of the Queen's servants, with more solemnity than ordinary, and presently brought to the Queen.
After her excuse of his not having had audiences, she fell into discourse of his business. Whitelocke presented to her a form of articles, according to his own observations upon those articles he had formerly given in, and upon those he received from Grave Erik.
Thereupon the Queen said to him: "You will not consent to any one of my articles, but insist upon all your own." Whitelocke showed her wherein he had consented to diverse of her articles, and for what reasons he could not agree to the rest; they had much discourse upon the whole, to the same effect as hath been before remembered.
The Queen told Whitelocke that if those articles should not be concluded, that nevertheless the amity between the two nations might be continued. Whitelocke answered that it would be no great testimony of amity, nor proof of respect, to the Protector and Commonwealth to send back their servant after so long attendance without effecting anything.
The Queen said she would despatch his business within a few days, and, she hoped, to his contentment. Whitelocke told her it was in Her Majesty's power to do it, that he could not stay untill the change whereof people discoursed, and that he had Her Majesty's promise for his despatch, which he knew she would not break.
Then the Queen fell into other discourses and, in particular, of poetry, which occasion Whitelocke took to shew her a copy of Latin verses, made by an English gentleman, a friend of Whitelocke's and sent over to him hither, and which he had now about him, and knew that such diversions were pleasing to the Queen.
At his leisure hours, Whitelocke turned these verses into English, which ran thus:
"To the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord, the Lord Whitelocke, Ambassador Extraordinary to the Most Serene Queen of Sweden. An ode.
Whitelocke, delight of Mars, the ornament
Of gown men, from thy country being sent,
Tribunals languish, Thernis sad is led,
Sighing under her mourning widow's bed:
Without thee suitors in thick crowds do run,
Sowing perpetual strife, which once begun,
Till happy fate thee home again shall send,
Those sharp contentions will have no end.
Without thee suitors in thick crowds do run,
Sowing perpetual strife, which once begun,
Till happy fate thee home again shall send,
Those sharp contentions will have no end.
But through the snowy seas and northern ways,
When the remoter sun made shortest days;
O're tops of craggy mountains, paths untrode,
Where untam'd creatures only make abode.
Thy love to thy dear country hath thee brought
Ambassador from England; thou hast sought
When the remoter sun made shortest days;
O're tops of craggy mountains, paths untrode,
Where untam'd creatures only make abode.
Thy love to thy dear country hath thee brought
Ambassador from England; thou hast sought
The Swedish confines buried in frost,
Straight wilt thou see the French and Spanish coast;
And them fast bind to thy lov'd Brittany,
In a perpetual league of amity.
So wilt thou arbitrator be of peace,
Her pious author; thou wilt cause to cease
Straight wilt thou see the French and Spanish coast;
And them fast bind to thy lov'd Brittany,
In a perpetual league of amity.
So wilt thou arbitrator be of peace,
Her pious author; thou wilt cause to cease
The sound of war, our ears it shall not pierce;
Thou wilt be chancellor of the universe.
Kristina, that sweet nymph, no longer shall
Detain thee, be thou careful not to fall,
Prudent Ulysses under those delights,
Thou wilt be chancellor of the universe.
Kristina, that sweet nymph, no longer shall
Detain thee, be thou careful not to fall,
Prudent Ulysses under those delights,
To which the learned Circes thee flow,
New ambassies; affaires abroad, at home
Require thy service, stay till thou dost come.
Require thy service, stay till thou dost come.
Thy friends call for thee home, and they do know
Thou keeper of the Seal, dost take away
Foreign contentions; thou dost cause to stay
The wars of princes: shut thou Janus gate,
Ambassador of peace to every state."
Thou keeper of the Seal, dost take away
Foreign contentions; thou dost cause to stay
The wars of princes: shut thou Janus gate,
Ambassador of peace to every state."
The Queen was much delighted with these and other verses, which Whitelocke showed her, read them over several times, and desired copies of them, which Whitelocke sent her; and, in this good humour, she wished Whitelocke to leave with her a copy of his articles, as he had now revised them, and to come to her again the next day, when she would give him a further answer, and, she hoped, to his contentment. ...
The Latin original of the poem:
Ad Illustrissimum et Excellentissimum Dominum, Dominum Whitelocke, legatum Angliæ Extraordinarium apud Serenissimam Sueciæ Reginam. ODE.
VITLOCE, Martis deliciæ, decus
Gentis legatæ; te sine, languidum
Mœret tribunal, et cubili
In viduo Themis ingemiscit.
Denso cientes agmine cursitant,
Et sempiternas te sine consuunt
Lites, neq; hic discordiarum
Finis erit, nisi tu revertas.
Et sempiternas te sine consuunt
Lites, neq; hic discordiarum
Finis erit, nisi tu revertas.
Sed te nivosum per mare, per vias
Septentrionum, per juga montium,
Inhospitates per recessus
Duxit amor patriæ decorus.
Septentrionum, per juga montium,
Inhospitates per recessus
Duxit amor patriæ decorus.
Legatus oras jam sueonum vides
Bruma sepultas; mox quoq; Galliam,
Hispaniam mox cum Britannis
Fœdere perpetuo ligabis.
Bruma sepultas; mox quoq; Galliam,
Hispaniam mox cum Britannis
Fœdere perpetuo ligabis.
Sic pacis author, sic pius arbiter
Gentes per omnes qua sonuit tuba
Dicere; cancellariusq;
Orbis eris simul universi.
Gentes per omnes qua sonuit tuba
Dicere; cancellariusq;
Orbis eris simul universi.
Christina dulcis nympha diutiùs
Ne te moretur: qui merito cluis
Prudens Ulysses, sperne doctæ
Popula deliciasq; Circes.
Ne te moretur: qui merito cluis
Prudens Ulysses, sperne doctæ
Popula deliciasq; Circes.
Te casta tentum Penelope vocat,
Vocant animi, teq; aliæ vocant
Legationes, te requirunt
Ardua multa domi forisq;
Vocant animi, teq; aliæ vocant
Legationes, te requirunt
Ardua multa domi forisq;
Custos sigilli tu dirimes cito
Pugnas forenses, Bellaq; principum
Legatus idem terminabis
Tu (sera candida) claude fanum.
Above: Kristina.
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Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
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