Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated April 24/May 4 (Old Style), 1654

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 97 to 100, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772

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The diary entry excerpt:

Whitelocke waited on the queen to give her the wellcome home, and found her lodgings changed, leaving the better roomes for the prince; she excused her long stay out of town, and said she would now have no more delay in his buisnes, butt it should be forthwith dispatched. Whitelocke told her, that the chancellor and his son were not yett come to town; but he humbly thanked her majesty for the speed of her returne: she assured him that her chancellor and his son would be in town the next day, and that she should not have come to towne so soon butt for his buisnes, that the day after her chancellor's comming the articles might be signed.

She likewise discoursed with him about the secret article, that in case those heer should not performe justly with her, that then the protector should not be bound by this treaty. Whitelocke told her, that Woolfeldt and he had conference about it, and had fully considered it, and were both of opinion, that it would be unfitt for her majesty to make such an article, and it might turne to her prejudice; butt Whitelocke said, that if she pleased to write to the protector, and to leave her letters with Whitelocke to procure an answear from his highnes to her majesty, wherby his care for her good and assistance to her might appeare, and the letter to be fitt to be showed, it might be of more advantage to her then such a secret article, to which he was not impowred to assent, butt it must be remitted to the protector: and whither he would consent to it, in that way or not, was doubtfull; and when it should be knowne to those heer, it would be distastfull. Uppon this, the queen seemed fully satisfyed, as to the secret article to be layd aside, and not more thought on.

Whitelocke advised her as formerly touching her liberty, and not long continuing heer after her resignation; and she thanked him for his advice, and sayd, that in case those heer should not deale justly with her, she hoped she should find the protector a friend to her, and that she did putt herselfe uppon his nobleness and friendship.

Whitelocke told her, that the protector was a great lover and maintainer of justice and honor, and had a perticular affection to her majesty, which he believed she would find him ready to manifest uppon this or any other occasion, and find him a true friend to her; wherwith (poor lady!) she seemed much comforted, having brought her affayres to so low an ebbe as this was; and thus high was the protector's reputation heer.

As to the generall buisnes of the treaty with Whitelocke, she said, it would be fitt to have the articles signed to-morrowe, and that Whitelocke soon after should have his audience, and she would give order to have it done accordingly.

She asked Whitelocke if he would beare her company to take the aier, which he did; and she riding a horse managed to the great saddle, who was troublesome, she came into her coach, and caused Whitelocke to sitt in the same boote with her, that they might discourse the more privately. There were also in her coach the senator Rosenhaw, Grave Tot, and Steinbergh.

The queen freely told Whitelocke, that if he would not sell his horses, as she understood he would not, that yett she should take it for a favour, if he would lett her have one of his setts of coach horses, which would doe her great service in her intended journey, they being fitter for travayle then any she had. Whitelocke told her, they were all att her majesty's service; that he thought it not becoming him to sell them, butt if she pleased to accept them, she should freely have them; that he thought his black horses fittest for her, and best, and there were eight of them, and the other sett he intended to present unto the prince: "that", she said, "would be very well", and she kindly thanked him, and accepted of his complement.

Whitelocke also told the queen, that he had a smalle cabinet of glasses of spirits of waters, essences of excellent kinds, extracted; butt he believed that her majesty did not much esteem such things, and they were too inconsiderable to make a present of them to the queen mother, if she had any liking of them. The queen said, her mother was much pleased with such essences, and that she would send them to her from Whitelocke. He asked when he should bring them, and an english bible which he promised to the queen; she said, to-morrow if he pleased, and that att all times he should be wellcome to her.

With modernised spelling:

Whitelocke waited on the Queen to give her the welcome home and found her lodgings changed, leaving the better rooms for the Prince. She excused her long stay out of town and said she would now have no more delay in his business, but it should be forthwith dispatched. Whitelocke told her that the Chancellor and his son were not yet come to town, but he humbly thanked Her Majesty for the speed of her return. She assured him that her Chancellor and his son would be in town the next day and that she should not have come to town so soon but for his business, that the day after her Chancellor's coming the articles might be signed.

She likewise discoursed with him about the secret article, that in case those here should not perform justly with her, that then the Protector should not be bound by this treaty. Whitelocke told her that Ulfeldt and he had conference about it and had fully considered it, and were both of opinion that it would be unfit for Her Majesty to make such an article, and it might turn to her prejudice; but Whitelocke said that if she pleased to write to the Protector and to leave her letters with Whitelocke to procure an answer from His Highness to Her Majesty, whereby his care for her good and assistance to her might appear, and the letter to be fit to be showed, it might be of more advantage to her then such a secret article, to which he was not empowered to assent, but it must be remitted to the Protector; and whether he would consent to it in that way or not was doubtful, and when it should be known to those here, it would be distasteful.

Upon this the Queen seemed fully satisfied, as to the secret article to be laid aside and not more thought on.

Whitelocke advised her as formerly touching her liberty and not long continuing here after her resignation, and she thanked him for his advice and said that in case those here should not deal justly with her, she hoped she should find the Protector a friend to her and that she did put herself upon his nobleness and friendship.

Whitelocke told her that the Protector was a great lover and maintainer of justice and honour and had a particular affection to Her Majesty, which he believed she would find him ready to manifest upon this or any other occasion and find him a true friend to her, wherewith (poor lady!) she seemed much comforted, having brought her affairs to so low an ebb as this was; and thus high was the Protector's reputation here.

As to the general business of the treaty with Whitelocke, she said it would be fit to have the articles signed tomorrow and that Whitelocke soon after should have his audience, and she would give order to have it done accordingly.

She asked Whitelocke if he would bear her company to take the air, which he did; and she riding a horse managed to the great saddle, who was troublesome, she came into her coach and caused Whitelocke to sit in the same boot with her that they might discourse the more privately. There were also in her coach the senator Rosenhane, Grave Tott, and Steinberg.

The Queen freely told Whitelocke that if he would not sell his horses, as she understood he would not, that yet she should take it for a favour if he would let her have one of his sets of coach horses, which would do her great service in her intended journey, they being fitter for travel than any she had. Whitelocke told her they were all at Her Majesty's service, that he thought it not becoming him to sell them, but if she pleased to accept them, she should freely have them; that he thought his black horses fittest for her, and best, and there were eight of them; and the other set he intended to present unto the Prince. "That", she said, "would be very well", and she kindly thanked him and accepted of his compliment.

Whitelocke also told the Queen that he had a small cabinet of glasses of spirits of waters, essences of excellent kinds, extracted; but he believed that Her Majesty did not much esteem such things, and they were too inconsiderable to make a present of them to the Queen Mother, if she had any liking of them. The Queen said her mother was much pleased with such essences and that she would send them to her from Whitelocke. He asked when he should bring them and an English Bible which he promised to the Queen; she said tomorrow, if he pleased, and that at all times he should be welcome to her.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Maria Eleonora.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.

Note: Kristina was certainly an expert of sorts on her/his/their mother's love for essence waters. Sometime when she/he/they was six, seven or eight years old and desperately dehydrated from consistently refusing to drink beer or wine, she/he/they had been sneaking every evening after supper to drink the supply of rosewater that Maria Eleonora used for washing her face in the mornings, and it worked for a while until the mother got suspicious and one night the child got caught in the act by either a lady-in-waiting or a buffoon. Sadly, Kristina ended up getting birch-whipped and yelled at for it, but instead of crying, she/he/they said that without that rosewater she/he/they would have died from thirst. From then on she/he/they was finally allowed to drink a special water supply of their/his/their very own as well as the less alcoholic small beer, if only to save her/him/them from dehydration, but even after finally having her/his/their needs accommodated, Kristina still did not drink or even feel thirst unless it was overwhelming.