Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated May 6/16 (Old Style), 1654

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 139 to 142, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772

https://books.google.com/books?id=wxAJAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=A+journal+of+the+Swedish+embassy&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjqge3X79jpAhWOtJ4KHc0NCyAQuwUwAXoECAEQBg#v=onepage&q=A%20journal%20of%20the%20Swedish%20embassy&f=false

Kristina's letter of May 3/13 or 4/14 (Old Style) giving 200 ship-pounds to Whitelocke is here:

https://kingkristina.blogspot.com/2021/11/kristinas-letter-for-bulstrode.html

The diary entry:

Lagerfeldt returned answear to Whitelocke of his motion to insert the words "serenissimi ac celsissimi domini" into the protector's title, that he had acquainted the chancellor with it, who also had communicated it to her majesty, and she willingly assented therunto; and it was inserted accordingly. ...

Secretary Canterstein brought to Whitelocke the queen's letters of the graunt of 200 ship-pownd of copper, for a present to him...

In the afternoone the master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke's house, and presented to him, from the queen, a hansome jewell; which was a case of gold, fayrly ennamelled, and having in the middest of it the picture of the queen, done to the life, and very like her: it was sett round about with twelve large diamonds, and severall smalle diamonds between the great ones. He told Whitelocke, that, by commaund of her majesty, he presented her picture to him; that she was sorry it was not made up so, as might have bin worthy of his reception; butt she desired, if he pleased, that he would doe her the honor to weare it for her sake, and to accept the picture in memory of the friend that sent it.

Whitelocke answeared, that the queen was pleased to bestow a great honor uppon him in this noble testimony of her favour to him, of which he acknowledged himselfe altogither unworthy; but her majesty's opinion was otherwise, as appeared by such a present as this: he did with all thankfullness accept it, and should with great contentment give himselfe occasion, by the honor of wearing it, to remember the more often her majesty and her favours to him, her servant; for which he desired the master to present his humble thankes unto her majesty.

After he had bin with Whitelocke, the master went to Whitelocke's two sons, and in the queen's name presented to each of them a chayne of gold of five linkes, and att the end of the chaine a medall of gold of the queen's picture; the chaynes and medalls were valued att 400 ducketts a-piece.

Then he presented in the queen's name to collonell Potley, to Dr. Whistler, to captain Beake, and Mr. Earle, to each of them a chayne of gold of four linkes, and att the end of each chayne, a medall of gold of the queen's picture; these chaynes and medalls were valued att 200 ducketts a-piece, or therabouts.

Then he presented in the queen's name to Mr. Stapleton, Mr. Ingelo, and Mr. de la Marche, to each of them a chayne of gold of three linkes, with a medall of gold of the queen's picture att the end of each chayne; the chaynes and medalls were valued att about 160 ducketts a-piece.

To Mr. Walker he presented a chayne and medall of gold of three linkes, shorter then the rest, of about the value of 130 ducketts; to captain Crispe, and to Mr. Swift, to each of them a chayne of gold of two linkes, with a medall of gold to each of them, of about the value [of] 100 ducketts a-piece.

Walker the steward, and Stapleton, gentleman of the horse to Whitelocke, were discontented, bicause their chaynes were not of four linkes a-piece; and they and others tooke exceptions bicause their chaynes were not so good and valuable as those given to Potley and Beake; so seditious a thing is gold: butt Whitelocke indeavoured to satisfy them, by the reasons why the chaynes of Potley and Beake were better then theirs; the one having bin an antient servant of this crowne, and the other being commaunder of the guards of the protector; and nothing was due to them, butt only the queen's free guift and bountey was in all of them, and, therfore, not to be excepted against by any of them. Notwithstanding this admonition, they mett and discoursed togither in discontent about this buisnes, and gave therby occasion of displeasure to Whitelocke.

Whitelocke being in the mood to take the aier, the holland resident came thither, where they walked and discoursed togither; and, in their returne, the resident and two of his gentlemen, Vorstius, and another, went in Whitelocke's coach, who brought the resident to his lodging, and there had a civill treatment, and found by discourse, that the resident was not well satisfyed with his being in this court.

Whitelocke did not hitherto make a visit to any person since he had received his presents from the queen, after which, in ceremonie, he must first visit her majesty to give her thankes, and then he is att liberty to visit others.

With modernised spelling:

Lagerfeldt returned answer to Whitelocke of his motion to insert the words "Serenissimi ac Celsissimi Domini" into the Protector's title, that he had acquainted the Chancellor with it, who also had communicated it to Her Majesty, and she willingly assented thereunto; and it was inserted accordingly. ...

Secretary Canthersten brought to Whitelocke the Queen's letters of the grant of 200 ship-pound of copper, for a present to him...

In the afternoon the Master of the Ceremonies came to Whitelocke's house and presented to him, from the Queen, a handsome jewel, which was a case of gold, fairly enamelled, and having in the midst of it the picture of the Queen, done to the life, and very like her; it was set round about with twelve large diamonds and several small diamonds between the great ones. He told Whitelocke that, by command of Her Majesty, he presented her picture to him, that she was sorry it was not made up so as might have been worthy of his reception; but she desired, if he pleased, that he would do her the honour to wear it for her sake and to accept the picture in memory of the friend that sent it.

Whitelocke answered that the Queen was pleased to bestow a great honour upon him in this noble testimony of her favour to him, of which he acknowledged himself altogether unworthy, but Her Majesty's opinion was otherwise, as appeared by such a present as this. He did with all thankfulness accept it and should with great contentment give himself occasion, by the honour of wearing it, to remember the more often Her Majesty and her favours to him, her servant, for which he desired the Master to present his humble thanks unto Her Majesty.

After he had been with Whitelocke, the Master went to Whitelocke's two sons, and in the Queen's name presented to each of them a chain of gold of five links, and at the end of the chain a medal of gold of the Queen's picture; the chains and medals were valued at 400 ducats apiece.

Then he presented in the Queen's name to Colonel Potley, to Dr. Whistler, to Captain Beake, and Mr. Earle to each of them a chain of gold of four links, and at the end of each chain a medal of gold of the Queen's picture; these chains and medals were valued at 200 ducats apiece or thereabouts.

Then he presented in the Queen's name to Mr. Stapleton, Mr. Ingelo, and Mr. de la Marche to each of them a chain of gold of three links, with a medal of gold of the Queen's picture at the end of each chain; the chains and medals were valued at about 160 ducats apiece.

To Mr. Walker he presented a chain and medal of gold of three links, shorter than the rest, of about the value of 130 ducats; to Captain Crispe and to Mr. Swift, to each of them a chain of gold of two links, with a medal of gold to each of them, of about the value [of] 100 ducats apiece.

Walker the steward, and Stapleton, gentleman of the horse to Whitelocke, were discontented because their chains were not of four links apiece; and they and others took exceptions because their chains were not so good and valuable as those given to Potley and Beake. So seditious a thing is gold, but Whitelocke endeavoured to satisfy them by the reasons why the chains of Potley and Beake were better than theirs, the one having bin an ancient servant of this Crown, and the other being commander of the guards of the Protector; and nothing was due to them but only the Queen's free gift and bounty was in all of them and therefore not to be excepted against by any of them. Notwithstanding this admonition, they met and discoursed together in discontent about this business, and gave thereby occasion of displeasure to Whitelocke.

Whitelocke being in the mood to take the air, the Holland resident came thither, where they walked and discoursed together; and, in their return, the resident and two of his gentlemen, Vorstius and another, went in Whitelocke's coach, who brought the resident to his lodging and there had a civil treatment, and found by discourse that the resident was not well satisfied with his being in this court.

Whitelocke did not hitherto make a visit to any person since he had received his presents from the Queen, after which, in ceremony, he must first visit Her Majesty to give her thanks, and then he is at liberty to visit others.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Coenraad van Beuningen, the Dutch ambassador.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.