Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 2 to 3, Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772; original at the National Library of the Netherlands (Het Koninklijke Bibliotheek)
The diary entry:
Much discourse was between Whitelocke, and his wife and friends, uppon yesterdayes newes; and how it should come to passe, that he should be named for this imployment, when another had bin named for it before, the lord viscount L'Isle, eldest son to the earle of Leycester, who had undertaken it. Whitelocke told them, that it was true, that in the long parlement, before it was invaded and broken by Cromwell's forces, (which was an act of no lesse imprudence and rashnes, than of insolence,) that the lord viscount L'Isle was named by that parlement, and voted to goe ambassador to Sweden; that he accepted of the imployment, and had begun to make some preparations for it. Butt Whitelocke told them withall, which they remembered, that before the lord viscount L'Isle was named, Whitelocke was named in that parlement to goe ambassador to Sweden; butt he was not then, nor is now, ambitious of that honor, but sollicited against it; and it was not then prosecuted, butt the lord viscount L'Isle named afterwards, who undertook the service, received money in part for the defraying of his expences: and how it should come to passe since, that he should be excused, and Whitelocke to be nominated for it, was hard to be apprehended. Whitelocke and his friends still expected to have further intelligence from London about this buisnes, butt none came: it being usuall for those gentlemen who voted his going to Sweden, to lett affayres remaine in suspence till called uppon by such as are more particularly concerned in them. Whitelocke held it not convenient for him (as yet) to take any notice of this vote of the councell, nor to hasten to London, butt continued in his retirement; though not a little interrupted therein by the letter from Mr. Earle, yett he injoyed his privacy and recreations.
With modernised spelling:
Much discourse was between Whitelocke and his wife and friends upon yesterday's news, and how it should come to pass that he should be named for this employment when another had been named for it before, the Lord Viscount Lisle, eldest son to the Earl of Leicester, who had undertaken it. Whitelocke told them that it was true that in the Long Parliament, before it was invaded and broken by Cromwell's forces (which was an act of no less imprudence and rashness than of insolence), that the Lord Viscount Lisle was named by that Parliament and voted to go ambassador to Sweden; that he accepted of the employment and had begun to make some preparations for it.
But Whitelocke told them withal, which they remembered, that before the Lord Viscount Lisle was named, Whitelocke was named in that Parliament to go ambassador to Sweden; but he was not then, nor is now, ambitious of that honour, but solicited against it; and it was not then prosecuted, but the Lord Viscount Lisle named afterwards, who undertook the service, received money in part for the defraying of his expenses; and how it should come to pass since that he should be excused, and Whitelocke to be nominated for it, was hard to be apprehended.
Whitelocke and his friends still expected to have further intelligence from London about this business, but none came, it being usual for those gentlemen who voted his going to Sweden to let affairs remain in suspense till called upon by such as are more particularly concerned in them. Whitelocke held it not convenient for him (as yet) to take any notice of this vote of the Council, nor to hasten to London, but continued in his retirement; though not a little interrupted therein by the letter from Mr. Earle, yet he enjoyed his privacy and recreations.
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Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
Note: Whitelocke's wife = Mary Carleton (or Wilson). They were married in 1651, she being Whitelocke's third wife.
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