Sources:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 1 to 2, Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772; original at the National Library of the Netherlands (Het Koninklijke Bibliotheek)
Julian/Gregorian Calendars - The University of Nottingham
The diary entry:
AUGUST 23, 1653.
THE lord commissioner Whitelocke being in Bedfordshire, att the house of his kind friend Mr. Cokaine, he received letters from London from his old and faithfull servant Mr. Daniell Earle; part of them were to this effect.
"When I waited on Sir Charles Oulsey, he was pleased to tell me, that you were named by the councell of state to goe ambassador into Sweden; and that my lord generall had undertaken to write to your lordship about it. I presume ere this you have heard from him."
With this Whitelocke was much surprised, it being altogither unexpected, and of vast concernment to him and his family, as well as to the publique; yett he shewed not much disturbance att the letter, butt communicated it to his wife, and some few friends then with him, whoe were unwilling to believe it: butt his wife was much disquieted, whom Whitelocke sought to comfort, and perswade to a constant submission to the will of God, and not to be troubled att this or any other ill newes; since none could doe any thing against them, or to the least prejudice of them, butt what God should permit, who would cause all things to worke togither for their good.
The letter was often read and paraphrased uppon, and severall meanings of it collected: butt Whitelocke saw it to be positive in the relation and newes, that he was named by the councell of state to go ambassador to Sweden; and the sence thereof was plaine, and too easy to be understood, though the grounds and occasions of this nomination were not expressed.
With modernised spelling:
August 23, 1653.
The Lord Commissioner Whitelocke being in Bedfordshire, at the house of his kind friend Mr. Cokaine, he received letters from London from his old and faithful servant Mr. Daniel Earle; part of them were to this effect.
"When I waited on Sir Charles Oulsey, he was pleased to tell me that you were named by the Council of State to go ambassador into Sweden; and that my Lord General had undertaken to write to Your Lordship about it. I presume ere this you have heard from him."
With this Whitelocke was much surprised, it being altogether unexpected and of vast concernment to him and his family, as well as to the public; yet he shewed not much disturbance att the letter, but communicated it to his wife and some few friends then with him, who were unwilling to believe it. But his wife was much disquieted, whom Whitelocke sought to comfort and persuade to a constant submission to the will of God and not to be troubled at this or any other ill news; since none could do anything against them, or to the least prejudice of them, but what God should permit, who would cause all things to work together for their good.
The letter was often read and paraphrased upon, and several meanings of it collected, but Whitelocke saw it to be positive in the relation and news that he was named by the Council of State to go ambassador to Sweden; and the sense thereof was plain and too easy to be understood, though the grounds and occasions of this nomination were not expressed.
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
Notes: The Julian (Old Style) calendar dates in use in England were ten days behind the corresponding Gregorian (New Style) dates; this would later shift to eleven days, and the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752. In 17th century England, the calendar year was also considered to begin on March 25.
ere this = before this.
Whitelocke's wife = Mary Carleton (or Wilson). They were married in 1651, she being Whitelocke's third wife.
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