A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. — John Locke — John Shaqi
A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
"Having received no letters by the post yesterday from England, I
was contented to seal the articles of our treaty; for if but a few
days should be intermitted, they could not have been signed at all,
because upon Tuesday next the Ricksdag, or Parliament here, is
appointed to meet, and within two or three days after their meeting
the Queen intends to resign her Government, and it will be some time
after before the Prince be crowned. I shall have much to do to
despatch the necessary ceremonies here of my public audience, to
take my leave of the Queen, with the many visits I am to perform,
according to the custom to which I am to conform, in regard of the
honour of his Highness and our nation; for he who neglects these
ceremonies here is censured for a mechanic or a boor. I intend from
hence to go to the Prince of Sweden, to salute him from my Lord
Protector, as I am advised that the Prince expects and desires it.
From thence I purpose to go to Stockholm, where I am to take ship
for Luebeck; and from thence to Hamburg, where I shall attend his
Highness's further commands, or some ships to be sent for my
transport into England, which I earnestly entreat you to procure in
time.
"I hope, before my going from hence, to receive his Highness's
order, which I long since wrote for, concerning my return; but
however, my business being effected here, I presume I may, without
displeasure to his Highness, be upon my return homewards; the
rather, because upon the change which is shortly to be here my
commission will be at an end.
"The Queen intends, shortly after her resignation, to go to the Spa,
which I have cause to believe. In those parts they say the King of
the Romans will wait upon her, but that I doubt.
"Her Majesty hath showed extraordinary affection and respect to my
Lord Protector; so hath the Chancellor and his son Grave Eric, and
my Lord Lagerfeldt, etc."
[SN: Whitelocke's interview with the Queen after the signing of the
treaty.]
Whitelocke waited on the Queen, and gave her an account of the signing
and sealing of his articles; whereupon she said:--
_Queen._ I am glad that this business is done to your satisfaction.
_Whitelocke._ There remains only your Majesty's sealing your letters of
full power to your Commissioners who treated with me.
_Qu._ I sealed them this morning.
_Wh._ Then my humble suit is, that your Majesty would appoint a day for
my audience to take my leave.
_Qu._ This is Saturday, but if you desire it you may have it on Friday
next.
_Wh._ Would your Majesty's leisure permit to give me audience on Tuesday
or Wednesday next, they being no holidays?
_Qu._ The Assembly is to sit on Tuesday, and at their first meeting I
shall have a great deal of business with them, which will hinder me from
any other affairs.