"I shall desire to know the pleasure of my Lord Protector and Council, whether, in case I shall conclude those articles of amity and commerce, omitting the second, fifth, and seventh articles, if his Highness will be pleased to approve thereof. I confess my humble opinion is (unless I receive commands to the contrary) that in case the peace be concluded between us and Holland, and Denmark included, it will be no disadvantage to us to conclude the alliance here, omitting the second, fifth, and that part of the seventh article against which her Majesty objected, if she shall insist upon it. "Another point wherein I pray direction is upon the sixteenth article of your treaty with the Dutch, that either Commonwealth shall be comprehended, if they desire it, in treaties with other Princes, and notice to be given of such treaties; whether in case your treaty with the Dutch shall be agreed, that then notice ought to be given to them of the treaty with the Queen of Sweden, and the Dutch to be offered to be comprehended therein; or whether, the treaty here being begun before that with the Dutch concluded, there will be any cause to give such notice to them, or to give notice to the Queen of your treaty with the Dutch; which you will be pleased to consider. "I am very willing to hasten homewards when I may obtain my Lord's order; and that it will be no prejudice here to your service, as I conceive such a conclusion would not at all be. "I presume you have heard of the news at Antwerp, which is very fresh here this week, that the Archduke hath imprisoned the Duke of Lorraine in the castle of Antwerp, which caused the gates of the town to be shut; and that hath occasioned to your friends here the loss of the comfort of this week's letters from England, the post being stayed there, as I was certified from your Resident at Hamburg." Many despatches were made by Whitelocke to his friends in England, as his constant course was. _March 11, 1653._ [SN: Admiral Oxenstiern visits Whitelocke.] The Ricks-Admiral visited Whitelocke. He discoursed of the treaty here, and said that the Queen had not yet informed the Council of it in particular. He much inquired of the nobility of England, of the Earls and Barons, and of their privileges, and what rank their children had, and of the several orders of knights, and of their original; in which matters Whitelocke was able to give him some satisfaction. He told Whitelocke that the Duke of Lorraine was imprisoned for conspiring with the Count de Bassigni to betray three strong towns to the King of France. [SN: Interview with Prince Adolphus.]