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
After the Resident was gone, Lagerfeldt discoursed with Whitelocke about
the treaty, particularly of the new proposals showed him by Grave Eric.
Whitelocke gave the same answers to Lagerfeldt as he had done to Eric:
then Lagerfeldt said, that by command of the Queen, he was to tender to
Whitelocke a copy of articles. Whitelocke asked if they were the same
that Grave Eric yesterday imparted to him, and whether Lagerfeldt had any
speech with the Queen this day about them. Lagerfeldt said they were
altered in some part, so as to make them the more acceptable to
Whitelocke, and that he had a few words with the Queen about them.
This caused Whitelocke to marvel that the Queen should pretend to him
that she was sick, and therefore put off the audience which he desired
this day, and yet her Majesty found herself well enough to peruse and
debate with Lagerfeldt these articles; but he said nothing thereof to
others, only made thereof his own observations and use, as he saw
occasion. Lagerfeldt and he perused these new articles, and had much
discourse upon them, and in effect the same as with Grave Eric.
[SN: Whitelocke's amusements in his household.]
In the long winter-nights here, Whitelocke thought fit to give way to
some passages of diversion to please his people, and to keep them
together in his house, and from temptations to disorder and debauchery in
going abroad, besides the danger of the streets in being late out. He
therefore had music, both instrumental and vocal, in concert, performed
by those of his own family, who were some of them excellent in that art,
and himself sometimes bore his part with them. He also gave way to their
exercise and pleasure of dancing in his great chamber, that he might be
present at it, and admitted no undecent postures, but seemly properties
of habits in their shows. He encouraged public disputations in Latin
among the young men who were scholars, himself present in the great
chamber, and appointing a moderator; and this exercise they found useful
and pleasant, and improving their language. To this end likewise they had
public declamations in Latin, himself giving them the question, as "an
quodcunque evenerit sit optimum," etc., so that his house was like an
academy.
_March 23, 1653._
[SN: Whitelocke again negotiates with the Queen.]
Whitelocke attended the Queen; and after some discourses of pleasantries,
they fell upon the treaty, and Whitelocke said to her:--
_Whitelocke._ My business, Madam, is now brought to a conclusion.
_Queen._ Is it to your liking?
_Wh._ Pardon me, Madam, if I say it is not at all to my liking; for in
the articles which Grave Eric sent me there were many particulars to
which I could not agree, and I much wondered to receive such articles
from him, being persuaded that your Majesty was before satisfied by me in
most of the particulars in them.
_Qu._ What are those particulars?