to come they may be the more established, and remain firm as well by her Royal Majesty as also by the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the territories thereunto belonging, in the name of his Highness and the said Commonwealth, these presents, with the proper subscriptions of the hands of her Majesty and of his Highness, shall be subscribed, signed, and ratified.

“In confirmation of all these things which are above written, and for sufficient testimony thereof that on the part of her Royal Majesty our most clement Lady they shall be most religiously and fully observed, and be ratified within the time prefixed, we have subscribed these presents with our proper hands, and armed them with our seals.  Dated at Upsal, the 11th day of April, in the year 1654.

                                       “AXEL OXENSTIERN,
                                        “ERIC OXENSTIERN AXELIUS.”

MAY.

May 1, 1654.

[SN:  Preparations for departure.]

Lagerfeldt, Berkman, and the Syndic of Gothenburg, after dinner with Whitelocke, discoursed and advised him touching his departure.  Lagerfeldt said he believed the Queen would give Whitelocke audience on Friday next, before which time her presents would not be ready for Whitelocke and his company; he said also, that he heard the Prince intended to be in this town within a few days, and if it should be so, then it would be better for Whitelocke to stay here, and expect his coming hither to salute him here, than to go out of his way so far as to the Prince’s Court; in which matter Whitelocke said he would entreat the Queen’s advice.  Lagerfeldt said further, that the Queen had commanded some copper to be brought to Stockholm, and to be put aboard the ship where Whitelocke was to be embarked, or in some other ship as he should appoint, it being a present intended for him by the Queen.

The Syndic acquainted Whitelocke that the city of Gothenburg would send into England, to prepare there for an accord concerning traffic between the English merchants and that town, wherein they hoped to have the assistance of Whitelocke at his return to England, wherein he promised his advice and furtherance.

A Danish gentleman of quality and experience gave a visit to Whitelocke, advised him the way of his journey, and gave him good information touching Denmark, to be communicated to the Protector, as that the English merchants might pass the Sound without paying any tax, if the Protector would insist upon it.  Whitelocke, in drollery, asked him why he would discover these things to a stranger, which turn so much to the prejudice of his own country.  He answered that he did this to testify his respects to the Protector, and that he did not betray his country, but his country had betrayed him; and that was his country where he breathed and had present nourishment.[184]