the nations, we have thought it necessary upon
this occasion to assure your Majesty that the present
change of affairs here hath made no alteration of the
good intentions on this side towards your Majesty
and your dominions; but that as we hold ourself
obliged, in the exercise of that power which God
and the people have entrusted us with, to endeavour
by all just and honourable means to hold a good
correspondence with our neighbours, so more particularly
with the Crown of Sweden, between whom and these
nations there hath always been a firm amity and strict
alliance; and therefore we have given instructions
to the said Lord Whitelocke, answerable to such
good desires, earnestly requesting your Majesty
to give unto him favourable audience as often
as he shall desire it, and full belief in what he shall
propound on the behalf of these dominions.
And so we heartily commend your Majesty and your
affairs to the Divine protection. Given at
Whitehall this 23rd of December, Old Style, 1653.
“Your
good friend,
“OLIVER
P.”
The following instructions were under the hand and private seal of the Protector:—
"An Instruction for B. Whitelocke,
Constable, etc., Ambassador
Extraordinary from the Commonwealth of England
to the Queen of
Sweden.
“Whereas you were lately sent in the quality of Ambassador Extraordinary from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England unto her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, for the renewing and contracting an alliance and confederation with that Queen and Crown, according to the commission and instructions you received from the said Parliament and the then Council of State; And whereas, since your departure hence, the then Parliament hath been dissolved, and the Government is settled and established in such a way that you will understand by letters from Mr. Thurloe, Secretary of the Council, who is directed to give unto you a full account hereof: Now lest the work you are upon (which is so necessary in itself to both the nations, and so sincerely desired on our part) should be interrupted or retarded by reason of the said change of affairs, and the question that may arise thereupon concerning the validity of your commission and instructions, I have thought fit, by advice of the Council, to write unto her Majesty new letters credential, a copy whereof you will receive herewith, which letters you are to present to the Queen. And you are also, by virtue of these presents, to let her Majesty know that the alteration of the Government here hath made no change in the good intentions on this side towards her Majesty and her dominions; but that she shall find the same readiness in me to maintain and increase all good intelligence and correspondence with that Queen and Crown as in any the former governors of these nations. And to that end you are hereby authorized to proceed in your present negotiation, and to endeavour to bring the treaty with her Majesty to a good conclusion