“I give you most hearty thanks for the papers, which are not only a comfort but very useful to me here.  I received formerly from you a copy of the Dutch articles, and if I did not return you thanks for them, I confess I forgot myself, and likewise if in one of my letters I did not acquaint you that the Queen had an intention (as she told me) of sending a congratulatory letter to my Lord the Protector; but how the direction of it was I know not, because I never saw it; but I take it as a particular favour to me, that his Highness was pleased to receive it, though it were not as it ought to have been, wherein he hath answered the respect of the Queen, who excepted against my credentials, but yet received them.

“I am exceeding glad of your good conclusion of the Dutch business, which, I am persuaded, will be of great advantage to our nation; and I look upon the issue of my business here being agreed before the issue of our treaty with the Dutch was known, to be both a particular respect to the Protector and Government, and less difficult than it would have been if transacted after our agreement with the Dutch.

    “They are much amused in these parts at our gallant fleet, and so
    early at sea; and I permit them all their conjectures, neither have
    they gained much allay of them from me by their inquisitiveness.

“I had a compliment sent me the last night from the Dutch Resident, that he hoped ere long to have an opportunity to come and visit me; I answered, that I should not be wanting in that civility which became me.

“I was entreated by the citizens of Stockholm to receive this suit
of theirs in the enclosed paper.

         &nb
sp;                                                 “B.  W.
    “April 21, 1654.  Upsal.”

April 22, 1654.

[SN:  University Library at Upsal.]

The French Resident visited Whitelocke, and, seeing him ready to go take the air, offered him his company, which Whitelocke could not refuse.  They went together to the Library of this University, where there are many good books, for the most part brought out of Germany; but it is not extraordinary, nor exceeding the public libraries in England and elsewhere.  One of Whitelocke’s gentlemen held it not exceeding his lord’s private library at his own house in England, as he affirmed to some of the scholars here, who were not pleased therewith, nor would easily believe that the English Ambassador’s library in his private house was to be compared to that of their University.

The keeper of this library is one Doctor Lovenius, there present, a learned and civil person, who hath published several books in print, touching the laws and government and antiquities of his country, in good Latin; and both himself and his works are worthy of esteem.  He was attending upon Whitelocke all the time of his being in the library and in the public places of the University, and informed him of such things as he inquired touching the same; and, to gratify their civility, Whitelocke sent them twenty of his own books which he had in his house, all of them English authors, as the Primate of Armagh’s works, Sir Henry Spelman, Selden, and others; which was a present very acceptable, and kindly received by the University from him.