“By the command of his Highness Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle were called in, and being come to the table, his Highness declared that the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke and themselves had been nominated by his Highness, and approved by the Council, to be Commissioners for the Great Seal; and his Highness did deliver unto the said Mr. Serjeant Widdrington and Mr. Lisle the said Great Seal; and then the oath appointed by the ordinance was read by the Clerk of the Council, and was taken by each of them.

“Ex^r W. JESSOP,
“Clerk of the Council.”

The Guinea Company sent by this packet a letter to Whitelocke of thanks for his care of their business, and that they could not buy the Swedes’ interest in Guinea, and referred the whole matter wholly to Whitelocke.

The examinations in the Court of Admiralty touching the ship ‘Charity,’ enclosed in Thurloe’s letters, made it appear that the Swedes had not injury done them, as they complained, and that the goods belonged to Hollanders, and not to the Swedes; but only coloured by the Hollanders under the name of Swedish ship and goods, though they were not so.  Whitelocke made use of these examinations as he saw cause, and found that Martin Thysen had an interest in these goods.

[SN:  Reception of the French Ambassador in London.]

The enclosed speech of the French Ambassador to the Protector was full of compliment, giving him the title of “Serene Altesse,” and as much as could be well offered by the French, seeming to desire a league and amity with the Protector.  The Ambassador was received with great state and solemnity, answerable to the honour of his master the King of France, with whom the Protector had a good mind to close at this time, the rather to frustrate the hopes of the King of Scots of assistance from thence, where he was now entertained, caressed, and made believe he should have all aid and furtherance for his restitution, which the Protector sought to prevent by the interest of the Cardinal Mazarin, whose creature this Ambassador was.

May 5, 1654.

[SN:  The Queen’s presents to Whitelocke and his suite.]

Lagerfeldt acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen intended to gratify him with a gift of as great value as had been bestowed upon any ambassador before; and that she having received from Whitelocke many brave horses and many native goods of England, and Whitelocke having undertaken, at his return to England, to provide for her Majesty several other commodities, she held it reasonable to requite him with some commodities of this country, if Whitelocke thought fit to accept of them.  Whitelocke answered that it did not become him to prescribe bounds to her Majesty’s favour, but only to refer himself to the Queen’s judgement herein.  Lagerfeldt replied that the Queen intended to bestow her gift upon him in copper, and gave order that it should be put aboard a ship, to be consigned by him to some of his friends at London, or as he pleased to dispose it.