After the great toil of this busy day, a yet greater toil must be undergone by Whitelocke to make his despatches for England.  By his letters to Thurloe he again acquainted the Council with the good conclusion of his treaty, and with his taking leave of the Queen in his last audience; and sent him copies of the speeches, and gave an account of the business of Guinea, with all material passages since his last letters, and his resolution and way of return home.  He also answered the letters of every one of his friends, which were very many; but that to his wife, as he was afterwards informed, caused much trouble and passion, that by this date of the letter, 12th May, she perceived that he was not removed from Upsal in his journey to return homewards.

May 13, 1654.

[SN:  Whitelocke takes leave of his friends.]

Whitelocke began his visits and compliments to take his leave of his friends in this Court; and herein he was to be very exact, and not to omit any one who had given him the honour of former visits.  He, to be the less subject to mistakes, set down in writing the names of those whom he was to visit, which made a long catalogue; but he must get through it, as part of the business of an ambassador.  And this day he began by visiting the French and Holland Residents, and the Grave Leonhough, whose discourses were concerning the peace between England and the Dutch, the English strong fleet at sea, of the Queen’s resignation, and other general themes not necessary to be repeated.

[SN:  The Sound Dues.]

Woolfeldt gave a visit to Whitelocke and discoursed on the same subjects, but more particularly of the interest of England and the payment of toll to the King of Denmark at the Sound, wherein Whitelocke had good information from him, and such as, if it had been hearkened unto, would have been of great advantage to the Protector and Commonwealth of England.  So great an interest Whitelocke had gained in the affection and friendship of this gentleman, that he would not conceal from him anything that he knew, who knew more than any other that Whitelocke met with concerning the Sound, the King of Denmark, the Court and courtiers here, or whatsoever related to Whitelocke’s business and to England.

May 14, 1654.

This Lord’s Day Sir George Fleetwood did Whitelocke the favour to bear him company at his house, and told him that the Queen and her Lords were pleased with his deportment at his last audience, and with his speech then made, which they commended, but is here omitted.  He and others also acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen took great pleasure at his carriage at the solemnity of the nuptials at Court, and that he would dance with them; and both the Queen and her courtiers said that the English Ambassador knew how to lay aside the gravity of an ambassador when he pleased, and could play the courtier with as good a grace as any one that ever they saw, with much to the like effect.