“Another point wherein I pray direction is upon the sixteenth article of your treaty with the Dutch, that either Commonwealth shall be comprehended, if they desire it, in treaties with other Princes, and notice to be given of such treaties; whether in case your treaty with the Dutch shall be agreed, that then notice ought to be given to them of the treaty with the Queen of Sweden, and the Dutch to be offered to be comprehended therein; or whether, the treaty here being begun before that with the Dutch concluded, there will be any cause to give such notice to them, or to give notice to the Queen of your treaty with the Dutch; which you will be pleased to consider.

    “I am very willing to hasten homewards when I may obtain my Lord’s
    order; and that it will be no prejudice here to your service, as I
    conceive such a conclusion would not at all be.

“I presume you have heard of the news at Antwerp, which is very fresh here this week, that the Archduke hath imprisoned the Duke of Lorraine in the castle of Antwerp, which caused the gates of the town to be shut; and that hath occasioned to your friends here the loss of the comfort of this week’s letters from England, the post being stayed there, as I was certified from your Resident at Hamburg.”

Many despatches were made by Whitelocke to his friends in England, as his constant course was.

March 11, 1653.

[SN:  Admiral Oxenstiern visits Whitelocke.]

The Ricks-Admiral visited Whitelocke.  He discoursed of the treaty here, and said that the Queen had not yet informed the Council of it in particular.  He much inquired of the nobility of England, of the Earls and Barons, and of their privileges, and what rank their children had, and of the several orders of knights, and of their original; in which matters Whitelocke was able to give him some satisfaction.  He told Whitelocke that the Duke of Lorraine was imprisoned for conspiring with the Count de Bassigni to betray three strong towns to the King of France.

[SN:  Interview with Prince Adolphus.]

Whitelocke visited Prince Adolphus, who also discoursed of his business, as others did.  Whitelocke told him of his long being here without any answer.  The Prince said, the Queen’s designs to introduce a mutation might cause it.  Whitelocke said he believed that the amity of England deserved so much regard as to be embraced; and that it would be all one whether the treaty should be agreed upon by the Queen or by her successor, for it concerned the people and State of both nations; and he presumed that if the Queen should consent to it, that his Highness’s brother would have the like good opinion of it.  The Prince said it would be most agreeable to his brother, who very much respected the English nation, as generally the Swedish people did.  He said that he never was present at the Council, nor did meddle with any public business; but he doubted not but that Whitelocke would receive contentment.  Whitelocke said he promised himself so much, being the Protector had sent him hither to testify his respects to the Queen and to the kingdom of Sweden, and to offer them the amity of England.