been faithful in a little, but thou shalt be enjoyer of much; enter into thy Lord’s joy.’  And truly, Sir, you have been not a little in my thoughts to God for you; so hath it emboldened me thus to speak to God for you.  My soul and many more have been set a-praising God on your behalf, for that noble Christian testimony and dislike of that wicked custom of cup-health pledging; whereas a Christian’s health is God, and his cup salvation.  And blessed be the Lord, that did give you to dislike the ball of pleasure, and that the Lord of that day was so precious.  Go on nobly for the Lord; give your testimony against the wicked customs of a strange country or dying world; bear his image in all your transactions, and follow his steps who was the most glorious Ambassador that ever was; and in this motion the Lord fill your sails with his gales, make you holily successful, and give you to see your land and relations full of heavenly fruition, is the humble and hearty desire of one of the least sons of Zion, ready to serve the Lord in you or yours.

“JONATHAN PICKES.”

March 18, 1653.

Doctor Whistler made a copy of Latin verses upon the Queen’s abdication, which, for the ingenuity and fancy, were worthy the sight of a Prince; and Whitelocke sent them to the Queen, who was much taken with them.  Whitelocke was so pleased with those verses that, having a little leisure, himself turned them into English.[41]

Whitelocke having sent to know if the Queen were at leisure that he might wait upon her, she returned an excuse that she was not well:  she came away sick from the public schools, where she had been to grace the disputations of a young Swedish Baron with her presence.

[SN:  Effect of the peace with Holland.]

Senator Bundt visited Whitelocke, and discoursed with him in English, which he spake indifferently well, and was the only Swede he conversed with in that language.  Part of their discourse was to this effect:—­

Bundt. Mr. Beningen, the Holland Resident in this Court, acquainted me that his superiors have concluded the agreement with England:  only some provinces desire a more express inclusion of the King of Denmark than is yet contained in the articles; and they are much troubled that, being upon the conclusion of the treaty, you make so great preparations of war, and have so powerful a fleet at sea; and we here do much wonder what should be your design to have so strong a fleet, and so soon out at sea.

Wh. The design is for the defence of the Commonwealth; and it is our custom not to trust to the success of any treaties, which is uncertain, but to prepare for all events.  If the treaty be agreed, it will be religiously observed on our part, and the navy will be employed to scour the seas of pirates and enemies, that trade may be free and safe; and we always use in time of peace to have a fleet at sea; and if the war continue, we shall be the more ready, by the blessing of God, to maintain our right.  But what suspicion have you here of our navy?