Bundt. We suppose it may be employed to open the passage of the Sound, and make the trade and navigation there free.

Wh. The hindrance of navigation there is more prejudicial{2} to Sweden than to England.  We can have our commodities at Gothenburg and in other places, without passing the Baltic Sea.

Bundt. Many amongst us know not what to think of your fleet, and it troubles some.

Wh. I hope we shall be in nearer amity, and then you will be pleased at it.  Have the Senators consulted about the matters of my treaty, or of remitting it to the new King?

Bundt. We have not advised any such thing, but believe the best way for effecting your business will be by the Queen herself; and if any tell you the contrary, they are much mistaken in the affairs of this kingdom, and do not give you a right understanding of them.

This being wholly contrary to what was informed by Monsieur Bloome, the Chancellor’s creature, caused Whitelocke the more to mind it, and endeavour to obviate that prejudice of delay to his business; and finding by this discourse with Bundt how much the Dutch Resident and others here were amused at the English fleet now at sea, he made use thereof, and gave advice of it to his superiors in England.

March 19, 1653.

[SN:  Intrigues of the Dutch Resident against Whitelocke.]

Whitelocke sent to inquire of the Queen’s health; and it being the Lord’s Day, she was in her chapel.  Divers English and Scots of the town came to Whitelocke’s house to hear sermons there; and among them was Monsieur Ravius, who acquainted Whitelocke that one of the Queen’s chaplains asked Ravius how long Whitelocke intended to stay in Sweden.  Ravius said he would shortly return to his own country.  The chaplain replied, he did not believe that, but he thought Whitelocke would stay here a long time, and that he durst not return to England because of the displeasure of the Protector against him.  And when he was answered that Whitelocke came hither not in the posture of a man out of favour, and that the Protector since his accession to the Government had sent him new credentials, and expressed much favour to him, and sent to be certified what respect the Queen gave him, the chaplain replied that Whitelocke was sent hither purposely to be removed out of England, and because he had been of the former Parliament; to which Ravius said, that many who were of the former Parliament were now in public offices, as Whitelocke was.

There was cause to believe that this and many the like stories were feigned by the Holland Resident and other enemies of the Commonwealth, to asperse Whitelocke and his business, and to give some obstruction to it; but Whitelocke took little notice of such things, only he thanked Monsieur Ravius for his defence of Whitelocke and of the truth.