Then Thurloe relates all the passages of the Dutch Ambassadors, and that, in effect, they had agreed to the articles; of the endeavours of the French to have a league with the Protector, and no less of the Spaniard. And he writes at large the news of the Archduke, as also that of Scotland and Ireland, and confutes the rumour of a discontent in the army of the Protector.
In another letter from Thurloe of a later date, received by the same post, he saith thus:--
"His Highness understands by your Excellence's last letters, that the treaty with the Queen of Sweden will much depend upon the treaty with the Dutch here, and until the issue of that be known no great matter is to be expected from your negotiation: concerning which, it being very probable that before the next ordinary it will be seen what issue the Dutch treaty will be brought unto, his Highness will refer his further directions to you till then; leaving it to your Excellence to proceed upon the former instructions as you shall find it convenient, and for his service according as affairs now stand."
The clause in this letter, of referring further directions till after the issue of the Dutch treaty, was some trouble to Whitelocke's thoughts, fearing it might delay his return home; but he laid hold upon the latter part of this letter, whereby it is left to Whitelocke to proceed upon the former instructions as he should find it convenient and for his Highness's service; which, as it reposed a great trust in Whitelocke, so it gave him warrant to conclude his treaty, and obliged him to the more care to perform that trust which they had so fully put in him.
[SN: Claim on behalf of the Swedish ships in England.]
Mr. Bonnele representing to the Protector the losses which the Swedes suffered by the ships of England, the Protector caused an answer thereunto to be returned, the copy whereof was sent by Thurloe to Whitelocke, and was thus:--
"Whereas Mr. Bonnele, Resident of the Queen of Sweden, hath, by a paper of the 4th of March, remonstrated to his Highness that several ships and goods belonging to the said Queen and her subjects are taken at sea by the ships of this State, and brought into these parts, contrary to the declaration of the Council of State, 1st April, 1653, whereby they did declare, that for preventing the present obstruction of trade, all ships truly belonging to the Queen or her subjects, of Sweden, that should bring with them certificates from her said Majesty, or the chief magistrate of the place from whence they come, grounded upon the respective oaths of the magistrates and loaders that the said ship and lading do belong _bonâ fide_ to the said Queen or her subjects, and to no stranger whatsoever, should and might freely pass without interruption or disturbance. His Highness hath commanded that it be returned in answer to the said Resident, that although the said declaration was to be in force for the space of three months, in which time a form of passport and certificates was to be thought of for preventing fraud and collusion, yet no provision of that nature having been yet agreed upon, and it being contrary to his intention that the goods and ships belonging to her said Majesty or subjects (with whom he desires to conserve all good correspondence) should in the meantime suffer inconvenience or prejudice by the ships of this State, hath renewed, as he doth hereby renew, the said declaration with respect to the present treaty now on foot between the two nations, wherein some course may be provided for preventing the said frauds.