all passages of moment. The Protector
himself wrote also his letters to Whitelocke under his own hand, which
were thus:--

[SN: Letter from the Protector.]

"_For the Lord Ambassador Whitelocke._

"My Lord,

"I have a good while since received your letters sent by the ship
that transported you to Gothenburg, and three other despatches
since. By that of the 30th of December, and that of the 4th instant,
I have received a particular account of what passed at your first
audience, and what other proceedings have been upon your
negotiation; which, so far as they have been communicated to me, I
do well approve of, as having been managed by you with care and
prudence.

"You will understand by Mr. Secretary Thurloe in what condition the
treaty with the United Provinces is, in case it shall please God
that a peace be made with them, which a little time will show; yet I
see no reason to be diverted thereby from the former intentions of
entering into an alliance with Sweden, nor that there will be
anything in the league intended with the Low Countries repugnant
thereunto, especially in things wherein you are already instructed
fully. And for the matter of your third and fourth private
instructions, if the Queen hath any mind thereto, upon your
transmitting particulars hither such consideration will be had
thereof as the then constitution of affairs will lead unto. In the
meantime you may assure the Queen of the constancy and reality of my
intentions to settle a firm alliance with her. I commend you to the
goodness of God.

"Your loving friend,
"OLIVER P.
"_Whitehall, 3rd February, 1653._"

_March 3, 1653._

[SN: The son of Oxenstiern formerly sent to England.]

Grave John Oxenstiern, eldest son of the Chancellor, came to visit
Whitelocke; a Ricks-Senator, and had been Ricks-Schatz-master, or High
Treasurer, a place next in honour to that of his father. He had been
formerly ambassador from this Crown to England; but because he was sent
by the Chancellor his father, and the other Directors of the affairs of
Sweden in the Queen's minority, which King Charles and his Council took
not to be from a sovereign prince; and because his business touching the
Prince Elect's settlement, and the affairs of Germany relating to Sweden,
did not