eath was with much confidence reported from several hands,
and from divers intelligences out of several parts of Christendom.
Whitelocke's friends were much startled at this news, and the more
because of former intelligences of designs of that nature against him,
whereof they wrote him word; and he was glad to read the news, and that,
through the goodness of God, he was able to confute those reports. They
were kept from Whitelocke's wife by the care of his friends, till one in
gladness came to give her joy that the ill news of her husband was not
true; which brought the whole matter to her knowledge, and herself to
great perplexity upon the sudden apprehension and fright of it, though
there was no truth in it.

Whitelocke, that he might not seem wholly to neglect the Queen's favour,
had sent a packet of his letters which had no secrets unto Monsieur
Bonele, the Queen's Commissary in England, who wrote back an account to
Whitelocke of his care of them, and of the command he had received from
the Queen so to do, and prayed Whitelocke to speak to the Queen on
Bonele's behalf.

_March 17, 1653._

[SN: Prince Adolphus visits Whitelocke.]

Prince Adolphus visited Whitelocke, and they discoursed much of England
and of Whitelocke's business; whom the Prince persuaded to stay in
patience for an answer, and he doubted not but that he would receive
satisfaction. Whitelocke said that hitherto he had been very patient, and
would continue so, and not importune anybody to speed his answer, being
it concerned both nations; and he believed that Sweden would be as well
disposed to entertain the amity of England as England had been in the
offer of it. But Whitelocke thought fit to inform the Prince and some
others that he thought his residence here would not be long, and that as
soon as my Lord Protector should send his letter for his return to
England (which he expected in a short time), he would presently take his
journey. They discoursed also touching his brother, who was to succeed,
and of the brotherly affection between them; as also of the proposal
which had been heretofore made in the Ricksdag of the Queen to marry his
Royal Highness, and the Council's advice and endeavours to further the
same; and how it was not brought to pass, the Queen being wholly adverse
to marriage, but causing the succession of the Prince Palatine to be
enacted by the Ricksdag after her Majesty, if she had no children. And
in these particulars the Pri