much
discourse about his business, and he thought not fit to interrupt her
Majesty's pleasures with serious discourses, but sought to delight her
with matters of diversion and mirth. When they were come back to the
castle, the Queen said to Whitelocke:--

_Queen._ Tomorrow my Chancellor will present you with the articles drawn
up by him, with some alterations which I judge to be reasonable; and that
shall be my final resolution about them.

_Wh._ Hath your Majesty commanded any mention in those new articles
concerning contraband goods?

_Qu._ There is a specification of them.

_Wh._ Indeed, Madam, I can hardly consent to any alteration upon the
subject of contraband goods, whilst the edict of the Hollanders is in
force thereupon.

_Qu._ After you have considered these new articles, we will speak
together again about them.

Then the Queen retired to her chamber, and Whitelocke being come home,
the Secretary Canterstein came to him from the Chancellor to excuse his
not coming to visit Whitelocke, and said that, by the Queen's command,
the Chancellor had sent a new copy of articles to Whitelocke. He
presently read them, and had much discourse with the secretary upon them,
who said he did not doubt but that, after communication with the
Chancellor, Whitelocke would receive satisfaction.

_April 4, 1654._

Whitelocke visited Piementelle, and they had this discourse:--

_Piementelle._ The Ambassador of Denmark did me the honour to visit me,
and we had much discourse together about the English fleet now at sea; he
told me that in it were ten thousand foot soldiers embarked for the
North, which would occasion great trouble to the King his master, if it
should be so, which I acknowledged.

_Whitelocke._ Your Excellence knows that I have not been at the Council
of State in England for six months last past, so that I know not the
secret designs of my Lord Protector; but I believe it is no very
difficult matter to land men in Denmark.

_Piem._ What progress hath the French Ambassador made in the treaty
between you and France?

_Wh._ If the Queen will be pleased to give my despatch, I hope to be upon
the place before the treaty with the French be concluded. I have somewhat
to communicate to the Protector touching a treaty with Spain, which your
Lordship very well knows; and it would be to purpose that his Highness
should know it before the conclusion of a treaty between England and
France.[85]

_Piem._ I am assu