n the behalf of these dominions. And so we heartily
commend your Majesty and your affairs to the Divine protection.
Given at Whitehall this 23rd of December, Old Style, 1653.

"Your good friend,
"OLIVER P."

The following instructions were under the hand and private seal of the
Protector:--

_"An Instruction for B. Whitelocke, Constable, etc., Ambassador
Extraordinary from the Commonwealth of England to the Queen of
Sweden._

"Whereas you were lately sent in the quality of Ambassador
Extraordinary from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England
unto her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, for the renewing and
contracting an alliance and confederation with that Queen and Crown,
according to the commission and instructions you received from the
said Parliament and the then Council of State; And whereas, since
your departure hence, the then Parliament hath been dissolved, and
the Government is settled and established in such a way that you
will understand by letters from Mr. Thurloe, Secretary of the
Council, who is directed to give unto you a full account hereof: Now
lest the work you are upon (which is so necessary in itself to both
the nations, and so sincerely desired on our part) should be
interrupted or retarded by reason of the said change of affairs, and
the question that may arise thereupon concerning the validity of
your commission and instructions, I have thought fit, by advice of
the Council, to write unto her Majesty new letters credential, a
copy whereof you will receive herewith, which letters you are to
present to the Queen. And you are also, by virtue of these presents,
to let her Majesty know that the alteration of the Government here
hath made no change in the good intentions on this side towards her
Majesty and her dominions; but that she shall find the same
readiness in me to maintain and increase all good intelligence and
correspondence with that Queen and Crown as in any the former
governors of these nations. And to that end you are hereby
authorized to proceed in your present negotiation, and to endeavour
to bring the treaty with her Majesty to a good conclusion according
to the tenour and effect of the commission, powers, and instructions
you have already received, and which I sha