his care of their business, and that they could not buy the Swedes'
interest in Guinea, and referred the whole matter wholly to Whitelocke.

The examinations in the Court of Admiralty touching the ship 'Charity,'
enclosed in Thurloe's letters, made it appear that the Swedes had not
injury done them, as they complained, and that the goods belonged to
Hollanders, and not to the Swedes; but only coloured by the Hollanders
under the name of Swedish ship and goods, though they were not so.
Whitelocke made use of these examinations as he saw cause, and found that
Martin Thysen had an interest in these goods.

[SN: Reception of the French Ambassador in London.]

The enclosed speech of the French Ambassador to the Protector was full
of compliment, giving him the title of "Serene Altesse," and as much as
could be well offered by the French, seeming to desire a league and amity
with the Protector. The Ambassador was received with great state and
solemnity, answerable to the honour of his master the King of France,
with whom the Protector had a good mind to close at this time, the rather
to frustrate the hopes of the King of Scots of assistance from thence,
where he was now entertained, caressed, and made believe he should have
all aid and furtherance for his restitution, which the Protector sought
to prevent by the interest of the Cardinal Mazarin, whose creature this
Ambassador was.

_May 5, 1654._

[SN: The Queen's presents to Whitelocke and his suite.]

Lagerfeldt acquainted Whitelocke that the Queen intended to gratify him
with a gift of as great value as had been bestowed upon any ambassador
before; and that she having received from Whitelocke many brave horses
and many native goods of England, and Whitelocke having undertaken, at
his return to England, to provide for her Majesty several other
commodities, she held it reasonable to requite him with some commodities
of this country, if Whitelocke thought fit to accept of them. Whitelocke
answered that it did not become him to prescribe bounds to her Majesty's
favour, but only to refer himself to the Queen's judgement herein.
Lagerfeldt replied that the Queen intended to bestow her gift upon him in
copper, and gave order that it should be put aboard a ship, to be
consigned by him to some of his friends at London, or as he pleased to
dispose it.

Whitelocke desired of Lagerfeldt that although the articles were signed,
that yet he in the instrument might prefix to the