the
'Amarantha,' which weighed yesterday, and he hoped might by this time be
within four leagues of the Dollars; but the wind came contrary for her
advance any further, and Whitelocke must continue here till he could
understand that his ship was gotten to the Dollars, which is fourteen
Swedish leagues from this city, but may be gone in six or seven hours by
boats in a shorter passage. His stay here seemed tedious to Whitelocke.
This day the wind coming about a little towards the east, increased his
hopes of getting away, for which they were in daily expectation.

[SN: The trade of Stockholm.]

By some merchants and others of this city, Whitelocke learned what was
the commerce of this town, and by his own view he found it to be
commodiously seated for trade and to receive all the commodities of the
country's growth, which are brought hither by water; and it is the more
convenient because the greatest ships may come up to the very houses and
there load and unload their merchandises, never wanting water, which
there is always deep, and equal in the height of it. But this city is
somewhat far distant from the sea by water, so that before the ships can
go between the sea and the town, they must fetch a compass of about one
hundred English miles, with the danger of many rocks and islands in the
way; and they must have also divers winds which are hindrances to their
commerce.

The present Queen hath been curious to invite hither and to entertain
many good artists, yet everything here is very dear, except the native
commodities; and now Gothenburg, growing up in trade, being situate
without the Sound, a more open and easy place for access of
strangers,--some believe that by the growth of that, this port may be
diminished. It is the better supported by the Court being commonly kept
here, and consequently being the residence of the principal nobility and
officers. Some courts of justice constantly, and the Ricksdag generally,
being held in this city, increase the trade of it; and this being a good
road for ships to defend them from injuries of weather or other dangers,
makes it the more frequented.

Plenty of provisions are brought to this town for the supply of it; and
most of their native commodities, as copper, iron, pitch, tar, deal,
masts, and the rest, are brought hither and here shipped and transported
into foreign parts; from whence their merchants and strangers do bring to
this northern market all manner of merchand