Embassy. Whitelocke said, that whatever his instructions might warrant,
yet it would not become him to do anything contrary to that wherein the
Council of State had declared their judgement. The same answer Whitelocke
gave him concerning the herring-fishing, which Eric much insisted upon;
and as to the pre-emption of the commodities of Sweden, mentioned in the
Council's paper, which Whitelocke showed him, Eric said that could not
be, because those commodities were of very great value, and belonged to
several private persons; and he demanded of Whitelocke if he thought
England would be contented to give a pre-emption of all their cloth.

Whitelocke said, the cloth of England was likewise of very great value,
and there would hardly be found one stock to buy it all, and there were
several staples in other countries to vent it at; and he said he thought
the best way would be, first to agree upon the general amity and commerce
between the two nations, and afterwards, if Sweden held it fit, when they
sent an ambassador to England, or otherwise, to propound anything
concerning the fishing for herrings or the traffic in America, or
touching a staple at Narva, Revel, or Gothenburg (which Eric likewise
discoursed of at large), that the Protector would give a fair and just
answer.

4. Eric made the same objections that the Queen had done, and had the
same answers.

5. The like discourse was upon this article.

6. The sixth, Eric said, was the same in effect with the fourth article,
and might be adjoined to it. Whitelocke showed him the difference,
chiefly in the beginning of this article; and so they passed on.