permit; but he returned thanks to the Countess for her respects in the
offer of it.


_April 19, 1654._

[SN: Preparations for the abdication.]

Monsieur Bloome and divers others, having dined with Whitelocke,
acquainted him that the Chancellor intended to return hither the next day
after the Queen. Whitelocke said he hoped the Chancellor would have been
here before her Majesty; but this was an argument to confute the report
that the Queen would stay at Stockholm and hold the Ricksdag there.
Another argument was, the Queen's officers removing and altering some of
the hangings in Whitelocke's house, being longer and fitter for the rooms
to be furnished in the castle for the Ricksdag than those which they put
up in their places in Whitelocke's lodging.


_April 20, 1654._

[SN: Swedish mines.]

In pursuance of former discourse with Monsieur Bloome, and by the desire
of Mr. Bushel in England to Whitelocke to inquire into it, he received a
paper in French, from a person here employed about the mines, to inform
him by what means this person might be treated with to be brought into
England for improving of our mines there.

[SN: Hawks.]