Mr. Bonnele representing to the Protector the losses which the Swedes
suffered by the ships of England, the Protector caused an answer
thereunto to be returned, the copy whereof was sent by Thurloe to
Whitelocke, and was thus:--

"Whereas Mr. Bonnele, Resident of the Queen of Sweden, hath, by a
paper of the 4th of March, remonstrated to his Highness that several
ships and goods belonging to the said Queen and her subjects are
taken at sea by the ships of this State, and brought into these
parts, contrary to the declaration of the Council of State, 1st
April, 1653, whereby they did declare, that for preventing the
present obstruction of trade, all ships truly belonging to the
Queen or her subjects, of Sweden, that should bring with them
certificates from her said Majesty, or the chief magistrate of the
place from whence they come, grounded upon the respective oaths of
the magistrates and loaders that the said ship and lading do belong
_bonâ fide_ to the said Queen or her subjects, and to no stranger
whatsoever, should and might freely pass without interruption or
disturbance. His Highness hath commanded that it be returned in
answer to the said Resident, that although the said declaration was
to be in force for the space of three months, in which time a form
of passport and certificates was to be thought of for preventing
fraud and collusion, yet no provision of that nature having been yet
agreed upon, and it being contrary to his intention that the goods
and ships belonging to her said Majesty or subjects (with whom he
desires to conserve all good correspondence) should in the meantime
suffer inconvenience or prejudice by the ships of this State, hath
renewed, as he doth hereby renew, the said declaration with respect
to the present treaty now on foot between the two nations, wherein