A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
Woolfeldt acquainted Whitelocke that the public ministers in this Court
discoursed much of the extraordinary respect showed by the Prince to the
English Ambassador, both in his reception and the Prince's visit to him.
And particularly the Danish Ambassador was greatly discontented, and said
that never any ambassador had that honour done him before, and it was so
far beyond what he had received that he knew not how to bear it; that the
entertainment of public ministers of the same character ought to be with
the same ceremony, and not one to be preferred so much as the English
Ambassador had been before others of equal quality with him, and much
matter of complaint of that nature; which being reported to the Prince,
he said that neither the Danish Ambassador nor any other public minister
had cause to complain that he had not given them the respect due to their
several qualities; and if he, out of a particular affection to the
English Protector and Ambassador, had a mind to express more than
ordinary particular respects to them, it was no wrong or cause of
complaint to any other public minister, who had what was due to him,
because another had perhaps more than was due to him; and he said he
understood not why his condition should render him less capable than
other gentlemen to show particular respects where they did bear a
particular affection.
General Douglas, a Scottish gentleman in great favour and honour in this
country, came late this year to the Court, being hindered by a violent
ague upon his coming hither. He made frequent visits to Whitelocke, and
expressed much of respect and civility to him as his countryman.
[SN: Whitelocke dines with General Douglas.]
This day Whitelocke was to dine with Douglas by a solemn invitation; and
during the whole time of his residence in this Court he never was invited
to any of their tables, but now to Douglas, and before to Grave Eric,
notwithstanding the freedom of his table to most of them. With Whitelocke
were invited his two sons, Potley, Beake, and Croke. There they met Grave
John Oxenstiern, Wrangel, Wittenberg, Bundt, Horne, Vanderlin, Colonel
Bannier, and one of the Prince's servants. Of these that thus met, nine
had been in commission as generals, two of the English and of the Swedes
seven, which was noted as very observable. They sat at table in the same
manner as they did at Grave Eric's entertainment, Whitelocke in the midst
of the table, the company in their ranks on either side, and all the
dinner they sat bare.