"The articles are not yet drawn up, but I hope we shall sign them the next week, and presently after I intend to demand audience to take my leave and to remove from hence, and, as soon as I can, to come to Luebeck, and from thence to Hamburg; and I have by this post humbly desired my Lord Protector to appoint some of his ships to meet me at Hamburg as soon as they can, for my transportation from thence to England. And I humbly entreat your favour to put his Highness in mind of it, and that you will take care that the orders may be had, and the ships to come as soon as may be to the Elbe, to Hamburg, where I shall stay for them, or till I receive his Highness's further commands; and I choose this way as the shortest, and where I shall meet with any despatches that may come from England. I presume you will be troubled with an importunate suitor for hastening my return. "I received your letters of the 17th March, and the order of the Council concerning the Swedish ship, for which I return my humble thanks. The Queen, and the Chancellor and others here, were much satisfied with it. The Chancellor and his son have been very civil to me, and lately furthering my despatch. I hope the same goodness of God which hath hitherto brought me through this great business will give me a safe return to my dear country and friends, where I may have opportunity with thankfulness to acknowledge your constant favour and kindness to "Your affectionate friend to serve you, "B. W. "_Upsal, April 7th, 1654._" _April 8, 1654._ [SN: A masque at Court.] The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the Queen, to desire his company this evening at a masque; and they had this discourse:-- _Whitelocke._ Present my thanks to her Majesty, and tell her I will wait upon her. [SN: Precedence claimed by Denmark.] _Mast. Cer._ What would your Excellence expect in matter of precedence, as in case you should meet with any other ambassador at the masque? _Wh._ I shall expect that which belongs to me as Ambassador from the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and I know no other ambassador now in this Court besides myself, except the Ambassador of the King of Denmark, who, I suppose, hath no thoughts of precedence before the English Ambassador, who is resolved not to give it him if he should expect it. _Mast. Cer._ Perhaps it may be insisted on, that he of Denmark is an ambassador of an anointed king, and you are only ambassador to the Protector--a new name, and not _sacre_. _Wh._ Whosoever shall insist on that distinction will be mistaken, and I understand no difference of power between king and protector, or anointed or not anointed; and ambassadors are the same public ministers to a protector or commonwealth as to a prince or sultan.