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The Commissioners of the Treasury had * 1.1 a Seal from the Protector, and his Council for every great Sum, and they then Order∣ed under their Hands the Payment of every particular Sum accordingly; and all these were entred in their Books, so that the State could not be cozened, and they had not the hard ways of the usual Course of the Ex∣chequor, but yet they did not take off that Course, as to the Constant Form of it.
The last Moneth Whitelock and Strickland received the Swedish Ambassadour at the Tower, by order of the Protector, with his Coaches, and near a Hundred others, with * 1.2 Six Horces a piece; they met the Ambassa∣dor at the Water-side; Whitelock bid him welcome in the Protectors Name, and after Ceremonies, took Coaches; the Ambassa∣dor and Whitelock, Strickland, the Master of the Ceremonies, and Graef Hohento, a Ger∣man, * 1.3 and Cousin to the King of Sweden in the Protectors chief Coach.
At their first setting forward, there was strife between a French Ambassadors Coach which he sent with some of his, Gentlemen to meet the Swedish Ambassadour, and the Swedish Ambassador's own Coatch, which should go first, The French Lacquaies and the Swedish Lacquaies drew their Swords, and some slight hurts were given, and a great Tumult in the Street, But Whitelock and Strickland sent the Protectors Laquaies to quiet them; with Order, that the Swedish Ambassadors Coach should go first, he be∣ing present in Person, and the other only sent to wait on him; which Order was ob∣served. They came by Torch-light through London, to Sr. Abraham Williams his House at Westminster, where the Ambassadour was Feasted, and Entertained Nobly at the Pro∣tectors Charge, three days. Whitelock and Strickland usually Dined with him: He ask∣ed, why Whitelock who was no Privy Coun∣sellor had the Precedence of Strickland, who was a Privy Counsellor? Whereas in his Country, the Counsellors (who are called Senators) have Precedence of all other Sub∣jects of what Degree or Office soever they be; and the Reason was given him, Because in his Country the Counsellors are Senatoris Regni: here they are only Consiliarii Protecto∣ris, not Regni.
The Third day of his Entertainment he had his Audience, the Protectors Coaches and * 1.4 a great Number of other Coaches, most of them with Six Horses, came, and took up the Ambassador, and his Company, and those appointed to wait on him, with Sir Oliver Flemming, Master of the Ceremonies; and brought them into the Court at Whitehall, where he alighted, and his Gentlemen and Servants went all bare before him.
There were of his Company Five Swedish Barons, (the Custom of their Country be∣ing, that every Son of a Baron hath the Title of a Baron) and about Thirty other Gentle-men of Quality, about Four Pages, and Ten Lacquies, his other Servants made up the Number of Two hundred Persons; general∣ly proper handsom Men, and fair Hair'd; they were all in Mourning, (very gentile) as the Ambassadour himself was, upon the * 1.5 Death of the Queen Mother of Sweeden.
His People went all bare, two and two before him in Order, according to their Qua∣lities, the best Men last; and next to him, the Master of the Ceremonies next before him, Whitelock on his right hand, and Strickland on his left hand; they made a handsome shew in this Equipage, and so went up to the Council Chamber, where the Ambassa∣dour repos'd himself, about a quarter of an hour, and then word being brought, that the Protector was ready in the Banqueting-House, he came down into the Court again, and in the same Order they went up into the Ban∣queting-House. Whitehall Court was full of Soldiers in good Order, the Staires and Doors were kept by the Protectors Guards, in their Livery Coats, with Halberts, the Rooms and passages in very handsome Order. The Ban∣queting-House was richly hung with Arras, Multitudes of Gentlemen in it, and of Ladies in the Galleries. The Ambassadors People were all admitted into the Room and made a Lane within the Railes in the midst of the Room. At the upper end upon a Foot pace and Carpet, stood the Protector with a Chair of State behind him, and divers of his Coun∣cil and Servants about him.
The Master of the Ceremonies went be∣fore the Ambassador on the left-side, the Ambassador in the middle betwixt White∣lock and Strickland, went up in the open lane of the Room; as soon as they came within the Room, at the lower end of the Lane, they put off their Hats. The Ambassadour a lit∣tle while after the rest, and when he was uncovered, the Protector also put off his Hat, and Answered the Ambassadours three Sa∣lutations in his coming up to him, and on the Foot pace they saluted each other as usu∣ally Friends do: And when the Protector put on his Hat, the Ambassadour put on his, as soon as the other.
After a little pause, The Ambassadour put off his Hat, and begun to speak, and then put it on again; and whensoever in his Speech he named the King his Master, or Sweden, or the Protector, or England, he moved his Hat, especially, if he mentioned any thing of God, or the good of Christendom, he put off his Hat very low; and the Protector still answered him in the like Postures of Civillity.
The Ambassador spake in the Swedish Lan∣guage, and after he had done, being but short, his Secretary Berkman did Interpret it in La∣tine, to this Effect.
That the King of Sweeden his Ma∣ster having a very great Affection, and Respect to his Highness, which he had formerly in some sort Testified, * 1.6 when a Noble Person now present was Ambassadour from your Highness to that Crown.
His Majesty, the King my Ma∣ster, since his coming to the Crown, hath Ratified the Treaty made with your Highness, and commanded me to repair hither to Salute your High∣ness, which I do with all Respect and Reverence in his Majesties name, and Congratulate the happy access of your Highness to the Government of this Common-Wealth, wishing you all prosperity therein.
The King my Master hath im∣powred me to propound unto your Highness some other matters in order to the perfecting of some things left to a further Determination in that Treaty, and to a farther, and more strict Union and Alliance between the two Nations, tending to the Glory of God, and to the advantage of the Protestant Interest in the World, and to the benefit of both Nations in point of Trade, and other interest; which I shall be ready particularly to de∣clare unto your Highness, or such as you shall appoint for that pur∣pose.
Many other passages of Complement and Civility were in his Expressions; and after his Interpreter had done, the Protector stood still a pretty while, and putting off his Hat to the Ambassadour, with a carriage full of Gravity and State, he answered him in Eng∣lish to this effect.
My Lord Ambassadour, I have * 1.7 great reason to acknowledg with thankfulness, the Respects and good Affection of the King your Master towards this Common-Wealth, and towards my self in particular, where∣of I shall always retain a very grate∣ful Memory, and shall be ready up∣on all occasions to manifest the high Sence and Value I have of His Ma∣jesties Friendship and Alliance.
My Lord, You are very welcom into England, and during your abode here, you shall find all due Regard and respect to be given to your Person, and to the Business about which you come.
I am very willing to enter into a nearer and more strict Aliance and Friendship with the King of Sweedland, as that which in my Judgment will tend much to the Honour and Com∣modity of both Nations, and to the General Advantage of the Protestant Interest, I shall nominate some per∣sons to meet and Treat with your Lordship upon such particulars as you shall Communicate to them.
The Protectors Speech was not Interpre∣ted, because the Ambassadour understood English, and after it was done, the Ambas∣sadour gave Copyes of his Speech in Sweedish and in Latin to the Protector, and then de∣livered unto him his Credential Letters; a Copy whereof had been sent to him before; then the Ambassadour spake in English to the Protector, and after some short Comple∣ments between them, The Ambassadour took his leave, returning in the same order as he came, and was by the same Company conducted back to his Lodgings in Westmin∣ster.
The next day the Ambassadour removed with his Family to Dorset-House, which was taken up and furnished for him at his own charge.
About the beginning of this Month the Ambassadour was highly Feasted and Enter∣tained, with most of his Followers, by the Protector at Hampton Court.
Treasury.
Swedish Ambassa∣dour.
Reception.
Audience.
August.
Ambassa∣dours Speech.
Protectors Answer.