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.

Mast.  Cer. There hath always been a difference observed between the public ministers of kings and of commonwealths, or princes of inferior titles.

Wh. The title of Protector, as to a sovereign title, hath not yet been determined in the world as to superiority or inferiority to other titles; but I am sure that the nation of England hath ever been determined superior to that of Denmark.  I represent the nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Protector, who is chief of them; and the honour of these nations ought to be in the same consideration now as it hath been formerly, and I must not suffer any diminution of that honour by my person to please any whatsoever.

Mast.  Cer. I shall propose an expedient to you, that you may take your places as you come:  he who comes first, the first place, and he who comes last, the lower place.

Wh. I shall hardly take a place below the Danish Ambassador, though I come into the room after him.

Mast.  Cer. But when you come into the room and find the Danish Ambassador set, you cannot help it, though he have the upper place.

Wh. I shall endeavour to help it, rather than sit below the Danish Ambassador.

Mast.  Cer. I presume you will not use force in the Queen’s presence.