Dec. 20.

The mafter of the ceremonies feemed not to expect fo 1653. quick an answear, and layd blame uppon the rudenes of the multitude, att fuch times of folemnity. Whitelocke faid, they were their people and under their rule. The master replyed, that he hoped in all matters, there would be a good understanding between Whitelocke and this court, wheria he should be glad to be ferviceable: he then defired of Whitelocke a coppy of his credentiall letters, to show them to the queen; the which were ready tranfcribed and delivered to him.

A gentleman came to Whitelocke from Don Antonio Piementell de Parada, envoy extraordinary from the king of Spayne to the queen of Sweden, to vifit Whitelocke, from his lord, and to lett him know that he intended to come himselfe to vifit him, affoone as his audience should be passed; and no other publique minifter heer fent a compliment to Whitelocke.

The mafter of the ceremonies returned back to Whitelocke to fupper, which was fett on the table in a large dining roome or halle in the fame flower with the bed-chamber on the other fide of the lobby; this chamber was furnished with the queen's hangings, full of filke, and good worke; in the middle of the roome was a long table, with a canopy or state att the upper end of it, of cloth of gold, with the armes of Sweden, and fupporters, richly imbroydered with gold and filke: a fecond table was on the one fide for Whitelocke's steward; and a third table att the lower end for plate and cifternes.

There was a cuboard of the queen's plate richly guilt, with other large filver veffells: the mafter of the ceremonies having conducted Whitelocke into this roome, himselfe came VOL. I. with

Ff

1653. with a towell, Mr. Lillicrone and the carver with the bason and ewer, and held them to Whitelocke whileft he washed. Dec. 20. Grace was fayed by one of the queen's pages; then the maf

ter of the ceremonies defired Whitelocke to sitt att the upper end of the table, as he did all the time of the queen's intertainment, which was three dayes, although a fenator were prefent; butt att other times, if any fenator came to dine with him (as they often did him the favour) he sett him att his table above himfelfe, it being the custom of this countrey fo to doe, and contrary to the english fashion: the mafter of the house gives precedence in his own houfe to all strangers of quality, both att the comming in, and continuance there, and returning: and heer they are highly fenfible of the least omiffion of any ceremony which themselves judge to belong to them; and Whitelocke held it not fitt to displease them heerin, referving and expecting the ceremonies and rights pertaining to his own character, and therin to his nation.

The company were placed att meales of the queen's intertainment by the mafter of the ceremonies; and first of them, Whitelocke's two fons, then the rest in their order: the queen's officers and fervants attended with great diligence and ceremony; above all, the carver was too tediously ce remoniall.

Whitelocke had bin informed of the cuftom of the northerne countryes, of being too much addicted to exceffive drinking, and using by many and great draughts of strong drinke and wine, to drinke (as they mifcall it) healths, the then which nothing tends more to ficknes and drunkennes, and finning against God; to prevent which, Whitelocke had strictly warned his own family against drunkenness, and that none of them fhould att any time begin or pledge any health, butt to excufe themfelves by his example and commaund,

4

maund, who was refolved not to admitt that wickedness in 1653. his houfhold.

This night about the midst of fupper, the master of the ceremonies rofe from his feate, and came to Whitelocke with a great glaffe of wine in his hand, and began to him a health to the common-wealth of England. Whitelocke with civility defired to be excused from pledging of it, alledging it to be against his own judgment, and the manner and fashion of those whom he served, to drinke or pledge healths, and therfore defired his liberty. The mafter of the ceremonies (as in his own verge) imperiously urged Whitelocke to pledge the health, and told him that he could not refuse it, being to his masters the common-wealth: Whitelocke anfweared, that the common-wealth would not be offended att his refusall to pledge their health; and that his mafters, if they were prefent, would alfo refufe it; that he had gained his liberty with much hazard att home, and should be unwilling to part with it abroade.

The more earnestly it was preffed uppon him, the more earnestly he denyed it, keeping to the rule, principiis obsta; and was refolved (as he did) to clayme and make good this his liberty in the beginning and first affaults uppon it.

After this, the master of the ceremonies began the health of generall Cromwell, which was refused by Whitelocke as the former was; att which (in great difdaine) the mafter of the ceremonies asked if they thought it unlawfull, and faid, he could not fufficiently wonder to fee one refuse to pledge the health of his own generall.

Whitelocke anfwered, that as he condemned no man for drinking a health, fo they ought not to condemne him for refufing

Ff 2

Dec. 20.

Dec. 20.

1653. refufing it, and that the master's admiration was altogither unneceffary; that generall Cromwell had other manner of worke for his foldiers then to drinke healths; that his performance of his generall's commaunds in more important matters would please him better then pledging of his health there were many returnes of the like nature in words and gestures, full of heate and discontent.

21.

Whitelocke's fon, and doctor Whistler, likewife refufing to pledge the health, the mafter of the ceremonies, in great fcorne, afked, why not drinke a health? and was anfweared, why not eate a health? The mafter fayd, they might observe their countrey fashions when they were att home, butt now should obferve the customes of the countrey where they were.

Whitelocke replyed, that he understood no fuch lawe of ceremonies or of nations, for fuch as himfelfe and his company, his quality giving him the priviledge to keep the customs of his own countrey, wherefoever he was; and this freedome he expected heer, and was refolved to preferve. After divers paffages of this nature, the dispute concluded in a filent difcontent during the rest of supper time.

After fupper, Whitelocke made haft to his lodging, whither the mafter of the ceremonies conducted him; and fo they parted. In the lobby, between the great chamber and the withdrawing roome, were guards of the queen's foot with partifans.

Mr. Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke and acquainted him, that the queen, reading the coppy of his credentialls, excepted att the omiffion of thefe words in her title (poten

tiffimæ

tiffimæ domina) which were given to her by the emperor, 1653. and all other princes and states.

Whitelocke defired Lagerfeldt to returne this anfwear to the queen, that Whitelocke was well affured, that the parlement did beare as much refpect and honor to her majefty, as any state or prince whatfoever; that this omiffion of the words of her title was not purpofely, or out of any disrespect to her, butt meerly happened per incuriam of those who prepared the credentialls, which, he defired, her majefty would be pleased to passe by.

Lagerfeldt replyed, that he thought her majesty would be fatisfyed with this anfwear, which was the more confirmed, in regard that the fame omiffion, being in Lagerfeldt's recredentialls when he tooke his leave in England; uppon his defire it was amended, and thofe words inferted.

Whitelocke then told Lagerfeldt, that the festivall time of Christmas now drawing neer, which was much obferved in this countrey; and (as he was informed) that they would intertaine no buifnes during that time; he therfore defired, if it might stand with the queen's conveniency, to have his publique audience before that time: to which Lagerfeldt promised to bring the queen's answear in the afternoone, which he did accordingly; that her majesty was fatisfyed with what Whitelocke had fayd touching the omiffion of the words in her title; and concerning his audience, the was willing to gratify his defire, and appointed friday next for it.

Whitelocke took care to informe himfelfe of the fashion and custom of this court, and of all perticulars relating to his audience.

The

Dec. 21.