After a little recollection, Whitelocke answered in French to the Senator’s speech thus:—
“Messieurs, j’ai grande occasion de louer le nom de Dieu, de sa protection de moi et de ma suite, en notre long et périlleux voyage, et pour l’heureux succès qu’il m’a donné en ma négociation, et ma sauve arrivée en ce lieu, en mon retour en mon pays. Je vous désire de remercier Messeigneurs les Sénateurs de cette ville du respect qu’ils ont témoigné envers sa Sérénissime Altesse mon maître et la République d’Angleterre, par l’honneur qu’ils ont fait à leur serviteur, de quoi je ne manquerai d’en informer: j’avais grande envie de voir cette illustre ville, et mes compatriotes qui par accord vivent ici, desquels j’ai appris avec beaucoup de contentement que leurs priviléges ici étaient maintenus par Messeigneurs les magistrats, lesquels je désire d’être informés que son Altesse mon maître prendra en fort bon part le respect et la justice qu’on fera aux Anglais qui se trouvent ici, chose que je croie tournera en avantage aux uns et aux autres. Je vous rends grâces aussi de vos bons souhaits pour la prospérité de notre nation, à laquelle Dieu a donné tant de preuves de sa présence, et je prie le même Dieu aussi pour l’heureux succès de cette ville, et de tous les habitans d’icelle.”
After Whitelocke had done, the Senator again spake to him, desiring him, in the name of the Lords of the town, to accept a small present which they had sent, in testimony of their respects towards him, and said that it was somewhat for his kitchen and somewhat for his cellar. The present which they sent for his kitchen, and was laid upon the pavement in the hall, was this:—four great whole sturgeons, two great fresh salmons, one calf, two sheep, two lambs. The present for the cellar was a hogshead of Spanish wine, a hogshead of claret wine, a hogshead of Rhenish wine, a hogshead of Hamburg beer, a hogshead of Serbster beer. Whitelocke ordered the men that brought this present to be rewarded with ten rix-dollars. He desired the senators to return his hearty thanks to the Lords for the noble present which they sent him; and after many compliments and ceremonies Whitelocke, giving the Senators the right hand, conducted them to their coach, and so they parted.
The English company entertained, with a great supper, Whitelocke and his company, who had more mind to sleep than to eat. Monsieur Hannibal Schestedt, late Viceroy of Norway, sent a gentleman to Whitelocke to know what time he would appoint for him to come and visit Whitelocke, who gave the usual answer, that whensoever he pleased to come he should be welcome.
June 11, 1654.
Divine service at Hamburg. The Lord’s Day.—The English company and the Resident Bradshaw desired Whitelocke that one of his chaplains might preach in the chapel belonging to the English in their house, which they said was a respect to the Ambassador of England; and accordingly Mr. Ingelo preached in the morning, and a very pertinent and good sermon. The doctor, minister to the company here, preached in the afternoon, who far exceeded Mr. Ingelo in the strength of his voice and lungs, the which was not necessary for that chapel, not being large, but convenient and handsomely made up with pews and seats fit for their company.
June 12, 1654.
The Resident sent to the Governor to inform him that Whitelocke had a desire to see the fortifications of the town. He answered that he would send one of his lieutenants to wait on Whitelocke for that purpose; but Whitelocke and the Resident took this for no great compliment that himself came not to Whitelocke. Much company did Whitelocke the honour to dine with him; Interview with the Swedish Envoy to the Emperor. and after dinner Monsieur Bernelow, who was Ambassador from the Queen of Sweden to the Emperor, and was now upon his return home, came to visit Whitelocke, and they had this discourse in Latin.
Bernelow. I desire your Excellence to excuse me that I cannot express myself in French or Italian, but, with your leave, I desire to speak to you in Latin.
Whitelocke. Your Excellence is welcome to me; and if you choose to express yourself in Latin, you have your liberty, and I shall understand something of it.