Early in the morning a gentleman came from Glückstadt on board to Whitelocke, and told him that Grave Ranzau, the Governor of the Province of Holstein, had sent him to salute Whitelocke on his part, and to know when he might conveniently come to Whitelocke; who answered that he should be always ready to entertain his Excellence, but in regard the time was now so dangerous, he desired the Governor would not expose himself to the hazard for his sake.
About an hour after came another, in the habit of a military officer, from the Grave to Whitelocke, to excuse the Grave’s not coming by reason of the very ill weather, and that no boat was to be gotten fit to bring the Grave from shore to Whitelocke’s ship; but he said, that if Whitelocke pleased to send his ship-boats and mariners for the Governor, the wind being somewhat fallen, he would come and kiss his hand. Whitelocke answered in French to the gentleman, who spake Dutch, and was interpreted in French, that he was glad his Excellence was not in danger of the violent storms in coming on board to him this morning, but he should esteem it great honour to see the Governor in his ship, and that not only the boats and mariners, but all in the ship was at the service of his Excellence. The gentleman desired that one of the ship-boats and the ship-mariners might carry him back to land, and so bring the Governor from thence to Whitelocke, who commanded the same to be done. And about an hour after came the Grave Ranzau, a proper, comely person, habited as a soldier, about forty years of age; with him was another lord, governor of another province, and three or four gentlemen, and other followers.
Whitelocke received them at the ship’s side, and at his entry gave him nine guns. The Grave seemed doubtful to whom to make his application, Whitelocke being in a plain sea-gown of English grey baize; but (as the Governor said afterwards) he knew him to be the Ambassador by seeing him with his hat on, and so many brave fellows about him bareheaded. After salutations, the Governor spake to Whitelocke to this effect:—
“Monseigneur,
“Le Roi de Danemarck, mon maître, m’a commandé de venir trouver votre Excellence, et de la saluer de sa part, et la faire la bienvenue en ses hâvres, et lui faire savoir que s’il y a quelque chose dans ce pays-là dont le gouvernement m’est confié par sa Majesté, qu’il est à son commandement. Sa Majesté aussi a un extreme désir de voir votre Excellence, et de vous entretenir en sa cour, désirant d’embrasser toutes les occasions par lesquelles il pourrait témoigner le respect qu’il porte à son Altesse Monseigneur le Protecteur.”
Whitelocke answered in French to this purpose:—
“Monseigneur,
“Je rends grâces à sa Majesté le Roi de Danemarck, du respect qu’il lui à plu témoigner à sa Sérénissime Altesse mon maître, et de l’honneur qu’il lui à plu faire à moi son serviteur, de quoi je ne manquerai pas d’informer son Altesse. Je suis aussi beaucoup obligé à votre Excellence pour l’honneur de votre visite, qu’il vous plaît me donner en ce lieu, et principalement en un temps si fâcheux. J’eusse aussi grande envie de baiser les mains de sa Majesté et de voir sa cour, n’eût été que son Altesse a envoyé des navires exprès pour m’emporter d’ici en Angleterre, et que j’ai ouï dire que le Roi a remué sa cour de Copenhague ailleurs, à cause de la peste. Je suis très-joyeux d’entendre de la santé de sa Majesté, auquel je souhaite toute sorte de bonheur.”
Visit from the Dutch Agent. After many compliments, Whitelocke gave, him precedence into his cabin; and after some discourse there, a servant of the Agent of Holland was brought in to Whitelocke, who said his master desired Whitelocke to appoint a time when the Agent might come on board him to salute Whitelocke and to kiss his hand. He answered that, at any hour when his master pleased to do Whitelocke that honour, he should be welcome, and that some noble persons being now with him, who, he hoped, would do him the favour to take part of a sea-dinner with him, that if it would please the Agent to do him the same favour, and to keep these honourable persons company, it would be the greater obligation unto Whitelocke. The Grave, hearing this, began to excuse himself, that he could not stay dinner with Whitelocke, but, upon entreaty, he was prevailed with to stay.
About noon the Dutch Agent came in one of Whitelocke’s boats on board his ship, whom he received at the ship’s side, and saluted with seven guns at his entry. The Agent spake to Whitelocke to this purpose:—“That, passing by Glückstadt towards Hamburg, he was informed of Whitelocke’s being in this place, and thereupon held it his duty, and agreeable to the will of his Lords, not to proceed in his journey without first giving a visit to Whitelocke to testify the respect of his superiors to the Protector and Commonwealth of England, as also to Whitelocke in particular.” Whitelocke returned thanks to the Agent for the respect which he testified to the Protector, and for the honour done to Whitelocke, and that it would be acceptable so the Protector to hear of this respect from my Lords the States to him, whereof he should not fail to inform his Highness when he should have the opportunity to be near him.