“Your affectionate friend to serve you,
“B. W.
“Upsal, April 7th, 1654.”
April 8, 1654.
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.
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 sacré.
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.