A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654 Part 38

Having changed their boats and discharged the great ones, they went more cheerfully down the river till they came within half a league of the town of Stadt; when being almost dark, and the mariners not accustomed to the river out of the channel, the boat in which Whitelocke was, struck upon the sand, and was fast there. Presently the English mariners, seven or eight of them, leaped out of the boat into the river, "up to their chins, and by strength removed the boat from off the sands again; and they came to their oars again, within an English mile of Stadt, when it was very late, and the boats were two German miles from the frigates, and the tide turning. Whitelocke thought it impossible to reach his s.h.i.+ps this night, and not prudent to proceed with unexperienced men upon this dangerous river by night; and understanding by General Potley, and one of the trumpets who had been formerly here, of a house upon the river that goes to Stadt, within a quarter of a mile of the place where they now were, Whitelocke ordered the mariners to make to that house, who, with much difficulty, found out the mouth of the river; but for want of water, being low tide, they had much trouble to get the boat up to the cruise, or in there. The master of the house had been a soldier and a cook; he prepared a supper for them of salt eels, salt salmon, and a little poultry, which was made better by the meat and wine that the Resident brought with him; yet all little enough when the rest of Whitelocke's company, in three other boats, came to the same house, though they could not know of Whitelocke being there; but he was very ill himself, and this was a bad quarter for him, who had been so lately very sick at Hamburg; yet he contented himself without going to bed. His sons and company had some fresh straw, and G.o.d in his wonted mercy still preserved him and his company. The host sent word to his General, Koningsmark, that the English Amba.s.sador was at his house this night.

_June 18, 1654._

[SN: Embarks in the President.]

Whitelocke resolved to remove from the cruise early this morning, and the rather because he was informed that Koningsmark intended to come hither this morning to visit him, which Whitelocke did not desire, in regard of the late accident at Bremen, where Koningsmark was governor, and that his conferring with him, upon his immediate return from Sweden, might give some jealousy to those of Bremen, or to the Hanse Towns, or some of the German Princes thereabouts. Whitelocke therefore held it best to take no notice of Koningsmark's intention to come and visit him, but to avoid that meeting by going early from hence this morning; which he had the more reason to do because of his bad entertainment here, and for that the tide served betimes this morning to get out of this river. He therefore caused his people to make ready about two o'clock this morning, and took boat within an hour after, the weather being very fair and the country pleasant. On the right-hand was Holstein, on the left-hand was the Duchy of Luneburg, and below that the Bishopric of Bremen; in which this river comes from Stadt near unto Bremen, more considerable heretofore when it was the staple for the English cloth, but left by our merchants many years since, partly because they held themselves not well treated by the inhabitants of Stadt, and partly by the inconvenientness of this river to bring up their cloth to that town.

Two miles from this cruise Whitelocke came to the frigates, where they lay at anchor. He himself went on board the 'President,' who, at his entry, saluted him with above forty guns, the 'Elizabeth' but with twenty-one, and her Captain, Minnes, came on board to Whitelocke to excuse it, because, not knowing Whitelocke's time of coming hither, he had no more guns ready to bid him welcome.

[SN: Gluckstadt.]

Right against the frigates lay the fort and town of Gluckstadt, that is Luckystadt, or Lucky Town. Whitelocke being desirous to take a view of it and of the fortifications, and his baggage not being yet come to the frigates, he with the Resident and several others went over in one of the s.h.i.+p's boats to see it. The town is situate in a marsh, having no hill near to command it. The fortifications about it are old, yet in good repair. It belongs to the King of Denmark, as Duke of Holstein, and he keeps a garrison there at the mouth of a river running into the Elbe, like that of Stadt. The late King of Denmark built there a blockhouse in the great river upon piles, to the end he might command the s.h.i.+ps pa.s.sing that way, but the Elbe being there above a league in breadth, the s.h.i.+ps may well pa.s.s notwithstanding that fort.

At Whitelocke's landing in the town, which is about a bow-shot from the mouth of the river, he sent to acquaint the Governor therewith, and that he desired only to see the town and then to return to his s.h.i.+ps. The Governor sent a civil answer, that he was sorry he could not accompany Whitelocke, to show him the town, by reason of his being sick, but that he had sent one of his officers to show him the fortifications, and desired him to command anything in the town; for which civility Whitelocke returned thanks.

The town is not great nor well-built, but of brick, and some of the houses very fair; chiefly one which they call the King's house, which might fit an English knight to dwell in. The town seems decaying, and the fortifications also in some places. The late King designed to have made this a great town of trade, and by that means to have diminished, if not ruined, his neighbours the Hamburgers; to whom this King having done some injuries, and endeavouring to build a bridge over the Elbe near to Hamburg, to hinder the s.h.i.+ps coming up thither, and their trade, the citizens pulled it down again, and came with about twenty vessels to Gluckstadt upon a design against that town; but the King's s.h.i.+ps of war being there, the Admiral of Hamburg cut his anchors and returned home in haste. The King's men got up the anchors, and at this time Whitelocke saw them hung up in their church as great trophies of a small victory thus easily gained. At Whitelocke's return, Gluckstadt saluted him with three pieces of cannon.

When he was come back to his s.h.i.+ps he found all his people and baggage come up to him, whereupon he resolved to weigh anchor the first opportunity of wind serving, and gave orders accordingly to his captains.

The Resident Bradshaw, Vice-Admiral Clerke, the treasurer and secretary of the English Company at Hamburg, who accompanied Whitelocke to his s.h.i.+ps, now the tide serving, took their leaves of him, with much respect and wishes of a happy voyage to him; and so they parted.

The wind came to north-east, flat contrary to Whitelocke's course, and rose high, with violent storms and much rain, so that it was not possible for Whitelocke to weigh anchor and proceed in his voyage; but he had cause to thank G.o.d that he was in a safe and good harbour.

_June 19, 1654._

The wind continued very tempestuous and contrary to Whitelocke's course, so that he could not budge, but lay still at anchor. The mariners, in their usual way of sporting, endeavoured to make him some pastime, to divert the tediousness of his stay and of the bad weather. He learned that at Gluckstadt the Hamburgers pay a toll to the King of Denmark, who submit thereunto as other s.h.i.+ps do, rather than enter into a contest or war with that King.

[SN: Whitelocke writes to the Queen of Sweden.]

Whitelocke thought it becoming him in civility and grat.i.tude to give an account by letters to the Queen of Sweden of his proceeding thus far in his voyage, for which purpose he had written his letters at Hamburg, and now having too much leisure, he made them up and sent them to Vice-Admiral Clerke to be presented to the Queen. The letters were to this effect:--

"_A sa Serenissime Majeste Christine, Reine de Suede._

"Madame,

"Les grandes faveurs que j'ai recues de votre Majeste m'obligent a lui rendre compte de ce qui me touche, celui en qui vous avez beaucoup d'interet. Et puisque par votre faveur, sous Dieu, j'ai deja surmonte les difficultes de la plus grande moitie du voyage que j'ai a faire par mer, j'ai pris la hardiesse d'entretenir votre Majeste de mon succes jusqu'en ce lieu. Le premier de Juin, le beau navire 'Amaranta' nous fit flotter sur la Baltique, et non.o.bstant les calmes, le vent contraire, et un terrible orage qui nous exercerent, par l'adresse de l'Amiral Clerc, du Capitaine Sinclair (de l'honnetete, respect, et soin desquels envers moi et ma suite, je suis redevable, comme de mille autres faveurs, a votre Majeste), comme par l'obeissance du navire a ses experts conducteurs, nous mimes pied a terre a Tremon, le port de Lubec, Mercredi le 7 Juin.

Samedi nous arrivames a Hambourg, ou je suis a present, dans la maison des Anglais. Ce matin j'ai pense ne voir point le soir, ayant ete travaille d'un mal soudain, et tempete horrible qui m'a cuide renverser dans ce port. Mais il a plu a Dieu me remettre en bonne mesure, ainsi j'espere que je ne serai empeche d'achever mon voyage.

Je prie Dieu qu'il preserve votre Majeste, et qu'il me rende si heureux, qu'etant rendu en mon pays, j'aie l'opportunite selon mon pet.i.t pouvoir de temoigner en effet que je suis

"De votre Majeste "Le tres-humble et obeissant serviteur, "B. WHITELOCKE.

"_Juin 14, 1654._"

_June 20, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke detained by contrary winds.]

The wind continued in the same quarter as before, very high and contrary to Whitelocke's course, both the last night and this morning, which gave him and his company much trouble; but they must submit to the time and good pleasure of G.o.d.

About five o'clock this morning (an unusual hour for visits) Mr.

Schestedt came on board Whitelocke's s.h.i.+p from Gluckstadt, whither he came the day before by land. They had much discourse together, wherein this gentleman is copious, most of it to the same effect as at his former visits at Hamburg. He told Whitelocke of the Lord Wentworth's being at Hamburg and his carriage there, and that he spake with respect towards the Protector and towards Whitelocke, but was full of wishes of ruin to the Protector's party. Whitelocke inquired of him touching the levies of soldiers by the Princes in the Lower Saxony now in action, with whom Mr.

Schestedt was very conversant. He said that the present levies were no other than such as those Princes made the last year, and usually make every year for their own defence in case there should be any occasion, and that he knew of no design extraordinary. Whitelocke asked him several questions about this matter, that he might be able to give information thereof to the Protector; but either there was nothing, or this gentleman would discover nothing in it. He was entertained in Whitelocke's cabin at breakfast, where he fed and drank wine heartily, and at his going away Whitelocke gave him twenty-one guns, and ordered the 'Elizabeth' to give him nineteen, and sent him to sh.o.r.e in one of his s.h.i.+p-boats. The wind being very high, and not changing all this day, to the trouble of Whitelocke and hindrance of his voyage.

In the evening, a messenger from Monsieur Schestedt brought to Whitelocke these letters:--

"Monseigneur,

"Votre Excellence aura recu, par un de ses serviteurs, un pet.i.t billet de moi partant de Gluckstadt, sur ce qu'avions parle, suppliant tres-humblement votre Excellence d'en avoir soin sans aucun bruit. Et si la commodite de votre Excellence le permettra, je vous supplie de vouloir ecrire un mot de lettre au Resident d'ici pour mieux jouir de sa bonne conversation sur ce qui concerne la correspondance avec votre Excellence; et selon que votre Excellence m'avisera je me gouvernerai exactement, me fiant entierement a la generosite de votre Excellence, et m'obligeant en homme d'honneur de vivre et mourir,

"Monseigneur, de votre Excellence "Tres-humble et tres-obeissant serviteur, "HANNIBAL SCHESTEDT.

"_20 Juin, 1654._

"Votre Excellence aura mille remercimens de l'honneur recu par ces canonades, et excusera pour ma disgrace de n'avoir ete repondu."

To these letters Whitelocke sent this answer:--

"Monseigneur,

"Je n'ai rien par voie de retour que mes humbles remercimens pour le grand honneur que vous m'avez fait, par vos tres-agreables visites, tant a Hambourg qu'en ce lieu, comme aussi en m'envoyant ce n.o.ble gentilhomme qui m'a apporte les lettres de votre Excellence. Je ne manquerai pas, quand il plaira a Dieu me ramener en Angleterre, de contribuer tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir pour votre service, et j'espere que l'issue en sera a votre contentement, et que dans peu de temps je saurai vous rendre bon compte de ce dont vous me faites mention en vos lettres. Ce pet.i.t temoignage du respect que je porte a votre Excellence, que je rendis a votre depart de mon vaisseau, et qu'il vous plait honorer de votre estime, ne merite pas que vous en teniez aucun compte; je serai joyeux de vous temoigner par meilleurs effets que je suis

"De votre Excellence "Le tres-humble et tres-obeissant serviteur, "B. WHITELOCKE.

"_A bord le President, Rade de Gluckstadt, 20 Juin, 1654._"

Many other letters pa.s.sed between them, not necessary for a recital.

_June 21, 1654._

[SN: Still detained by the wind.]

The wind continued in the same quarter as before, very high, and contrary to Whitelocke's course. The English cloth-s.h.i.+ps came down to him, desiring to be in his squadron homewards. Whitelocke knew no reason why his s.h.i.+ps might not as well have fallen down lower in the river as these; about which he consulted with the officers and pilot of his s.h.i.+p, who agreed that this morning, the wind being come a little more moderate, the s.h.i.+ps might have fallen down with the tide, but that the time was now neglected; which the officers excused because of the fog, which was so thick that they durst not adventure to go down the river. He resolved, upon this, to take the next opportunity, and went aboard the 'Elizabeth'

to see his company there, who were well accommodated.

Here a pet.i.tion was presented to Whitelocke from two mariners in hold for speaking desperate words,--that they would blow up the s.h.i.+p and all her company, and would cut the throat of the Protector, and of ten thousand of his party. One of them confessed, in his pet.i.tion, that he was drunk when he spake these words, and had no intention of the least harm to the s.h.i.+p, or to the Protector, or any of the State; both of them acknowledged their fault, and humbly asked pardon. After Whitelocke had examined them severally, and could get from them no confession of any plot against the Protector or State, but earnest a.s.severations of their innocences; yet having news of a plot in England against the Protector and Government, he held it not fit for him absolutely to release them; but, because he thought it only a business and words of drunkenness, he ordered them to be had out of the hold, but their Captain to see that they should be forthcoming at their arrival in England, that the Council, being acquainted herewith, might direct their pleasure concerning them.

About noon the wind began again to blow with great tempestuousness, and flat contrary to Whitelocke's course. In the evening a gentleman came aboard Whitelocke's s.h.i.+p, with letters from Monsieur Schestedt from Gluckstadt to the same effect, and with compliments as formerly, to which Whitelocke returned a civil answer by the same messenger; and by him he also sent letters of compliment and thanks to the Resident Bradshaw, which likewise he prayed the Resident, in his name, to present to the English Company of Merchants at Hamburg, for their very great civilities and n.o.ble respects to Whitelocke while he was with them.

_June 22, 1654._

[SN: A visit from Count Ranzau.]

The wind continued contrary and extraordinary violent all the last night and this morning; and Whitelocke had cause to acknowledge the favour of G.o.d to him, that during these rough storms he was in a good harbour and had not put out into the open sea.

Early in the morning a gentleman came from Gluckstadt 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 sh.o.r.e to Whitelocke's s.h.i.+p; but he said, that if Whitelocke pleased to send his s.h.i.+p-boats and mariners for the Governor, the wind being somewhat fallen, he would come and kiss his hand.