ourney, and gave him good information
touching Denmark, to be communicated to the Protector, as that the
English merchants might pass the Sound without paying any tax, if the
Protector would insist upon it. Whitelocke, in drollery, asked him why he
would discover these things to a stranger, which turn so much to the
prejudice of his own country. He answered that he did this to testify his
respects to the Protector, and that he did not betray his country, but
his country had betrayed him; and that was his country where he breathed
and had present nourishment.[184]

Mr. Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke, and, among other discourses, related to
him the story of this gentleman and his lady, which was to this effect,
by his and others' relation:--

[SN: Woolfeldt's history.]

This gentleman was of a noble family and extraction in Denmark, grew
into great favour with the last King, whose daughter by a second
wife he married; and the present King, her brother, made him Viceroy
of Norway, Governor of the Isle of Zealand and of the Sound, and a
Senator of the kingdom and Great Master of Denmark; and he had been
employed thirteen times as an ambassador.

"His lady, the daughter and sister of a king, was of excellent
comeliness of person and behaviour, humbly knowing her distance, of
a sweet disposition, and of rare parts, both of mind and body;
especially deserving praise for her high and entire affection to her
husband, who, notwithstanding his great parts and abilities, and the
many perils he had undergone in the service of his king and country,
yet after all, by the whisperings and false suggestions of
backbiters, his enemies, was traduced to the King for being too much
a friend to the people's liberty, and an opposer of the King's
absolute power; but beyond all this (as some gave it out), that he
was too familiar with one of the King's mistresses; so it was that
the King took high displeasure against him. Parasites took the
occasion to please the King by invectives against one under a cloud;
his parts attracted envy, and his merits were too great for any
other recompense but his own ruin.

"To avoid the King's wrath and his enemies' malice, and to preserve
his life, which was aimed to be taken away with his fortune, he was
compelled to fly from his country and seek his security in foreign
parts. His lady, though a tender, modes