ould accept it or not;
but considering that it was only a testimony of their respects to the
Protector; and as to Whitelocke, he was not capable of doing them service
or prejudice, but as their affairs should deserve; and if he should
refuse this present, it would be ill taken by the Lords. Upon these
considerations, and the advice of the Resident and other friends,
Whitelocke took it, and returned his hearty thanks for it.
Another Senator, one Monsieur Samuel, hearing that Whitelocke had a
little son at home, sent him a little horse for a present, the least that
one hath seen, yet very handsome, and managed to the great saddle, which
Whitelocke brought home with him; so full of civility and courtesy were
the magistrates of this place.
After much difficulty to get away, and the earnest request of the
Resident and English merchants to the contrary, entreating him to stay
longer, yet Whitelocke kept his resolution to leave the town; and boats
being in readiness, he went down to the water-side, accompanied with a
great number of his countrymen and his own people, and took his boats to
go down the Elbe to his ships. The Resident and some others went in his
boat with him. Vice-Admiral Clerke would not yet leave him, saying that
Wrangel had commanded him to see Whitelocke on board the English
frigates, either for a compliment or desiring to see the frigates, which
were so much discoursed on in these parts, and thereby to be enabled to
give an account to Wrangel of the dimensions and make of them, which he
longed to know.
[SN: Whitelocke embarks in boats on the Elbe,]
The boat in which Whitelocke went was large, but not convenient, open,
and went only with sails. The streets, as he passed to the water-side,
and the windows, and on the bridges, were full of people to see him as he
went, and gave him courteous salutations at his farewell. In his own boat
he had six trumpets, which sounded all along as he passed through the
city and the haven, which was then very full of ships, and they also very
civil to make way for Whitelocke's boats. Upon the bridges and bulwarks
which he went by were guards of soldiers in arms; and the bulwarks on
that side saluted him with all their cannon, about twenty-one pieces,
though they used not to give strangers above two or three guns. Thus
Whitelocke parted from this city of Hamburg, recommending himself and his
company to the blessing and protection of the Almighty.
A little below the c
|