ds, 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.

[SN: Entertainment of Count Ranzau.]

The Grave went first into Whitelocke's cabin, after him the Agent, and
then Whitelocke, who gave these guests a plentiful dinner on ship-board.
The Grave desired that Whitelocke's sons might be called in to dine with
them, which was done, and Whitelocke asked the Grave if he would have any
of his company to dine with him. He desired one of the gentlemen, who was
admitted accordingly.

They were served with the States' plate, which Whitelocke had caused to
be taken forth on this occasion; and the strangers would often take up
the plates and dishes to look on them, wondering to see so many great and
massy pieces of silver plate as there were. They drank no healths, the
Grave telling Whitelocke he had heard it was against his judgement, and
therefore he did forbear to begin any healths, for which civility
Whitelocke thanked him; and they had no want of good wine and meat, and
such as scarce had been seen before on ship-board. They discoursed of the
affairs in Sweden, and of the happy peace between England and Denmark,
and the like. Monsieur De la Marche gave thanks in French, because they
all understood it.

After dinner Whitelocke took out his tobacco-box, which the Grave looked
upon, being gold, and his arms, the three falcons, engraven on it;
whereupon he asked Whitelocke if he loved hawks, who said he was a
falconer by inheritance, as his coat of arms testified. The Grave said
that he would send him some hawks the next winter out of his master's
dominions of Iceland, where the best in the world were bred, which he
nobly performed afterwards.

The Grave earnestly invited Whitelocke to go on shore with him to his
house, which was within two leagues of Glueckstadt, where he should meet
Monsieur Schestedt and his lady, and the next day he would bring
Whitelocke to the King, who much desired to see him; and the Grave
offered to bring Whitelocke back