Part 63

Wh. Your Highness hath had great experience of the goodness of God to you, and the same hand hath appeared wonderfully in the preservation of my company and myself from many imminent and great dangers both by sea and land.

Prot. The greatest of all other, I hear, was in your return home upon our coast.

Wh. That indeed, Sir, was very miraculous.

Prot. I am glad to see you safe and well after it.

Wh. I have cause to bless God with all thankfulness for it as long as I live.

Prot. I pray, my Lord, tell me the particulars of that great deliverance.

Thereupon Whitelocke gave a particular account of the passages of that wonderful preservation; then the Protector said:--

Prot. Really these passages are full of wonder and mercy; and I have cause to join with you in acknowledgment of the goodness of the Lord herein.

Wh. Your Highness testifies a true sense thereof, and your favour to your servant.

Prot. I hope I shall never forget the one or the other,--indeed I hope I shall not; but, I pray, tell me, is the Queen a lady of such rare parts as is reported of her?

Wh. Truly, Sir, she is a lady excellently qualified, of rare abilities of mind, perfect in many languages, and most sorts of learning, especially history, and, beyond compare with any person whom I have known, understanding the affairs and interest of all the States and Princes of Christendom.

Prot. That is very much; but what are her principles in matters of religion?

Wh. They are not such as I could wish they were; they are too much inclined to the manner of that country, and to some persuasions from men not well inclined to those matters, who have had too much power with her.

Prot. That is a great deal of pity; indeed I have heard of some passages of her, not well relishing with those that fear God; and this is too general an evil among those people, who are not so well principled in matters of religion as were to be wished.

Wh. That is too true; but many sober men and good Christians among them do hope, that in time there may be a reformation of those things; and I took the boldness to put the Queen and the present King in mind of the duty incumbent upon them in that business; and this I did with becoming freedom, and it was well taken.

Prot. I think you did very well to inform them of that great duty which now lies upon the King; and did he give ear to it?

Wh. Yes truly, Sir, and told me that he did acknowledge it to be his duty, which he resolved to pursue as opportunity could be had for it; but he said, it must be done by degrees with a boisterous people, so long accustomed to the contrary. And the like answer I had from the Archbishop of Upsal, and from the Chancellor, when I spoke to them upon the same subject, which I did plainly.

Prot. I am glad you did so. Is the Archbishop a man of good abilities?

Wh. He is a very reverend person, learned, and seems very pious.

Prot. The Chancellor is the great wise man.

Wh. He is the wisest man that ever I conversed with abroad, and his abilities are fully answerable to the report of him.

Prot. What character do you give of the present King?

Wh. I had the honour divers times to be with his Majesty, who did that extraordinary honour to me as to visit me at my house; he is a person of great worth, honour, and abilities, and not inferior to any in courage and military conduct.

Prot. That was an exceeding high favour, to come to you in person.

Wh. He never did the like to any public minister. But this, and all other honour done to me, was but to testify their respects to your Highness, the which indeed was very great, both there, and where I passed in Germany.

Prot. I am obliged to them for their very great civility.

Wh. Both the Queen, and the King, and his brother, and the Archbishop, and the Chancellor, and most of the grandees, gave testimony of very great respect to your Highness, and that not only by their words, but by their actions likewise.

Prot. I shall be ready to acknowledge their respects upon any occasion.