FOOTNOTES: 

[309] Bougeant l. 4. n. 30.  Puffendorf l. 10. n. 63.

[310] Grotii Ep. 851. p. 374.

[311] Ep. 949. p. 421.

[312] Ep. 1014. p. 457.

[313] Ep. 947. p. 419.

[314] Ep. 960. p. 429.

XII.  There happened at this time a more considerable broil between the English and Swedes at Paris.  Pau the Dutch Ambassador in France being recalled, Oostervich, Ambassador of the United Provinces at Venice, was appointed to succeed him[315].  He had been formerly very intimate with Grotius; and signified to him by their common friends that he intended to renew their ancient friendship, and live with him in that good understanding which ought to subsist between the Ministers of allied powers.  Grotius made a proper answer to these advances.  Oostervich preparing to make a public entry into Paris, informed the Swedish Ambassador of it, February 16, 1637, by his Secretary, asking him at the same time to send his coach to his entry on the second day following, according to custom[316].  Grotius sent to make his compliments to the Dutch Ambassador, and to tell him that he would not fail to send his coach.  He sent it accordingly.  There were at that time at Paris an Ambassador in ordinary and an Ambassador extraordinary from England, who both sent their coaches, with a great number of their attendants.  The Swedes took the precedency of the English and kept it some time.  They quarrelled; and swords were drawn.  The Swedes were worsted, for the English were much more numerous.  The Marshal de la Force, who conducted the Dutch Ambassador, came to make up the quarrel.  The Swedes maintained that they ought to have the precedency of the English, because the kingdom of Sweden was more ancient than that of England.  The Marshal de la Force pretended that this question had been decided in the reign of Henry III. in favour of the English.  The Swedes being unequally matched, agreed to the Marshal’s proposal, that the coach of the English Ambassador in ordinary and that of Grotius should withdraw, without prejudice to the rights of Sweden.

On the nineteenth of February the two Ambassadors from England sent to Grotius, to know if it was by his order that his attendants had acted and spoke in the dispute they had with the English.  Grotius answered, that he had ordered them to support the dignity of the kingdom of Sweden the most ancient and extensive in Christendom; but that he had no intention to offend the English; that in the treaties which Sweden made with France there was always one copy in which Sweden was named first; that if his people had transgressed in point of form, it was not by his order; that the small number he sent to the entry, was a demonstration he did not think the quarrel ought to be determined by strength; that as to the accommodation, he had no power to make it, nor consequently given any order on the subject:  that he was desirous of maintaining the good understanding between the two kingdoms, and to live well with the two English Ambassadors.  The Deputies, without making any reply to this answer, civilly withdrew.