(1) England and Spain were at war around that time (The Spanish Armada sailed in 1588 so maybe change the date to 1600).

(2) England was protestant, Spain was Catholic.

(3) Because of the language difference probably most English couldn't communicate with most Spanish.

I am also taking into account the average modern Swede is probably fairly well educated and relatively liberal.

Of course I may have pushed things a bit to make a rhetorical point ;-)