A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
The master of the ceremonies came to Whitelocke from the Queen, and
acquainted him to the same effect as Lagerfeldt had done, touching his
last audience. The master also, by the Queen's command, invited
Whitelocke to the wedding at Court this night; and if he pleased to see
the manner of the assembling of the Ricksdag, that he had order to take
the care of it, and that it would be no hindrance to his going away,
because the Prince did not come hither till Tuesday next. Whitelocke said
he was sorry that the Prince would come no sooner to this place, but
since it was the pleasure of the Queen that he should wait upon her this
evening, he would obey her commands; and as to the time of his audience,
he submitted to her pleasure.
The Ricks-Admiral sent again to Whitelocke, to know if he would have any
more ships provided for his transportation. Whitelocke returned his
thanks, and that he intended not to take any of his horses with him, and
therefore should not need any more ships than were already ordered.
Studely, one of Whitelocke's servants, returned to him from Stockholm
with an account that the ship appointed for his transportation was not
yet ready, which retarded his voyage to his trouble.
Between ten and eleven o'clock at night the master of the ceremonies came
to Whitelocke's house, with one of the Queen's coaches, to bring him to
the wedding at Court. He desired Whitelocke's two sons to go into that
coach, who excused themselves that they had not been in that coach
formerly. The master said that when one went to an audience there were
certain formalities to be observed, but going to a wedding was another
thing; that now the Queen had sent her coach for Whitelocke as her
guest, and it was proper for his sons to go with him. Whitelocke wished
them to observe the direction of the master, who governed in these
things.
They went to the bridegroom's house, where were many of his friends; his
uncle the Ricks-Admiral, Marshal Wrangel, and other senators and
noblemen. As soon as Whitelocke alighted out of the coach, the
bridegroom's brother was there to receive him and bid him welcome; near
the door the bridegroom met him, and gave him thanks for the favour in
honouring his wedding with his presence. Whitelocke said he was very
ready to testify his respects to the nobility of this country, and
particularly to himself, and took it for an honour to be invited into
such company.
Whitelocke was instructed by the master of the ceremonies, that by the
custom of this country the bridegroom takes place of the King, and the
bride of the Queen, during the solemnities of the wedding; accordingly
Whitelocke gave the right hand to the bridegroom.