Mast. Cer. You may do it, because it will be but a particular visit.
Wh. I hope his Royal Highness will treat me with the same civility and respect as he useth to any other ambassador.
Mast. Cer. That he will infallibly do. Monsieur Chanut, the French Ambassador, when he was in this Court, did always give the right hand to the Prince after the proposal had been made of declaring him Prince-heritier of the crown, though the Ricksdag had not then confirmed it. But Chanut made difficulty of it at the Prince’s lodging, because he was not the son of a king, yet afterwards he did it both there and elsewhere.
Wh. There is more reason for me now to do it, because the proposal is to be made of investing him with the Crown. What was the manner of the Prince’s reception of Chanut, where did he meet Chanut at his coming, and how far did he go with him at his taking leave?
Mast. Cer. The Prince received Chanut at the door of the chamber where he had his audience; and when the Ambassador went away, the Prince brought him to the same place and no further; and I believe he will give the same respect to your Excellence, and as much to you as to any public minister.
Wh. I can desire no more.
May 10, 1654.
Whitelocke attends a wedding at Court. Lagerfeldt came to Whitelocke and acquainted him that there was a special article to be agreed upon touching the business of Guinea, which the Queen and the Chancellor were willing might proceed for the despatch of Whitelocke, and that Grave Eric would have come to him about it, but that he was ill and had taken physic. He told Whitelocke that the Queen said he might have his last audience that day if he pleased; but if he would be present at the solemnity of the nuptials which were this evening to be celebrated at Court between the Baron Horne and the Lady Sparre, and if he desired to see the assembling of the Ricksdag tomorrow, then it would be requisite to defer his audience till Friday, because when he had taken his leave of the Queen it would not be proper for him afterwards to appear in public. Whitelocke said he had rather be dismissed than to be present at any solemnities; that her Majesty had taken him captive by her noble presents, so that it was not fit for him to come abroad in public. He asked Lagerfeldt if the Prince would be here on Friday next; if so, then it would not be convenient to have his audience put off to that day. Lagerfeldt said he doubted that the Prince would not be here so soon.
An officer on horseback, accompanied with several other horsemen, with four kettle-drums and eight or ten trumpets beating and sounding before them, made proclamation in several parts of the town that all persons who were summoned to appear at the Ricksdag should give their attendance at the place appointed in the Queen’s castle of Upsal tomorrow by eight o’clock in the morning, upon pain of half-a-dollar mulcted for every default.
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.