eapons, and thereby make a noise, to testify their consent and
approbation.

_Wh._ Your ceremony of laying down the spear at the feet of the bride
puts me in mind of another passage in Tacitus, 'De Moribus Germanorum;'
that when a man was married, he used to bring his arms and lay them at
the feet of his bride, to signify that he would not take them up nor go
forth to war, being newly married, without the leave of his wife, to whom
he had now given the command of himself and of his arms.

_Gr. Eric._ Our customs and those of the ancient Germans have much
resemblance; but I never heard so good observations upon the ceremonies
of a wedding as your Excellence hath made.

_Wh._ I am delighted with these antiquities; but your Excellence shows
your opinion to be that of a brother.

From Grave Eric, Whitelocke went to visit the Senator Schuett, and Lynde,
who lodged in one house, and met him at the door; and this day he made
seven visits, besides his attendance upon the Queen, hastening to get
over these matters of compliment and ceremony, that he might be upon his
journey to Stockholm.

_May 16, 1654._

[SN: Whitelocke entertains a party of ladies.]

Whitelocke visited General Douglas, who had been to visit him before, and
now showed great respect unto him, and gave him many thanks for the
English horse which Whitelocke had bestowed on him. After this,
Whitelocke visited the Ricks-Admiral and the Senators Rosenhau and Bundt.

In the afternoon he visited Woolfeldt, who brought Whitelocke into the
room where his lady and other ladies of great quality were with her.
Whitelocke imagined some design to be herein, because it was a thing so
unusual to bring gentlemen and strangers into the company of their
ladies; and it fell out to be so, for Whitelocke, discoursing with the
Lady Woolfeldt, who spake perfect French, she complained that she knew
not where to have a place to see the entry of the Prince into Upsal.
Whitelocke knowing his house to be conveniently situate for that purpose,
and understanding the lady's complaint, he, to free her from the danger
of not seeing that solemnity, offered to her and to the rest of the
ladies in her company, to command his house, which if they pleased to
honour with their presence to see the entry of the Prince, he should take
it as a great favour from their Excellencies; and the ladies readily
accepted of his offer.

They presently came to Whitelocke's house. With the Lady Woolfeldt