A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
_Chan._ That is very true, and is the ground of our quiet and of avoiding
factions among us; for where a Council consists of seven or eight hundred
men, as our Ricksdag doth, and they hold themselves to have an equal
liberty and power, and are most of them active spirits; if every one
amongst them might move and propound what he pleased according to his own
fancy, there would never be an end of proposals and debates, and they
would break out into several factions and the greater affairs of the
kingdom be retarded, and many times thrust out to make way for lesser
matters for the most part but of private interest. Therefore the wisdom
of our Government hath so ordered it that nothing is to be consulted upon
or debated by the Ricksdag, but what is first proposed to them in writing
by the King, who hath the advice of the Senators therein; and such
matters as are by them judged necessary for the good of the kingdom are
by the King proposed to the Ricksdag for their counsel in them.
_Wh._ This may be a good way to preserve your quiet; but may it not be
ill for the rights and liberty of the people? As to instance in
particular, if it be requisite that a new law be made relating to the
people's liberty, wherein the former laws may be defective, by this
course it rests only in the power of the King and Senate whether this
matter shall ever come to consideration or not; for, unless they will
propound it, no consideration can be had of it; and though it may be
necessary as to the people's rights, yet then probably it may be against
the King's power, and in that case the King will never propose it to the
Ricksdag, because it makes against his power and prerogative; and so the
people are by this course debarred of the means of supplying any defect
as to their rights and liberties, unless the King, to lessen his own
power, will first propose it to them.