A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
In the afternoon the Commander or Lieutenant-General of the forces of the
town, whom they call Obrist Lieutenant, Monsieur Andreas Keiser, and the
Senator Bilderbeck, came, with four of the city coaches, to accompany
Whitelocke to see the town and fortifications of it. The Senator spoke
only Latin, the Lieutenant spoke good French. They went through most
parts of the town, and found the figure of it exactly done in painting in
a table in their magazine, with the fortifications of it: upon the view
of the whole town, it seemed a pleasant and noble city. It is of great
antiquity, freedom, privileges, trade, polity, and strength, few in these
parts exceeding it; not unhealthful in the situation, beautiful in the
buildings, profitable in the commerce, strong in the fortifications, and
rich in the inhabitants.
The streets are large and fair, kept clean and sweet; the houses built of
brick, generally uniform, most in the frontispieces, and covered with
tile; at the entry into them, usually the first and lower room is
largest, paved with Orland stone, full of streaks of red and white, and
some with black and white rich marble. In this first room they use to set
their best household stuff, as the chief room for entertainment; yet they
will also in some part of the room have a partition with boards, above a
man's height, for a kitchen, where they dress meat and hang their bacon
and other provision{9}, which are not out of sight nor smell; and here
also, in this room, some of their goods of merchandise are placed; but
the better sort keep their houses more neat, and have kitchens and
larders out of view. In the second story are ordinarily the
lodging-rooms, and some for entertainment; the third and fourth stories
are granaries and storehouses, which they hold better for such uses than
cellars and lower rooms, which, they say, cause damage to the
commodities.
The country about, for a league, and in some parts two leagues or more,
belongs to the city, is within their jurisdiction, and is fruitful and
pleasant, sweetly watered by the Trave, adorned by the groves and
meadows, and many pleasant summer-houses for the recreation of the
citizens.
[SN: Fortifications and arsenal of Luebeck.]