A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. — John Locke — John Shaqi
A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
_Bern._ When I heard of your Excellence's arrival in this city, though I
purposed to have gone from hence, yet I deferred my journey, to the end I
might see you, because I have heard in the Emperor's Court, as well by
letters from her Most Serene Majesty of Sweden as from the Chancellor and
other senators of that kingdom, what great satisfaction they had in the
English Ambassador, etc. Now the league of friendship being concluded
between the two nations, I hold myself obliged to make this salutation to
your Excellence.
_Wh._ I have very many thanks to return to your Excellence for the
honour you have done me by this visit, and for these expressions of
affection and respect to the Protector, my master. I do acknowledge
myself much engaged to the Ricks-Chancellor and senators of Sweden, and
in the first place to her Majesty the Queen, for their favourable respect
towards me whilst I was in my negotiation with them, whom I found full of
honour, wisdom, and justice, in their transactions with me.
_Bern._ I have been for some time in the service of the Queen, my
mistress, in Germany.
_Wh._ You met some of my countrymen in the Court of the Emperor,
particularly a noble lord, whom I have the honour to know.
_Bern._ I met there the Earl of Rochester, who was at the Diet at
Ratisbon.
_Wh._ What proposals did he make there?
_Bern._ He made a kind of precarious proposal in the name of the King,
his master.
_Wh._ Did he obtain what he desired?
_Bern._ He did not much prevail in it, only he obtained a verbal promise
of some money, but had no performance.
_Wh._ What occasion hath drawn your General Koningsmark with his forces
at this time before Bremen?
_Bern._ It was thus by mistake occasioned. The Earl of Lueneburg had
covenanted with the Spanish Ambassador to levy some soldiers for the
service of the King of Spain, which levies he began without acquainting
the Governor of that Circle with it, who taking this occasion, and
bearing ill-will to the Earl, drew out some forces to oppose those
levies. Koningsmark understanding this, and jealous that the Governor of
the Circle designed to fall upon the fort of the Queen of Sweden in those
parts, he drew out some forces to oppose the Governor. Those of Bremen,
being informed that Koningsmark drew out his forces against them, sent
some troops, who forced the Queen's subjects to a contribution and built
a fort upon the Queen's land, which coming to the knowledge of
Koningsmark, and that the Governor of the Circle of Westphalia intended
only to suppress the levies of the Duke of Lueneburg, and not to oppose
the Queen of Sweden, Koningsmark thereupon marched with his forces to the
new fort built by those of Bremen, took it in and finished it, and left
there a garrison for the Queen, not disturbing the trade of that city.
_Wh._ Here were mistakes one upon another, which might have engaged that
city and the neighbours, as well as the Crown of Sweden, in a troublesome
war.