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322 Report by the guardians,
approved by the queen.
HISTORY OF THE SWEDES. Sentiments of the estates
as to the constitution. [1644—
preted. But it had been done from unavoidable
necessity, to save the state and their country ;
Gustavus Adolphus had himself set the example of
the measure, which had been embraced also by
other states in times of pressure; especially as
landed estates were always most profitable in the
hands of private persons. These estates the crown
might redeem ;
and although in the term specified
for such redemption (a year from the queen’s
assumption of the government) they had been
obliged to take a very short date, in order to per-
suade individuals to make advances; all this had
been referred for ratification, so that her majesty,
if it seemed good to her, might prolong the term
to some years. 5. Albeit the Form of Govern-
ment forbade the grant of patents of nobility, or the
alienation of crown estates during the minority of
the sovereign, the guardians had yet found it im-
possible to avoid this in the long run, with this
great war, so unproportioned to the energies of the
country, on their shoulders, and an empty trea-
sury; especially as tlie late king had before his
death given many persons assurance of donations,
and caused patents to be made out for that pur-
pose. As no government could be upheld without
rewards and punishments, they had been unable to
decline gratifying meritorious persons, and had
therefore rewarded some with estates, others with
ennoblement, who they hoped were not unworthy;
although all was remitted to the good pleasure of
a full-aged sovereign.
The queen approved all. Her letter of acquit-
tance for the five high officers bears date Decem-
ber 7, 1644, the same day on which she issued her
warranty to the estates. In the Act of the Diet
their administration is mentioned " with highest
thankfulness and praise." In reference to the
constitution of 1(J34, Christina’s warranty declares:
" We have duriftg the time of our minority made
good trial of it ;
but seeing that at present we are
involved in so many embarrassments that we have
not leisure to examine it accurately, therefore we
find it advisable to defer its establishment until
our happy coronation, to the end that it may
meanwhile be well considered, and then with the
consent of the estates be confirmed for a law,
which shall be perpetually observed in this king-
dom; yet will we, in the mean time, guide ourselves
by its tenor, as it hath hitherto stood." From a
minute, purporting to be " the opinion of the
greatest part of the estates and good patriots,
touching the Form of Government *," it is mani-
fest that this constitution was actually submitted
to the estates for further examination *.
Changes
of dubious character, which were brought into
sell estates to tlie value of 200,000 rixdollars; in 1639,
again to the same amount; in 1641, to 400,000 rix-dollars.
For three, or afterwards for four and a half dollars rent from
the land, 100 rix-dollars were paid. The right of purchase
was so rigorously reserved to the nobility, that a nobleman
who lent his name to an unnoble person for such a purchase
was to forfeit his estate. The cess-paying peasants of the
crown, thus brought into dependence on the nobility, were
not to pay more to the new superior than formerly to the
crown ;
for only the crown-rents of their lands were sold. At
the diet of 1643, the peasants complained, that those who in
this way hail been made dependent on the nobility, were
harassed with intolerable exactions of day-work and bur-
dens of all kinds, in order thereby to induce them to give up
their right of property in the land to the noble superior.
question, appear to have led to its postponement.
These aimed at a great extension of the rights of
the estates, and seem to be directed in part
against the high-chancellor personally. In order
that no man may engross all power to himself, nor
any one family or estate raise itself above all
others, none of the five high offices of state—it is
said—should be filled in any other way than that
the estates should propose three persons, and the
king select one among them, care being taken
herein that brothers, or individuals of the same
family, should not be spoken of. Thus were to be
chosen the councillors of state also, some of whom
should attend the king in their turn, while the
others, as of old, should be governors of provinces,
since it is too far for the people to carry their
complaints to the capital. Judges should not be
executive officers also, and conversely, by which
might made right. In order that the house of
barons might preserve their liberties, and persons
of high power (who are not named) no longer, as
heretofore, assail the nobility with snubbs and
banns ^, when any have not voted according to
their pleasure, it is most humbly solicited that
only one of three persons proposed by the house
of barons itself shall be selected to be land-mar-
shal. It would be well also, that, for the promo-
tion of order among the clergy, the design of king
Gustavus Adolphus for a politico-ecclesiastical
consistory should be carried into effect, yet with a
president and assessors freely chosen by the estates.
Rather than that the rendering of account by the
colleges and functionaries, prescribed by the 30th
section of the Form of Government, should be
neglected by reason of other business, inteUigent
men and good patriots should be chosen thereto by
the estates ;
since it
appears just that the estates
should have it made known to them for what
objects that was expended which they contributed
for the behoof of the realm, that too much might
not go to one department, and nothing at all to an-
other, as was often complained ; wherefore also the
estates most submissively beg that her majesty
would make a reformation in her household, and
spare needless expenses, since the revenues of the
kingdom were now considerably diminished from
the poverty of the people, and the sale or infeuda-
tion of so many landed estates. By reason of the
clamours of the common people, the prospect in
the country was menacing; it was to be feared,
that order would rise up against order, especially
under the general insecurity as to the future. It
was therefore the submissive petition of the estates,
that her majesty might be pleased to enter the
married state, or, lest she should have no heirs of
The regency declared that this conduct was a gross abuse;
but as the peasants who had exchanged the superiority of
the crown for that of the nobility, enjoyed relief from levies
and other extraordinary imposts, it was not unreasonable
that they should in leturn do some service for their supe-
riors, according to agreement.
* In the Nordin Collections.
5 " The Form of Government was read and considered, in
conjunction with some of the equestrian order and nobility,
who communicated their opinions to the clergy," it is stated
in the protocols of the clergy for the diet of 1644. Contri-
butions to the History of the Swedish Church and Diets,
from the archives of the clerical order. Stockholm, 1835,
p. 106.
6
Snubbor, bannor.
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