1654. them a new citty to dwell in; and how to find out, and agree uppon this place, was thus determined.

May 22.

23.

They tooke a great blocke, or piece of wood, to which they fastened some gould, and fett the block a swimming in the water, and agreed, that there they would build the new towne, where their gods (to whom they had committed this affayre) fhould cause the blocke to stay: this blocke floated, and, descending downe the lake, att length stayed att a little ifland about the midft of this citty.

Such an island heer (as in our north parts) is called Holme, and fuch a great blocke, or piece of wood, is by them (as with us) called a Stocke: and bicause this Stocke stayed att this Holme, therfore heer they built their citty, and called it Stockholme; which, by degrees, and adding one holme or ifland to another, became of its present greatnes.

Berkman brought to Whitelocke's lodging, this morning, two of the magiftrates of this citty, deputed by their body, and in their name, to falute Whitelocke, and bid him wellcome to this place. One of them made a fpeech to Whitelocke, which was interpreted out of the fwedish by Berk-man into french, to this effect:

"The fenate of this citty have deputed us, in their name, to falute your excellence, and to bid you wellcome to this place; where the magiftrates and cittizens are "defirous to imbrace any occafion prefented to them, wherby they may testify the great refpect and honor,

" which

"which they beare to his moft ferene highnes the lord pro- 1654. tector, and to the common-wealth of England.

"They are likewife very glad of the occafion given "them to expreffe their joy for the happy alliance and friendship, concluded between this kingdom and the com"mon-wealth of England, which, we hope, will be to the

advantage and good of both nations, and of the pro"testant intereft, which is heartily wifhed by us. We "looke uppon it as a very great comfort and bleffing to "this citty, that after the mifery in which we have lately "bin, when it pleafed God to vifit us with the peftilence, "that the fame is now fo well and fully removed, through "divine mercy, that we have the happines to fee a perfon, "of your condition, vouchsafe his prefence with us.

"Whileft the occafions of your excellence shall stay you "heer, we most freely offer our fervices for your accomo"dation, with whatsoever this place will afforde, which your excellence may commaund; and, as a fmalle teftimony of the respects of our fuperiors, they have caused "us to prefent a veffell of wine unto your excellence, "wherof they intreate your favourable acceptance."

Whitelocke presently anfweared them in english, which Berkman interpreted to them in fwedish, to this effect:

"Gentlemen,

"I rejoyce with you in the mercy and goodnes of God "to this citty, who hath caufed to ceafe that contagious "disease which lately raged among you, so that your "friends (of which number I take the honor to reckon myfelfe) may freely and fafely refort to you, and con

May 23.

1654.

May 23.

"verfe with you as formerly. I have alfo fome fhare in your joy for the friendship and alliance, contracted between my lord the protector of the common-wealth of England, and the queen and kingdome of Sweden; "wherin I doubt not, butt (through the bleffing of God) "both nations, and the whole proteftant intereft, will have "cause to rejoyce likewife: and as my poor indeavours "have not bin wanting, fo my hearty prayers to God fhall "be putt up, that it may come to this iffue; and I fhall pray for the continuance of health and prosperity to this "noble citty.

"I returne you many thankes for your respects to my "lord the protector, and the common-wealth whom I "ferve; wherof I fhall not fayle (when it shall please God "to give me a returne to my owne countrey) to acquaint "them, and to doe all offices of refpect in my power for your citty: and I defire my thankes may be prefented to your honorable fenate, for their perticular favour to “me, and for their falutation, which I receive with all gratitude."

Whileft the cittizens were with Whitelocke, Wrangell, vice admirall Tyfen, vice admirall Clerke, Sinclere, captain of the Amarantha, and others, came and did Whitelocke the honor to dine with him; and, in the afternoone, carryed him to fee the cannon which the Swedes had taken from their ennemies, now layd up in a magazin for themfelves there were of them braffe cannon 1100, among them were two pieces taken from the Mufcoviters, each of them weighing 18,000 lb. weight, and carrying a bullet of 96 lb. weight, as much more as the greatest whole cannon carryes. There was also a bafilifke of 19 foote in length, very extraordinary, and a great morter-piece of

6

braffe

May 23.

braffe of a fathome and three fingers in diameter att the 1654. mouth of it; with many other pieces of braffe ordnance taken from the Polles in their warres with them, which were now butt of little ufe; nor were thofe huge pieces capable to be drawne into the field for any service there..

Whitelocke walked abroade to fee the great church, 24where the late king. Guftavus Adolphus lyes interred; butt, as yett, there is no monument erected in his memory, nor are there others of magnificence, or much antiquity in this, or in the other great church, butt ftore of images and cru-cifixes in all their churches: their building is of bricke, and all their churches are covered with copper..

Whitelocke went to Wrangell's lodging to requite his vifits, butt found him not att home, not having fent before hand to him: he fetched a little turne in the citty, and they showed him a new building for the rickfdagh, which they call the Ruder--house, that is, the house of the knights; it is a fayre building, and the name of it remembers fomwhat of the knights of our parlement.

In this walke, Whitelocke viewed, in the fayre street neer his lodging, the monument fett up to the honor of queen Christina att her coronation, which is beautifull to the view. It is a triumphant arch, of the height of the highest houses, rayfed uppon three arches, which give three paffages; those on each fide the more streight and lowe, the middle arch of twice the height and widenels of the other

two.

The frontispiece unto the toppes of the arches is adorned with pillars of a fayre worke; between which, in the front of the building, are figured the warres, batties, and victo

ries

1654. ries of Guftavus the Great: above the pillars are divers images, and above the middle of the porche is a large tablet, May 24. containing in letters of gold the originall of Chriftina, her

virtues, and the occafion of this monument.

The whole building feems fayre and ftately, and as of ftone, butt, in trueth, is only wood plaiftered over; rather a fhow to please for a few years, then lafting.

He also viewed many houses of stone and bricke, some wherof were very fayre, and adorned with towers and figures; as thofe of Grave Magnus de la Guarde, Grave Gustave Horne, generall Banniere, and others, and many of them beautifully covered with copper.

In the afternoone Wrangell conducted Whitelocke to see the castle, which is also covered with copper; and that having lyen there long, fome dutchmen are reported to have offered to give 10,000 l. for the copper, and to cover the castle againe with new copper: the reafon wherof they hold to be, bicaufe the copper which hath lyen there fo long with the fun uppon it, is fo refined thereby, and would yield fo much gold, that it will yield what the dutchmen bid for it, and more, befides the charge of new covering it with copper as before.

This castle is the principall houfe in this principall citty, belonging to the crown of Sweden; it is a large caftle, more for conveniency of a court then for ftatelinefs of ftructure. It is almost fower-fquare, one way longer then the other, all of bricke, plaistered over, to make it seem as if it were of free ftone, wherof there is not much in these parts fitt for building: the entry into the castle is uppon the north quarter; the fouth and east side is of fayre build

ing,