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294
Char.icter of Oxenstieriia.
His memorial to tiie
,^. ^^,, ^-r-. r.,m-. oiTTT-iT^T^ir. couHcil. Finaiicial measurcs
HISTORY OF THE SWEDES, recommended by him. [1633-
Axel Oxensticrna is one of those who enforce
our admiration all the more, the closer our know-
ledge of him is, and the greater the obstacles with
which he liad to contend. There can be found no
more honourable example of what a great intellect
and a well-ordei-ed industry are able to accomplish.
And yet this man was of inert temperament, and
slept his full measure *. While the burden of war
abroad rests upon his shoulders, his glance em-
braces in the distance all the internal relations of
the country. In his opinions
^ we discern the mind
of a great statesman, an upright patriot, and a
politician more hberal than the world deems him.
In this respect we would dii-ect attention, espe-
cially, to that memorial which he charged the
nobles delegated to him to communicate to the
collective ministry and council of Sweden, dated
Frankfort on the Maine, October 8, 1633"^. This
contains the outlines of a complete plan of public
defence and finance for Sweden, and is full of in-
structive suggestions on several conterminous sub-
jects. We quote some of its heads, in order to
show how this aristocrat comprehended as well
lordly as civic freedom. " When I betliiuk me of the
true causes for which former kmgs so often made
aggressions on our privileges, loading heavily us
and our vassals, or even bereaving us of all our
property, I find that it was often not just so much
the pleasure of the authorities in oppressing us by
need and poverty, as want of resources to defend
the realm efl’ectively, and uphold its reputation
among other nations. For these causes I perceive
nothing at this time so highly mcumbent on the
council, the ministry, and the estates, as that they,
setting aside all other considerations, should endea-
vour to get into their bauds good and permanent
means, which may remove these embarrassments ;
holdmg, that if this be not done, the reputation of
our kingdom and nation, won by the laudable ac-
tions and blood of his late majesty, of happy me-
served. The mmistry writes, April 27, 1636, to the chan.
cellor,
" We send you by Salvius copies of tiie points, which
we have caused to be made out touching those errors, where-
upon it seemed to us needful to make suggestions at the im-
pending examination of the four colleges, which, according
to the form of government, shall be held yearly; we con-
jecture that it will not pass otf without amendment of the
persons. We are minded also soon to hold au examinatioa
with the treasury."
i Christina’s judgment of him deserves to be quoted: it
conies from a pen not partial to the chancellor. " This great
man had made large attainments, having studied much in
his youth. He continued to read in the midst of his great
occupations. He had a great capacity and knowledge of the
affairs and interests of the world He knew the strong and
the weak points of all the states of our Europe. He had
consummate wisdom and prudence, a vast capacity, a great
heart. He was indefatigable. He had an assiduity and appli-
cation to business incomparable. He made them his plea-
sure and his only occupation; and when he took relaxation,
bis diversion was business. He was sober, as much as one
could be in an age and country where that virtue was un-
known. He was a full sleeper, and said that no alfair had
ever hindered him from sleeping in his life except twice:
tlie first was the death of the late king, the other the loss of
the battle of Niirdlingen. He has often told me that when
lie went to rest he stripped off all liis cares with his clothes,
and let them repose till the next day. For the rest, he was
ambitious, but faithful, incorruptible, a little too slow and
phlegmatic." (Ce grand homme avail beaucoup d’acquis,
Src.) Mem. de Christine, iii. le. We subjoin liis daily
prayer, which, written by his own band, is preserved in the
mory, and the life of many an honourable Swedish
man, will in no long time be lost, the conquered
territories again be wrested from us, the estates
and privileges acquired be foregone, and, which God
avert, the realm come under foreign domination.
In general I know well that every man gives his
due, but when it comes to the specification, so that
one is privately conscious of any real or imaginary
grievance, and begins to draw conclusions as to
what shall follow therefrom, he cannot rid himself
of the apprehension, and forgets for a trivial pres-
sure or an imagined consequence, the welfare of
the country and his own safety, as well as the con-
servation of his privileges. And what is most to be
lamented is, that those who so oppose and seek to
hinder all wholesome counsels, ever ready with
difficulties and objections, pass for the only wise;
albeit if we hold such to be good, and only require
from them plans how affairs shall be sustained,
they know less than others." Further :
" It must
be well considered by all the members of our order,
that departed kings have invested our forefathers,
parents, and ourselves, with feudal and heritable
estates, not only in the conquered countries, but
also in the realm, which as they have now been
sold, exchanged, or heired away, cannot revert
without the greatest confusion and perturbation ;
but have diminished the yearly rents of the crown.
This decrement must necessarily be not only again
covered by other means, but regard must also be
had how the country, according to the course and
need of this woi-ld, may now be strengthened
against foes and enviers, whereof there are now
more and mightier than ever before. These and
other grounds move me not to dissuade the baron-
age and nobles from ceding their toll-freedom to
the crown, or at least from suspendmg it tor some
time, and in this way helping the crown in return
for all the property enjoyed by its bounty’. Lastly,
that a treaty should be set on foot with the nobility
Palraskiild Collections, t. 370, p. 53 :—" O Lord, my God !
I know and am fully certain of this, that thou art my
Creator, my Redeemer, my tower, tlie horn of my salvation,
my mild and merciful Father, who lettest not the sighing of
my heart pass by his ear, but hearest me. This day and all
time I commend me to thy divine protection, with my house,
my fatherland, and thy holy church in the wide world. May
thy good Spirit govern us ; may thy holy angel guard us ;
give us what is well-pleasing to thee and profitable for us,
and turn from us what misliketh thee or is hurtful for our
body and soul. Graciously grant that thy holy and saving
word may be preached pure, clear, and undefiled to us and
our posterity, and the holy sacraments after thy institution
be dispensed without abuse, and bring forth fruit in our
hearts. Avert all false worship, heresy, and scandal, as also
variance and discord in thy holy congregation. Confer on
us true preachers and teachers. Defend and protect them.
Bless our churches and schools, and let thy holy word shine
in them, and our youth be educated in the fear of God."
5 The chancellor’s letters arrived oftener than the answers
of the ministry were transmitted. Generally the latter took
a good interval. Oct. 12, 1633, the lords of the ministry ex-
cused their delay, "because they are obliged to attend the
burials of two well-deserving men." Reg.
6
Concept under his own hand in the Cronstedt Collection
in the Library of Upsala. There is a copy in the Nordin
Collections.
’ In their answer to the complaints of the nobles, at the
diet of 1633, the council finds it reasonable that the nobles
should escape the payment of taxes on land held in their
own hands. At the diet of 1634 the latter gave up their
exemption, but only for two years.
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