Then the Marshal of the Nobility, going forth into the open place between the forms, made his oration in the name of the nobility, much to the same purpose as the Archbishop had done, and, after his oration ended, with the like ceremony kissed her Majesty’s hand, and returned to his place.  Then the like was done by the Marshal of the Burgesses, and all to the same effect.

[SN:  The Boor’s speech.]

In the last place stepped forth the Marshal of the Boors, a plain country fellow, in his clouted shoon, and all other habits answerable, as all the rest of his company were accoutred.  This boor, without any congees or ceremony at all, spake to her Majesty, and was interpreted to Whitelocke to be after this phrase:—­

“O Lord God, Madam, what do you mean to do?  It troubles us to hear you speak of forsaking those that love you so well as we do.  Can you be better than you are?  You are Queen of all these countries, and if you leave this large kingdom, where will you get such another?  If you should do it (as I hope you won’t for all this), both you and we shall have cause, when it is too late, to be sorry for it.  Therefore my fellows and I pray you to think better on’t, and to keep your crown on your head, then you will keep your own honour and our peace; but if you lay it down, in my conscience you will endanger all.  Continue in your gears, good Madam, and be the fore-horse as long as you live, and we will help you the best we can to bear your burden.

“Your father was an honest gentleman and a good king, and very stirring in the world; we obeyed him and loved him as long as he lived; and you are his own child, and have governed us very well, and we love you with all our hearts; and the Prince is an honest gentleman, and when his time comes we shall be ready to do our duties to him as we do to you; but as long as you live we are not willing to part with you, and therefore I pray, Madam, do not part with us.”

When the boor had ended his speech, he waddled up to the Queen without any ceremony, took her by the hand and shook it heartily, and kissed it two or three times; then turning his back to her, he pulled out of his pocket a foul handkerchief and wiped the tears from his eyes, and in the same posture as he came up he returned back to his own place again.

When the orations were all ended, one of the Queen’s secretaries, by her command, read unto the Assembly a paper, which Whitelocke procured to be given to him in a copy, and translated into English.

[SN:  The Queen’s declaration to the Diet.]

    The Proposition of her Majesty of Sweden to the Estates assembled
    at Upsal the 11th of May, in the year 1654.