Sweden, or the Kingdom of the Swedes

united and happily cohere in eternal harmony, and be sustained and preserved uncorrupted from both internal and external contagion: They thought it therefore highly necessary that one should be chosen from among the Senators of the Kingdom, who, being better imbued than the rest with political disciplines and educated by varied use and experience of the weightiest matters, would take upon himself the singular care of this affair; who, if—as is fitting—he has surpassed the others in experience, judgment, and merits, although not in order, yet in estimation and dignity, has always been held in the highest place among the Kings and the Senators of the Kingdom. For he, with the King, weighs the counsels and deliberations of the others separately, and institutes the selection of consultations with the King, having applied a diligent balance of matters. From the time when the Runes or Gothic letters perished together with the appellation of his office and dignity, we call him Chancellor, in imitation of the Latins whose letters were substituted in the place of the former, from the cancelling, or from the chancel bars by which chanceries were once surrounded. His office, as mentioned above, is primarily to take care not only that the members of the republic, namely the Estates, of which its entire system consists, are equably balanced and united, and harmoniously joined together, sustained, and preserved; but also to foresee and look ahead to what the condition and constitution of our republic is in relation to its neighbors, and what advantages or detriments it might take from them, and by opportune means either to accept the advantages that offer themselves, or to prevent and avert imminent detriments in a timely manner by necessary remedies. Accordingly, all consultations and deliberations with the Senators of the Kingdom, the Councilors of the Chancery, or the Estates of the Kingdom belong to him, as do all diets, assemblies, and treaties with the Estates of the Kingdom, all privileges, and all revisions of judgments granted by the King and their definitive sentences, all constitutions, Statutes, and ordinances, and the plenipotentiaries, instructions, information, oaths, and assurances of provincial governors, castellans, and officials. Furthermore, all controversies and dealings with neighboring Kings, Princes, and public affairs: Wars, Truces, and pacifications, the instructions of ambassadors and commissioners