ereof their houses are built, being of fir timber
and boards, which, especially being old, do suddenly take fire, and
violently burn, hard to be quenched, few houses escaping, especially in
the dorfs, where one is on fire; which causeth more than ordinary care in
the inhabitants of all places to prevent that fearful danger.

Berkman conducted Whitelocke to a lodging in the suburbs, over-against
the castle, which was used for an inn. This being post-night, Whitelocke
made up his despatches for England, which he had prepared at Upsal, where
he wrote his letters, but dated them from Stockholm, that his friends in
England might thereby perceive that he was in his journey homewards,
which he knew would be no small contentment to them.

_May 21, 1654._

[SN: Stockholm.]

Being the Lord's Day, divers Scotch merchants, inhabitants of this city,
and some English, came to Whitelocke's lodging to hear the sermon in the
morning, and many of them did him the honour to dine with him; he had
conference with them, and good advice from them, about his voyage to
England and other matters. Lagerfeldt came also to salute Whitelocke,
and to know what service he had for him, before his going from hence
this evening. Whitelocke desired him to speak to the master of the
customs, touching the shipping of his copper and other goods, custom
free; and Whitelocke prayed Lagerfeldt also to speak to Vice-Admiral
Wrangel, that the ship appointed for his transportation (which was now in
the road in view of Whitelocke's lodging) might, with as much speed as
could be, fall down to the Dollars; which he promised to do.

Wrangel sent to invite Whitelocke to go this afternoon to see the ships,
but Whitelocke excused it by reason of the day, and sent word that
tomorrow, if he pleased, he would wait upon him; and desired his advice
touching his voyage. In the evening Lagerfeldt came again to Whitelocke,
to give him an account what he had done by his appointment, and told
Whitelocke that he should have all contentment. With Lagerfeldt came
Monsieur de Geeres to visit Whitelocke, who gave him thanks for a vessel
of claret wine which De Geeres had sent to Whitelocke, who said he hoped
he should not stay long enough to drink it out in this place.

[SN: The Queen's garden at Stockholm.]

At Upsal Whitelocke was carried to see the Queen's garden, which scarce
deserved that name, being only a piece of ground of about four or five
acres, paled in according t