Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 380 to 381, Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1772
The explanation:
Att this time was sitting in Ubsale a publique councell, called by them the outscot, which signifies which with them select persons out of the rest of valuable men: "scot" signifies with then as with us, a publique payment, as we say, one that pays scot and lot; and "out" signifies with them as with us, from, or out of so outscot is a councell selected, and called, by the queen, out of such as pay scot, substantiall men.
The occasion of summoning this councell is usually when the queen would rayse any soldiers, make a war or levy money, or the like: then they summon the outscot, which consists of the senators, some of the nobility and clergy, and one or two from each territory or hundred, and some burgers; and these are not elected by the people, butt summoned by the queen, and whom she thinks fit, and to advise her in such matters as she proposeth to them. Butt they can only give their counsell, and not levy men or money, or make any law by their own authority, those powers being only in the supreame councell, their Ricksdagh, like our parlement: and this outscot hath some resemblance to the auntient great councell of our king, only that had no commoners, as this hath, and is more like to the councell sitting when Whitelocke came out of England, consisting of persons selected and summoned by Cromwell; butt they assumed parlementary power.
Seldome this, or any other publique councells, differs or dissents from what the queen proposeth; so great is her influence on them.
Note: burghers = peasants.
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