the svea court of appeal in the early modern period 70 be construed as embezzlement of the Crown’s funds, he was quick to vindicate himself by referring to his dire financial straits. According to Erik Olofsson, he had been in Stockholm for the whole year and used all his property and savings for his upkeep as he had not been able to raise the portion meant for his maintenance. Moreover, he had become indebted in the process – probably as he had received no salary or upkeep because of the Crown’s acute economic crisis.171 The judges were probably well aware of the situation as has been discussed above, and when the Deputy Crown Prosecutor humbly asked that his behaviour not be held against him, he was told to pay the money back. He was also told that he was to be given all he was to receive as salary or monthly upkeep (huad han således sedhan kunde hafua till at fordra, antingen på lhön eller Månedtzkåst) instead of taking it himself as it pleased him.172 Thus, the lack of logistic, administrative and financial planning involved in the establishment of the court led to the staff being placed in a precarious situation. Not only had the auxiliary staff and the salary, upkeep and travel expenses of the Court’s officials been left unregulated, causing considerable financial strain on the Court’s staff, but another, more symbolic thing was even lacking. The court did not have a signet of its own. Because of this absence of its own insignia, President Magnus Brahe’s comital signet was used in some verdicts issued by the Court.173 Yet, according to the 1442 law, the “King’s Nämnd” or “revision assizes” (rätterting) used the king’s “seal of judgement” (dom incigle).174 However, King GustavII Adolf indicated that the Court was to have its special signet in order to seal its judgements and documents with, and the Court’s letter to the King on 28 June 1614 humbly requested that the King explain his wishes on the subject.175 ningar af Johan Böckman, som han giordt hadhe, af the Penningar som Petter V. Beningen här inn för thenn Konungzlige hoffrätten blef saakfällt till.” 171 Ibid., “Då suarade han sigh sådant hafua giordt, op the godhe herrers gunstige wäll behagh, efter han nu här hafuer läghet heele Åhret igenom, oc förtärt thet ringa han hafuer ått, och tilförende förtient hadhe, efter han den deel icke kan Vttbekomme, som han sigh medh oppehålle kunne, der medh han förmeente sigh kunne afbetala sin skulld, som han sigh vthi satt hafuer […].” 172 Ibid. 173 E.g., RA, SHA, B I a 1, 22 June 1614, fol. 30v: “Och till högre och wijdere försäkring och stadfästelsse, hafuer iaghMagnus Grefue till Wijsingzborgh etc. på denn Konunglige Hoffrättens och des samptlige Bijsittiernes wägne denne dom medh mitt Jncigle förseglet och egen hand Vnderskrifuit.” 174 KrL, R42, p. 120. 175 RA, SHA, B I a 1, Letter from the Court of Appeal to King Gustav II Adolf, 28 June 1614, fol. 16r: “Och efter ibland annad der vthi warder förmält, att denne Konungzlige hoff-
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