New Testament to compare it with the other He assâ—r'd him he wou'd read it with great satisfaction And for a further Incouragement he told him such a Pâ—â—ce of Work would be the more useful in the Kingdom because few Friâ—sts in it understâ—â—d the Latine Tongue and that they frequently mâ—stâ—ok the meaning of the Text for want of having it in their Mother Tongue To which Reasons he added some private Caresses he made to that Prelate and dismiss'd him with assurances that he wou'd suffer nothing to pass in his Kingdom in Matters of Religion without his knowledge and advice The Arch Bishop dazel'd by those plausible Reasons and the Caresses of his Prince summon'd to Stockholm his Six Suffragan Bishops and the Principal Persons both of the Regular and Secular Clergy To whom he represented the necessity of making a speedy Translation of the New Testament in opposition to that of Olaus he told 'em it was the King's desire and that it was an infallibe means to please his Majâ—sty and keep him in their Communion The Bishop of Lincopire vigorously oppos'd the undertaking of that Work saying that our Saviour had left the Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures to the Bishopâ— and Doctors of his Church left no occasion that there might be for the simple and ignorant to coâ—tend about it That a Traâ—slation in the present Juncture of Assairs wou'd rather be instrumental to the Propagation of Lutheranism in the State and by the Authority of that Book the People would take upon 'em to judge of Controversies That the Church and Religion were not liable to Examination and that he had never approv'd of the Conference at Vpsal That it was far more Prudential to Excommunicate Olaus and his followers that the Bishop of Stregnez his Superior ought to secure him and bring him to his Trial or else send him to Rome and that such Hereticks ought only to be confuted with Fire and Sword But all these Remonstrances could not prevail with the Arch-Bishop to deny in some measure so just a thing to the King and to which he had oblig'd himself in the Conference at Vpsal Thus he persisted in his design unmov'd by the Arguments of the Bishop of Lincopinc who told him in the full Assembly that he wou'd ruin the Religion by his immoderate complaisance for the Court. The Regular and Secular Clergy divided the whole Work among 'em Pufendorf to have it the sooner finished The latter undertook the Translation of the four Evangelists the Acts of the Apostles and St. Pauls Epistles the Mendicant Friars St. Peter's St. John's St. James's and St. Jude's Epistles and the Carthusians were appointed to Translate the Apocalypse Olaus proud of his pretended success in the Conference at Vpsal printed an Account of it and Publish'd it to his Advantage Soon after he publickly Married tho' a Priest to confirm by so viting an Example the Doctrine which he preach'd Many of his Brethern follow'd his Example without the least reluctancy and publickly assâ—m'd the Name of Lutherans as a shelter against their Superiors and a Support to their Marriages Most of the Nobility got Ministers to Preach in their Castles some out of curiosity to hear their Eloquence others to please the King and perhaps in order to get those Church-Lands they had an eye upon Gustavus was extremely pleas'd to see so sudden a change in Matters of Religion And he who never suffer'd his designs to appear but according as Lutheranism got ground thought he might now without danger seize upon part of the Church-Lands In order to which he call'd the Senate to meet at Stockholm upon intelligences he procur'd from time to time and which he dexterously caus'd to be spread all over the Kingdom that the Emperor himself was preparing to March with all the Forces of the Empire to restore King Christiern No sooner were the Senators arriv'd at Stockholm but he desir'd 'em to take all possible care to put the Kingdom in a State of Defense against the attempts of the Enemy The Lords who for the most part ow'd him their Fortunes and Dignities guess'd presently at his intentions and gave this answer suitable to his Designs That the People were utterly exhausted by the long Wars of Sweden and that the Merchants of Lubeck and other Hanse-Towns did absolutely ruin the Kingdom by their extorted Privilege to drive alone the Trade of Sweden and that without paying any Customs That there was no way left to recruit his Treasure but by opening all the Ports of this Kingdom to the Merchants of other Nations but that the Town of Lubeck must be first paid before those Priviledges cou'd be cancell'd which Sweden was forc'd to grant in lieu of Interest for the Mony and Troops that Regency had lent the Crown against the Danes The Senate agreed both in the necessity of making that Payment and at the same time in the present impossibility of doing it The King under colour of easing the People propos'd by his Chancellour to take for the subsistence of his Troops the two Thirds of the Tithes belonging for the most part to Bishops or Rich Abbots And that cunning Statesman did at the same time insinuate that the superfluous Plate and Bells of Churches might be apply'd to pay the Regency of Lubeck by which means its Priviledges might be at once abolish'd which tended to the absolute ruin both of the King and Kingdom The Power and Authority of Gustavus were settl'd by this time upon so firm and solid a Foundation that the Resolves of the Senate were in a manner but a meer Formality So that all the Senators with great submission approv'd of this Expedient of which a solemn Decree was forthwith made and Commissioners were appointed by the King who seiz'd all over the Kingdom upon the Church-plate and Bells which they found to be superfluous and same time laid up in public Granaries the Tithes and all the Grains design'd for the Subsistence of his Troops This Order of the Senate stunn'd like a Thunderbolt both the Superior and Inferior Clergy They saw that they had set a wise and mighty Prince upon the Throne who was resolv'd to ruin their Authority and was so much the more terrible because of his Dexterity in concealing his Hatred and Designs under the specious pretence of the public Good The Archbishop of Vpsal brought his Complaints to the King and told him that his Officers committed such Depredations in all the Churches as were scarce to be fear'd from the most outragious Hereticks or Fanaticks The King having thus at last pull'd off the Mask answer'd the Bishop with an Aiâ— of Authority that what had been seiz'd by his Order wou'd be better imploy'd for the Defence of the Realm than for maintaining the Grandeur and Pride of the Clergy After these words he dismiss'd him and wou'd not give him a longer Audience The King's Answer and the Violence of his Officers did extremely exasperate most of the
Arguments to excuse and even to justify Injury and Oppression The devout King Eric was Barbarously Assassinated by his seditious Subjects and the King of Gothland was suspected of encouraging and corresponding with the Rebels Charles VII The Swedes advanc'd this Prince to the Throne that the two Gothlands might be reunited to the Crown He took all possible care to keep his Subjects from suspecting that he had a Hand in the death of his Predecessor In pursuance of that design he began the Exercise of his Regal Authority by ordaining that all the Laws of St. Eric shou'd be punctually observ'd He recall'd Canut that Prince's Son who after his Fathers Death had made his escape into Norway And to remove all the pretexts that might be us'd for embroiling the Kingdom in a civil War he made a Law that Canut shou'd inherit the Crown after his Death and that for ever afterwards the King shou'd be chosen by turns out of the two Royal Families Afterwards he erected several Monasteries to gain the Esteem and Affection of the People who are always extreamly fond of such external Marks of Piety and Devotion He sent an Embassy to Rome to obtain from Pope Alexander III. the Title of Arch-Bishop and the Pallium for the Bishop of Vpsal who was Primate of the Kingdom The Pope was easily prevail'd with to grant or rather to sell him the favour he desir'd according to the usual Maxims of the Court of Rome and that Prelate was invested with the Archiepiscopal Dignity on condition that the Estates of all those who died without Children in the Kingdom shou'd be intail'd upon the Holy-See but the Swedes soon grew weary of that Religious Bâ—â—dage and freed themselves from so 〈…〉 Canut Tho' King Charles had made a solemn Law to settle the Succession upon this Prince his Ambition cou'd not be satisfied with the prospect of a Crown in reversion He levy'd Forces in Norway and resolving at once to recover the Throne and revenge the Death of his Father he invaded Sweden routed King Charles kill'd him in the Battle and by that Victory made himself Master of the Kingdom He lest no means unattempted to extirpate the whole Race of his Predecessor but since 't was never in the power of a Tyrant to secure his Ursupation by the Death of his Successor all the cruel Diligence with which he persecuted the Family of the late King cou'd not hinder the Swedes from Electing Suercher the Son of that Prince according to the Law by which 't was ordain'd that the two Families shou'd enjoy the Crown by turns Suercher III. This Prince imitating the Barbarous policy of his Predecessor order'd an exact search to be made for all the Relations and Posterity of St. Eric But one of those Princes escap'd his fury and rais'd an Army to make head against his Persecutor Eric X. He defeated King Suercher in a Battle and after that Prince's Death obtain'd the Crown which at that time was always the Reward of the Conqueror As soon as he was fix'd upon the Throne he endeavour'd to make a friendly Agreement with the Family of his Predecessor in order to which he offer'd to re-establish the Law that was made by King Charles for regulating the Succession and to convince the posterity of that Prince that he really design'd to put the Treaty in Execution he appointed John the Son of Suercher to succeed him excluding his own Son Prince Eric who was oblig'd to content himself with a distant prospect of inheriting the Crown after the Death of Prince John Iohn I. He conquer'd some places in Livonia and endeavour'd by Force of Arms to make the Esthonians renounce the Idolatry that prevail'd among 'em But the People of that Country looking upon their forc'd Conversion as a sort of Slavery took up Arms and drove the Swedes out of their Province In the mean time King John Died in the Isle of Wiensingso after he had reign'd three years Eric XI call'd the Stammerer He was the Son of Eric X and obtain'd the Possession of the Crown without the least Effusion of Blood It may be reckon'd a very rare Instance of moderation that a Royal Family shou'd so tamely divest themselves of the Sovereign Authority and suffer a Prince of another House to mount the Throne without Opposition This Monarch had occasion during his Reign to perform a very important piece of service to the Regency of Lubeck The Danes Besieg'd that City with a numerous Army and shut up the Port with an Iron Chain which was defended by a potent Fleet. But when the City was reduc'd to the utmost extremity the King of Sweden sent a considerable number of Ships mann'd with Soldiers under the Convoy of several Men of War who beat the Danes open'd a passage thro' their Squadrons broke the Chain with which the Mouth of the River Trave was block'd up reliev'd the City with Men Provisions and Ammunition and by that seasonable and important supply deliver'd the Republick from the Danish Yoak The Regency as a Testimony of the publick gratitude for so signal a Deliverance ordain'd that the Swedish Merchant Ships shou'd from that time be exempted from the payment of Customs and Duties Waldemar The Family of King Suercher shou'd have had their turn in the Election by vertue of the Treaty concluded with the House of Eric But it seems the Swedes had either forgotten or neglected that Agreement for tho' Eric the Stammerer left no Issue they Elected Waldemar the Son of that Prince's Sister and of Ierl or Count Birger who was General of the Swedish Forces during the preceeding Reign It may perhaps appear strange that the Son tho' an Infant was preferr'd before his Father but 't is plain from the Swedish History that tho' the Kingdom was always Elective 't was the perpetual custom of the People to chuse a Prince of the Royal Family preferrably to all the other Lords of the Kingdom In the mean time the Count or Ierl Birger was intrusted with the care of the Government during the Minority of King Waldemar And that Wise Lord who was his own Son's Minister made it his principal Care to raise the Honor and Authority of the Crown He concluded a Peace with the Neighbouring Princes and then apply'd himself wholly to the contriving and pursuing of those Maxims that might make him absolute in the Kingdom He built and fortify'd the City of Stockholm instituted good and useful Laws and exacted a punctual observance of ' em Upon advice that some Lords began to grow Jealous of his Authority and to complain that he made an ill use of it he suppress'd those brooding Commotions by ordering the principal Fomenters of 'em to be beheaded Afterwards he marri'd the King his Son to Sophi the Daughter of Eric King of Demark that the Authority of his Family might be secur'd by so powerful an Alliance As soon as the young Prince was of Age he advanc'd his Father from the Dignity
herself absolute in the 3 Kingdoms 17 Eric succeeds her in the 3 Kingdoms but did neither inherit her power nor her Personal Abilities 19 N. SEverinus de Norbi a Danish Lord his base compliance with all the Humor and Inclinations of Christiern 96 Christiern gives him the Government of Calmar 95 He entrusts him during his Absence with the command of his Forces in Sweden 99 Norbi saves the life of the Administrator's Widow 112 He contrives how to make himself independent 113 He aspires to the Marriage of that Princess ibid. He admits man Swedish Gentlemen on board his Vessels 115 O. OLaus Petri see Luther Olaus a Gentleman who fled for Refuge in Dalecarlia 131 Otho Crumpein nominated by Christiern II. to be General of his Army 80 he was one of the greatest Captains of the Northern Countries ibid. Otho enters into West Gothland ibid. He ravageth this Province with a design to draw the Swedes to a Battel ibid. Otho at the sight of the Swedish Army retires with apparent precipitation to the Lake Weter ibid. The Swedes pursue him 81 an obstinate Fight between the two Armies ibid. The Victory inclines to Otho's side ibid. He orders his Victorious Troops to march against the Swedish Infantry that were possess'd of the Pass of Tyvede 82 The Swedes repulse Otho's Infantry He renews the Attack with the French Infantry which force the Swedes and gain their Retrenchments ibid. He pass'd thro' the Forest of Tyvede and penetrates into the Heart of the Kingdom 83 Christiern having obtain'd in an Assembly of three Senators some Lords and the Bishops of the Kingdom held at Upsal the Title of the King of Sweden Otho advances with his Army to the most Remote Provinces to cause his Masters Authority to be there acknowledg'd 86 He dispersed the Militia that were gather'd together in divers Places ibid. He destroys with Fire and Sword the Castles of those Lords who refuâ—'d to submit ibid. He investe Stockholm 87 He writes to the King of Denmark to give him an account of the success of his Arms ibid. Christiern sends him back to Denmark 99 P. POpe Leo X. See Leo X. Peterson a Dalecarlian Gentleman entertains Gustavus with all imaginable marks of respect and deference 122 He commends his design and promises to oblige his Vassals to appeaar in Arms ibid. He gives him assurances of an inviolable fidelity and names the Lords and Principal Country-men whom he pretended to engage in his Party 123 Under these specious pretences of Zeal and Affection for Gustavus's Cause â—da Person he conceals his Intention of betraying him ibid. He discovers the Retreat of Gustavus to a Danish Officer who causes Peterson's House to be surroundid with Souldiers ibid Gustavus escapes the danger by the means of Peterson's Wife who had disclos'd to him the treacherous Design of her Husband ibid. Laurentius and Olaus Petri spread abroad the Doctrin of Luther with very great success 151 Olaus Petri Preaches Lutheranism in the Church of Stregnes of which he was Canon and Protonotary ibid. He makes conferences publishes Theses and disputes every day in the University of that City ibid. He gains the greatest part of the Professors and Scholars of the University 152 Peter's Pence what they are 47 by whom impos'd ibid. S. STephen de Sassi makes an agreement with Gustavus's Agent to land in Sweden at the head of twelve hundred Men 145 The Senate and Senators of Sweden 3 The Senate in his first institution was establish'd only to serve as a Council to the King 4 It 's Authority is extended so far as to take cognizance of the Prince's Conduct ibid. The Soveraign Power and Majesty of the State was lodg'd in that Body ibid. Sigebritte who she was 99 ibid. She was entirely belov'd by Christiern II. She alone was Mistress of the destiny of the Court and of the whole Kingdom of Denmark 100 She both dispos'd of and took away all manner of Offices and Dignities in the State as she pleased without any regard to the Laws of that Country ibid. Christiern always approv'd her Conduct tho' never so irregular ibid. she perswades him to destroy the Noble-men and Senators of Sweden 101 She advises him to entrust the Officers of the Garrison of Stockholm with this bloody Execution 102 Steno-Sturius Administrator of Sweden 29 Steno the Son of Suanto-Sturius is acknowledg'd Administrator by the States of Sweden 34 To whom he was beholden for this Dignity ibid. The Agreement between him and Trollee his Competitor 35 An irreparable Fault committed by him 36 The behaviour of Trolle toward him 41. 42 Steno penetrates into Trolle's designs and conceals his Anger 45 He gives him a Visit at Upsal ibid. and was there magnificently entertain'd 46 He writes to the Pope complaining of the Seditious Practices of that Prelate 47 The Pope blames the Archbishops proceedings in appearan and seems privately to approve them ibid. Steno convenes the Estates Tellia with an intent to have his Authority confirm'd 48 The Legate Arcemboldi arrives in Sweden and exhorts the Administrators to Peace 52 The consequence of this Negotiation 53 Steno suspects by the Legate's discourse that he was engag'd in the Interest of his Enemies and that he wasprivy to all their Designs ib. The Administrator resolves to bring him over to his own Party by any means whatsoever ibid. He attacks him on his weak Side permitting him to publish his Indulgences in the Kingdom 54 The Legate is won by his Liberality ibid. He discloseth to Steno the designs of the King of Denmark his intrigues with the Clergy of Sweden and the Treachery of the two Governors of the Castles of Stockholm and Nicoping 56 Steno Assembleth the Senate and acquaints 'em with a Conspiracy that was form'd against the Tranquility of the State 57 He cunningly draws the Governour of Nicoping out of his Post under colour of a Muster ibid. He conveys new Troops into the Town and appoints a new Governour ibid. He gives orders to apprehend the two Governors of Stockholm and Nicoping who confess their Crime ibid. Steno 〈◊〉 advis'd to sceare the Person of Trolle and to Besiege his Castle 58 He Summons the Nobility and Militia of the Kingdom 59 He Besiegeth the Archbishop 60 The Arrival of the Danes obligeth him to divide his Forces 62 He defeats the Danes ibid. He coustrains Trolle to abandon his Castle and to appear before the Senate who cause a formal Process to be drawn up against him 64 65 The Pape commands Steno by his Legate to Re-establish Trolle in his Metrepolitan See under pain of Excommunication 66 He acquaints the Senate with the Popes Demands and Menaces 67 The Temperal Lords despise them idid The Administrator endeavours to engage the Legate in his Interests by offering him the Rich Archbishoprick of Upsal 68 Pope Leo X. upon Steno's refusal to restore Trolle to his former Dignity suspends the Kingdom of Sweden from Divine Service and Excommunicates this Prince with the whole
Dignity of Administrator was properly a Commission during the Inter-Regnum or Vacancy of the Throne which might be revok'd and made void by the Estates He was by his Office the General of the Kingdom and had a more immediate Authority over the Soldiers and Officers who took an Oath of Fidelity to him The Arch-Bishop of Upsal as Chief Senator which was a Dignity annex'd to his Office had the Precedency in publick Solemnities and on Days of Ceremony but in Time of War the Sovereign Power was lodg'd in the Person of the Administrator and he enjoy'd all the Authority of a King tho' he durst not assume the Title The Swedes were so afraid of absolute Power that they dreaded the very Name of a King and imagin'd that they enjoy'd a greater Liberty under an Administrator tho' his Authority was not Inferior to that of a King and might be advanc'd as high as he had the Courage and Dexterity to raise it Christiern the First endeavour'd sometimes by Treaties and sometimes by Force to abolish that Dignity and re-establish the Union of Calmar The Bishops were still devoted to his Interest and declar'd in his Favour as often as they cou'd discover their Inclinations without Danger During the space of Four and Forty Years that Monarch and King John the Second his Son govern'd Sweden by Turns with the Administrator Steno and Suanto Sture For it happen'd not unfrequently that the King of Denmark and the Administrator were at the same Time Masters of several Provinces according as the Faction of the Bishops or the Party of the Nobility prevail'd In the mean time neither of 'em cou'd make themselves Absolute in a Kingdom where the Sovereigns were oftentimes oblig'd to part with some Branch of their Prerogative to purchase the Obedience of their Subjects Such was the State of Sweden when it began to be made the Theatre of the most memorable Revolutions that ever happen'd in the North which may be justly reckon'd the Foundations of the Swedish Monarchy Charles XI King of Sweden of the Palatine Branch of Deuxponts is the Grand-son of Catherine de Vasa the Daughter of Charles of Sudermania and Wife of Casimir Count Palatine of the Rhine and of the Grandeur of that Family which at present possesses the Throne After the Death of Swanto Sture the last Administrator of Sweden the Factions and Parties which by his Power and Policy he had broken and disperst began to break forth with fresh Violence He ow'd his Advancement to his own Merit and to the need the Kingdom had of his Protection For he was chosen Administrator at a time when that Dignity seem'd to be instituted on purpose to oppose the Attempts of the Danes His Victories over the Muscovites rais'd his Glory and Reputation and made his Memory Illustrious His Power was almost equal to the Authority of the most Absolute Monarchs He was Fortunate in War and respected in Peace he oblig'd John II. King of Denmark by the Terror of his Arms to make a Truce with Sweden and establish'd Peace and Plenty among his People The Nobility and Peasants look'd upon him as the Protector of the Publick Liberty and his Merit procur'd him the Friendship of some of the Bishops whom he had perswaded to disingage themselves from the Danish Faction He never undertook any important Affair without imparting his Designs to James Ulfonis Archbishop of Upsal and Heming Gadde Bishop of Lincopine For tho' those Prelates were Enemies to his Dignity they cou'd not forbear loving and esteeming his Person He shew'd an extraordinary Respect to the Senate and affected so little Superiority over the Noble men that he seem'd only to excel 'em in Merit tho' he was willing that People shou'd know that this was rather an Effect of his Moderation than of Weakness and Meanness of Spirit He kept always a considerable Body of Standing Forces that his Enemies might never find an Opportunity to Surprize him before he was prepar'd to receive ' em His Court and Houshold were compos'd of the Officers of his Army he maintain'd 'em with his own Revenues in time of Peace and made 'em his Ministers and Favorites These prudent Maxims which he observ'd in the Management of all his Affairs made him the Terror of the Danes and their Faction who durst never engage in any Attempt against Sweden during his Government After his Death the Senate call'd a Meeting or Convention of the Estates at Arboga to proceed to the Choice of a Successor The Bishops led by the Consideration of their private Interest endeavour'd to support the Claim of the Kings of Denmark under whose Reign they had always the largest Share in the Government and lest no Means unattempted to revive the Union of Calmar They represented to the Estates that Plenty and a flourishing Trade were the happy Effects of the Observance of that Treaty in Norway that this was the only Way to change the present Truce with Denmark to a solid Peace which cou'd not but be extreamly Advantageous to Sweden and that on the contrary the Election of an Administrator wou'd make the Kingdom the Seat of a bloody and pernicious War so long as there were any Kings in Denmark able to maintain the Justice of their Pretensions to the Crown of Sweden But these Arguments were not much regarded by the rest of the Assembly who were convinc'd that these designing Prelates wou'd for their own Interest bring the Nation under a Yoak that was Grievous and Insupportable to all the other Estates of the Kingdom The greatest part of the Deputies declar'd aloud That they wou'd have an Administrator and the Bishops were forc'd to comply with the prevailing Opinion The Archbishop of Upsal was the first that gave his Vote and declar'd in Favour of the Senator Eric Trolle who was a prudent and deserving Person and besides recommended by his Age Birth Riches and Alliance to the late Administrator The Archbishop to prevent any Opposition that might be made against that Senator's Advancement assur'd the Friends and Relations of the late Administrator that 't was only the Respect he had for the Memory of that Great Man which made him name Trolle for his Successor adding That by this means Swanto's Son who by reason of his Youth cou'd not be suppos'd to be yet Master of so much Skill and Experience as was requir'd for the Discharge of so great a Trust wou'd have an Excellent Opportunity to fit himself for the Management of Affairs and to learn the Art of War under the Inspection of his Kinsman who by reason of his old Age cou'd not keep him long from the Possession of his Father's Dignity But this was only a specious Pretence to cover his hidden Designs He had resum'd the old Maxims of the Clergy after the Death of Swanto or rather began now to discover those Inclinations which he durst not own under the Reign of that wise and powerful Prince Eric Trolle was his intimate Friend and
meeting of the Estates at Westeras the Capital City of Westmannia where those two Governours were accus'd of contriving and abetting a Treasonable design against their Countrey and Commissioners were appointed to draw their Indictment The fear of punishment and the hope of a pardon made so strong an impression upon 'em that they confess'd their design to deliver up these places to the King of Denmark and accus'd the Arch-Bishop as the Author and Fomenter of the Conspiracy The Administrator having this advantage over him resolv'd to proceed against him with the utmost Rigour and in order to his Conviction order'd him to be summon'd to give an account of his Behaviour to the Estates Some of the Senators who were sensible of the dangerous tendency of these divisions and dreaded the fatal consequences of an open Rupture endeavour'd under-hand to perswade the Arch-Bishop to submit to the Administrator and even offer'd him a safe Conduct sign'd by the principal Members of the Estates hoping to divert the threatning storm and to gain the stubborn Prelate by easie and gentle methods The Arch-Bishop was enrag'd to find that his designs were blasted by too early a discovery he complain'd to his Friends of the King of Denmark's remissness and neglect and immediately sent one of his Creatures to that Prince to acquaint him with the danger to which his party in Sweden was expos'd and to hasten his March to that Kingdom In the mean time to amuse the Senate he desir'd that a new Convention of the Estates might be summon'd under pretext that the greatest part of the deputies that compos'd the Assembly at Westeras were either the Creatures or Relations of his declar'd Enemy The Estates were so incens'd at the Pride and Obstinacy of that religious Prelate that they resolv'd to secure his person and bring him to a Tryal They intreated the Administrator to invest the place where he resided and at the same time orders were given out to apprehend his Father and such of his Friends and Relations as were suspected to be privy to his designs against the Government or might be suppos'd to be able and willing to take up Arms in his Defence And since they foresaw that these Proceedings would infallibly occasion a Rupture with the King of Denmark the Administrator was desir'd to raise the Militia and to put the Kingdom in such a posture that it might not be in danger to be surpriz'd by its Enemies The Breach betwixt the Arch-Bishop and the Estates gave the Prince an occasion to revenge a private quarrel under the plausible pretext of punishing a publick Enemy and that he might not lose so favourable an opportunity he gave Orders immediately for a general Rendezvous of all the Nobility and Militia of the Kingdom His Friends and Relations repair'd to his Assistance at the head of their Forces every one striving to signalize his Fidelity to his Country and Affection to the Prince in a War that was undertaken to maintain his Election and defend the Liberty of the Nation Among all the Noblemen who assisted the Administrator on this occasion there was none who expressed a more vigorous Zeal for his Interest then Gustavus Ericson the great Standard Bearer of the Crown A young Lord about Six and Twenty Years of Age descended from the ancient Kings of Sweden and particularly from King Canutson who was his great Uncle He was the Son of Eric Vasa Governour of Finland and Cousin Germain to the Administrator with whom he was educated He had naturally a high and daring Spirit his Soul was postess'd with an eager desire of Glory and infinitely more sensible of the Manly Delights of Ambition than of the softer Charms of Pleasure The Administrator divided his Favour and Confidence betwixt him and his Father but the old Age of that Senator and a certain Timorousness that appear'd in all his Actions made such an impression upon the Prince that tho he did not esteem him less for these Disadvantages he took more pleasure in Gustavus who with an equal solidity of Judgment was Master of more Courage and Strength of Mind and never propos'd any Designs or Expedients but what were suitable to the Bravery and agreeable to the Inclinations of his young Master 'T was by his Advice that the Prince resolv'd to give Fire Arms to the Peasants who till then had only or for the most part made use of Bows and Arrows The Administrator order'd a considerable number of Musquets to be brought to Lubeck and put on Board a Ship which 〈◊〉 Sail immediately for Stockholm but was taken by the Danish Admiral as she came out of the Mouth of the Trave which passes by Lubeck This Act of Hostility serv'd for a Declaration and Signal of a Bloody War which began betwixt the two Nations notwithstanding the opposition made by the Estates of Denmark who were desirous to continue the Truce The Administrator was not so discourag'd by this Loss as to give over the design he had form'd against the Arch-Bishop He put himself at the head of the Militia or Infantry which was the most numerous Body in his Army and gave the Command of the Horse to Gastavus The Bishops of Stregnez and Lincopinc march'd before under pretext of interposing their Interest and Mediation to bring their Primate to a Sence of his Duty but their real Design was to give him notice of the Strength and Condition of the Administrator's Forces For though the Prelates were engag'd both by Interest and Inclination in the Danish Faction as well as the Arch-Bishop they were more Politick and Cunning and took care to conceal their real Sentiments the discovery of which cou'd neither be advantageous to their Party nor safe for themselves at a time when the whole Nation was in Arms for the Administrator At their arrival at Steque they intreated the Administrator to excuse 'em for not declaring against that Prince according to their agreement at Upsal assuring him that they only waited till the King of Denmark shou'd enter the Kingdom to support ' em They advis'd him to reflect upon the Power and Strength of the Administrator who in few days wou'd appear before the Wâ—â—â—s of his Castle at the head of a numerous Army and concluded with telling him that 't would be an Action worthy his Prudence to divert the impending Storm and amuse the young Prince with a seeming Submission from which he might easily disengage himself as soon as they should meet with a more favourable juncture to put their desirous in Execution The Arch-Fishop rejected the Advice of his positick Subingans with Anger and Disdain and chid 'em for their Weakness which he branded with the names of Treason and Cowardice He told 'em he had to â—â—ived Advice by an Envoy from Denmark that Christiern was preparing to invade Sweden with all his Forces that his Fleet was fitted out and ready to make a Descent that the Administrator was 〈◊〉 in a Condition to oppose so potent
Enemies to make themselves Masters of one Inch of Swedish Ground And besides the cunning Minister took occasion to insinuate that Gustavus might if he pleas'd be acknowledg'd King of Sweden by Christiern himself who sixing all his Thoughts and Designs upon the Reduction of Denmark had offer'd to relinquish and resign his Pretensions to Sweden provided Gustavus wou'd enter into a League against the Danes But he added that his Master refus'd absolutely to entertain any Correspondence with his Father's Murderer and declar'd that he was his Enemy both as a private Person and as King of Sweden Frederic perceiv'd by the Courage and Resolution of the Swedish Envoy and by the Relation of his own Ambassador that Gustavus's Power was greater than the Archbishop had represented it He found that 't wou'd not be convenient in thepresent Juncture of Affairs to renew ancient Pretensions that might make his Country the Seat of a War He offer'd to come to a Friendly Agreement with Gustavus and to enter into an Offensive and Defensive League with him against Christiern and for a Pledge and Mark of his Esteem and Friendship he sent back the Administrator's Widow and the rest of the Swedish Ladies that had been retain'd his Prisoners in Denmark since the Massacre of Stockholm appointing an honourable Convoy to attend ' em Gustavus July with all his Court went to meet the Widow-Princess and receiv'd her with all the Respect that was due to her Birth and Merit He gave her an Apartment in the Castle of Stockholm and advanc'd her to the Rank she held in the Kingdom during the Life of the Administrator He endeavor'd with all imaginable Marks of Honor and Respect to make her bear with less impatience the Misfortunes of her Family and put all the rest of the Ladies in possession of their Estates Most of 'em had Youth enough to recommend 'em to second Husbands but almost all the Lords of their Quality were either kill'd in the Massacre of Stockholm or were already marry'd No Woman of Quality whether Maid or Widow was suffer'd in Sweden to contract an Alliance with a Family less noble than her own But the King remov'd that Obstacle and permitted these Ladies to chuse their Husbands as they pleas'd tho' under that seeming Complaisance he conceal'd a politic Design for he manag'd their Inclinations so dexterously that they were easily perswaded to chuse the principal Officers of his Army He exhorted these Illustrious Widows to prefer Merit before Riches and to bestow their Fortunes and Affections on Men that had lost part of their Blood in the Service of their Country rather than on those who deriv'd their Blood from a long series of noble Ancestors but had never spent a drop of it for the defence and preservation of the State By these Alliances he secur'd the greatest Families of the Kingdom and at the same time found out a cheap way to reward his Creatures and to enable 'em to serve him more effectually Whatever Joy he exprest at the Arrival of the Administrator's Widow the inward satisfaction of his Mind was not answerable to those external Demonstrations She had two Children who were meer Infants at the death of her Husband Prince Steno for whose Memory and Family the Swedes had an extraordinary Veneration Gustavus took the two young Princes under pretext of educating 'em in the Palace and resolv'd to provide a Husband for the Princess their Mother who cou'd not draw any advantage from that Alliance to the prejudice of his Authority and Government He propos'd and made her accept of Tureiohanson the first Senator and Great Mareschal of the Kingdom The King had consider'd the Character of that Lord and found him to be such a Person as he design'd for a Husband to the Princess He was a Man of great Quality and had a considerable Estate both in Sweden and Denmark He was extreamly proud of these Advantages but had neither Valor nor Courage to recommend him to the Esteem and Affection of the Soldiers His Birth was his only Merit and consequently he cou'd not be suppos'd to have any considerable Interest in a Kingdom where a brave Warrior was infinitely more esteem'd than one that cou'd only boast of his Descent from an Illustrious Family Gustavus made it his next care to sind out the best Expedients to weaken the Power of the Clergy whom he suspected and hated for their great Riches and for the Affection they still retain'd to the Danish Government which had always maintain'd their Authority Arch-bishop Trolle was still a zealous Promoter of that Interest 'T was by his Advice that Frederic caus'd himself to be crown'd King of Sweden and to preserve his Credit with that Prince he entertain'd a secret Correspondence with the Swedish Clergy The King was resolv'd to humble a Body of Men who by their Power and Cabals had always disturb'd the Government and oppos'd the Authority of the Prince and were never satisfied but when they were intrusted with the largest share of the management of public Affairs But he was oblig'd to defer the execution of that Design for some time and was too prudent to begin his Reign with disputing the Privileges of an Order whom the most absolute Prince shou'd never touch but with a tender and wary Hand He contented himself at first with managing the Elections for the filling up of vacant Benefices He procur'd two Persons to be nam'd to the Bishopricks of Stregnez and Westeras Sommor and Petrus Magni who were entirely devoted to him and cou'd not pretend to any Power or Interest in the Kingdom but by his Favour and Protection Afterwards he sent word to the Canons of Vpsal that considering the Flight and Condemnation of their Arch-bishop 't wou'd be convenient to chuse a sit Person to succeed him After the Forms and Proceedings that are requisite in such Cases and the usual Citation and Summoning of that Prelate to return to the Kingdom and vindicate himself from the Crimes that were laid to his Charge his Contumacy in not appearing was reputed a voluntary Abdication and the Chapter proceeded to a new Election By virtue of a Recommendation from the Court which even then was not much different from an absolute Order the Choice fell upon one John Magnus a Native of Sweden who was learned in Scholastick Divinity very pious and of an exemplary Life He was naturally of a fearful Temper and unfit for the management of Affairs He was a Lover of Solitude and had no Interest in the Kingdom and consequently was neither capable of forming nor prosecuting any Designs against the Government Gustavus concluded that by these Nominations he had secur'd the Quiet of the State which was usually disturb'd by the Ambition of the Bishops But as he was entertaining himself with the delightful Prospect of an un-interrupted Prosperity as the glorious Reward and Fruit of his Labours and was preparing to make his Subjects sensible of their Happiness under the
had made him the Hanse-Towns wou'd be oblig'd to have recourse to the King of Denmark and to join their Forces with that Prince's Army to drive the Pirates out of the Island At the same time he gain'd several Merchants who dealt and corresponded with those of Lubeck and consequently were concern'd as well as they in the Prizes that were taken by Norbi Thus he form'd a Party in the Senate and among the Inhabitants of Stockholm who had not yet lost their Right to discover their Sentiments concerning State-Affairs The common People were so accustom'd to hear of Gustavus's Victories that they fansied him to be invincible and being cunningly wheedl'd by the Ambassador's Emissaries they ran to the Gates of the Palace crying out all the way that 't was a shame for Sweden to suffer the Insolency of those Pyrates who ruin'd the Trade of the Kingdom that the Sea was so pester'd with 'em that a Boat durst scarce adventure to sail out of the Port and that they were not afraid to come within the reach of the Guns of the Castle And even some of the principal Lords of the Kingdom perceiving that the King was still irresolute cou'd not forbear telling him that the Administrator Suanto wou'd never have suffer'd these Pirates to insult the Coasts of the Kingdom Gustavus wou'd not bear a Reproach that seem'd to accuse him of Weakness and Cowardise He replied in an angry Tone that neither his Friends nor his Enemies had over suspected him of want of Courage that he wou'd no longer resist their Importunities but that he might venture to foretel that the success of that Expedition wou'd not answer their Desires and Expectations Thus he was at last prevail'd with to sign the Treaty which was also subscrib'd by the Ambassador as Plenipotentiary from the Regency of Lubeck whither he return'd to hasten the departure of the Fleet according to the Agreement concluded with Gustavus That wise Monarch had establish'd his Authority on such solid Foundations that he neither dreaded the Murmuring of the People nor the Dissatisfaction of the Nobility nor cou'd the united Remonstrances of all his Subjects have engag'd him in that Design if he had not been afraid that the Hanse-Towns wou'd have enter'd into a Treaty with the Danes He knew that Norbi was not in a condition to oppose the Force of Sweden and that he might easily find an opportunity to crush so feeble an Enemy but he was sensible that 't wou'd be a dissicult Task to expel the Danes if they shou'd take this occation to make themselves Masters of the Island In order to the execution of the Design he had undertaken he commanded the Troops that were appointed for that Expedition to march without nolse towards the Port of Calmar which is oppoâ—â—te to 〈◊〉 And notwithstanding his Unwilliâ—â—ness to undertake a War in the present juncture of Affairs as soon as he was engag'd in the Attempt he began to prosecute it with so much Vigor that he order'd all the Plate in the Palace to be melted down to maintain the Charge of the Expedition He went himself to Calmar to receive the Lubeck Ships and saw his Troops embark under the Command of Bernard de Milen The General landed without opposition at the Head of Eight thousand Men and in less than 15 Days made himself Master of all Gothland except Wisbi the Capital City and the only fortifi'd Place in the Island which he invested Norbi surpriz'd at so unexpected an Attack and finding himself unable to resist the power of the King of Sweden set up King Frederick's Colors in the highest place of the Town and at the same time sent one of his Creatures to that Prince offering to acknowledge him as Sovereign if he wou'd assist him with some Troops to oppose the Swedish Invasion These Proposals were very welcom to Frederic for tho' he had not look'd upon Gothland as a dependency of the Crown of Denmark 't was his Interest according to the usual policy of all Sovereigns to curb the growing Power of a neighbouring Prince He was glad of any opportunity to stop the rapid progress of that young Conqueror and wou'd have willingly sent Norbi the Assistance he desir'd but the Fleet of Lubeck and of the rest of the Hanse Towns kept the Sea and he was afraid of engaging in a Foreign War at a time when he had reason to sear a Domestick Invasion in order to the Restauration of Christiern whom the Emperor had selemnly receiv'd under his Protection These Considerations made him chuse rather to try the effect of a Negotiation than to hazard a Rupture with so potent a Neighbour And in pursance of that Design he sint an Ambassa dor to Libeth to complain of the King of Sweden's Injustice and to desire the Regency to imploy their Interest with that Prince to oblige him to withdraw his Forces out of an Island that did not belong to him Frederic was not ignorant of the League which that Republic had made with Gustavus But to prevent the ill Consequences of that Treaty his Ambassador had Orders to represent to the Magistrates of Lubeck that 't was their Interest to put a timely stop to the prevailing power of Sweden that Gustavus was a daring and couragious Prince who wou'd infallibly endeavour to make his Conquests as boundless as his Ambition if his Designs were not prevented by a seasonable Opposition that the Sovereignty of the Isle of Gothland was an undoubted Right of the Crown of Denmark that Norbi was intrusted with the Government of it by Christiern II. and that since he was willing to submit to his lawful Sovereign the King his Master cou'd not refuse to protect his own Subject and to defend that Island to the utmost of his power as a Territory that belong'd to his Crown He added that his Majesty wou'd submit his Right to the Judgment of the Hanse-Towns rather than disturb the Peace of the North and that he was willing the Island shou'd remain sequester'd in the Hands of the Regency of Lubeck till the Controversy betwixt him and Gustavus shou'd be decided by a sinal Sentence The Magistrates of that City were easily perswaded to embrace a Proposal which if it shou'd take effect wou'd not only secure 'em from the Pirates but free 'em from the Obligation of keeping a Fleet at Sea to cover the Swedish Conquests They were extreamly pleas'd with the Sequestration and resolv'd rather to be at the Charge of maintaining a Garrison in the Island than to suffer it to fall into the Hands of Gustavus who might one Day make use of that opporiunity to disturb their Trade and to render himself more absolute in the Baltick Sea Thus the Regency concluded a secret Treaty with Frederic's Ambassador by which they oblig'd themselves to open a free passage to the Danish Succers 'T was also agreed that the King of Denmark shou'd send an Ambassador to Gustavus to complain of his Expedition against the Isle
step he should make to abolish the ancient Religion And on the other hand he cou'd not endure to be charg'd with the care and defence of the State while the strongest Forts which properly belong'd to the Crown and the greatest part of the Revenues of the Kingdom were in the hands of those who often imploy'd 'em only to curb the Regal Power and to favour the Enemies of the State He chose rather it seems to expose himself to the issue of a Civil War and even to venture his Crown than to Reign so precariously or rather he saw himself so potent and respected by his People that he thought it not at all hazardous to re-unite to the Crown a part of the Church-Lands under the specious pretence of a Reformation and of the publick Good In so great a Design and so very nice a Juncture Gustavus shew'd himself an able and great Politician He took great care to conceal his Thoughts as to Luther's Opinions but at the same time gave secret Instructions to Chancellor Anderson not only to protect as it were without his knowledge Olaus Petri and the other Lutheran Doctors but also to invite others from the Universities of Germany that Lutheranism might make the quicker progress thro' the Kingdom Olaus and the other Lutheran Doctors being assur'd of the Chancellor's Protection labour'd with great application to establish their Doctrin which they daily explain'd in their Sermons with unexpressible Zeal Most of these new Doctors surpalt the Swedish Clergy in Learning and Elequence to which they added a certain appearance of strictness in their Lives and Conversations which always attends the first Heats of a new-broach'd Religion These Men were heard with great satisfaction by the common People who are always greedy of Novelties that put 'em to no charge and tend to the lessening of the Power of their spiritual Governors The Credit they got insensibly among the Vulgar procured them the Attention and Favour of the Courtiers and the prime Nobility who were glad to see the Bishops humbled While these Doctors endeavor'd to propagate the Lutheran Doctrin by their Sermons Gustavus labour'd hard to find out some specious Pretences to overthrow the Temporal Power of the Bishops and Clergy Immediately he sell upon the Ecclesiasticks of the second Order and issu'd out several Declarations against the Priests and in behalf of the People that the Laity might be oblig'd by Interest to favor these encroachments upon the Clergy and that the People might be accustom'd by degrees to see the Privileges of the Clergy abrogated The Priests in that Kingdom exacted as it were a Tribute of the People upon certain publick Sins and with great rigor extorted considerable Fines from such as took the Diversion of Hunting or Fishing in the time of Divine Service or abus'd the Women to whom they were contracted before the solemn Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage By one of the King's Declarations this Right was taken away and the Priests were prohibited to exact such Impositions for the future By another Declaration the Priests were forbidden to Excommunicate either their private Enemies or their Creditors The Truth is the Bishops and their Officials had so far over-stretch'd the Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction as to appropriate to themselves all the Concerns of the Nation that had the least relation to Religion An Oath made in a Treaty the Interposition of a Clergy-man which was oftentimes begg'd the least Difference in a Contract of Marriage were Grounds sufficient to remove a Cause from the common Courts of Justice which made the Clergy powerful and formidable Gustavus therefore abrogated that Jurisdiction entirely under pretext that the Examination of Suits was not consistent with the ordinary Functions of Clergy-men and by the same Declaration commanded the Clergy that they shou'd bring their Differences before the secular Judges to whom he committed the Cognizance and Judgment of all Causes At last he publish'd a Declaration against the Bishops themselves by which they were expresly forbidden for the future to appropriate to themselves the Estates and Succession of the Clergy-men of their respective Diocesses to the prejudice of their lawful Heirs and commanded 'em to produce before the Senate the Titles by vertue of which they exacted Fines and Confiscations Thus Gustavus issu'd out Declarations one after another proportionably to the progress of Lutheranism which excited the Curiosity of all his Subjects and made 'em speak every one according to his private Interest or Inclination The Nobility and Gentry without examining the new-preach'd Doctrin applauded the King for weakning the Power of the Clergy which was become so odious and some of the most eminent Persons in the Kingdom declar'd publickly in favor of the Lutherans hoping by this new Doctrin to recover those Estates which their Ancestors had given away for the Foundation of so many rich Monasteries of which the Kingdom was full Those even among the People who had some knowledge of public Affairs were not displeas'd to see the Power of the Clergy moderated or at least part of their many Extorsions abolished the invention of which was attributed to the Court of Rome under the plausible Names of Tithes Indulgences and Alms. But that which gave 'em the greatest satisfaction was that the King had put a stop to the litigious Proceedings of the Bishops Officials and other Ministers who oppress'd the Kingdom under pretext of Correction and Ecclesiastical Judgment But both the Regular and Secular Clergy grew very uneasy at this Attempt against their Authority nor cou'd they endure to be thus disturb'd in the possession of their Rights and Priviledges The King slighting their Discontent put his Troops into Winter Quarters upon their Lands which none of his Predecessors had ever attempted to do and quarter'd his Horse in the Abbies and Monasteries pretending that the Peasants were ruin'd but in effect to keep the Monks in awe by the presence and terror of his Soldiers His Officers of Justice brought into Question by his Order the Title of the Carthusians to the rich Monastery of Griphysholm who own'd the King's Ancestors to be the Founders of it and they were oblig'd to prove the Donation or Acquisition of the Lands they injoy'd Having lost their Title they had recourse to Prescription alledging that they held the best part of their Lands from the Piety of the Lords of Vasa but had lost their Title during the Confusions and Troubles of the Civil Wars The King without regarding the Prescription re-united to his own Estate the Lands of this Monastery which belong'd originally to his Family and expell'd the Monks out of it under pretext that it was built upon his own Ground But perhaps the true Reason was because they denied him Admittance into their House when he was Persecuted by Christiern And 't is not improbable that he took this way to feel the Pulse of the People and at the same time to kindle in the Nobility a Desire to follow his Example by
and Title of a Ierl to that of a Duke as a Recompence for his paternal Care and by his Father's Advice he created his Brother Magnus Prince of Sadermania Eric Prince of Smaland and Benedict Prince of Finland Birger having sâ—ttl'd his Family and establish'd his Son upon the Throne died not long after and the Peace and Happiness of Sweden ended with the Life of that Great Man King Waldemar repenting his Kindness to the Princes his Brothers endeavour'd to deprive 'em of the Estates he had bestow'd on 'em by way of Appennâ—ge especially Duke Magnus whom he accus'd of aspiring to the Crown These Animosities occasion'd a furious intestine War which was fomented by the Danes and ended in the Defeat and Abdication of King Waldemar who was taken Prisoner and after he had resign'd the Crown retir'd with his Danish Auxiliaries to Malmogen in the Province of Schonen Magnus Ladisias The Merit of this Prince entitl'd him to the Possession of the Crown which his Brother was neither able to preserve nor worthy to enjoy In the Beginning of his Reign he made it his Business to encrease his Revenues and diminiâ—h his Charge as the surest way to establish his Authority He made so strong an Interest in the Convention of the Estates that the Sovereignty of all the Mines in the Kingdom and of the Four great Lakes Meler Wener Weter and Hielmer and all the Duties or Rents of the difforested 〈◊〉 were solemnly vested in the Crown This wise Prince made use of so considerable an Augmentation of his Revenues to secure his Authority against the natural Inconstancy of a Nation that could neither live without a King nor submit to the Dominion of a potent and resolute Prince He invited several German Lords to his Court and advanc'd 'em to the principal Offices in the Kingdom The Promotion of these Strangers and the Interest which the King had in Foreign Countries made the Swedish Lords extreamly uneasie and at last irritated 'em to such a degree that they assassinated all the Germans The King was highly incens'd at so bold an Action but had the Prudence to conceal his Indignation In the mean time he made secret Levies and as soon as he saw himself in a condition to execute his Revenge he surpriz'd the Male-contents and caus'd their principal Ring-leaders to be beheaded The Spirit of Rebellion seem'd to be quite extinguish'd by the Severity of so terrible a Blow and that wise and daring Prince wou'd have certainly establish'd his Authority upon such sure Foundations and advanc'd it to so great a height that he might have bequeath'd an absolute Power to his Children if the Accomplishment of his Designs had not been prevented by his Death He left three Sons Birger Eric and Waldemar the eldest of whom was not 11 years old Birger II. During the Minority of this Prince the Care of the Government was intrusted to Torckel Enutson who made himself Master of Carelia took Hexholm from the Russes and fortified Wiburg to cover the neighbouring Places from the Incursions of that People After the King was of Age to undertake the Management of Affairs he marri'd Meretta the Daughter of Eric King of Denmark Prince Waldemar his Brother toook to Wise the Daughter of the Regent Enutson and Prince Eric marri'd Ingeburgh the Daughter of Haquin King of Norway This Prince was so far from being deterr'd by the Faâ—â— of his Unkle King Waldemar that he seem'd re 〈…〉 follow the same Methods which occasion'd all the Disorders that discurb'd the Reign of that Prince He seiâ—d on the Tythes and imprison'd some Bishops who took the liberty to complain of his Incroaching upon their Privileges Nor did the Princes his Brothers meet with a better Treatment for instead of suffering 'em to live unmolested in their respective Governments he endeavour'd to make 'em depend absolutely on the Court and to reduce 'em to an entire subjection to his arbitrary Commands The injur'd Princes perceiving the general Dissatisfaction of the People took up Arms and were follow'd by all those who were offended at the publick Violation of their Liberty and Privileges In the mean time the King levy'd Forces to oppose the Designs of his Brothers and was assisted by his Brother-in-law the King of Denmark But finding himself unable to resist the prevailing Faction he resolv'd to execute his Designs by Treachery since he cou'd not depend upon the Success of his Arms. In pursuance of that unmanly Resolution he invited his Brothers to Court under the pretext of a sincere Reconciliation and as soon as he had made himself Master of their Persons by that infamous Stratagem he order'd 'em to be cast into a Dungeon where they were starv'd to death The Swedes abhorring the Baseness and Inhumanity of their Treacherous Sovereign took up Arms immediately advanc'd Magnus the Son of Duke Eric to the Throne and march'd in pursuit of King Birger who had the Misfortune to see his Army defeated and his Son taken Prisoner by his Enemies That unhappy Prince was made a Sacrifice to the Fury of the incens'd Multitude who cut off his Head to deliver Magnus from so dangerous a Competitor and his miserable Father dreading the same Fate fled to Denmark where he died in an obscure and ignominious Retreat The Reader will find at the beginning of this Work the Names of the succeeding Princes with a short account of their Actions 1330 Magnus Smeck the Son of Duke Eric 1372 Albert of Mecklenburg 1395 Margaret the Daughter of Waldemar K. of Denmark and Q. of the three Northern Nations 1424 Eric XIII Duke of Pomerania Sovereign of the three Kingdoms of the North. 1441 Christopher of Bavaria K. of the three Northern Nations 1445 Charles Canutson a Swedish Lord elected K of Sweden Norway 1457 Christiern of Oldenburg Ancestor of the present King of Denmark King of the three Northern Nations 1470. Steno I. King Canuâ—son's Nephew Administrater of the Kingdom of Sweden 1504 Suanto Sturius Administrater of Sweden 1512 Stero II. the Son of Suanto Administrator 1520 Christiern II. Sovereign of the â— Kingdoms of the North. 1523 Gustavus Vasa a Swedish Lord Administrator and afterwards King of Sweden procures the Crown to be entail'd A Table of the Principal Matters A. ANderson Chancellor of Sweden his good and bad Qualities 42. his Employments 43. he embraces the Dectrins of Luther 44. he confirms Gustavus in his design to humble the Clergy ibid. he advises him to make use of Luther's Reformation in order to suppress the Temporal power and riches of the Clergy ibid. he presides in the King's behalf in a Lutheran Council held at Orebro 92. Arwide Besieges Stegeburg 2. B. The Bishops of Sweden Gustavus King of Sweden impatiently suffers the Power and Riches of the Clergy 41. his designs to humble them 43. he infringeth their Privileges 49 and 100. he prohibits by Declaration the Bishops to appropriate to themselves the Goods and Succession of Ecclesiastical Persons in
and to execute their Decrees The Public Authority was almost entirely lodg'd in the Senate which was usually compos'd of Twelve Lords who for the most part were Governors of Provinces or Principal Officers of State These Lords attended the King at Stockholm the Capital City of the Kingdom when any Important Affairs were to be transacted The Archbishop of Upsal Primate of Sweden Lincepinc Seregnez Vesteras Seara Abeo and Vexio was a Senator by his Office and the six Bishops of the Kingdom bore a great Sway in the Meeting of the Estates tho' they had no right to sit in the Senate unless they were nominated by the King or chosen by the Estates during an Interregnum The Dignity of a Senator was not Hereditary for the Nomination of those Officers was a Branch of the Royal Prerogative and some of the Bishops or principal Lords of the Kingdom were chosen by the King to supply the vacant Places who by this means had a fair Opportunity to introduce his Friends and Creatures into the Senate But he was frequently disappointed in his Choice and for the most part lost a Friend when he made him a Senator For the nearer a Favorite was advanc'd to his Master's Power and Authority he was the farther remov'd from his Interest And besides the Love of Liberty and Affection to their Country were in those days the predominant Passions of the Swedes nor could any Engagement or Obligation weaken the Biass of so powerful an Inclination The Senate which at first was only instituted as a Council to advise the King had by degrees assum'd an Authority over his Actions The eldest Senator pretended a Right to admonish and check the Prince when he transgress'd the Limits of his Prerogative The People look'd upon the Senators as the Protectors of the Liberty and Privileges of the Nation The Sovereign Power and Majesty of the State was properly lodg'd in that Body There Justice was administer'd Independently and without Appeal and both War and Peace depended on their Deliberations 'T is true they acted joyntly with the King but he was oftentimes oblig'd to content himself with the Honour of executing their Resolutions The Clergy were postest of greater Riches than the King and all the other Estates of the Kingdom The Archbishop of Upsal and his six Suffragans maintain'd their Dignity with all the Splendor that a vast Treasure cou'd enable 'em to display They were for the most part the Temporal Lords of their Episcopal Sees And besides the Possessions that were annex'd to their Bishopricks which consisted in several considerable Signiories or Lordships they had made themselves Heirs to all the Ecclesiasticks that died Intestate in their respective Diocesses which by degrees had extreamly augmented their Revenues They enjoy'd the Prosits of Fines and Forfeitures which formerly belong'd to the Crown and by several Foundations and Pious Legacies had made themselves Masters of a considerable number of the King's Mannors and Fees The Patrimony of the Church was daily augmented by Donations but cou'd never be diminish'd by Sale or Alienation for such Practises were forbidden by express Laws which were as prejudicial to the Laity as advantageous to the Clergy and serv'd only to establish the Grandeur of the latter upon the Ruins of the former The Bishops made so good Use of the Influence they had over the People at Elections and of the Need a Pretender had of their Votes and Interest that they obtain'd on such Occasions several Privileges which did very considerably diminish both the Revenue and Authority of the Prince They exacted what Conditions they pleas'd of the King before they wou'd own him to be their Sovereign And before they wou'd perform the Ceremony of his Coronation they oblig'd him to Swear That he wou'd inviolably preserve 'em in the Possession 〈◊〉 their Rights and Privileges That he wou'd never attempt to put a Garrison into any of their Castles or Forts That the Lands and Mannors which they enjoy'd by what Means soever they had come to the Possession of 'em shou'd not be re-united to the Crown and at the same time they made him Sign a Paper declaring that he consented to his own Deposition if ever he shou'd violate his Oath by incroaching upon their Privileges These Prelates grew so proud of their Riches and of the number of their Vassals that they began by degrees to act like so many little Sovereigns They fortify'd their Castles and kept Garrisons in 'em They never appear'd without a numerous Attendance of Gentlemen and Soldiers and were still at the Head of all Factions and Intrigues They frequently took up Arms against their Neighbours for Differences relating to their Vassals or about the Limits of their Estates and even sometimes scrupl'd not to march at the Head of an Army against their Sovereign especially when they suspected him of a Design to recover the Duties and Lands that belong'd to the Crown The Lords and Gentlemen fortify'd their Castles and made 'em the Seats of their petty Empires They treated their Vassals like menial Servants tho' they allow'd 'em no Wages they made 'em Till their Lands and oftentimes put 'em in Arms to make Incursions into the Territories of their Neighbours The Swedish Nobility was not then distinguish'd by the Titles of Baron Count or Marquess or by Hereditary Names of Families They were only known by the respective Arms of their Houses and by their Fathers Name Gustavus Ericson i. e. Gustavus the Son of Eric which they bore joyntly with their own and were noted only for their Valour and for the numerous Train of Vassals that follow'd 'em to the War They defended their Rights and reveng'd the Injuries they receiv'd by Force of Arms and neither sought nor expected Redress from the publick Justice because there was no Power in the Government to put the Laws in Execution Force was the Standard of Law and Justice and the Supream Decider of all sorts of Controversies The Burghers of Stockholm and the Inhabitants of other Maritime Towns who subsisted merely by Trading were more submissive to the King and better affected to the Government The Merchants especially were so dishearten'd by that Lawless Liberty which expos'd 'em to the Insolency of every Potent Oppressor that they wou'd have willingly consented to invest the Prince with a sufficient Authority to restore the Publick Quiet and establish the Trade of the Nation in a flourishing Condition But there were so few Cities in the Kingdom that their Deputies had no great Interest and were not much regarded in the Diets The Peasants on the contrary who in this Kingdom have the peculiar Privilege to send Deputies of their own Body to the Estates out of a blind Obedience to their Lords were obstinate Assertors of the Liberties and Privileges of their Provinces Those who liv'd in fertile Countries apply'd themselves to Husbandry but in Helfingland Cuestricland Angermeland and other Northern Provinces they spent their time in Hunting Fallow Deer
the Defeat and ABDICATION of his Father King Magnus the States of Norwey intrusted her with the Regency of the Kingdom and the Guardianship of her Son Olaus And during her Administration of the Government she made so good Use of her Time and manag'd her designs with so much Dexterity and Success that when the young Prince dyed the Norwegians found they were not at liberty to proceed to a new Choice She was Mistress of the Army and of the Forts or places of Strength so that the Principal Lords of the Kingdom who were not gain'd to her party durst not seem dissatisfi'd nor so much as indifferent at a Time when they cou'd not without Danger discover their true Sentiments Thus Margaret was elected by the Estates and exchang'd the Quality of a Regent for that of a Sovereign Queen having already born the same Title as the Wife of King Haquin King Valdemar her Father dying the same Year without leaving any Prince of his Blood whom the Danes might chuse for his Successor she sent Deputies to the States General of the Kingdom to Solicite her Election to that Crown Henry of Mackelburgh the Elder brother of Albert King of Sweden and Husband of her Elder Sister the Princess Ingelburge employ'd his interest to obtain the same Dignity and flattering himself with the advantage he had of being a Son-in-Law to the deceas'd King thought he might easily contend with a Female Competitor But the Queen's Agents drew such convincing Arguments from the Merit and perhaps also from the Money of their Mistress that she was unanimously elected by the whole Assembly and proclam'd Queen of Denmark in the Meeting of the Estates As soon as she receiv'd the News of her Advancement she left Norwey and went immediately to Copenhagen where she fixt the Seat of her Empire This Princess who by some is call'd the Semiramis of the North besides the usual Ambition of her Sex was Mistress of a Dexterity in the Management of Affairs and of a Capacity to form a long Series of coherent Projects that are rarely observ'd in a Woman Her Inclinations to Love were sutable to her Character and Dignity that is she was not really in love with any thing but Glory or sensible of any Passion but her Ambition to extend the limits of her Empire and advance her Authority She rejoyc'd in secret at the Dissatisfaction of the Swedes and endeavour'd to gain some of the Leading Men of that Nation She bestow'd Pensions and an honourable Entertainment on those that were ill treated by King Albert and openly blam'd his injustice in violating the Liberty and Privileges of his Subjects That Prince was daily laying new Impositions upon his People without the consent either of the Estates or Senat and had already Squeez'd considerable Sums out of the Clergy by way of Loans But nothing render'd him more odious both to the Bishops and Nobility than his Reuniting to the Crown the third part of those Fees or Estates to which the Clergy and Gentry claim'd a right by vertue of so long a Possession This was the fatal signal of an universal Revolt the Swedes conspir'd unanimously against him resolving to drive him out of the Kingdom and to offer the Crown to Queen Margaret They imagin'd that she had already so much business in Denmark that she wou'd content her self with almost the bare Title of Queen of Sweden And tho' she shou'd endeavour to stretch the Prerogative too far they concluded that the Danes and Norwegians wou'd unite all their Forces to keep their common Soveraign in a dependence on the Estates and Senate of each Kingdom In pursuance of this Design they secretly deputed some of the most considerable Lords of the Kingdom to offer her the Crown and she receiv'd the Proposal with joy as the most probable means to secure the Peace of Denmark For the violent Animosity that reign'd betwixt the Subjects of both Nations was of as ancient a date as the Foundation of the two Kingdoms and that Antipathy which is usually observ'd betwixt Neighbouring States had all along been a perpetual source of War which had oftentimes prov'd fatal to Denmark And besides this prudent Princess concluded that her new Advancement might one day furnish her with an opportunity to unite Sweden to Denmark These considerations made her resolve to give a favourable answer to the Proposals of the Male contents She agreed with their Deputies that the Nobility shou'd rise up in Arms that they shou'd acquaint King Albert with his Deposition that the Army and Estates shou'd publickly acknowledge her to be their Soveraign and that after her Election she shou'd be oblig'd to send a considerable Body of Troops to support and defend ' em The Treaty being sign'd the Swedes immediately took up arms against the King and sent a Herald to intimate and declare that they renounc'd the Allegiance they had sworn to him At the same time they proclaim'd Margaret de Valdemar Queen of Sweden and assoon as they had receiv'd the Reinforcement which they expected from that Princess the united Armies march'd towards West-Gothland where King Albert was drawing his Forces together to oppose ' em That Prince had taken all possible care to put himself in a posture of defence he had rais'd a considerable Body of Troops obtain'd the Assistance of several German Princes who were either his Relations or Allies and engag'd the Isle of Gothland for the payment of twenty Thousand Rose-Nobles of the Coin of England which he borrow'd of the Knights of the Teutonick Order to maintain the Charge of the War But all these preparations could not divert his impending Fate The two Armies met near Falcopinc and Albert was not only defeated but had the Misfortune to fall into the Hands of his Enemies with his Son Prince Eric and the principal Lords of his Party The Princes of the House of Meckelburgh and Gerard Count of Holstein endeavour'd to revive the drooping Hopes of this unfortunate Prince They levy'd new Troops and obtain'd considerable Succours from the Hans-Towns who were jealous of the Queen's Power and dreaded the successful progress of her Arms. Thus Sweden was made a prey to several different and Jarring Nations who seem'd only to agree in a Design to ruin that Kingdom and amid'st so many Disasters the poor Inhabitants cou'd not distinguish their Friends from their Enemies The War lasted almost seven Years with extraordinary Fury and a vast expence of Blood And the Peace that succeeded was rather an effect of the Weariness of the two contending Parties than of any Abatement of the Rage that animated ' em Albert was at last constrain'd to exchange his Crown for his Liberty and retir'd to his Native Country after which Queen Margaret's Title to the Crowns of the Three Kingdoms of the North was universally own'd and acknowledg'd The Swedes seeing themselves subject to a Princess that had no Children and fearing that after her Death King Albert or the Prince
his Son might renew their pretensions to the Crown intreated her to secure the happiness of the Kingdom by an advantageous Match This Proposal however intended was not at all welcome to the Queen She was too fond of the Sovereign Power to share it with a Husband Yet that she might not seem to slight the Petition of her new Subjects she consented to appoint her Successor But at the same Time she resolv'd to chuse a Prince whose tender Age might secure the quiet of her Government and keep him from attempting to mount the Throne during her Life In pursuance of this Resolution she sent for Prince Henry of Pomerania the Son of Wartislas VII and of Mary of Meckelburgh the Daughter of Henry of Meckelburgh and of Ingelburge the Queen's Elder Sister She order'd him to be call'd Eric a Name which Twelve Kings of Sweden had already born resolving to educate him at her Court and to make him the Heir of the Three Northern Crowns The Form of Government in these Kingdoms was almost the same All three were Elective and every Nation had its Senate without whose advice or the consent of the Estates the Prince cou'd not undertake any important Affair In order to the Accomplishment of her great Design the Queen spent some time in gaining Creatures and securing the interest of some of the Leading Men of each Nation And assoon as she found her Project ripe for Execution she call'd a Meeting or Convention of the Estates of her Three Kingdoms to be held at Calmar in Sweden whither Forty Deputies of each Nation repair'd to establish a Fundamental Law for the uniting of the Three Kingdoms under one Monarch The Queen presented the young Duke of Pomerania to the Convention and entreated 'em to confirm her Choice She endeavour'd with a great deal of Eloquence to make 'em sensible of the advantages they might expect by obeying the same Sovereign and put 'em in mind of the happy consequences of her Election which had establish'd the public Tranquillity and compos'd all those fatal Animosities that are wont to disturb the quiet of Neighbouring States She represented to 'em the inviting prospect they had of making themselves Masters of all the Trade of the Baltic Sea and that the Hanse-Towns cou'd never afterwards enrich themselves by their Divisions adding that the only way to perpetuate these advantages and to make the Union solid and durable was to unite the Three Kingdoms into one Monarchy by a solemn and Fundamental Law The Presence of so great a Princess the solidity of her Arguments the Applauses and Interest of her Creatures either gain'd or commanded the Consent of all the Deputies The Election of the Duke of Pomerania was unanimously approv'd and the Three Kingdoms of the North were united under that Prince and his Successors by a Fundamental Law which was receiv'd by the Three Nations and confirm'd by the most solemn Oaths This Celebrated Union of Calmar instead of establishing a lasting Concord betwixt the Northern Kingdoms was the fatal occasion of those bloody Wars that kept Sweden and Denmark in a perpetual Flame for above a hundred Years It consisted of Three Main Articles which seem'd to have been fram'd on purpose to secure the liberty and Independence of each Nation By the First 't was ordain'd that these three Kingdoms which by the constitution of their Government were Elective shou'd afterwards be Subject to one King who shou'd be elected by turns in each Kingdom and that the Royal Dignity shou'd not be appropriated to any one Nation to the prejudice or Exclusion of the rest unless the deceast Prince shou'd leave Children or Relations whom the Convention of the three Estates shou'd judge worthy to succeed him The Second oblig'd the Soveraign to share his Presence betwixt the three Realms and to spend the Revenue of each Crown in the respective Kingdom without exporting the Money he receiv'd or applying it to any other use than the particular advantage and benefit of the Kingdom where 't was levy'd And by the Third and most important Article 't was provided that each Kingdom shou'd retain its Senate Laws Customs and Privileges that the Governors Magistrates Generals Bishops Soldiers and Garrisons shou'd be Natives of the Kingdom where they were employ'd and that the King shou'd never dispose of any of these Posts to Foreigners or to the Subjects of his other Kingdoms who shou'd be reputed Foreigners and Aliens to the Government of the Countrey where they were not born The Swedes were extremely pleas'd to think that the Royal Prerogative was so effectually restrain'd by this Treaty that the Soveraign cou'd never afterwards invade the liberties of the Subject But they were soon convinc'd of their Error and both saw and felt the fatal Consequences of their mistaken Policy The Queen was too Powerful and Ambitious to content her self with so limited an Authority She was scarce settl'd upon the Throne of Sweden when she began to extend her Power and endeavour'd with an extraordinary Application to make her self the Absolute Mistress of the Kingdom She seiz'd on all the Principal Forts which she cunningly got out of the Hands of the Gentry by proposing some tempting Exchange that might enrich their Families but lessen their Power and augment their Dependance on the Court She bestow'd most of the Vacant Governments on Danish Lords against the Proviso expresly mention'd in the Treaty of Calmar and by degrees remov'd the Swedish Nobility from all the considerable Places of Honour and Trust in the Kingdom Abraham Broderson a young Swedish Lord who had a very graceful Mien and was admirably well shap'd had the peculiar honour of her Favor She gave him the Government of Haland and made him her only Confident But her extraordinary kindness to a Man whose Handsomeness was his only Merit instead of obliging the rest of his Countrimen furnish'd the disaffected party with a new pretext to censure her Behaviour and murmur against the Government At last they adventur'd to express their dissatisfaction to the Queen her self They went in a Body to attend her and laid before her the Titles by which they held their Priviledges and a Copy of the Treaty of Calmar the Violation of which gaul'd 'em extreamly But that cunning and imperious Princess was too well acquainted with her own Power to dread the Effects of their Impotent Rage and instead of returning a Satisfactory Answer to their Address she told 'em in a slighting and disdainful Manner That she wou'd advise 'em to keep their Charters and Titles as carefully as she intended to keep the Forts of the Kingdom She govern'd ever afterwards with an absolute Power and endeavour'd to secure and confirm her Authority by keeping the Nobility at a distance from the management of State-Affairs and empoverishing the Common People that they might not be able to carry on a design against the Government But since these Politic cautions were not sufficient to restrain a Nation that had been
Voices Sweden receiv'd no benefit by the Change of her Master He follow'd the Maxims of his Predecessors Denmark was his Favorite Kingdom and he left no means unattempted to bring Sweden under the Dominion of that Crown But Death prevented the Execution of his designs He was succeeded by Christiern I. Count of Oldenburg from whom the present King of Denmark is descended The Danes advanc'd him to the Throne without asking or expecting the Approbation of the Swedes and Norwegians Yet in imitation of his Predecessor he pretended that by vertue of his Election in Denmark he had a just Title to the Crowns of Sweden and Norwey â— but his Pretensions to the former were thwarted by the Great Mareschal Canutson who oppos'd his pretended right with Great Courage and Resolution That Lord had observ'd ever since Engelbrecth's Revolt that the Swedes were weary of being under the Dominion of a Foreign Power And from that very time he began secretly to aspire to the Crown and to draw a Scheme of his future Advancement His Office made him Master of the Forces and Militia of the Kingdom he govern'd a large province and was the richest Lord in Sweden The Estates being assembled at Stockholm the Great Mareschal came thither at the Head of so numerous a Company of Finlandish Lords and Gentlemen that 't was generally concluded he wou'd be Master of the Election He represented to the Assembly that the Treaty of Calmar was extreamly prejudicial to the whole Kingdom that Queen Margaret and the Kings her Successors had always made use of that pernicious Law as a Means and pretext to bring Sweden under Subjection to the Crown of Denmark that the Danes treated 'em rather like Slaves than Allies assuming a Power to impose a Sovereign upon 'em without calling 'em to his Election and that they cou'd only blame themselves for so unworthy a Treatment if they did not abrogate and disannul a Treaty that was so dishonourable to the Nation This Discourse rais'd the languid Courage of the Swedes and awaken'd their ancient Aversion against the Danish Government It put 'em in Mind of the Tyranny of King Eric and every Man began to accuse himself of Weakness and stupidity for submitting to the Prince of Bavaria The Election of the Count of Oldenburgh was rejected with a great deal of Vehemency and the Royal Dignity was conferr'd upon the Great Mareschal as a Recompence for the Zeal he had always profess'd for the Interest of his Country At the same time he manag'd the Estates of Norway so dexterously and had so great an Influence over 'em that he was chosen Sovereign of that Kingdom whither he went and was Crown'd at Drunthlin and intrusted the Government of the State to two of the Principal Lords of the Country The Swedish Bishops had been devoted to the Crown of Denmark ever since Queen Margaret preferr'd them before the Nobility in the Government of the Kingdom They only gave their Consent to the Election of the Great Mareschal because they cou'd not oppose it and were vex'd to behold the Increase of his power and Authority He was not ignorant of their Spie and Aversion against him and that they were only dissatisfied because he did not allow 'em a share in the Government If he had consider'd their temporal Authority he would have soon perceiv'd that it was his true Interest to gain 'em But he thought himself so well settl'd upon the Throne that 't was beyond the power of his most potent Adversaries to disturb the Quiet of his Reign He resolv'd to humble those lofty Prelates and concluded that the most effectual Way to make 'em harmless and submissive to the Government was to deprive 'em of part of those vast Riches which serv'd only to make 'em terrible to their Sovereign He obtain'd an Order of the Senate to make an Exact Inquiry into all the Rights of the Crown and the public Revenues which the Clergy had usurp'd and ordain'd that no person for the future shou'd erect any new Foundations under pretext that the Superstition of the People wou'd give the Clergy an Opportunity by Degrees to make themselves Masters of all the Lands in the Kingdom The Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks were extreamly incens'd at this Declaration They affirm'd publickly that the King was a Heretick and endeavour'd to perswade the people that this Invasion of their temporal Estates was only made use of as a Cloak to cover more pernicious Designs and that the Blow was aim'd at Religion it self To prevent the pretended Consequences of a Regulation that touch'd 'em in the most sensible part they resolv'd to take up Arms against the King and engag'd their Relations Vassals and Creatures in the Conspiracy To favour their design'd Revolt John de Salstat Arch-bishop of Upsal of the Illustrious Family of Bielke dispatch'd a Gentleman with secret Instructions to Christiern I. King of Denmark to invite him to Sweden in order to the Re-establishment of the Treaty of Calmar And least that Prince shou'd be discourag'd by the seeming difficulty of the Attempt he assur'd him that all the Bishops of the Kingdom wou'd second his Pretentions and that they were ready to receive him as their Sovereign into all their Cities and Forts Christiern was then in Norwey whither he went upon a like Invitation from a Party that revolted against King Canuton But notwithstanding the War in which he was engag'd in that Kingdom he sent a powerful Army to support the Intended Rebellion of the Swedish Clergy Assoon as Archbishop Salstat receiv'd advice of the Danes appearing on the Frontiers he call'd a General Assembly of the Clergy to be held at Upsal where he excommunicated the King in a solemn Mass which he said on that occasion After the Office was ended he laid his Ecclesiastical Ornaments and Habits upon the Altar swearing that he wou'd never put 'em on again till he had driven that Prince out of the Kingdom Then he took a Cuirass and Sword and went out of the Church in that warlike Equipage at the head of his Vassals to fight against his Soveraign The rest of the Bishops follow'd his Example and took up Arms for the preservation of their Privileges They joyn'd openly with the Danes and long'd to see their Country under the Dominion of Foreign Princes who during their necessary absence left the Clergy in possession of all the marks of Sovereignty and even of a large share of the Royal Authority They scrupl'd not to fight against the King at the Head of the Danes and the whole Kingdom was distracted with a dreadful Complication of Civil and Foreign Wars Yet that Prince might have easily disperst the Clouds that seem'd to threaten him with inevitable Ruin and might have triumph'd over the joint Forces of his Foreign and Domestic Enemies if he cou'd have contented himself with the Regal Dignity and the Revenues that were annex'd to the Crown But he began too soon to domineer over his new Subjects
he was not ignorant of his secret Affection and Dependence on the King of Denmark by reason of a considerable Estate which he had in that Kingdom 'T is true that Lord was a very Wise and Judicious Person but he had neither Courage nor Resolution and both his Age and Inclination made him Incapable of engaging in a War with Denmark Besides the Archbishop concluded That the Fear of losing his Estate in Denmark and the sure Prospect of a considerable Recompence wou'd have so great an Influence over him that he wou'd be easily perswaded to accept of this Dignity by way of Trust and afterwards make use of the Power it gave him to make the King of Denmark Master of the Kingdom But all these Politick Contrivances were frustrated by the unconquerable Aversion with which the Swedes were possess'd against all that were suspected to favour the Danish Interest The Lay-Senators the Nobility the Deputies of the Provinces and Consuls of Steckholm agreed unanimously to exclude Eric Trolle and at the same time declar'd for the young Prince Steno The Bishops and their Faction persisted obstinately in the Choice of Trolle and the Heat of the Two contending Parties began to occasion a terrible Disorder in the Assembly But the Noble-men and Deputies maintain'd the Interest of Prince Steno with so much Zeal and Vigor that the Bishops finding they cou'd not safely oppose his Advancement any longer submitted to the plurality of Voices and even seem'd to approve what they cou'd not prevent Thus the young Prince was at last invested with a Dignity which he ow'd to the Merit and Memory of his Father July 21. Not long after the Disaffected Party began to raise new Disâ—â—â—â—bances and to dispute the Validity of the Election pretending that it was carry'd on by indirect Methods and that the Electors were either byass'd or over-aw'd 'T is hard to divine what might have been the Event of a Contest about so consiâ—â—â—â— le a Prize as the Supreme Power But 't is probable the Animosity of the two Contending Factions might at last have occasion'd a Civil War especially in an Elective Kingdom where People are generally so unwilling to acknowledge a Man for their Sovereign whom they us'd to cousider as their Equal if the Difference had not been compos'd by the Mediation of the Common Friends of both Parties By the Articles of this Agreement the young Administrator was oblig'd to consent that the Archbishop shou'd resign his Benefice and Dignity to Eric Trolle's Son 'T was hop'd that the Son's Advancement wou'd soften the Father's Anger and make him bear his Disappointment with less Impatience And this was reckon'd the surest Expedient to establish a good Understanding betwixt the two Families and to preserve the Peace of the Nation But notwithstanding all these pretended Advantages the Promotion of young Trolle was oppos'd by the greatest part of the Nobility and Gentry who look'd upon this Agreement as a Condescention beneath their Courage and injurious to the Reputation of their Party They assur'd the Administrator that they were able to maintain his Right with their Swords in the Field against the Bishops and the Danish Faction And some ofâ—em who penetrated deeper into the Intrigues of State and were better acquainted with the Art of Government told him in private That the Fate of his Predecessors shou'd deter him from conferring the principal Dignity of the Church upon a Person that was already possest of the highest Advantages both of Birth and Fortune That since the fatal Trâ—aty of Calmar the Archbishops had bâ—â—n the Authors and Fomenters of all the Intestine Wars that had harafs'd the Kingdom under the Reign and Administration of his Predecessors That young Trolle was reputed a turbulent and daring Person That those who consider'd the Zeal with which the Clergy and Danish Faction solicited his Preferment cou'd not but suspect his Fidelity to the present Government And that 't was absolutely inconsistent with the most obvious Rules of Prudence to advance a Man that was in a manner oblig'd both by Interest and Natural Affection to hate the Person who was the only Obstacle of the Grandeur of his Family These were the principal Arguments with which these Grave Politicians endeavour'd to convince the Administrator of the Dangerous Consequences of the propos'd Agreement But in this as well as in most other cases it appear'd that the Force of Reason is not able to curb the unbridld Heat of Youth The young Prince wanted Experience and was unwilling to be govern'd by that of others He was dazl'd with the Splendor of his new Dignity and cou'd not think himself secur'd in the Possession of his beloved Grandeur so long as his Title was controverted by so powerful a Rival His mind was so taken up with the Pleasures of a present Enjoyment that he was not at leisure to think of future Dangers and perhaps he was so deluded by the seeming Generosity of the Action that he was incapable of foreseeing the Hazard to which it expos'd him But whatever were the Inducements that betray'd him into this Error 't is certain that the Archbishop resign'd with his Consent and that Trolle was elected by the Chapter upon his Recommendation He wrote to Pope Leo X. in his Favour and remitted a considerable Sum of Money to the new Prelate who was then at Rome that he might be able to appear in an Equipage suitable to his Dignity and to the Honor and Reputation of the Kingdom The old Archbishop sent a secret Message to his Successor by one of his Confidents with private Orders to pass by the Court of Denmark with which the Swedish Clergy kept an uninterrupted Correspondence The Election of the Administrator and the Advancement of Trolle to the Archbishoprick of Upsal were News of too great Importance to the King of Denmark not to be imparted to him with all possible haste King John had not long before left the Crown to his Son Christiern II. whose Temper was a sufficient Indication of his future Misfortunes He was naturally Sowre Fierce and untractable his Courage proceeded rather from Transports of Fury than from a magnanimous Desire of Glory and he seem'd only to make War that he might feed his Eyes with the Bloody Horrors of Death His Birth and the Choice of the Danes had put him in Possession of two Crowns but he cou'd not think himself Happy in a Kingdom where the Sovereign Power was restrain'd by the Laws and by the Authority of the Senate On the contrary he look'd upon Sweden as a Country where by the Success of his Arms and Right of Conquest he might one day have the Pleasure to Rule with a boundless and unbridl'd Power He waited with an extream Impatience till the Truce which his Father made with the late Administrator shou'd expire that he might put his Designs against that Kingdom in Execution The Advancement of Trolle who was descended of a Family and engag'd in a Party that
Person He pretended to be overcome by that Princes Generosity and acknowledg'd himself extreamly oblig'd to him for the seasonable Relief he had sent him Some time after he propos'd an interview on Board the Fleet whither he invited the Administrator in order to treat about a Peace and for the security of his Person he sent several of the most considerable Persons in his Army to the Court at Stockholm The Prince who was naturally of a very free and candid temper was easily perswaded to give him that satisfaction but the Senate oppos'd his Resolution either because they suspected that there was some treacherous Design hidden under so plausible a pretext or were resolv'd to maintain the Honour of the State in the Person of the Administrator In compliance with their desire Steno sent back the Hostages with fresh supplies of Provisions and a Message to the King of Denmark by which he acquainted him that he wou'd have willingly consented to the interview on Board the Fleet but that the Senate thought it more convenient that the Treaty shou'd be manag'd by Commissioners from both sides in some place on the Frontiers that shou'd be mutually agreed upon Christiern perceiving that the Administrator had escap'd the Snare that was laid for him resolv'd upon another project to facilitate the Execution of his Designs He dreaded the valour of Gustavus and the authority of his Family in the Kingdom and besides he had a particular spite against him for his Affection and Fidelity to the Administrator He projected a Contrivance to make himself Master of his Person and of five or six other Lords in the Swedish Army imagining that by threatning to put these Officers to death he might oblige the Administrator to consent to the Re-establishment of the Treaty of Calmar or at least hoping to create a difference betwixt the Prince and the most considerable Families in the Kingdom if he shou'd refuse upon any Terms to save the Lives of Gustavus and his Companions In pursuance of this design he propos'd an interview in the City of Stockholm offering to repair thither with some of his Council provided Gustavus and six other Lords whom he shou'd name shou'd be deliver'd as Hostages for the security of his Person And to make both the Prince and Senate sensible that 't was their Interest to comply with this expedient he represented to the Administrator that they might come to a more speedy agreement by conferring together than by imploying Plenipotentiaries who usually consume a great deal of time in debating about the Preliminaries of a Treaty Thus the Senate was oblig'd to consent to a Proposal Lawrence Sigonis Olaus Ryning Bennet Nicolai George Siggones Hening Gadde which they cou'd not reject with any shadow of Reason As soon as Gustavus and the other Hostages appear'd on the Shore the Danish Admiral follow'd by a considerable number of Officers advanc'd to salute 'em and at the same time they were surrounded by several Soldiers disguis'd like Mariners who had come ashore during the Truce under pretext of buying Strong-Waters and other Provisions Then the Admiral desir'd 'em to go in his Boat to salute the King who was coming to see the Administrator Gustavus wou'd have willingly declin'd the Complement and waited till the King was landed but he saw so many Danes about him that he chose rather to comply with a seeming Chearfulness than to make an useless Resistance Thus he and his Companions went on Board and were immediately carry'd before the King who commanded 'em to be arrested and disarm'd contrary to his own Promise and to the Law of Nations Afterwards he sent word to the Administrator that he wou'd order 'em to be Beheaded as bels and Excommunicated Persons if he would not immediately consent to restore the Arch-Bishop and Reestablish the Treaty of Calmar Steno was so incens'd at so base a piece of Treachery that he mann'd immediately all the Boats and Ships in the Harbour David Chytraus lio 7. p. 200. Loccen l. 5. p. 196. Edit Vpsasalieu Joann Magnus l. 23. p. 780. Olaus Magnus lib. 16. p. 289. Edit Lugdun The Noblemen who were then in the City and especially the Friends and Relations of the Prisoners leap'd into the first Boats they cou'd meet with The Prince himself went on Board a Frigat which he found ready fitted and set Sail with his little Fleet resolving with these Boats to attack the Danish Men of War and either to release the Hostages or perish in the Attempt But he cou'd not find his Enemies who had taken the advantage of a favourable Gale that began to blow some hours before and set Sail for Denmark King Christiern left no means unattempted to corrupt the Fidelity of Gustavus and his Companions but they resisted with equal steddiness and courage all his Promises and Threats and cou'd neither be scar'd nor flatter'd into a Compliance with his desires Their Resolution and Constancy had almost cost 'em their Lives for the King finding that he cou'd not gain 'em and dreading the Courage and Indignation of Gustavus if he shou'd be oblig'd to release him gave secret orders to put 'em to Death But the Danish Officer whom he entrusted with that Commission abhorring so barbarous an Action and fearing perhaps the law of Retaliation if by the chance of War he shou'd fall into the Hands of the Swedes took the Liberty to tell his Master that the Death of these Lords wou'd be prejudicial to his Interest whereas by detaining 'em Prisoners he might keep their Relations in awe These Considerations made so great an Impression upon the King that he contented himself with imprisoning 'em in the Castle of Copenhagen where they were so cruelly treated by his Order that some of 'em ended their Days in that miserable Condition Eric Banner a Danish Lord pitying the hard fate of Gustavus who was his Kinsman begg'd him of the King upon his parole of Honour and that he might the more easily obtain a Suit of that Nature from that jealous and diffident Prince he assur'd him that the only reason that made him wish to have that young Lord in his House was that he might have an opportunity to gain so considerable a Friend to his Majesty That Consideration prevail'd with Christiern to grant his Request but on Condition that he shou'd carry his Prisoner to the Castle of Calo in Jutland of which he was Governour and shou'd pay 6000 Crowns of Gold for his Ransom if he shou'd suffer him to escape or cou'd not produce him upon Demand The Generous Banner thought no Conditions too hard to save the Life of his Kinsman which he believ'd was not secure in the Castle of Copenhagen He carry'd him to Calo October and endeavour'd by a kind and civil Entertainment to make him forget the Misery he had suffer'd at Copenhagen The good Mien Majestick Air and graceful behaviour of that Prince produc'd their usual effect upon the Mind of his friendly
to the Garrison and were in the Danâ—â— Service but declar'd for Gustavus as soon as they cou'd with safety These Troops had no sooner enter'd the City but they disbanded in the Might and ran to plunder the Town with so much eagerness that their Officers were not able to sâ—op 'em nor even to find a sufficient number of Soldiers to mount the Guard and to take such â—â—ecautions as were necessary to secure their Conquest They broke into the Houses of several Merchants that sold Brandy Wine and strong Waters And the â—â—â—carlians under the Command of Gustavus being inform'd that their Companions were so well employ'd left their Colours and in spite of their Officers ran to the Town to get their share of a Liquor which affords an enchanting Delight to these Northern People The Governor of the Castle perceiving this Disorder made a Sally at the Head of his Garrison to charge the Swedes his Soldiers having first set Fire to several Houses on purpose to encrease the Tumult and Confusion Afterward they enter'd the City with Sword in Hand and without any opposition kill'd a great number of the Dalcearlians whom they found for the most part Drunk and destitute of Arms and Defence Assoon as Gustavus was insorm'd of so terrible and unexpected a Disaster he enter'd the Town and was enrag'd to see his Soldiers massacred almost in his Presence without finding any that were able to oppose the Enemies He commanded â—lai to raise a â—â—rricadoe in the high Street and to make Head against the Danes with all the Officers and Volunteers that were with him whilst he himself ran through the City to put a stop to the Pillage and to rally his disperst Troops The greater part of his Soldiers sculking in the bottom of the Cellars and intoxicated with Wine and Brandy fled almost with equal fear and precipitation from the presence of their General and from their Enemies But â—â—â—stavus accompanied with his Guards wâ—â—t down himself into the Cellars stav'd the Vessels spilt the strong Watâ—â—s and Brandy and by this Prâ—â—aution which the â—alecarlians lookt upon as unjust and cruel drew them out of these enchâ—â—ted Places at last he beat back the Daves into the Castle tho' rather by his own Presâ—â—â—e than by the Assistance of his Solâ—â—ers Afterwards he cauâ—'d the Governor's Pulse to be selt April 29. to know whether he might be pre vail'd with to deliver up the Castle upon Composition but having found him resolute and unmoveable he contented himself with blocking up the â—ort he was not willing to hazard an Attack which perhaps might â—iscourage his Soldiers nor to begin a formal Sâ—â—gâ— for fear of giving time to the Danes to rally He only order'd Lines of Contravallation to be drawn round the Place 〈◊〉 hinder the â—eâ—eg'd from â—â—llying out and to cut off all hope of Relief He first took a Spade to break the Ground and was immediately imitated by all the Officers of his Army after which the Burghers of the Town mingled with his Soldiers carry'd on the Work with so much Diligence and Vigor that in less than two Days they rais'd the Entrenchments in some places 〈◊〉 24 foot high Gustavus had no sooner given the â—ecessâ—ry 〈…〉 to prevent the cenveying of Sucâ—â—â—inâ—s the 〈…〉 but he march'd again into the Field several 〈◊〉 and Gentlemen at the â—â—ad of their Vassals 〈◊〉 him on the Road and join'd his Forces and 70 Swedish Officers at once deserted the Vice-roy and came over to Gustavus's Army These Advantages were lookt upon as the beginning of a great Revolution and the taking of Westeras seem'd to be the Signal agreed upon for the Revolt of the whole Kingdom of Sweden Arwide a considerable Lord in Westgothland Laurentius Petri of Sudermania and Olaus Bonde of Nericia came to assure him that the Nobility and People of their Provinces waited only for his presence to take up Arms and to declare in his Favor and even those who were either with-held or over-aw'd by the Power and Neighbourhood of the Danes secretly assisted him with Intelligence and Mony the Eyes of all the People were sixt upon him and his own Merit with the rigor of the Danish Tyranny procur'd him the good Wisâ—es and Love of the whole Swedish Nation Gustavus seeing himself at the Head of an Army and of so potent a Party resolv'd to undertake several Enterprizes at the same time that the Fame of his Conquests might draw all the People to his Army and that the Danes might be at a Loss where to employ their Troops He sent back these Lords who came to meet him to their respective Provinces with Detachments from his Army which he gave them to begin the War and to promote the Revolt and Insurrection of the People Arwide by his Ordeâ— besieg'd the Castle of Wadestene in Ostrogothland Laurentius Petri the Town of Nicopinc and Olaus Bond Orâ—bro the Capital of Nericia whilst Olai and Erici at the same time invested the City of Vpsal This Place was large and very populous but almost destitute of Walls and other Fortifications except some old Towers on the side of the Arch bishoprick The Archbish who was Lord of it had put a Garison in it under the Command of a Governor tho' rather with a design to shew the Inhabitants that he did not forsake sake them than in hopes of defending it if it should be attackt The Soldiers of the Garrison had no sooner perceiv'd the Dalecarlians with Sword in hand descending into the Ditch and ready to mount to the Assault but they abandon'd the Ramparts after once firing and lest a free passage to the Dalecarlians who enter'd the Town without opposition and being reform'd by what happen'd to them at the taking of Westeras they pursu'd the Danes without staying to plunder the Houses The greater part of the Garrison was cut to pieces and the Governor in endeavoring to escape by Flight receiv'd a shot with an Arrow of which he died a few Days after Gustavus having receiv'd information that his Forces were in Vpsal repair'd thither with speed He took care to preserve the Archbishop's Palace and Goods May 11. either to render him suspected to the Danish Ministers or to gain and draw him to his Party Afterward he sent an Envoy to the Consul of Lubeck to notify to him the happy success of his Arms and at the same time to put him in mind of the Suplies which he had promis'd him in behalf of the Regency His Agent represented to that Magistrate how much 't was the Interest of that Republick and of all the other Hanse-Towns that Sweden should be always separated from and at enmity with Denmark that the Regency of Lubeck could never meet with a more favourable opportunity to settle the Affairs of that Kingdom that Gustavus had already made himself Master of several large Provinces and that he had compleated all these Conquests at the Head of the Dalecarlians but that these
Peasants serving for the most part without Pay were also free from any Tie or Engagement and that they were not ignorant that those who begin a Revolt and undertake a War with the greatest eagerness are usually soonest tir'd that his Master stood in need of a Fleet to besiege Stockholm and the other Maritim Towns of the Kingdom as also of some regular Troops to carry on the War and that this Lord hop'd with these Supplies within a little while to expel the Danes out of the whole Kingdom of Sweden The Consul of Lubeck gave an account of his Demands to the Regency but these Republicans found that their Interest was chang'd with the fortune of Gustavus The rapid progress of his Conquests his undaunted Courage and aspiring Genius began to disturb 'em and Christiern on the contrary ceas'd to be any longer formidable to 'em by reason of his violent Proceedings with respect to his own Subjects But tho' Gustavus's Agent made little progress in his Negotiation he had the good fortune to meet with an old German Colonel nam'd Stephen de Sassi who was one of those Soldiers of Fortune that make a Trade of War and are always ready to venture their Lives for Gain without taking any care to enquire into the Justice of the Cause which they engage to defend Gustavus's Envoy treated with him in the name of his Master and in consideration of a certain Sum agreed upon a considerable part of which was paid in hand the Colonel oblig'd himself to Land in Sweden before the end of the Month of August at the Head of 1200 Men. Gustavus's Agent instantly gave him an account of this Treaty and receiv'd Orders to continue at Lubeck to solicit that Regency to declare in his favour but he thought fit to acquaint him at the same time that he was sensible there would not have been so much difficulty in prevailing with these Republicans if he had not made so quick a progress and if the success of his Enterprize were more uncertain Gustavus had not hitherto met with any Disaster every thing having succeeded beyond his expectation He was at the Head of a considerable Army with which he had made himself Master of half the Kingdom and the rest of Sweden waited only for his Presence to declare in his Favour when in the full career of his Conquests he saw himself suddenly abandon'd by the greater part of his Forces July 10. for the Peasants begg'd leave of him to be dismiss'd that they might go and take care of the Harvest in their Provinces Gustavus notwithstanding the urgent necessity of his Affairs could not refuse those People who serv'd him voluntarily and to whom he was also oblig'd for all his Authority and therefore he consented to their departure upon the promise they made him to return with a Reinforcement after the Harvest reserving only for his Guard and for the Defence of the City of Vpsal one Company of Horse and six hundred Foot for the most part Dalecarlians who were resolv'd to follow his Fortune and never to leave him He resided at Vpsal which was as it were the Center of his Conquests from whence he gave out necessary Orders thro' all the Provinces that had declar'd for him and where his Lieutenants carry'd on the War in his Name He endeavour'd at the same time to divide and distract his Enemies by secret Negotiations till he shou'd be in a condition to reduce 'em by Force The Archbishop was more especially formidable to him by reason of the great Number of his Vassals and Followers for he alone was capable of supporting Christiern's Party by the Reputation of his Family and his Authority over the Clergy He sent Letters thro' the Provinces obliging his Relations and Friends to endeavour to retain the People in their Obedience to the King of Denmark so that Gustavus met with in the single Person of that Prelate a vigilant Enemy that created him more trouble than all the Danes together However he made an attempt to draw him off from their Party and engag'd two Canons of Vpsal who imagin'd they had a great Interest with the Archbishop Gustavus publickly granted 'em a Pass under colour that they desir'd Leave to Retire to their Metropolitan and at the same time privately charg'd 'em with a Letter which was submissive full of Respect and proper to flatter the haughty and arrogant Temper of that Prelate In this Letter he conjur'd him no longer to oppose the Liberty of his Country and offer'd with all possible Demonstrations of Sincerity to restore his City of Vpsal and his whole Estate without exacting any other Conditions than to engage in his Party and to be their Head assuring him withal That every one would be ready to obey his Orders with Delight and that for his own part he should only reserve to himself the Glory of putting his Advice and Counsels in Execution The two Canons being arriv'd at Stockholm deliver'd Gustavus's Letter to the Archbishop and even took the boldness to commend his Moderation on purpose to feel the Pulse of that Prelate But the Archbishop rejected the Letter and their Service with a great deal of Scorn and Indignation and fearing lest the Danes shou'd suspect that he hearken'd to their Proposals he caus'd the Letter to be immediately carry'd to the Vice-roy He also sent to him at the same Time the Persons of the two Canons who were the Bearers of it and demanded that they should be put to Death as Traytors and Spies The Vice-roy who knew not how to destroy his Enemies but when he found 'em unarm'd would have made no great Difficulty to give him this Satisfaction if he had not been afraid of offending the Clergy who almost alone continu'd to adhere to the party of the Danes He also perceiv'd that the Archbishop requir'd their Death with so much earnestness only to take off a Suspicion which might arise that he held Correspondence with Gustavus Besides that these Ecclesiastical Persons terrifi'd with the Danger they had incurr'd protested to him They took the Charge of Gustavus's Letter only to obtain a Pass and the liberty of departing out of a City which was no longer ingag'd in their Party Afterward they inveigh'd against the Rebellion of that Lord with an Eloquence that was the effect of their Fear They promis'd an unviolable Fidelity to King Christiern whom they acknowledg'd as their lawful Sovereign and the more effectually to justifie themselves and appease the Anger of the Vice-roy and Archbishop they told 'em That the Peasants had abandon'd Gustavus and gave 'em an account of the state of the City and the Forces of that Lord which they likewise diminish'd according to the usual Language of Deserters on purpose to make their Court and to obtain a more favourable Treatment The Archbishop demanded Troops of the Vice-roy with which he promis'd to surprize Gustavus in Vpsal and bring him back Prisoner or at least to force him to
Crown to remain on the Head of an Usurper He added that the Swedish Clergy had not forgotten their old affection to the Danish Interest and assur'd him that there were many considerable Persons in that Kingdom who wou'd own his Right assoon as he shou'd think fit to claim it Frederic was not able to withstand a Temptation that slatter'd his Interest and Ambition He caus'd himself to be crown'd King of Sweden by that Prelate at Copenhagen as if there had been nothing else requir'd to put him in possession of the Crown but the Ceremony of setting it on his Head At the same time he sout an Ambassador to the Senate of that Kingdom to complain of the late Election as a violation of the Treaty of Calmar and an Injury to the Crown of Denmark The Senate of Sweden wou'd have sent the Ambessedor back without suffering him to deliver his Message but Gustavus was so far from being of that Opinion that he sent some of his Officers to receive him and allow'd him a magnisicent Entertainment during his stay in the Kingdom Afterwards he summon'd a Convertion of the Estates not so much to consult about the King of Denmark's Propoâ—ls as to make that Prince'â— Envoy an Eye-witness of the Confirmation of his Election by all the Orders of the Kingdom The Ambassador was introduc'd into the Assembly and in a long Harangue endeavour'd to convince 'em that they were oblig'd to own his Moster's Title to the Crown of Sweden by vertue of the Treatâ— of Calmar He magnify'd the Power of 〈◊〉 Monarch and extoll'd his Verthes and tare Enâ—â—â—â—â—ents concluding that they ought to â—â—itate the Example of the Norwegians and put themselves under the protection of a Prince that was able to defend 'em against Christiern who was preparing to force a Passage into the Kingdoms of the North with all the Forces of the Empire After the Assembly had heard this Discourse with a great deal of Impatience and Indignation the Speaker of the Estates made a short but very brisk and smart Reply He told the Ambassador That Sweden had been too long subject to the Dominion of her Enemies and wou'd take care to lodge the supreme Power in better Hands for the future That all the Inhabitants of the Kingdom had by a voluntary Election put themselves under the Proâ—â—ction of their Deliverer who wou'd preserve his Right and their Liberty in spite of the Pretensions â—nâ— Opposition of the Danes That the Treaty of Calmar was violated almost assoon as it was concluded That the Swedes notwithstanding their intestine Divisions chose rather to make the Kingdom the Seat of a bloody War for more than a hundred Years than to submit to a Treaty that was so injurious and odious to the whole Nation and that now they were united under a Victorious Prince he would find it a hard Task to perswade 'em to resume their broken Fetters The Estates were not satisfy'd with rejecting the King of Denmark's Claim but to give Gustavus a more convincing Mark of their Affection and Fidelity to his Interest they proceeded immediately to give Judgment against Archbishop Trolle and in the Ambassador's presence declar'd that Prelate a Traitor and an Enemy to his Country And in the heat of their Zeal they mâ—de a solemn Act or Decree by which they oblig'd themselves to approve whatever Gustavus shou'd think fit to do or attempt for the Preservation of his Dignity Lec l. 6. p. 237. granting him full Power to declare War or conclude a Peace without out calling a Meeting or Convention of the Estates and resolving that his Enemies shou'd be reputed Enemies to the State and Nation Thus the Swedes were so charm'd with the Valor and excellent Qualities of their new Monarch that they thought they cou'd not more effectually secure the Liberty and Happiness of the Subject than by confirming and eularging the Prerogative of the Crown And that cunning Prince under the specious Title of the Defender of the Public Liberty was advancing by slow but sure Steps to an absolute Authority over the Kingdom He kept the Danish Ambassador at Court some Daâ—s afterâ— he had receiv'd his Audience and order'd the principal Lords of the Kingdom to Treat him by turns at their Houses Afterwards he invited him to be present at a Review which he took of his Forces pretending that 't was meerly an effect of his Complaisance to that Minister tho' his true design was to make him a Witness of the Strength and Numbers of his Troops He honour'd him with magnificent Presents at his departure and left no means unessay'd to gain him or at least to make him give an advantageous Character of his Power and Grandeur At last he dismist him and sent an Envoy along with him to the King of Denmark with Orders to demand the Liberty of the Administrator's Widow and of the other Ladies whose Husbands were put to Death by Christiern These Ladies were still kept Prisoners in Denmark and Gustavus knew that he cou'd neither oblige the Swedes nor raise his own Glory more effectually than by procuring their Liberty But these were not the only nor the most important Instructions he gave to his Envoy He consider'd that Christiern had put himself under the Protection of a Prince who was able to pur him in possession of the Kingdoms he had lost especially if he shou'd sind 'em divided And therefore he gave secret Orders to his Agent to study the Character of King Frederic to discover his Designs and the Inclinations of his Council and to dispose 'em to a firm and lasting Peace which was equally necessary for both these Monarchs to settle their Authority in the beginning of their Reigns The Swedish Envoy at his arrival at the Court of Denmark deliver'd his Message publickly demanding the Liberty of the Princess and the other Swedish Ladies But afterwards in a private Audience he complain'd in his Master's Name of the Injury that Monarch had receiv'd from the King of Denmark by sending an Ambassador to Sweden without acquainting him with his Intention or directing the Embassy to him He represented to him That the Kings his Predecessors notwithstanding their Pretensions to the Crown of Sweden were more careful to observe the common Rules of Decency even during the late War betwixt the two Kingdoms and that they were so far from scrupling to acknowledge the Dignity and Authority of the Administrators that they directed the Letters and Embassies to them which they sent to the whole Nation He added with a great deal of Courage and Resolution that 't wou'd be more proper for a Prince that was not well fix'd upon his Throne to secure his Interest at home than to think of Invading his Neighbors and that tho' the King his Master entertain'd not any ambitious Thoughts of aggrandizing himself or extending the Limits of his Dominions his Army and Garrisons were in so good a Condition that 't was beyond the Power of all his
of Gothland and that his Envoy shou'd be follow'd by Ambassadors from the Hanse-Towns who shou'd offer their Mediation and declare War against either of the two contending Parties that shou'd refuse to come to an Accommodation Immediately the Danish Forces were order'd to Embark and enter'd the Port of Wisbi without any opposition from the Fleet of Lubeck and soon after the Ambassador of that Town arriv'd at Stockholm to expostulate with Gustavus in the Name of the King his Master for besieging a Place in his Dominions without declaring War against him At the same Time the Ambassadors of the Hanse-Towns came to propose a Truce and to desire an Interview betwixt the two Kings at Malnogen They offer'd the Mediation of their Masters and requir'd the Interview in so peremptory a manner that Gustavus perceiv'd he must either submit to that Expedient or expect immediately the Declaration of an open War Thus fearing to be Assaulted by so potent a Confederacy he was forc'd to divert the threatning Storm by consenting to the conditions that were propos'd to him To prevent any Suspicion of Treachery Frederick who was Master of the Place appointed for the Interview sent Four Senators and Six of the most considerable Lords in Denmark to remain at Stockholm as Hostages during the Conference betwixt the two Kings Gustavus was sensible of the danger to which he expos'd himself but he was so afraid of irritating the Hanse-Towns and so desirous to make the Danes themselves acknowledge his Title to the Crown of Sweden that he resolv'd at all Adventures to pursue his intended Journey He repair'd to Malmogen accompanied with the Great Marshal Tureiohanson and two other Senators after he had receiv'd another safe Conduct from Frederick and the security of the Harse-Towns for the safety of his Person tho' it may be doubted whether any security can be given for a King when he is in the Dominions of his Enemies The reciprocal pretensions of the two Crowas to the Isle of Gothland were the Subject of this Conference September The matter was debated on both sides with a great deal of heat and each party produc'd their respective Titles Bildius High Chamberlain to the King of Denmark and Tureiohanson for Gustavus urg'd the Claims and defended the Rights of their Masters But in the Progress of the Conference the Great Marshal betray'd the Cause and Interest of the Crown of Sweden He cou'd not without a secret envy behold the Power and Prosperiâ—y of Gustavus and was unwilling to submit to a Master who not long before was his equal He had a very considerable Estate in Denmark which made him afraid of disobliging that Monarch who had threaten'd to deprive him of all the Lands he possess'd in his Kingdom if he shou'd persist too obstinately in the Defence of his Master That Menace stopp'd his Mouth so effectually that he pretended a Cold and a violent Cough to excuse him from speaking Gustavus seeing himself betray'd by his Treacherons Minister under took the Defence of his own Cause and alledg'd with a great deal of Vigor and Eloquence that the Isle of Gothland was always reckon'd a part of the Kingdom of Sweden that the Danes were only admitted into it by vertue of the Treaty of Calmar that their Kings had no other right to it during the union of the two Kingdoms but as they were Sovereigns of Sweden that 't was plain and undoubtedly certain that King Albert Mortgag'd the Island to the Knights of the Teutonic Order for the Sum of Twenty Thousand Rose-Nobles that Queen Margaret impos'd a Tax which was levy'd only in Sâ—eden to redeem it that King Eric her Nephew and Successor retir'd thither after his ABDIC ATION and afterwards deliver'd it up to the Danes to the prejudice of the Crown of Swedâ—n The solidity of these Reasons put the Danish Minister to silence but the Ambassadors of the Hanse-Towns resolving to keep up the difference refert'd the Decision of it to the Regency of Lubeck under pretext of bringing it to a Friendly Agreement They wou'd have also oblig'd the King of Sweden to withdraw his Troops out of the Island and propos'd that the City of Lubeck shou'd put a Garrison into Wisbi according to the privare Treaty they had condaded with the Danish Ambassador But Gustavus was so far from consenting to either of these motions that he protested he wou'd rather 〈◊〉 off the Conference and declare War than suffer himself to be bubbl'd out of his Conquests And the King of Denmark who had put a strong Garrison into Wisbi instead of insisting upon the Sequestration which he had only propos'd to Tempt the Lubeckers to break their Treaty with Gustavus was easily perswaded to consent that every thing should remain in the same posture in expectation of the Regency's Sentence These two Princes gave one another reciprocal marks of Esteem and Respect notwithstanding the differences that reign'd between ' em They found themselves ingag'd in the same Interest and enter'd into a League Offensive and Desensive against the late King Christiern without mentioning the Treaty of Calmar They gave each other mutual affarances of a sincere Friendship notwithstanding the Natural Antipathy betwixt the Two Kingdoms After their last Complements Gustavus took leave of the King of Denmark and left Malmogen to return to Sweden Herman He had not gone far when he met the Lubeck Ambassador who engag'd him in the Expedition against Gothland The sight of that Minister put him in mind of the Treachery of the Republic and he was so Transported with fury at so provoking an Idea that he stopt the subtle Consul and ask'd him fiercely what was become of the Treaty and the Magnificent promises of his Masters At the same time he put his hand to his Poinard as if he had been going to kill him But one of the Senators that accompained him prevented the Blow and the Ambassador made his Escape Thus Gnstavus retir'd out of the Daniâ—â— Territories and as he enter'd into his own Dominions he told those who follow'd him that he would never go out of 'em again but at the head of an Army Some of the Senators and Officers of the Army who had the largest share in his Considence and Favor took this occasion to conjure him that he wou'd not longer delay the Ceremony of his Coronation To convince him of the importance and reasonableness of their desire they told him that 't was but too probable the Success of his Arms and the Glory of his Victories had procur'd him the Envy and Jealousy of his Neighbors and perhaps also the secret hatred of some Great Persons in his own Kingdom and that if either of 'em cou'd obtain their desire he wou'd be less Fortunate and Happy They added that there were several Lords in Sweden who pretended they cou'd hardly look upon him as their Sovereign because he had not yet receiv'd the Crown and concluded that the Ceremony of his Coronation
of the Church as the greatest Bulwark of the ancient Religion and the other considering Luther's Doctrin as a problematical and indifferent Opinion till the Church shou'd decide the Controversy in a general Council were for an intire submission to the King 's Will. The Chancellor omitted nothing to make the chief Deputies sensible that Kingdoms ought not to be Rul'd by the Maxims of Priests and Monks who have a separate Interest from that of the State owning a Foreign Prince the Pope for their Sovereign That the safety of the State upon all Occasions and in all Emergencies ought to be the prime and over-ruling Law and all other humane Constitutions being made only for the Preservation of Civil Society the Prince and supream Magistrate ought to be vested with a Power to alter 'em according to the Exigencies and Temper of every Nation That the greatest part of the Ecclesiasticks and Monks had seiz'd on the whole Wealth of the Kingdom under different Pretences of Devotion That the Bishops by the Claim they assum'd of being the sole Heirs of the Priests ruin'd daily some of the best Families and by that Title as well as their pretended Right to Penalties and Consiscations incroach'd insensibly upon all the Estates that they secur'd their unjust Acquisitiones from all Attempts of Recovery under the Name of Church Lands terrifying with the Bâ—g-bear of Excommunication all that shou'd â—â—ser just Complaines against their Oppression and branding with Heresy any Opinion condemned by the Pope as Heretical tho' they deem'd him no otherwise Infallible than so far as his Infallibility consisted with their Interests By such Discourses and other secret Ways the Chancellor brought over most of the Deputies to the King's Party and gain'd many of the Clergy themselves to yield to his Arguments under pretext that Religion was not the Thing aimed at but meerly a Temporal Concern besides that they were over-aw'd by the Power and the Anger of the King and terrify'd with this Notion That too obstinate a Resistance was next to down-right Treason and Rebellion The King had already made sure of the best part of the Assembly when Tureiohanson flattering himself with the imaginary Strength of his Party talkt of nothing but burning the Hereticks and urg'd the Estates with a great deal of Earnestness to make a Law to declare Lutherans incapable of possessing the Crown with a secret Design to exclude the King and that he might have a sufficient Ground to oppose the Solemnity of his Coronation This Point was debated with a great deal of heat in the Assembly every one speaking according to his Interest or Inclination when the Bishop of Stregnez who had been secretly gain'd by the Court desir'd leave to speak As soon as that Prelate had obtain'd liberty to be heard Loc. l. 6. p. 270. he told the Estates That he was surpriz'd to see Men in that Assembly who had the considence to speak so publickly of the King's Abdication almost within his hearing or at least under the Canon of his Castle That Matters of such vast Importance were not to be decided by Caballing or Plurality of Voices That there were many in that Assembly who cou'd signalize their Courage against his as in a Field of Battel and yet perhaps cou'd hardly bear the very Looks and Presence of their King if he shou'd appear in Arms. He ask'd 'em what Forces they had to oppose a Prince who had the sole Command of all the Troops And in case he were willing to Abdicate whether they had a sufficient Fund to repay him the vast Charge he had been at for the Defence of the State He added That 't was not an easy matter to reckon with a great Captain at the Head of a considerable Army who might as long as he pleas'd retain the Sovereign Power for a Pledge of Payment That they were grosly mistaken if they thought that Sweden under another Prince or another Form of Government was able to make a long Resistance against so many Enemies with which the Kingdom was surrounded That all intelligent Persons were sensible that the Power and Strength of the Kingdom lay more in the King's Person than Dignity that his Majesty cou'd never make a step to quit the Throne but what wou'd make way for the Kings of Denmark Christiern or Frederick to ascend it and that 't was only his Courage and Valor that kept all the Enemies of the Nation in awe The same Prelate added That tho' the King did not appear a Friend to the Clergy yet the prevailing Power of Truth and the cordial Affection he bore to the State oblig'd him to own that the safety of the Kingdom depended entirely upon his Royal Person That he acknowledg'd the Great Marshal's Zeal was to be commended by which he had laid eternal Obligations upon both the Regular and Secular Clergy but that a violent and unlimited Zeal had often occasion'd great Mischiefs That for his part he thought it more expedient for 'em to quit some Rights and to give up some of their Priviledges at a time when their Compliance was so necessary for the preservation of the Kingdom than by too great a Stiffness and Self-interessedness to exasperate a Prince who was equally powerful and necessary That however it was unreasonable to suspect that the King had chang'd his Religion meerly because he wou'd not burn all those who said their Prayers in their Mother Tongue That the King had often declar'd he was resolv'd to persist in the Religion of his Ancestors That after all they cou'd not but own that the Monks had under the pretence of Devotion introduc'd into the Church many Superstitions which utterly defac'd the Christian Religion That the King with the help of the ablest Men of the Kingdom might correct those Abuses without giving any occasion to accuse or suspect him of a Design to incroach upon Religion and that he might shake off the Yoak of the Court of Rome without separating from the Communion of the Roman Church This Prelate's Discourse made the greater Impression upon the Estates because 't was not expected from one of his Character The Bishops and the whole Clergy were full of Rage and Indignation but he receiv'd a loud and general Applause from almost all the rest of the Assembly In short his Discourse seem'd at once to have dispers'd all those Inchantments which had made 'em so long oppose the King's Designs They lookt upon his Absence both as their Fault and Misfortune Their Heat against their Prince was chang'd to an Emulation among 'em to give him what satisfaction he demanded that they might have the Happiness to see him sooner at the Head of the Assembly Immediately they made a Declaration sutable to his Intentions notwithstanding the clamorous opposition of the Clergy and notice was given to the Great Marshal that it was not safe for him to make so great a noise in the Assembly Pafendorf The Deputies of the Commonalty believing
Government in Sweden and 't is probable the Crown was only Hereditary when the Sons of the deceast King were strong enough to maintain themselves in that station nor were they advanc'd to it before they had signaliz'd themselves by some bold and extraordinary exploit Suibdager King of Norway Conquer'd Denmark from Gram King of Cepers The Swedes charm'd with his Valour or aw'd by his Power chose him for their Sovereign by which Election he saw himself at the same time absolute Lord of the three Northern Kingdoms This Prince according to the Swedish History is the first Foreigner upon whom the Crown was conferr'd Hasinund Son and Successor of Suibdager was slain in a Battle against the Danes Vffo Son and Successor of Hasinund carry'd on a War against the Danes with success but at last Hading King of Denmark under colour of an Interview for a Treaty of Peace drew him into a place where he caus'd him to be Assassiinated Huning Vffo's Brother and Successor after a Bloody War which he undertook against the King of Denmark to revenge the Death of his Brother chang'd of a sudden his violent hatred against his Enemy into an excess of Friendship A Solemn Peace was concluded betwixt these two Princes with a Solemn Oath on both sides that upon the Death of either the other shou'd not survive him It happen'd not long after that Hading was salsly reported to have been Assassinated by his own Daughter which Huning believing resolv'd to die according to his promise In pusuance of this design he regal'd his Friends and the chief Persons of the Kingdom with a sumptuous Entertainment and at the conclusion of the Feast being Drunk he threw himself into a deep Tub full of Mead and so drown'd himself Hading was vext at the News but resolving to imitate the Generosity of his Friend he very coâ—â—ageously Hang'd himself in the sight of all his People if there be any credit to be given to those ancient Histories or rather to the Histories of those Ancient Ages Regner The Son and Successor of Huning was made King of Sweden notwithstanding all the opposition of his Mother-in-Law Torilla He Govern'd his Subjects with much Equity and Moderation But these peaceful Virtues were so far from procuring him the Love and Esteem of a Cruel and Barbarous People that he was slighted and contemn'd because he wou'd not gratify their savage Humour by Plundering the Neighbouring Countries and perhaps also because he was too generous to cause his private Enemies to be Assassinated Hothebrod The Son and Successor of Regner was a warlike and daring Prince and undertook several fortunate Expeditions against the Finlanders Russes Esthonians and Curlandians After which he Attack'd Roe King of Denmark whom he kill'd at the Head of his Army He pursu'd this Victory with so much vigor that he made himself Master of the whole Kingdom But he did not long injoy his Conquest for the Danes revolting at the instigation of Helgo Roe's Brother Hothebrod was routed and kill'd and by this means the Swedes were expell'd out of Denmark These pretended Conquests of Kingdoms were only Inrodes made by the victorious party into the Enemies Country For since there were no places of strength where Garrisons cou'd be left to secure the Conquest as soon as the Victorious Army retir'd with their Booty the Conquer'd Nation took up Arms and chose a new King or Captain to Command ' em Attila I. Succeeded his Father Hothebrod and Marri'd the Mother of Rool King of Denmark But that Match instead of producing a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms and a good Understanding betwixt the Kings serv'd only to re-kindle the War with greater fury than ever The Queen of Sweden having seiz'd upon the Treasury of the King her Husband fled to her Son in Denmark Attila incens'd at her persidiousness invaded Denmark with his Forces and routed the Danes Rool was defeated and kill'd by one of the Swedish Generals and Hother Attila's Brother was made King of Denmark Hother King of Sweden and Denmark routed the Danes who revolted at the instigation of Balder a Prince of that Nation after which he march'd against the Russes but lost his Life in that Expedition Rodric This Victorious Prince reveng'd his Father's Death by the defeat of the Russes and subdu'd the Finlanders Wendi and Slavonians Attila II The Son and Successor of Rotherick he fought a single Combat at the Head of his Army with Frovia General of the Danish Forces and kill'd him Frovia left two Sons who as soon as they were grown up to Age went to Sweden and offer'd their service to Attila pretending to be Soldiers of Fortune They were receiv'd into the King's House whom they afterwards Assassinated to revenge the Death of their Father Botwil Charles II Grimmer Lordon Gothar Adolphus Algot Eric II. Lindorp The Fabulous Chronology mentions only the names of those Nine Princes without relating their Adventures or so much as the length of their Reigns Alaric Under this Prince's Reign the Swedish Monarchy was divided into two Kingdoms Alaric reigning in Sweden and Gestiblind in both the Gothlands This Division and the Neighbourhood of two Barbarous Nations occasion'd Bloody Wars betwixt ' em Alaric according to the custom of those Times challeng'd Gestiblind to a single Combat who declin'd it by reason of his Age but offer'd in his stead Eric Prince of Norway who was come to his Assistance These two Champions fought with all the Fury and Obstinacy that Men are capable of when they resolve either to vanquish or die Alaric was slain and Gestiblind to reward Eric's Valour not only gave him the Crown of Sweden but appointed him his Successor in the Kingdom of Gothland by which means these two Crowns were not long after reunited upon the Head of that Prince Eric III. surnam'd the Wise This Prince liv'd in a profound Peace and apply'd himself wholly to the Administration of Justice and Execution of the Laws This got him the surname of Wise which he preferr'd to that of Brave and Courageous tho' he really deserv'd it by the Valour he shew'd in the Combat he fought with King Alaric Halden I. The Son and Successor of Eric the Wise A. C. 43. he signaliz'd himself in the Wars of Norway and restor'd Fricdelef King of Denmark to his Fathers Throne from which he had been expell'd by an Usurper Returning to Sweden at the Head of a Victorious Army he resolv'd to make his Will the only Standard and Rule of his Government Upon which his Subjects revolted his Officers and Soldiers forsook him and he was at last put to Death by the Malecontents Siward Haldan's Son was own'd for his Successor upon condition that none shou'd be molested about the Death of his Father Under this Prince's reign the Goths were again separated from the Swedish Monarchy and chose for their King a Prince call'd Charles of the Family of their Ancient Kings who to establish his Authority made a League with
it to Frederick K. of Denmark and at the same time thought it convenient to fortify himself against the Designs of the House of Austria by some considerable Alliance He conceiv'd that the Lutheran Princes of Germany who were extremely jealous of the Emperor's Power wou'd be easily perswaded to support his Interest by reason of their Conformity in point of Religion Upon these Considerations he demanded in Marriage the eldest Daughter of the Duke of Saxe Lawenburg The Duke charm'd with the valor and fame of Gustavus heard the Proposal with great satisfaction and sent the Princess his Daughter with a numerous Attendance to Lubeck whither Gustavus sent his whole Fleet to receive her After her arrival at Stockholm the Marriage was consummated with all the Joy and Magnificence that are usual on such Occasions Sept. 24. At the same time the King sent the late Administrator's Son to the Duke of Saxe his Father-in-law under pretext of improving his Knowledge by making him Travel but in effect that he might remove from the sight of the Swedes a young Prince that seem'd to have a better Title to the Crown whose Presence stirr'd up the Compassion of the most Moderate and might serve for a Pretence to all dissaffected Persons Gustavus's Nuptial Ceremonies were scarce at an end when he receiv'd Intelligence that a great number of Troops rais'd for the late King Christiern were privately Imbarking at one of the Ports of Holland Upon which he dispatch'd a new Courier to the K. of Denmark according to a former Agreement and at the same time put himself at the Head of his Army both to observe the Enemy and to hinder the Catholicks and Malecontents from favoring the Descent of that Prince The Emperor had all along flatter'd him with hopes that he wou'd undertake the Expedition himself with all the Forces of the Empire But the almost continual War in which he was engag'd with France broke that Design so that Christiern discourag'd by so many Disappointments and weary of personating so long in a Foreign Country a King without a Crown resolv'd with some Troops he had gather'd from several Parts to try his Fortune and endeavour to force a Passage into his own Dominions Tureiohanson who was always as brave as a Hero at plotting and contriving Work for others us'd all possible Arguments to perswade that Prince to make an Attempt upon Sweden To flatter him and at the same time to engage him in a Design that cou'd not be prosecuted without his Assistance he assur'd him that the Swedes were so incens'd at the late Change of Religion that they long'd for his Restauration That 't wou'd be sufficient to land 3000 Horse in that Kingdom and that the first Mass that was said in his Camp wou'd draw thither all the Malecontents and even many of Gustavus's own Soldiers That notwithstanding the fam'd Politicks and Subtilty of that Prince he had sign'd his own Abdication in the Assembly of the Clergy at Orebro by abolishing the Catholick Religion That excepting a small number of Courtiers and some military Officers who had a share in the spoils of the Clergy the whole Nation detested his Tyranny and the Change of Religion That he had disbanded his Foreign Horse and that his Foot consisted only of an undisciplin'd Militia the greatest part of whom wou'd certainly desert Gustavus as soon as King Christiern shou'd declare that his only Design was to restore the true Religion and to redress the Grievances of the Clergy Upon these plausible Assurances Christiern resolv'd to try the chance of War with about Ten thousand Men of different Nations whom he had listed in his Service during his abode in the Low Countries With this Body of Men imbark'd in Thirty Ships he set out of a Port in Holland and steer'd his Course for Norway which at that time was almost destitute of Troops and Garrisons which seem'd to be a needless Precaution in a Country that was sufficiently defended by the Barrenness of its Soil and the Rocks and Mountains with which 't is overspread Christiern knew that he was less expected there than in Denmark or Sweden and from thence he design'd to enter Sweden either by West-Gothland or Dalecarlia imagining that the Country People of these Provinces were still so incens'd at the Execution of their Country-men that they wou'd immediately rise up again in Arms and favor his Attempt This unfortunate Prince met in his voyage with a terrible Storm which dispers'd all his Fleet and sunk some of his Ships He narrowly escap'd Shipwrack upon the Coast of Norway and with much a do got to the Bay of Bahus with the shatter'd remainders of his Fleet where he landed without the least opposition and resolv'd to march to West-Gothland as a more commodious place for the subsistence of his Troops But upon Information that there was a considerable Body of Horse upon the Borders to oppose his Passage he was oblig'd to march Northwards towards Dalecarlia In his way he besieg'd a Town call'd Obslo which yielded on the first Summons not being in a condition to make any Resistance After that he storm'd the Castle of Carlostadt and some days after made himself Master of Congel These small Successes drew into his Army a great number of Country People of Norway encourag'd with the hopes of plund'ring the Sweedish Frontiers and Archbishop Trolle joyn'd him with some Troops he had rais'd in Brandenburg Christiern had perhaps as little Respect for the Church of Rome as Gustavus but 't was his Interest to appear a zealous Assertor of that Religion since his Enemy was a profest Lutheran and since the Success of his Designs depended entirely on the Assistance of the Clergy and Catholicks He publish'd a General Pardon by way of a Manifesto in which he declar'd That his principal Design was the Re-establishment of the old Religion This Declaration was industriously dispers'd by the Archbishop's Emissaries who made it their Business to perswade People ev'ry where That Christiern had learn'd Wisdom and Moderation in the School of Adversity That he was become a mild affable and most gracious Prince but especially that in Flanders and so near the House of Austria he had contracted an unalterable Affection and Zeal for the Catholick Religion This Manifesto and these private Insinuations drew into his Party many Swedes who still adher'd to that Religion And among others some Dalecarlians who invited him to march into their Province These Peasants cou'd not brook the Change of Church Ceremonies but above all things cou'd not endure to hear the Praises of God sung in their Mother-Tongue They offer'd to take up Arms and to declare for him as soon as he should enter into their Province provided that he wou'd oblige himself after his Restoration to cause all the Lutherans to be burnt But his March into that Province was stopt by the Snow that cover'd all the Mountains which separate Dalecarlia from the Kingdom of Norway However
that he might find some Occupation for his Army he advanc'd towards Akerhuys and laid Siege before it notwithstanding the sharpness of the Winter Magnus Gyllenstiern a Danish Lord and Viceroy of Norway got into the Place and resisted all the Promises and Threats with which Christiern endeavour'd to corrupt his Fidelity He dispatch'd several Couriers to King Frederick his Master to acquaint him with the Enemy's Descent assuring him That Christiern was very much straitned for want of Provisions and that Akerhuys was so well defended by the Snow and cold Weather that he cou'd hold out above Four Months in expectation of Relief from Denmark No sooner was the Sea open but Frederick order'd his Fleet to put to Sea with a considerable Body of Land-Forces under the Command of Canut Gyllenstiern Bishop elect of Odensee in Funen and Erie Gyllenstiern the Viceroy of Norway's Brothers Concluding That they wou'd use all possible Diligence to save their Brother from falling into the Hands of a Prince who without regarding the Faith of Treaties seldom gave his Enemies Quarter Gustavns on the other side sent several Detachments of his Forces to cover the Swedish Frontiers with Orders to his Officers to observe Christiern's Motions and to act joyntly with Frederick's Generals He sent also a considerable number of Troops into Dalecarlia to prevent an Insurrection of that rebellious People and put himself at the head of the main Body of his Army to keep the Catholicks and Malecontents from assisting the Rebels The two Danish Generals set sail for Norway with a Design to attack Christiern's Fleet which they sound in the Bay of Bahuys and burnt entirely after a Fight that lasted a whole day After so important a Victory they landed their Forces and march'd immediately to relieve the Viceroy Christiern upon the News of the entire Destruction of his Fleet and the Descent of the Danes rais'd the Siege of Akerhuys He attempted once more to enter Sweden by the way of West-Gothland but met in his Way 3000 Swedish Horse who stopt his Passage The Danes and Swedes advancing to attack him he threw himself into the little Town of Congel where he entrench'd himself not so much in hope of escaping from his Enemies as to avoid the fatal Blow for some Days There he found himself invested on all Sides surrounded with dismal Mountains that were still cover'd with Snow in great want of Provisions and straiten'd with Hunger more than by his Enemies He was naturally subject to furious and violent Passions which were sowr'd and heighten'd by his Disasters He grew so jealous and diffident that he suspected Tureiohanson of entertaining a private Correspondence with King Gustavus because he had told him in Flanders That there were few Horse in the Swedish Army he look'd upon that unfor tunate Lord with an Indignation that seem'd to denounce his approaching Fate and ask'd him Whether the Troops that appear'd upon the Frontiers of Gothland were Squadrons of Swedish Women The Great Marshal wou'd have reply'd in his own Vindication but he was order'd to withdraw and the next day he was found in the Streets of Congel wallowing in his Blood having in all probability been murder'd the Night before by secret Orders from Christiern In the mean time that miserable Prince perceiv'd that his Ruine grew daily more inevitable the Famine increas'd in the Town all the Avenues were possess'd by the Enemies and their Trenches were so strong that 't was impossible to force 'em to fight In these unhappy Circumstances the starv'd and despairing Christiern had not so much as the sad Comfort of hoping to die with his Sword in his hand Most of his Troops perish'd for hunger or deserted before his Eyes his Orders were slighted and there was not the least shadow of Discipline in his Army Death which seem'd unavoidable made 'em forsake a Prince who was neither lov'd nor fear'd Many of his Officers fled into the Danish Camp and thought themselves happy to exchange their Liberty for Bread The Bishop of Odensee mov'd with Compassion for a Prince that had been his Sovereign offer'd him an Interview to which Christiern consented and both repair'd immediately to the Place appointed for their meeting The Bishop advis'd his late Sovereign to submit to less implacable Enemies than Hunger and Misery assuring him that 't was still in his Power to procure honourable Terms from the King his Uncle since the Royal Family of Oldenburg was possess'd of so many Sovereignties that there mighâ— be a Treaty set on foot to the Advantage and Satisfaction of both Parties He added That if he wou'd suffer himself to be carried to Copenhagenâ— Frederick's Resentment wou'd be mitigated at the Sight of an unfortunate Nephew and at the same time he assur'd him That in case he could not obtain honourable Terms suitable to his Birth and Dignity he would bring him back to Norway and even to Congel of which he own'd him to be Master or elsâ— wou'd conduct him safe into the Emperor's Territories Christiern was so sensible of the hopelessness of his present Condition and so earnestly importun'd by his Soldiers to accept of such Advantageous Proposals that he consented to treat with that Prelate and his two Brothers who commanded the Danish Forces He obtain'd a Safe-Conduct and Provisions for Archbishop Trolle and all his Party and put himself into the Bishop's Hands Who after some short stay in Norway to settle Affairs in that Kingdom departed thence with Christiern to whom he gave repeated Assurances as to the Safety of his Person But the Bishop it seems had exceeded his Commission without considering That Princes seldom forgive Attempts upon their Crowns and that an Usurper can never promise himself a quiet Possession of his Dignity while the dispossess'd Prince is alive and at Liberty As soon as Christiern arriv'd at Copenhagen Aug. 2 King Frederick sent a Captain of his Guards to secure his Person and carry him to the Castle of Sonderburg where he lay in Prison fourteen Years 'T is true Christiern III. his Cousin German Son and immediate Successor to Frederick did somewhat allay the Rigor of his Confinement but he was forc'd to purchase that Favour with a formal Resignation of his Right to the Crowns of Denmark Sweden and Norway After his signing of that Act he was suffer'd to take the Divertisement of Hunting or Fishing the Revenues of the Castle of Calemburg and of the Isle of Sebergard were made over to him for his Subsistence and the Castle of Coldinger for his Habitation There he was treated like a Prince as long as he liv'd but in the mean time the Governour of the Castle kept an Eye upon him and was oblig'd to answer for the Security of his Person Arch-Bishop Trolle his unfortunate and only Consident retir'd to Lubeck by Vertue of the safe Conduct he had got from the Bishop of Odensee There he form'd some time after a League with that Regency and Prince Christopher of