appropriating to themselves the Lands that were alienated by their Ancestors The Lutheran Doctors to make their Court told the chief Lords of the Realm that they had been gulled too long both by the Regular and Secular Clergy that Purgatory was a Net in which they caught the best part of their Wealth and that with this pious Cheat the Monks especially had bubbl'd 'em of many large Possessions they injoy'd with so much effeminacy That they ought to re-enter their ancient Patrimony as an usurp'd Estate without being deterr'd by an imaginary Fire And tho' there were such a Thing as Purgatory yet 't was but a Weakness to think that the Rigor of it cou'd be allay'd by the Prayers or Songs of a few Monks At the same time there was publish'd by Olaus a Version of the New Testament into the Swedish Language being but a bare Translation of that which Luther had publish'd in the German Tongue Olaus's Disciples fail'd not to recommend the Reading of that Work in their Sermons preaching the great Necessity and Value of it and spreading this Book with great care over the whole Kingdom They did not question but the People and Women especially wou'd be pleased to see themselves enabl'd to pass their Verdict upon Points of Religion and that they wou'd sooner yield to the Authority of some places of Scripture Translated according to the Doctrin Preach'd to 'em than have any thoughts of calling into Question the Faithfulness of the Translation The Swedish Bishops saw plainly that Olaus's Translation came from the same Hand that invaded their Priviledges and that their Religion was insulted for no other end than to pull down their Dignities They observ'd in the King's Management of Affairs a Series of Projects and Designs and at the same time an insuperable â—ifficulty to baffle ' em However as the King took great care to conceal his Inclination to Lutheranism and always made an outward shew of the Râ—man Religion those Prelates thought they cou'd not without offence entertain any Suspicion of his being an Enemy to their Religion In short they resolv'd to dissemble as he did But they went in a Body to attend his Majesty and pray'd him to order that Olaus's Followers might be brought to their Trials as Notorious Hereticks The Arch-Bishop of Vpsal who spoke in the name of all the rest represented to the King that Claus's Translation was but a Copy of Luther's condemned by the Holy See and by the most famous Universities of Europe Then he suggested to him in a few words but with a great deal of respect and moderation that the Church-Immunities and even the Priviledges of the People had been violated by his late Declarations which they were sensible he was advised to publish by the Enemies of their Religion He therefore pray'd him in the name of the whole Clergy to call 'em in and exhorted him in pathetick and respectful Terms to be the Protector of the Religion of the State and of its Ministers In answer to which the King said that the Clergy having seiz'd upon the Crown-Lands in the time of the Civil Wars they must not take it in â—â—nis Officers made a strict inquiry into that maâ—â—er and that he requir'd only a Restitution of what had been usurp'd or unjustly aâ—â—enated As for Olaus he told them with a seeming Iâ—difference that he was ready not only to deliver him up to 'em but also any other of his Subjects that shou'd be convicted of Heresy but that he cou'd not deny him the Justice to hear him before he were condemn'd adding that he had a good Account of his Life and Manners that the Charge laid against him by his Brethren might be the effect of Envy and that it was no new thing for most Divines promiscuously to Brand all that differ'd from 'em in Opinion with the odious name of Hereticks tho' very often upon frivolous Questions of Scholastick Divinity that are not essential to Religion The Arch-Bishop being equally surpris'd and displeas'd to see the King look upon the Affair of Olaus but as a Quarrel of idle and conceited Divines offer'd with some heat to convince that Clergy-man in the presence of his Majesty and the whole Senate of many dangerous Errors not considering that such Witnesses are always the Judges of the Conferences at which they assist The King willing by his example to accustom his Subjects to a strict Inquiry into matters of Religon accepted of the Bishop's offer and the Conference was order'd to be held at Vpsal The King March attended by the Senate and follow'd by his whole Court went thither at the time appointed Olaus on his side appear'd in the Assembly with all the Assurance he had of the King 's private Protection But the Bishops refusing to enter the Lists with him under pretence that their Dignity made 'em his Judges but perhaps loth to expose themselves with a Man that was both Learn'd and Eloquent they produc'd a Famous Divine nam'd Gallus and set him up for a Champion against Olaus The King order'd the Acts of this Conference to be Register'd The two Doctors disputed very long concerning Purgatory Indulgences Bazius Hist Fâ—cles Suâ—s Communion in both kinds Celibacy of the Clergy the Temporal Power and Dignities of the Church but cou'd not agree among themselves as to the Nature of their Proofs The Roman Catholick Doctor us'd promiscuously the Authority of the Holy Scriptures Tradition the Fathers and Councils But Olaus wou'd only admit the Authority of Scripture and wou'd oblige his Adversary to prove not only the Doctrin but even the Discipline of the Church by so many express passages of the New Testament Among other things he requir'd him earnestly to shew him in the Gospel and make it out by the Example of the Apostles that Bishops might enjoy Principalities and secular Dignities and make use as they did daily of the Thunderbolts of the Church against their Enemies meerly for worldly concerns The Courtiers being always of the Religion of their Prince highly applauded Olaus Some of the Senators ask'd Gallus whether it were possible that the Holy Writ shou'd not contain all the necessary Proofs to maintain the Confession of Faith To which the Câ—tholick Doctor gave this Answer That he cou'd not lay aside his Proofs from Tradition in matter of Discipline without betraying the Cause he was bound to defend and tho' he shou'd confine himself to the Authority of Scripture he wou'd never consent that his Adversary shou'd make use of so unfaithful Translation as his own Olaus undertook to justify it but might have repented so rash an Attempt for 't wou'd have been a hard task for him to defend all the Faults he had committed in that Work after his Master The King therefore fearing least Gallus shou'd convince him of having corrupted the Sacred Text to serve his own Opinions put a sudden stop to the Conference by desiring the Arch Bishop to make a new Translation of the
zealous Catholicks of the Kingdom The Clergy-men but the Monks especially exclaim'd against him with all the extravagance of Spite and Fury scattering scurrilous Libels among the People in which they branded him with the odious Character of a Heretic and of an excommunicated Prince And even some of the hottest of 'em propos'd to make void his Election The Mob that were easily set on Fire by any pretext of Religion join'd with 'em in the heat of their Resentment The Peasants among others cou'd not indure to part with their Bells and the Silver Crosses of their Churches which often made the most essential part of their Worship These wild and savage People were the fittest Tools to carry on the Designs of the Priests who perswaded 'em that these Innovations tended directly to the subversion of Religion and Liberty Some of 'em took up Arms pursu'd the King's Officers and having recover'd their Bells brought 'em back to their Villages in a kind of Triumph A great Fair was yearly held near Vpsal about this time of the Year with an extraordinary Concourse of People from all the neighbouring Provinces This was a sort of Convention of the Estates for the Country People who discoursed here of their Trade of the Affairs of each Province but especially of the Differences that arose about the Preservation of their Rights and Priviledges The Malecontents glad of this opportunity to stir up a Rebellion did privately dispose the chief of 'em to demand the Revocation of the last Decree of the Senate as to the Tithes and Church-bells The King had timely notice of their Designs by the secret Intelligencers whom he kept every where The Mony he liberally distributed among 'em made 'em pry into every Corner and industriously pump out the greatest Secrets By these Spies he learnt that the Country-people animated by the Clergy were resolv'd to rise up in Arms at Vpsal-Fair unless their Bells were speedily restor'd To prevent the threatening Danger Gustavus went immediately to the Fair at the Head of a Body of Horse and by his unexpected Arrival surpriz'd the Mutineers and put 'em into a great Consternation He spoke to 'em with a certain Air of Greatness and Authority like a Prince that has a Right to command and will be obey'd He ask'd 'em with a fierce Look who had intrusted 'em with the Care of the Government by what Authority they censured the Decrees of the Senate and whether they had forgotten that the Bishops and the whole Clergy were greater Enemies to their Country than the very Danes Then to gain 'em by the most winning and convincing Argument he told 'em that by the late Decree of the Senate concerning the Tithes to which he gave his Assent 't was plain the Ease of the People was his principal Aim that to pay the Regency of Lubeck in so pressing a juncture of Affairs 't was thought more reasonable to fleece a rich Clergy than to over-burden the People with new Taxes and Impositions He hop'd that this Discourse wou'd have either frighten'd or wheedl'd 'em into a Compliance with his Desires but instead of that the insolent Multitude began to exclaim with a great deal of Violence that they wou'd never suffer their Religion to be alter'd nor their Bells and Church-plate to be taken from ' em The King incens'd at their Audaciousness commanded his Men to fire upon the Mutineers who observing the posture of his Horse just going to give sire â—â—ll upon their Knees and begg'd his Majesty's Pardon The Ring-leaders of the Mutiny were secur'd while the rest hid themselves in the Crowd or escap'd in the Dark In short they presently dispers'd and retir'd with an awful Idea of a Prince who knew so well how to extort Obedience This mutinous Assembly was no sooner dispers'd by his Presence but a new Plot was laid to Dethrone him A certain Groom call'd Hans of the Parish of Biorchstrat in the Province of Westmannia form'd a Design infinitely above the meanness of his Condition Afpiring to no less than a Crown he personated the eldest Son of the deceased Administrator tho' that young Prince died a Year before He was perswaded by some disaffected People that the Swedes who were incens'd against Gustavus and weary of his Government wou'd chuse rather to place him upon the Throne than suffer any change in Religion The Impostor was a handsom and bold Person He spoke with a great deal of Freedom and Ease and had a nobler Air than was suitable to his Birth or Education He travell'd over all the Province of Dalecarlia under the Name of Nils Steno never appear'd but in the remotest Places and such as had the least relation to the Court nor did he long reside in the same place When he appear'd abroad he was very Reserv'd and full of Precaution insinuating that Gustavus cou'd not indure the sight of him because it check'd his Conscience and put him in mind of the Crown he had usurp'd to the prejudice of the Family to which he ow'd his Fortune and Advancement Therefore that violent Prince cou'd never look upon him but with Eyes full of Fury that he had several times attempted to Kill him and that the Princess his Mother fearing the worst had advis'd him to retire Then he ask'd the People in a very moving and patheâ—ic manner whether so inhuman and cruel a Treatment was a suitable Recompence for the Life his Father the Administrator had lost in the Defence of their Country At the Name of Steno this Cheat always burst forth into Tears Falling upon his Knees he conjur'd the Peasants to pray to God for the Soul of the Prince his Father and to say each a Pater noster in his behalf while they were allow'd to believe a Purgatory Then he exclaim'd against Gustavus's Government calling him an Usurper and an Heretic that had renounc'd the Religion of his Ancestors And whereas those Peasants were extremely jealous of their Customs he charg'd him with Innovation for affecting a more stately Garb than his Predecessors pretending that he design'd to alter the very Habit as well as the Religion of the Nation and wou'd oblige all his Subjects to consent to these unsufferable Changes 'T is thought the Bishop of Lincopinc and the chief of the Clergy had a hand in this Conspiracy hoping by this means to raise such a Commotion as might occasion a Revolution in the Government At least 't is certain that that Bishop and those of his Party seem'd to believe that he was really the Administrator's Son to give the greater Credit to the Impostor who by the secret Protection of the Clergy and other Malecontents saw himself in a short time follow'd by a Crowd of Peasants and other indebted Persons whose desperate Condition made 'em ready to embrace the first opportunity of a Change Gustavus knew not whether to march against him or neglect so groundless a Rumor he was irresolute for some time and waver'd 'twixt Hope and Fear for
that the Contest was meerly about Temporal Assairs made high Protestations that they wou'd cut in pieces the first Man who shou'd offer to oppose the King 's Will. And these Menaces struck such a Terror in the Minds of Tureiohanson and the Lords of West-Gothland that they were forc'd to be silent and withdraw At last it was solemnly Enacted by the Estates That the Bishops shou'd immediately put their Forts into the Hands of the King's Officers and disband their Troops and Garrisons That those Prelates shou'd not any more be admitted into the Senate as being a hinderance to the discharge of their Ministerial Functions That it shou'd not be in their power to deprive the lawful Heirs of Ecclesiasticks of their Right of Inheritance nor shou'd thereafter convert to their own Uses the Penalties and Forfeitures which properly belong'd to the Crown That all superfluous Church-plate and useless Bells shou'd be apply'd to pay the Regency of Lubeck That all Church-Lands that had accru'd to the Clergy by Foundations made since the Prohibition of K. Canutson shou'd be re-united to the Crown That the Nobility and Gentry might recover their Estates mortgag'd to the Church by paying off the Mortgage That the two Thirds of the Tithes injoy'd by most Bishops and Abbots shou'd be sequester'd for the subsistence of the Troops so long as there shou'd be any Ground to apprehend a War in the Kingdom and that in time of Peace they shou'd be apply'd to the Erecting and Indowing of publick Schools and Hospitals in all the Provinces That those among the Clergy shou'd be severely Punish'd who shou'd offer to Excommunicate any one for a meerly Temporal Concern That the Magistrates shou'd restrain the Mendicant Friars from their usual Rambles and the King shou'd dispose at his pleasure of all the Priviledges of the Clergy Lastly by the Chancellor's cunning Insinuation it was order'd That all considerable Churches shou'd be provided with learned and godly Men that shou'd expound to the People the pure Word of God which in the Language of those Times signify'd that Lutheranism shou'd be preach'd with Authority No sooner was this Act put into form but all the Deputies sign'd it and even the Bishops who were not well united among themselves Some of 'em were gain'd by the Court and others out of fear were forc'd to subscribe tho' they plainly saw that they sign'd the Abdication of their Dignities and even an Article contrary to the Catholick Religion The Estates pray'd the Chancellor and Dr. Olaus Petri to carry the Act to the King and charg'd 'em to assure his Majesty that he shou'd never hereafter find any opposition to his Will in that Assembly The King having thus brought 'em to his own Terms went to the Assembly where by the Chancellor's Mouth he thank'd the Deputies for their having at last taken Resolutions sutable to the present Exigencies He assur'd 'em That henceforward he wou'd have a particular regard for the People and that he hop'd by the help of that Supply alone which they had now granted him Sweden shou'd have no cause to fear her Enemies Then he dismiss'd the Estates with Assurances of his Gratitude to such among the Deputies as had express'd most Zeal for his Interest By this Act Gustavus finding himself Master in a manner both of the Wealth and Religion of the Church went at the Head of a Body of Horse to see the Act put in execution He past successively from Province to Province attended by Olaus Petri and many other Lutheran Doctors whom he order'd to Preach before him in the principal Churches At the same time he commanded the Titles of all Church-Lands to be brought before him Re-uniting presently to his Demesn and restoring to the ancient Proprietors or their Heirs such Lands as the Clergy had acquir'd since the Reign of King Canutson By which means he recover'd both from the Regular and Secular Clergy more than two Thirds of their Revenues and by computation seiz'd upon Thirteen Thousand considerable Farms some of which he reunited to his own Demesns and with the rest he recompens'd his Creatures and the Principal Officers of his Army At the same time he made great Sums of Mony of the Church-Plate which he caus'd to be melted down to enrich the publick Treasury The Progress of the King all over his Kingdom gave the Final Blow to the Catholick Religion An open War was in a manner declar'd against the Clergy and the Foundations of the old Religion were undermin'd by the Flight or Change of its Ministers There could be no want of pretences at a time when none were requir'd to turn Priests out of their Benefices for persevering in the profession of their Ancient Religion Most Curates and other Benefic'd Clergy-Men scrupl'd not to own the Lutheran Doctrin to keep their Dwelling-Houses and part of their Livings Many of 'em were only requir'd to Marry and to introduce into their Churches the Divine Service in the Vulgar Tongue which was the surest mark of a Priest's conversion to Lutheranism The Bishop of Lincopinc retir'd to Poland and the rest of the Prelates lay sculking in their Houses without dareing to perform the Functions of their Ministry for fear of exposing themselves to new Persecutions They waited with a servile patience for the King's Orders to dispose of their Persons and Dignities always ready to yield him obedience but much more vex'd at the Alteration he made in their Revenues than for the change of Religion The Bishop of Scara who was not well acquainted with the controversies that were agitated among the Divines on both sides was the only Bishop who resolv'd to defend by the strength of Arms his Dignity and the Revenues of his Church In pursuance of this Design he engag'd Tureiohanson with several Lords of West-Gothland who endeavour'd to raise an Insurrection in that Province but the Country-People were so prepossess'd with Esteem and Respect for the King that they refus'd to rise up in Arms and the Bishop saw himself abandon'd by the whole Chapter which began to savour Luther's Opinions The greatest part of the Monks quitted their Monastries some out of a desire of Liberty and others for want of a settl'd subsistence Those who remain'd stedfast in their Religion fied to the Dalecarlians who had openly declar'd against Lutheranism There these miserable Fugitives thought to have their Wants reliev'd and their Grievances redress'd Dalecarlia as I said before is a remote Province in the Northern parts of Sweden inhabited by a rude and ignorant People fond of their Ancient Religion almost meer Savages inur'd to hardship and in that respect fit for War but incapable of Discipline The whole Province swarm'd with Ecclesiasticks both of the Secular and Regular Clergy old Men and Women loaded with young Children who having quitted their Housholds chose rather to wander in the Mountains than embrace Lutheranism The Dalecarlians mov'd with their complaints and incens'd at the sight of the new Pastors in their
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
King immediately caus'd 'em to be Beheaded to curb by so necessary a severity the seditious and inconstant Humor of these People Thus by an innocent Artifice and commendable Diligence he appeas'd a furious Infurrection without any Effusion of Blood or Diminution of his Forces These were the last Efforts of an Unbridl'd and Tumultuous Liberty which was forc'd to give way to a more absolute and consequently more peaceful Dominion After this the whole Kingdom submitted to the King and all his Subjects imbrac'd Lutheranism some out of regard to their private Interest and to make their Court and others out of their abhorrence of the irregular Life of the Clergy The Lutheran Doctors gain'd some Proselytes by perswading 'em that their Masters Opinions in Matters of Religion which were falsly reckon'd Innovations were nothing else but primitive Christianity restor'd and purg'd from all Monkish Superstitions and many were glad to be convinc'd of the Truth of the prevailing Religion that they might preserve their Estates without being forc'd to seek their Fortunes abroad Gustavus seeing that most of his Subjects had chang'd their Religion at last declar'd himself a Lutheran He made Olaus Petri Pastor of the Church of Stockholm and his Brother Laurentius Petri Arch-Bishop of Vpsal Upon this new Prelate he bestow'd a Lady who was related to him that the Honor of his Alliance might oblige the People to entertain less scandalous notions of a Marri'd Priest or perhaps that so illustrious a Match might make amends for the great Revenues he had withdrawn from so rich a Benefice The King's Coronation follow'd soon after and was perform'd at Vpsal by this Prelate with great Solemnity January 12. and at the same time he Conferr'd the Honor of Knighthood on all the Senators and the chief Lords of the Court. Sweden was Lutheran all over King Senators Bishops and all the Nobility made publick Profession of that Religion But whereas most of the Country Curates and others of the inferior Clergy had imbrac'd it meerly by force or out of weakness an extravagant Medly of Roman Ceremonies and Lutheran Prayers was introduc'd into several Churches in the Kingdom Some Married Priests and Curates continu'd still to say Mass in several Places according to the Roman Ritual and Liturgy Baptism was administred with all the Prayers and Exorcisms appointed by the Church and the Dead were Buri'd with the same Prayers that are us'd to beg God to relieve the Souls of the Faithful tho' the Doctrin of Purgatory was condemn'd by the Lutherans The King desirous to establish an uniformity of Worship throughout the whole Kingdom a thing so necessary for the publick Peace especially in a Monarchy call a general Assembly of the whole Clergy in the form of a National Council The Assembly was held at Orebro the chief Town of Nericia Loc. l. 6. p. 276. Bazius Mist Eccle. Succ. and the Chancellor Lardz-Anderson presided in the Kings Name This Lutheran Council was compos'd of the Bishops Doctors and Pastors of the principal Churches They own'd the Augsburg-Confession as the Rule and Standard of their Faith and solemnly renounc'd their Obedience to the Pope as Head of the Church They order'd the Roman Worship to be intirely abolish'd prohibited all Prayers for the Dead borrow'd from the Lutheran Churches of Germany the manner of administring Baptism and the Communion declar'd the Marriage of Priests Lawful and Condemn'd Celibacy and Monastick Vows They confirm'd the Ordinance of the Estates at Westeras by which the Church lost her Priviledges and the greatest part of her Revenues And which is observable these Regulations were made by almost the same Persons who the Year before had shew'd so much zeal for the Defence of the Ancient Religion so few there are that can long withstand the fear of Persecution or the hopes of Favour Yet they met with great difficulties in abolishing the Practice of the Roman Church in the Administration of the Sacraments The People and the Women especially cou'd not be satisfy'd without the Ceremonies of Baptism and the Prayers for the Dead The whole Kingdom was fill'd with Marmurings and Complaints upon the Occasion Most Women thro' an excessive Fear proceeding perhaps as much from their Temper as Virtue thought their Children cou'd not be well baptiz'd without the use of Salt and Exorcisms And a small residue of Faith as to the belief of Purgatory created such a disturbance in their Minds on the account of their deceas'd Relations as cou'd not be allay'd by all the Eloquence of the Lutheran Doctors Gustavus fearing the Complaints and Discontent of the People shou'd break out into a new Rebellion order'd the Lutheran Ministers to comply with those who stood up obstinately for the ancient Ceremonies and not to use the new but where they found a Temper dispos'd to receive ' em The King having thus compleated the alteration of Religion undertook another Project which gave him no less hope of filling his Coffers Most of the Swedish Provinces were formerly over-spread with vast Forests King Olaus Traetelga Amund An. 891. and some of their Successors caus'd a great part of 'em to be Dis-forested and bestow'd these new Lands in Fee-farm upon the Nobility and Gentry for which they were to pay a certain Duty to the Crown The Lords and Gentlemen had by degrees during the Civil Wars exempted themselves from paying those ancient Duties and a long Prescription seem'd to have abolish'd 'em till they were reviv'd by the King who requir'd both from the Nobility and Gentry either to part with their Fiefs or to pay Rents at which they were originally tax'd The Claims and Demands of this Prince differ'd not much from the most arbitrary Laws and Decrees and the Parties concern'd alarm'd at this after-clap offer'd to come to a fair Composition The chief Lords of each Province came and treated about it with the Chancellor and agreed to pay to the King Ten Marks of Silver for every Fief or Mannor or as it was then call'd for every Land that paid Tribute to the Crown Thus every thing succeeded with this Prince according to his desire and even beyond his hope He look'd upon the alteration of Religion as the happiest and most important passage of his Reign and the humbling of the Clergy who were no less formidable to him than the Danes as a second Conquest of Sweden Of all his Enemies he had none left but Christiern that cou'd make him uneasy or occasion the least disturbance That Prince was still in Flanders from whence he earnestly solicited the Emperor his Brother-in-law that he wou'd contribute his assistance in order to his Restoration Gustavus kept Spies about him who gave him Intelligence that Christiern was levying Soldiers in Holland From thence he concluded that the Threats and Design of a Descent in the Northern Kingdoms were ready to break out into Action and that Sweden and Denmark were like to be the Scene of the War He immediately sent notice of
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
of the Reform'd Religion and the Restorer or rather the Founder of the Monarchy of that Kingdom will perhaps be look'd upon as a Combination of Prodigies and fill the mind of the Reader with an agreeable Amazement but cannot appear Incredible to those who have the Happiness to live under the Dominion of a Hero whose matchless Bravery and inimitable Vertues darken the Fainter Glory of Gustavus's Reign 'T is hop'd the Candid Reader will excuse the Faults of the Translation in consideration of the extream Haste that occasion'd'em especially since 't was thought fit to let pass some Inaccuracies of Stile rather than to delay the Publication of a Work that may be of considerable use in the present Juncture The end of the First and the middle of the Second Part both the Index's and the French Author's Preface were done by other Hands but revis'd by the Translator of the rest who takes this occasion to acknowledge that the Reader might have met with a more agreeable Entertainment if an * Mr. Terne Ingenious Gentleman who design'd to have undertaken the Work and had actually begun the Translation had had leisure to carry it on THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE AMong the most Entertaining Subjects that History may afford us I know none that deserve more Attention than such Changes as States are subject to with respect to Religion and Government Every Man finds himself concern'd on the Account of what is most capable of moving his Affections his Conscience and his Ambition Each Character is animated with lively Passions All is in motion The People designing to re-assume that which they think to be their Primitive Right and most ancient Privileges will chuse their own Master and determine their Religion They side with those in whose Favour Prejudice and Passion sway 'em while the Grandees themselves are forc'd to fawn upon the Mob that they may by their Assistance advance their own Interests and private Designs When the Historian is a good Painter he presents a most curious Draught to the Reader 's View And if he be also a good Judge he makes that useful and profitable that before was pleasant by shewing on one hand the Inconveniencies that attend those surprizing Revolutions and on the other by giving us a faithful Description of their Character who appear on the Scene and doing those famous Men all the Justice they deserve Here are represented a Nobility factious within it self almost independent from their Sovereign above all jealous of the Authority which the Bishop's assumd and envious of their excessive Revenues The Prelates usurping their Prince's Rights and often profaning the Sanctity of their Character by Sedition and Violence A whole Kingdom divided between these two Parties and the Danes turning their Neighbours Troubles to their own Profit and Advantage declaring for one of 'em and at length falling upon both A Massacre of the Senate and Nobility And in a Word the Swedish Monarchy shaken in its very Foundation destitute of its King Senate Generals and Armies and ready to become an unhappy Province of Denmark When a Prince comes on the Stage famous for his many Exploits and the Head of that Branch which now sits on the Throne whose Courage and Conduct expels the Danes out of his Country and whose Policy does by degrees gain him all that Authority which the Clergy and Nobility had usurp'd on his Predecessors Here those Riches which in the former Ages of the Church were the Marks of the Prince's Bounty and the Reward of the Clergy's Holiness and Vertue are seen to become the Occasion of those Disorders which was the Cause and Pretence of their being utterly depriv'd of these Advantages Here an Elective Crown is made Successive and Hereditary by the Valour of a Prince who from an unhappy Exile becomes King and so Absolute as to change the Form of the Government as his Inclination and Interest directed him I own I was offended at the little Exactness and Sincerity many Authors wrote with in relation to the Affairs with Sweden Some have disguis'd the Truth of Things and others have not been curious enough in informing us of the most remarkable Passages and the Motives of those Enterprizes But the more these Authors seem'd to contradict one another the more Care I took to reconcile 'em and to distinguish what was true from what was false I perus'd with greater Application all the Historians who treat of this Subject whether * Ericus Upsaliensis Chorsgraphia Scandinaviae Adami Bremensis Tumbae veterum apud Sueones Gothosque Regum Exegesis de quinque primariis Suecorum Gothorumque antiquis emporiis Retorsio adversus Petram Parvum Jacobus Ziglerus testis oculates Coedis Holmiensis Huâ—feld Annales Episcoporum Slevincensium Theatrum nobititatis Suecanae Messenii Joannes Gothus Magnus Olaus Magnus Pontanus Saxo Grammaticus Locâ—enius Scheffcrus Chytraeus Bazius Buraeus Pafenderf Vita Arâ—â—hiepisc Upsalentium Grantzius Vastorius Meursâ—â— Scandia illustrata Messenii Antiquitates Suecogoâ—hisae Loctenii Monsieur de Thou Fâ—orimona as Remond Varillas Maimbourg Swedes Danes German or French Catholicks or Protestants I read 'em free from all other Interest or Passion than that of knowing the Truth and writing it with Exactness And I have reason to hope I shall not be accus'd of being byass'd by any Party a Fault too mean to be committed by a sincere and impartial Historian I have not prais'd the Heads of the Roman Party in all they did because all their Actions were not laudable They always had the Advantage of defending a Party which had the Truth on its side but they themselves very often were contented with an outward Zeal without an inward Faith and were less eager in the Defence of their Religion than in that of the Wealth it procured ' em Neither have I wholly blam'd nor despi'sd the Heads of the Protestant Faction because they were not wholly to be blam'd or despised I have distinguish'd Errour from Malice and respected the great Parts and excellent Qualifications which God as the Author of Nature had endow'd such Persons with as he had not led by his Grace into the Knowledge of his true Religion Some Books lately Printed for A. Swall and T. Childe at the Unicorn in St. Paul's Church-yard THesaurus Geographicus A new Body of Geography Or a Compleat Description of all the known Countries of the Earth illustrated with Historical Remarks and Accurate Maps Engraven on Copper Together with Descriptions of all considerable Cities and Towns and Draughts of the Fortifications in Flanders viz. Dunkirke Newport Ostend Oudenard Maestricht Liege Namur Luxemburg Mons Charleroy Aeth c. Together with other principal ones in Europe To all which is premised an Introduction containing the General Doctrines of Geography the Systems of the Universe the Doctrine of the Spheres c. In Folio Romae Antiquae Notitia Or The Antiquities of Rome in two Parts I. A short History of the Rise Progress and Decay of the Commonwealth II. A Description of the City
of that Title they might make themselves Masters of those Revenues of which they were only the Stewards and Distributers that the Estates and Revenues of the Laity ought to be reputed the Patrimony of the Church as well as those of the Clergy that the Clergy was the smallest part of the Church and ought to contribute proportionably for the security and preservation of the Government by which they were protected That he acknowledg'd 't wou'd be expedient to find out some other more plausible Pretences than the Good of the State to prevent an Insurrection of the People who were commonly possess'd both by the Regular and Secular Clergy that all Attempts upon their Temporalties strike at Religion it self That to frustrate their Claims he must take advantage of Luther's Reformation which began then to take Root in the Kingdom and by the help of his Doctrin which equally invaded the Temporal Power and the excessive Wealth of the Clergy he might afterwards seize the Forts that were in the Hands of the Bishops and re-unite to the Crown all the Lands that were alienated by his Predecessors with more Zeal than Policy That Pope Leo X. had indeed condemn'd Luther but it was well known that famous Doctor was only odious to the Court of Rome because he boldly and publickly censur'd its great Corruption and Abuses and that his Opinions which might pass for indifferent among other Nations as long as they were not condemn'd by the Church in a General Council were in the mean time of the greatest Importance for the settling of his Power in Sweden and the success of his Design That the People having their Minds prepar'd and possess'd by Lutheran Doctors wou'd see with great satisfaction the Clergy stript of their great Estates especially if care were taken at the same time to ease the People of the heavy Taxes That one of the best Expedients wou'd be to restore to the Gentry the Lands given away by their Ancestors to the Church and that they wou'd never be tempted to oppose a Doctrin that shou'd bring so great a Blessing to their Families That the greatest part of the Monks lookt upon their Monasteries as dismal tho' stately Prisons and many of 'em would be glad to quit 'em and embrace a Religion which restor'd 'em to all the Rights of Civil Society That the inferior Clergy wou'd joyfully take hold of that occasion to free themselves from the Vows of Celibacy and exchange their scandalous Concubinage for lawful Matrimony That the Bishops alone as being most powerful and most concern'd in that Change would probably oppose it but that things were in a better posture than in the Reign of King Canutson there being no Bishops in Sweden in a condition to make War against their Sovereign and if they shou'd obstinately persist in the old Religion it might perhaps be an Advantage to him That their Number was inconsiderable and 't would be no difficult matter under specious Pretences to remove or banish 'em whereas if they embrace Lutheranism they might pretend by marrying to erect their Bishopricks into secular Principalities and consequently frustrate him of the main Benefit he cou'd expect from the Establishment of the Lutheran Doctrin in his Kingdom That after all the Archbishop and Primate John Magnus was a timorous and wavering Prelate and a Man of no Interest who probably wou'd think himself happy tho' with the loss of part of his Estate to be excused from imbracing the predominant Religion of the Kingdom That the Bishops of Stregnez and Westeras whom he had newly preferred to those two rich Benefices were of mean Extraction and of too little Credit among the People to dare to oppose his Will and that the Bishops of Vexio and Aboo knew little of the state of the Controversy betwixt the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans and had no great mind to dive into that Matter That those Prelates were illiterate Men and such as wou'd be affected with nothing so much as the lessening of their Revenues That their irregular Lives and Conversations had drawn such a Scandal upon 'em as wou'd make it inconsistent with their Interest to thwart the Designs of their Sovereign but wou'd rather incline 'em to imbrace any Offer that shou'd not oblige 'em to forsake their Pleasures So there remain'd only the Bishops of Lincopine and Scara who might oppose his Designs two Prelates really infatuated with their Dignity jealous of all their Rights wedded to their own Opinions inclin'd still to the Danish Faction notwithstanding all King Christiern's Cruelties and the most like to blind the People with a plausible pretence of appearing in the Defence of the true Religion But when Lutheranism shou'd be once receiv'd by the States of the Realm by the plurality of Voices 't wou'd be an easy thing to make the Resistance of those Bishops a Crime of State and to banish 'em out of the Kingdom with all such as should appear most stifly bent for the preservation of the ancient Religion To which he added That he was not ignorant of the great Difficulties which always attended the Infancy of Governments and Empires but that those very Princes who meet with opposition and resistance in the beginning of their Reigns are at last commonly respected and lookt upon as the Fathers of their Country Gustavus cou'd not but relish those Reasons of State that were so agreeable to the secret Scheme he had laid for the securing of his Government He foresaw the Emperor's Credit with the Pope wou'd hinder his Holiness from declaring in his behalf and therefore thought 't wou'd be expedient to pull down his Authority in Sweden and that nothing cou'd be more conducive to that end than Lutheranism He therefore easily suckt in those Tenents which perhaps he lookt upon but as the Result of some Disputations among Divines and thought at the same time he might reasonably imbrace that Party which seemed most favourable to the settling of his Regal Power which most Sovereigns either do not or will not distinguish from the Good of the State The King wou'd have willingly declar'd in behalf of Lutheranism but that the Change of Religion was not a sufficient Ground for him to compass his Designs and besides a sudden Change might have prov'd of very ill consequence It was therefore safest for his unsettl'd Power to see the Change begun by the People and that he shou'd seem afterwards to embrace this Doctrin out of meer Complaisance to his Subjects But all the Swedes had not the same Inclination to those new Opinions as the King had nor so pressing an Interest to change their Religion Gustavus foresaw that this Change wou'd not be the Work of one Year by reason of the great and apparent Obstacles that must be first overcome He was not ignorant there wou'd be a great number of eminent Persons in the Realm and even in his own Court that wou'd oppose his Enterprise and quit his Interest upon the very first
him by way of Acknowledgment that he shou'd so basely betray his Dignity and Ministry The King finding him Inflexible found out an honourable way to get rid of him by conferring upon him the Character of Embassador He was order'd forthwith to set out for Poland and the King sent him word that he shou'd receive his Dispatches at Dantzie The Archbishop apprehended presently the Drist of this Commission and lookt upon his Embassy as little better than a Banishment However he they'd the King's Orders with a great deal of submission and went for Dantzic with his Brother Olaus Magnus Where having waited some time but in vain for his Dispatches and his Majesty's Orders and hearing that Lutheranism got ground every Day in Sweden he went to Rome to implore the Pope's Assistance and inform his Holiness of the Danger that threatned the Catholick Religion in Sweden under so politick and so mighty a Prince But the Pope was in so bad Circumstances that he cou'd not take much notice of the Affairs of Sweden Clement VII His extraordinary Ambition to advance and aggrandize his Family made him enter the Year before into a League with Francis I. King of France and the States of Venice Florence and Switzerland against the Emperor Charles V. The Design of the Confederacy was to procure the Liberty of the Children of France who were then Hostages in Spain to recover the Kingdom of Naples to the Holy See to maintain Sforza in the Dukedom of Milan and to defend the Liberty of Italy in a word to oppose the Power of the Emperor who was grown formidable ever since the Battel of Pavia That Prince was so incens'd against the Pope whom he lookt upon as the Author of the League that he rais'd a bloody War against him But the War it self was not so grievous to the Pope as the Emperor's Exhortation to the Cardinals to summon a lawful Council for the Good of the Church which wanted to be Reformed as the Emperor was pleas'd to express it both in her Head and Members Clement was extremely averse to a Council which he dreaded wou'd not only regulate the Papaal Power but enter upon some Enquiry that might be prejudicial to his Person and Dignity He was always reputed the natural Son of Julian de Medicis till Pope Leo X. being of the same Family declar'd him Legitimate upon the Information of his Mother's Brother and of certain Monks who deposed that there was a Promise of Marriage tho' such an Evidence was somewhat suspicious in so nice an Affair There was indeed no positive Law to exclude Bastards from the Pontificate but 't was the common Opinion that so eminent and holy a Dignity was inconsistent with so great a Blemish The Pope therefore might justly fear that the Emperor wou'd insist upon it in a Council and by his Authority colour it with a Pretext of Justice and Religion Besides he knew that the Emperor had a Note in his Hands which he had given to Cardinal Colouna in the Conclave to purchase his Vote Thus he saw himself in danger of being depos'd as was Balthazar Cossa known during his Pontificate by the Name of John XXIII and the rather because Pope Julius II. had issued out a strict Bull annulling and making void all Simoniacal Elections and putting it out of the Power of the Cardinals by a posterior Consent to make 'em valid But Charles V. did not so much aim at his Person as the Principalities annex'd to his Dignity His eagerness for a Council was only to get an opportunity to raise him new Enemies and to make him depend upon his pleasure He wou'd fain have had the Command of the Pope's Territories which lay so convenient for him in that juncture of War for the Communication of the Milanese with the Kingdom of Naples and the late League the Pope had made with his Enemies afforded him a plausible pretence to seize on ' em He gave Orders to his Army to march into the Pope's Territories His Troops besieg'd and took Rome by Storm where they committed such Barbarities as cou'd not be expected from Infidels Both the Massacre and Plunder lasted several Days the Virgins were ravish'd in their Mothers Arm and at the foot of the very Altars the Monuments of the Apostles and the Relics of the Saints were prophan'd by the Avarice and Insolence of the Soldiers the Cardinals and Prelates of the Court of Rome were thrown into dismal Dungeons where they were perpetually alarm'd with the fear of an ignominious Death to make 'em deliver up the Treasures of the Church The Pope himself was seiz'd and imprison'd in the Castle of St. Angelo by the Emperor's Officers And that Prince who affected the religious Title of Catholick design'd to send him to Spain as he had done Francis I. that he might almost at the same time Triumph over the two greatest Powers of Europe one Spiritual and the other Temporal Gustavus heard with a secret Joy the News of this War betwixt the Pope and the Emperor but especially of the amazing Success of the last He therefore resolv'd to follow his Example and to make use of this Juncture to give the fatal Blow to the Dignity of the Bishops of his Realm His Power was so great that he feared no Rebellion having a considerable number of Troops on foot which made him formidable to his Enemies at home and abroad Most of his Officers were Foreigners or Lutherans all equally devoted both to his Person and Fortune the Senators were all his Creatures and the Danes his Allies Thus whilst all Europe dreaded his Power or admir'd his Greatness he form'd a Design to take from the Lishops all the strong Holds that were under their Jurisdiction and at the same time to make an exact Enquiry into all the Purchases or Usurpations of both the Regular and Secular Clergy since the Prohibition of King Canietson But above all he resolv'd to get all his Declarations and the Decree made in the Senate relating to the Tithes confirm'd by the Estates of the Kingdom In pursuance of this Resolution he call'd a Meeting of the Estates at Westeras and made use of his Authority in all the Provinces to influence the Election of such Deputies as might serve his turn He sent secret Orders to a certain number of his Officers of War to be present at the Elections under colour of soliciting for the Payment of the Troops He himself follow'd 'em soon after attended by all the Senators and follow'd by a Crowd of Courtiers who shew'd his Greatness and served at the same time to maintain it He began to discover his Intention in the ordering of a Treat which he gave the Bishops Senators Deputies of Provinces and all the Members of the Estates The Officers of his Houshold alter'd the usual order of the Seats at Table The chief Places were given to the Temporal Senators to the prejudice of the Bishops who claim'd that Honour by prescription And the
same Precedency was given to the Gentry who were plac'd above the Deputies of the inferior Clergy By which alteration the King design'd to create a Difference betwixt the bishop and the Senators and to make the Gentry approve his Intentions to humble the Clergy Assoon as the Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Deputies rose from Table they retir'd in great discontent from the Hall and even out of the Castle and went to St. Giles's Church where they shut themselves in Being alone and as they thought safe they ask'd one another what might be the Reason of the publick Injury and Affront which the King had put upon ' em The Bishop of Lincopinc presiding in the Assembly as being the first Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Vpsal made a Speech to this effect That they knew by their own expefience that the King never did any publick Action without some private Design That this alteration to the prejudice of their Order was but a forerunner of greater Persecutions That the Kings Declarations the Decrees of the Senate the Attempts of his Majestys Officers his Power and his Armies were so many Prognosticks of the loss of their Liberty and the best part of their Revenues That under the specious Title of Defender of the Country he assum'd an absolute Authority above the reach of the Laws That he was resolved to seize upon their Castles and Fortresses and afterwards deprive 'em of that share in the Government which they had so long injoy'd and that Religon it self would be in great danger if they did not resolve vigorously to oppose the Lutherans The Bishop of Stregnez Sommâ—r who was gain'd by the Court reply'd that they could not indeed be too watchful for the Defence of their Religion but withal he insinuated that they ought not by an unseasonable Zeal to provoke a Potent Prince who in all other respects deserv'd so well of the Nation He added that in his Opinion the Clergy should contribute part of their Revenues towards the Defence of the Kingdom and declared his readiness to put his Castle into the King's Hands who was better able to defend it against the Enemies of the State than a Clergy-Man The Bishop of Lincopinc could not hear that Prelates Discourse without Indignation He ask'd him in an angry Tone whether he thought he could as Lawfully dispose of his Church Lands as of his Patrimony and that in behalf of a Heretick Prince or one at least who countenanced Heresy He tax'd him that he spoke more like a Statesman and a Courtier than a true Bishop and to soften those hard and offensive expressions he conjur'd him with all earnestness to stick to the Interests of his Brethren and to Aâ—t unanimously with them for the 〈◊〉 of their Rights and Dignities He exhorted the whole Assembly to follow their Arch-Bishops steps who had generously withstood both the Caresses and Threats of the Court telling them that upon all such Occasions they were oblig'd to remember the Oath they had taken at their Consecration to venture their Lives in the Defence of Religion and the Rights and Privileges of their Churches In a word he omitted nothing that cou'd revive in their minds a true Episcopal Zeal or convince them that the severest punishment that cou'd be inflicted on 'em for an Apostolical constancy or stedfastness would be far more glorious to 'em than all the favour of the Court. This Discourse being pronounc'd with a great deal of heat drew in the three other Bishops and all the other Ecclesiasticks that Compos'd the Assembly so that it was resolv'd they were oblig'd to maintain to the utmost of their power the Revenues and Rights of the Swedish Church against all opposers The Bishops of Stregnez and Westeras as great Courtiers as they were durst not oppose so generous a motion or perhaps were not sorry to see their Brethren undertake at their Perils to Defend their Dignities In short these Six Bishops took a Solemn Oath to Defend with vigor the Rights and Priviledges of the Church against all the Attempts of the King They made an Act to which they subscrib'd and which they cans'd to be sign'd by all the rest of the Clergy who were present then they hid it in a Tomb in the Church lest it should fall into the King's hands The Bishop of Lincopinc endeavour'd also to procure the favour of some powerful Lay-Patrons He privately made sure of Tureiohanson the great Marshal whose Birth and Dignity gave him the next rank to the King but these advantages were obscur'd by the defect of his Merit and by his Pride He talk'd perpetually of his Pedegree and tho' he had neither Valour nor Courage he fansi'd that his Birth and Quality entitl'd him to the esteem of all Mankind The Bishop begg'd his Protection for the Clergy and that was ground enough to obtain it The Marshal was so over joy'd to see himself courted by so considerable a Party that he made a Solemn Promise to maintain and support the ancient Religion and its Ministers Besides him that Prelate gain'd some Lords of West-Gothland and several Deputies of the Peasants who combin'd together to oppose all the Attempts of the Lutherans The next day the Estates met and the Chancellour open'd the Sessions with a pathetic Speech upon the Exigences of the State He told them from the King that there was no Fund settl'd for the Payment of the Forces that most of the Frontier places wanted to be Fortifi'd that the Arsenals were unfurnish'd and that there were few Ships in the Ports He forgot not to Alarm 'em with an account of King Christiern's preparations He put 'em in mind of all the Cruelties which that Prince committed in the Kingdom representing in the most dismal colours the miserable condition of that Kingdom under his Government Besides the Massacre of the Senate he presented 'em with a frightful Catalogue of all the Robberies Plunders Assassinates Burnings Rapes and other Enormous Barbarities that were Authoriz'd by a Prince who never gave himself the trouble to seek for any pretext to excuse or cover his Crimes A dreadful Time when the Kingdom was become a Prey to Implacable Enemies or to Treacherous and Rebellious Natives more cruel than they whose Credit and Rewards were more Intolerable than there very Treasons and Villanies He told 'em that when the Nation was in these deplorable and hopeless circumstances the King alone formed a generous design to deliver his Native Country In order to which he had expos'd â—imself to the greatest Dangers and as he had not spar'd his life for their defence so 't was well known he had Mortgag'd all his Estate to carry on the War against the Danes That by his Valour and Conduct the Swedes had at last Triumph'd over their Enemies but that the same cruel Enemies were preparing for a new Invasion with all the Forces of the Emperour if speedy care were not taken to oppose ' em To which he added that the Revenues
Churches or of the old ones who alter'd the usual Ceremonies took up Arms with a great deal of fury The Priests and Monks joyn'd with 'em and all the Catholicks and Malecontents espous'd their Quarrel some out of zeal for their Ancient Religion and others out of spite because they had no share in the Spoils of the Church The Bishop of Scara no sooner heard of this Commotion but he fled privately to that Province to joyn with the Rebels He was accompany'd by the Great Marshal and many Gentlemen of West-Gothland who had ingag'd not to lay down their Arms till they had obtain'd the Restoration of the Ancient Religion They were receiv'd with great Acclamations by the Dalecarlians who gave the general Command of their Forces to Tureiohanson This Lord had three Sons the two Eldest of whom were near the King's Person and the Third was Grand Provost of the Cathedral of Vpsal who hearing that his Father was at the head of the Rebels made it his business to scatter Manifestos against the King thro' the whole Province of Vpland exhorting the People to take up Arms and revenge the Injuries that were done to the Altars and to incourage the People by his example he put himself at the head of some Troops In the mean time the great Marshal his Father sent order to his two other Sons to steal away from the Court and joyn their Brother or come to him with as many of their Friends as they cou'd perswade to follow ' em But these young Lords were highly displeas'd with their Father's Rebellion which oblig'd 'em either to declare against him or against their Sovereign and of two Duties which appear'd to 'em equally indispensable to chuse the one and renounce the other But their Allegiance to the King prevail'd at last over their Duty to their Father and even to Religion it self They concluded that in a State-Affair they ought to adhere to the Supream Authority and that the difference of Religious Worship was not a sufficient ground to excuse 'em from the obedience they ow'd to their Lawful Prince They consider'd besides that their Loyalty to the King might probably obtain their Father's Pardon and that it was more agreeable to the rules of prudence to put themselves in a condition by their Fidelity to obtain Pardon for their Father than to make themselves guilty of the same Crime in expectation of a better Fortune Upon these considerations they deliver'd their Letters to the King protesting that they were ready to lay down their Lives for his service Gustavus receiv'd 'em very graciously and promis'd to prefer 'em But seem'd neither to be surpriz'd nor alarm'd at the News Nor did he make any apparent preparations in order to reduce the Rebels saying that he wou'd decline appearing in Arms that his Subjects might not be oblig'd to fight against each other and that he hop'd to crush the Rebellion by gentler Methods Yet he lost no time but made his Troops secretly file off by different ways towards the Borders of Dalecarlia that he might be all of a sudden in a condition to reduce the Rebels by the fear of Punishment Upon the first News of the Insurrection he had sent some Persons from Court who had Friends among the Malecontents and were not unknown among the Dalecarlians with instructions to reduce the Rebels by fair means These Agents apply'd themselves first to the Bishop of Scara the great Marshal and other Malecontents that had joyn'd the Dalecarlians They indeavour'd to gain the leading Men by advantageous Offers but they found 'em most obstinate and those who were willing to treat had so little an influence upon the party and stood upon so high Terms that the Agents did not think fit to buy 'em off at so great a rate They had better success among the Dalecarlian Peasants whom they prevail'd upon to send Deputies to the Court perswading 'em that his Majesty wou'd deny nothing to a People to whom he ow'd his Crown and Glory but their true design was only to amuse 'em that they might be less cautious in providing for their own defence The Deputies of the Dalecarlians not penetrating into the King's Policy but concluding by the steps he made that he stood in Awe of 'em thought they might easily make their own Terms In the Name of their Province and of all the Roman Catholicks of the Kingdom they demanded that Lutheranism shou'd be punish'd in Sweden as a Capital Crime that the Marriage of Priests and Monks shou'd be Abolish'd the Bells and Church-Plate restor'd and all Persons Burnt without any Regard or Distinction that shou'd be convicted to have eaten Flesh on Fish-Days That the King shou'd oblige himself after the example of his Predecessors never to pass the River of Brunebeck which separates their Province from Westmania without giving 'em Hostages for the security of their Priviledges But above all that both King and Courtiers shou'd reassume the ancient Habit of Sweden and not be beholden to strangers for new Fashions and Dresses Gustavus gave the Deputies great hopes that he wou'd grant at least part of their Demands while he secretly put all things in a readiness to surprize the Rebels with his whole Army Having receiv'd advice that his Troops were come within a days March of their appointed Rendezvous he immediately dismiss'd the Deputies and order'd them to tell their Country-men that he wou'd never condescend to treat with his Subjects and that they might appear in Arms in the Plain of Tuna to fight the Battel he was resolv'd to offer them at the head of his Army He added that if they wou'd avoid the effects of his indignation they must expel the Malecontents out of their Province lay down their Arms and submit to his Mercy Assoon as the King had dismist the Deputies he took Post immediately for the Army and the Rebels were so amaz'd at his unexpected Diligence and Resolution that they were seiz'd with a sudden Fear and Consternation when they heard of his Approach Tureiohanson and those of his party suspected the Dalecarlians and fancy'd they had made a separate Peace for themselves and the Peasants reciprocally thought they were betray'd by the Lords In short they were jealous of each other and their mutual suspicion and distrust was by degrees chang'd to Hatred and Enmity The Bishop of Scara and Tureiohanson not thinking themselves safe with the Dalecarlians made their escape privately into Norway from whence they retir'd to King Christiern in the Low-Countries and the rest of the Malecontents alarm'd at their flight some fled one way some another The Dalecarlians seeing themselves without a Head or Leader resolv'd to submit and yield to their Prince's Mercy They went to the Plain of Tuna where the King staid for 'em at the Head of his Army He commanded his Horse to surround 'em and the Rebels at the same time to discover their Ring leaders The affrighted Peasants declar'd their names and the
Oldenburg a Younger Son of that Family with a design to release Christiern II. who was still a Prisoner in the Castle of Sunderberg In order to which that Prelate levi'd Forces and scrupl'd not once more to prophane the sanctity of his Character He was wounded and taken Prisoner in a Battel fought in Funen betwixt the Forces of Christiern III. and those of Lubeck and was carri'd to Sleswick in Holstein where he di'd of his Wounds Gustavus being thus happily deliver'd from all his Enemies Reign'd afterwards without any Disturbance or Molestation and with as much Authority as if the Crown had been his Birth-right All the Princes of Europe that had no dependency upon the House of Austria gave him extraordinary marks of the singular Esteem they had for his Personal Merit and Valour Francis I. King of France notwithstanding their Difference in Point of Religion sent him the order of St. Michael the only Order that was then establish'd in France A desensive League was made betwixt these two Princes against the Emperor and the House of Anstria by which they were both engag'd to Assist each other in case of War with 6000 Men to be paid by the Assistant and if Occasion requir'd to Assist the Invaded Prince with 25000 Men and Fifty Ships Gushavus was the first King of Sweden who rais'd the Reputation of the Crown and made it appear to the World what Insurence it might have upon the general Affairs of hurope The Princes of the League of Smalcalden invited him to joyn with them for the common Desence of their Religion and thought themselves happy to have so great a King on their side To compleat his Happiness there was nothing wanting but the fixing of the Succession upon his Royal Issue This was a very nice and difficult Point for the Nobility was extreamly Jealous of that Priviledge well knowing that Arbritary Power do's commonly attend a Hereditary Succession and that it wou'd by degrees destroy the Liberty of the Nation However the King call'd a meeting of the Estates of the Kingdom at Westeras to abrogate the Right and Custom of Election He put 'em in mind of the great Services his Family had done to Sweden and of the fatal Consequences of the Division and Contests of opposite parties at Elections His Anchority was already so well Establish'd that there was not one in the Assembly who durst oppose his Designs The Heads of the Principal Families and the Ancient Senators were kill'd in the Massacre of Stockholm and the young Lords that came into the World since his Accession to the Crown were accustom'd to a blind Obedience There was not the least Foot-step left of their former Liberty or of the Ancient constitution of their Government so that the Deputies consented with great Submission to the abrogating of the Right of Election in behalf of Prince Eric and the other Princes his Children and Successors both in the direct and collateral Line This Resignation was solemnly entred as a Fundamental Law call'd the Hereditary Vnion by which the Crown with an absolute Power was made sure to his Children and Successors This was a very mortifying peace of News to Christiern III. King of Denmark who still pretended a Right to the Crown of Sweden for by this Hereditary Vnion the Treaty of Calmar was entirely disannuli'd and abrogated Christiern quarter'd the Three Crowns in his Coat Armorial which are the Royal Arms of Sweden as a publick Claim and Mark of his Right to that Kingdom under pretext that Queen Margaret the Daughter of Waldemar Reign'd over the three Kingdoms of the North tho' 't was probably a like reason that made the Kings of Sweden take these Three Crowns for their Arms since they are found in the Shields and Seals of the Kings Steric and Birger II. about the middle of the Twelfth Age. King Gustavus sent an Embassy to Christiern to complain of his Attempt but cou'd obtain no satisfaction from a Young and Ambitious Prince who was puff'd up with some Advantages he had gotten over the Hanse-Towns and obstinately resolv'd to pursue his Ancient Claim Gustavus finding himself weakn'd and spent with Age and the Fatigues of War conceal'd his Resentment and did not think it convenient to ingage in a new War or to hazard his Fortune and that of his Children at a time when he maintain'd his Authority rather by his Reputation than by his Valour He was so far from dreading the opposition of a pretended Claim against the actual Possession of a Crown which had lately been Intail'd upon his Issue by a Solemn Act that he contented himself with procuring a Treaty to be set on foot at Bromsebroo by which 't was mutually agreed to leave the difference undecided for the space of Fifty Years Gustavus having thus settl'd a solid and durable Peace in his Dominions apply'd himself wholly to the Improvement of Trade in order to which he receiv'd into his Ports all Merchant Ships from France and Holland that his Subjects might be free'd from their dependence on the Lubeckers who were possest of the whole Trade of Sweden He erected Citadels on the Frontiers of his Kingdom and built Royal Palaces in several Places with a Magnificence that till then was unknown to the Swedes He never stay'd long in one place but travell'd successively from Province to Province always attended with a numerous Train of Courtiers who stir'd up the Curiosity and Admiration of his People and accustom'd 'em by their Example to respect his Authority He sign'd all Orders and Dispatches with his own Hand took Cognizance of all Affairs gave Audience to all Men and Admininistred Justice with great strictness and severity All Controversies and Suits about Religion Revenues and Buildings and even Differences and Law-Suits betwixt Noble Men were pleaded before him and decided by him As he had manag'd his Wars without Generals so he rul'd in Peace without Ministers He reign'd alone without either Favourites or Mistresses and the only object of all his Passions and Designs was his own Glory and the Happiness of his Subjects Some time before his Death he began to apply his mind to the finding out of a suitable Match for his Eldest Son Prince Eric that his Family might be supported by a considerable Alliance In pursuance of this design he cast his Eyes upon Elizabeth Queen of England who was then Courted with great Assiduity by the greatest Princes of Europe But that Politick Queen had the dexterity to manage her Lovers as she pleas'd and to feed 'em all with hopes according to her own Inclination and the posture of her Affairs by which it appear'd that she had taken a secret Resolution never to Marry any of ' em Gustavus sent an Embassy to her to propose a strict Alliance betwixt both Nations and the chief Embassador was charg'd to feel her Pulse as to this Match Denis Beure the Prince's Governour had that particular Commission from the King He was a Frenchman born but
THE HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTIONS IN SWEDEN OCCASIONED BY The Change of Religion and Alteration of the Government in that Kingdom Written Originally in FRENCH By the Abbot VERTAT Printed the last Year at PARIS And now done into ENGLISH By J. MITCHEL M. D. With a Map of Sweden Denmark and Norway LONDON Printed for A. Swall and T. Child at the Unicorn in St. Paul's Church-yard 1696. TO HIS GRACE The DUKE of SHREWSBURY One of HIS MAJESTY'S Principal Secretaries OF STATE May it please your Grace AS we have the unwonted and perhaps the peculiar Happiness to live under a Sovereign whose Interest is inseparably united to that of his Subjects we have also the Pleasure to see the Management of Affairs committed to the Care of a Minister who has extinguish'd the unhappy Distinction betwixt a Courtier and a Patriot and has an equal Regard to the Honour of the Crown and to the true Interest of his Country You are at once the Favourite of the Prince and of the People You have always preserv'd an unshaken Fidelity to the one and a generous Affection to the other and are equally belov'd by the Former and ador'd by the Latter You Inherit the unsully'd Glory of your Ancestors and the Illustrious Name of TALBOT is now as Terrible to Lewis XIV as it was heretofore Fatal to Charles the Seventh The Eyes of all the World are fix'd upon you they look upon you as a Publick Good and next to your Great Master you are the Object of their Hope and Expectations You are the Chief Encourager and Promoter of Publick Designs and are consequently the fittest Patron for a Work that gives us so lively an Idea of the vast Disproportion betwixt the Subjects of a Hero and the Slaves of a Tyrant And 't is this Consideration alone which makes me hope That the Honesty of the Intention will prevail with you to excuse the Errors and Presumption of Your Grace's Most humbly Devoted Servant John Mitchel The TRANSLATOR's PREFACE SInce there are few if any Readers who are not desirous to be either diverted or instructed the Translator presumes that he may spare himself the Trouble of Recommending a Book which is so admirably well fitted to both these Designs and will infallibly satisfie those who expect either Pleasure or Advantage by perusing it 'T is generally suppos'd to be written by the Abbot VERTAT whose former Performances in this kind were receiv'd abroad with the unanimous Approbatiâ—n of the best Judges and have justly entitl'd him to the Character of an Excellent Historian But tho such as are acquainted with his other Works will be always ready to do Justice to his Merit and Reputation those who reflect upon his Nation Religion and Profession and consider how frequently and grossly the Publick has been abus'd with Romances under the specious Title of Histories will be apt to suspect the Credit of his Relations and fancy themselves in danger of being impos'd upon by the impudent Forgeries of a Maimburg or Varillas It must be confess'd that such Prejudices as these are so far from being Groundless Suspicions that they are the natural Consequences of a prudent Caution But since it wou'd be equally unjust and inhumane to condemn a Man for the Fault of another our Author may reasonably desire his Readers to suspend their Judgment till they have examin'd his Book which is the best Apology that can be made for him For they will soon find a more than sufficient Number of convincing Proofs of his Innocence and Integrity and be oblig'd to acknowledge that his Exactness and Impartiality are as conspicuous as the Clearness and Solidity of his Judgment He penetrates into the deepest Mysteries of State and discovers the hidden Springs that put all the Wheels in motion He omits nothing that may serve to illustrate or embellish his Subject and never inserts any thing that is either impertinent or beneath the regard of a Historian His Characters are just and lively his Digressions few and useful and he is every where consistent with himself He represents Tyranny and Oppression in their native and ugly Form and exposes the Avarice and Usurpations of the Church and Court of Rome with as much Freedom as he censures Luther and his Followers Such Plain-dealing and Ingenuity may be look'd upon as Prodigies in a Book that is printed at Paris dedicated to the Chancellor of France and written by a French Abbot And such rare and excellent Qualities may in some measure atone for the Harshness and Severity of his Reflexions upon the First Reformers and will certainly oblige all moderate Persons to pardon an Errour that must be reckon'd among the Prejudices of Education and perhaps was only intended as a Blind to cover him from the Resâ—ntment of the Court and Clergy who might probably be offended at some bold Strokes in his Work and conclude that the Blow was really aim'd at Them The Story describâ—d in this Book is so uncommon and attended with such improbable and even almost incredible Circumstances the Characters of the Principal Actors are so extraordinary especially of the two contending Princes who seem equally to exceed the usual Bounds of Humanity tho on very different Accounts the one being as far below as the other is above the common Level of Mankind The Turns are so unexpected and disclose such surprizing Scenes that the Reader can hardly forbear suspecting that he owes the whole Entertainment to the Fancy of the Author and has only been diverted with the Fictitious Adventures of a Fabulous Hero But the Truth of the Swedish Revolution will never be question'd by those who consider that the History of the present Age and even our own Experience may furnish us with Examples of no less wonderful Events as it appears evidently by the following Instances Since no Man can be suppos'd to be capable of forgetting the late memorable Transactions in this Kingdom 't wou'd be a ridiculous piece of Nicety to dispute the Truth of even the oddest and most improbable Circumstances of K. Christiern's Flight and Abdication The Story of the Massacre of Stockholm will not be condemn'd as a Fable nor the unmanly Barbarity of that Prince in murthering a whole Parliament be reckon'd too black a Crime to be fasten'd upon a Crown'd Head at a time when we have reason to believe that there are some Princes in Europe who scruple not to consent to and even encourage the Assassination of a Sovereign No Man who is acquainted with the Amours of a Monarch who makes at present a very great Figure in the World will be surpriz'd at the Character of Sigebrite and the Extravagant Passion of her Unfortunate Lover To conclude the Parallel the undaunted Courage steady Resolution Admirable Conduct Generous Magnanimity and all the other Peaceful and Military Virtues which are so eminently Remarkable in all the Actions of that Great Prince who may be justly stil'd the Deliverer of the Swedish Nation the Establisher
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