and peaceable And set a side the staine of his brothers death he was doubtlesse a most excellent Prince and worthy of the Crowne and kingdome and although there were many times iarres betwixt him and his brother Duke Charles yet alwaies the matter was so handled that they were soone reconcilde againe By which were cut off all occasions of Ciuill warre In the twelfth yeare of his raigne his father in law the King of Poland dies for whose death the Quéene his daughter mourned heauily The young Prince Sigismond her Sonne was elected King of Poland and with an honourable conuoy being guarded thither was with all solemnity in all Princely manner Crowne King of Poland Shortly after Marries honourably into the house of Austria and in the twelth yeare of his raigne in Poland King Iohn his Father dies whose death being much bewailed of his subiects he was with appertaining solemnitie buried in the Chappell of the Kings in the Castle of Vpsale Duke Charles of Estergutland after the death of his brother sends into Poland for his Nephew Sigismond to come to receaue the Crowne of Swethland Sigismond takes heauily the death of his Father and deuines before hand of the troubles that followed in that kingdome Great preparation is made for his iourney into Swethland and doubting of his vnckles minde proiectes carrieth a great power of Poles with him to preuent all daungers The king arriues safely in Sweathland is with all honor and signe of loue receaued by his vnckle Duke Charles and the rest of the Nobilitie of Swethland He is honorably conueyed to Vpsale Castle where hee was louingly receaued of the Quéene his Mother whom he comforteth being a sorrowfull widdow for the death of King Iohn her husband Shortly after he was crowned K. of Swethland without any disturbance A Rex-day was held in the castle of Vpsale where all things being established Duke Charles is made vicegerent of the kingdome hauing with him ioynd in Comission foure Noblemen of the Rexen-road whose names were Hergusten Bonner Hersten Bonner his brother Herrerick Spare and Hartor Belk These fower Noble men being great in the kingdome but not very great with the Uicegerent were of purpose ioynd by the King in commission with the Duke to curbe or Controule all ouer haughty and headstrong attempts that the Duke might happely Commit by the greatnesse of his place and power in the absence of the King who was then ready to returne to Poland The Duke perceaues the drift but dissembles it before the Kings departure order was set downe by the King with the Duke and the Commissioners for the payment of certaine sommes of money which King Iohn his Father did owe vnto many Souldiours that were yet vnpaide since the time of expedition into Russia and vnto many Merchants of England Scotland and other Nations for the prosecuting of that warre After all things were thus setled and ordered the King returnes to Poland leauing behinde him that fire that afterward consumed the peace of the whole Kingdome for the Noblemen the Commissioners being commanded by the King that was euer iealous of his Unckle Charles to obserue and enforme his Maiestie of the manner of his gouernment did so oppose themselues against him in all his procéedinges and especially in the payment of this money that the Duke plainely perceiued that this new gouernment was but laide as a trap to ensnare his life A Rex-day was holden at Vpsale no order Concluded nor money paide and much adoe there was to kéepe them from factions the Commissioners would haue these summes paid out of the Subiectes purses the Duke out of the Common Treasury which the commissioners refuse alleaging the Kings want of money The Duke writes faithfully The Lords falsly to the King To whom they intimate feare of innouation and that the Duke by all likelyhoods aimed at the Crowne that he had paid parte of the money due to the Souldiours out of the Reuenues of the Dukedome to draw their affections to him that he sought to further the State and wealth of the Commons more then stood with the loyall nature of a Subiect that he kept the Porte and State of a King rather then a Deputie and that it was not like he would long yeeld his honors vnto Uassalage whose fortunes in such a minde and State as his might attaine to Soueraignty if preuention were not spéedily made The Duke intercepts these letters and sends them inclosed in his own vnto the King to whom he writes very humbly and with all protestations of duty and alleagance the king receaues the letters but beleeues the Lords and distâ—usteth the Duke sendeth secretly to the Commissioners that they should sodainely surprise him depose him from his gouernement and to that end he sent his authority and finally to kéepe him prisoner his wise and children during life in a castle built of purpose for that stratageme within the dukedome of Litto Oh that the nature of fortune should be so fickle and vncertaine neuer singular either in her frownes or fauours but that commonly in the height of any hope it produceth some crosse accident of vnhappy misfortune The Duke notwithstanding hauing intelligence of this plot beganne to looke about him hasted into his owne dukedome and raised a great power of men Some say that if hee had but staide one hower longer in Vpsale the plot had beene effected and the Duke vtterly vndone The Lords were in a maze vpon the Dukes departure knowing that their deuise was discouered they now perceaued their owne weakenesse to resist the Duke being in power place and opinion and farre aboue them And though they had the Kings authority yet was he farre from them and they néer vnto their danger they knew not well what course to take sometimes they purposed to flie to the King and then they feared the waies were forelayd To stay in the Castle of Vpsale were no safety it being a place of pleasure not of defence whereupon they determined to depart from thence Thrée of them vnto the Castle of VVasten in the Dukedome of Finland and Hartourbelk to Calmer Castle Hauing theis Castles deliuered vnto them they purposed to stay there to vnderstand the Dukes procéedings and in the meane time dispatcht letters vnto the King of the particulars of these troubles The Duke as I sayd before hauing raised a great power of men marcheth spéedily towardes the castle of Vpsale but vnderstanding of the Lords departure towards Wasten bends his course thither It is a world to sée what numbers of men came vnto the Duke from all parts proffeting their seruice to him All which hee gently welcomed Some he entertained and the rest sent home againe with speciall charge to looke vnto the Kinges peace signifying further that the cause why hee was now vp in Armes was but to right himselfe of such wronges done by those Lords who neither loued the King nor him The Lords that were in the Castle of Wasten vnderstanding of the
that the foure Dukes did still retaine their titles and authoritie vnder the King as the Senate of Rome did theirs vnder the Soueraintie of Caesar though it were subordinate The other thrée I say enuying that greatnesse loue and opinion which his vertues as well as the Nobilitiâ—e of his blood had got him sought by many deuises to betray him whom no honourable mind but would haue defended and to this end they bent all their courses A plot no doubt ful of honour and regard vnto the State the proiect whereof was either the murther or disinheritance of so lawfull a Prince Falshood and Enuie the accusers Suggession and Subornation the informers Thus was the plot laid The Quéene being mother in law of Gustovus and hauing a Sonne by the King and borne since the kingdome was erected as farre as she durst for she yet feared the greatnesse of Gustovus did many times buze matters of iealousie and suspition into the Kings eares of his sonnes cariage of himself in the kingdom which at first he did not either beleeue or dissemble The thrée Dukes knowing the Quéenes mind towards the Prince added fuell to her fire alledging that she should neuer finde a sure estabâ—ishment for her selfe and her sonne in the kingdome if Gustovus were not made away The heart that before began to burne with this desire was now more incensed hauing those thrée Noblemen the principall Counsellours of State in the kingdome to further her intendments The Quéene being throughly instructed by the Lords takes the aduantage of time in her complaint to the king Tels him that his sonne aspired and would shortly aspire against him that he affected popularitie receiued like Absolom his subiects Petitions not in loue but Ambition That he kept a Court and Port greater then the King and that all his actions did more sauour of Soueraigntie then subiection The Lords they second the Quéene in her vniust information alleadge matters probable to confirme it The King beleeues and in the error thereof hates Truth imbraceth Treason Thus all being inuerted Nature rebels in the Father but Loyaltie remaines in the Sonne The plot was hereupon laid for his apprehension Gustovus being then at Court who noting a straunge alteration in his Fathers countenance towards him began to suspect the drift of the Queene vpon the distrust of the Noblemen about her Himselfe being almost abandoned deuiseth with himselfe how to auoyd the daunger A Gentleman of the Kings comes secretly to Gustovus and tels him that the plot was laid that night for his Attainder The Prince being amazed at the suddaine immiuence of such a perill posteth presently from the Court with a few of his Retinew and the next day recouers his Dukedome of Doland where he meant to stay till he heard further of the Kings proceedings His departure was soone made knowne at which the Queene and the Lords though they mist of their purpose were not much sorry foreknowing that his suddaine flight from the Court in that manner would strongly confirme their accusation The King by them againe is incensed and messengers sent into Doland by whom the Prince was Summoned by a certaine day to make his appearance in Vpsale Castle which the Prince refuseth to doe affirming by his submissiue Letters to the King that though he knew his cause to bee iust and his heart loyall no probable suspition of any misdemenour from him either in act or intent that yet neuerthelesse he durst not hazard his life in the heat of the kings displeasure for that he knew his aduersaries were so great in power and in so gratious account that it would be an easie matter to haue his Maiesties grace and Nature her selfe peruerted to his vntimely and vniust destruction And that the onely cause why he retired himselfe into his owne Countrey was to stay the time vntill these mists of his Maiesties iealousie and suspition were blowen away that the Sunne of his alleagiance might shine cleere farre from the cloudes of all distrust or disloyaltie This answere being returned but not accepted the King by the Queenes continuall instigations was more and more prouokt insomuch that a great power was suddenly raised to fetch him by violence out of his Dukedome Which the Prince perceiuing and being neither able nor willing to resist his Fathers forces giues way to necessitie and in the habite of a slaue purposeth secretly to goe into Germanie And hauing past some daungers in his flight by the Kings pursuers at last he crossed the seas and holding on his course for Lubeck in Germany not many dayes safely arriued there All this while he kept his disguise for though he knew that the Lubeckers were heretofore beholding to him yet he doubted what minds they would put on in this chaunge of fortune Remembring Pompeyes vsage in his flight by Ptolomie King of Egypt and the like of Hanniball by Prusius king of Bithinia Chap. II. Gustovus is discouered in Lubecke The Lubeckers take his part The King his Father dies He recouers by their meanes the Kingdome of Swethland THe newes being arriued in Germany of Guâ—tovus his flight out of Swethland before his comming thither was diuersly intertained in Lubeck Some pittied the state and condition of the young Prince that so Noble a Gentleman so full of hope and expectation euen in the prime of his youth should in this vile manner suffer violence Others spake against him supposing that his owne naturall Father and others of his blood would not in this manner haue proceeded against him if he had not showne himselfe dangerous vnto the State as the mindes of the people are in this case diuersly distracted The Prince after his comming to Lubeck staied certaine dayes in a common Inne not daring to discouer himselfe and to auoid the suspition of a stranger in such common places found meanes to preferre himselfe vnto a rich Merchant of the Towne if such a place in the meanenesse of his fortune at that time may be called preferment Being there entertained he contented himselfe to doe any bodily labour in the house striuing to suite his minde vnto his misery yet could hee not so well counterfeit this part of his sinister fortune but that the Merchant did soone suppose him to be a better man then hee seemed to bee and perhaps the man hee was So hard a thing it is for Nature to learne to forget her custome Staying some few moneths in the Merchants house hee heard of a Gasant sent from the king to the State of Lubeck being supposed hee would bend his course thither The tenor of the Gasants message was to deliuer to the Lubeckers that the kings desire was that either they should not entertaine him at al or els send him backe to Swethland for that hee was knowen and proclaimed to bee an enemie But they being at that time ignorant of the Princes abiding answered for the time to those things that might stand with the Kings pleasure The Gasant being dispatcht Gustovus
he knew meanes how to wind out againe Not long after another Mariage was tendered of the Polands Daughter which the king Coulorably entertained to satisfie his Nobility whilest his heart doted vpon his Paramour Duke Iohn his brother was imployed in this businesse and it fell out as he desired For if the cardes were dealt aright he might happely himselfe mary the Polands daughter And thus with a false heart taking a faire leaue of the king his brother being furnished with all accowtrements fit for such a busines shortly after arriued in the Court of Poland where after the solemnitie of such entertainements he deliuered his Message with such a Maiesticke grace both in his spéech countenance and cariage of himselfe as sure hée was a most accomplisht Gentleman that it wan him great commendations in the kings Court especially with the yong princesse in whose tender heart there was such an inward breach made as was soone outwardly perceaued for her eyes that conuayed these pretie assaultes vnto her heart did soone betray her hidden affections which the Duke perceiuing laies hold vpon the occasion Winnes by rewardes many tongues to speaken in his behalfe ioyes with the greatest of the Kings Counsell and in especiall with one Feâ—nsbecke Duke of Leif-lande He told them that the condition of his Countries disordered estate occasioned by the discordant disposition of his brother mooued him rather to looke with a publike then a priuate eye If he ought nature and dutie to his Brother he ought no lesse vnto his Country and it was his countries cause to the which hée was most bound that made him inueigh against his brother Let no man quoth he rashly ceâ—sure me but comparing the State of the kingdome to the condition of the King let him then iudge whether all is not like to ruine if preuention be not made which in the Kinges person quoth he will neuer be for that he séemes to be buried in his his owne delightes and the breath which he himselfe should drawe lies not in his owne but in anothers body The most and best part of the Nobility being by these and the like suggestions wonne vnto his party a way was quickly made for the Duke to Wooe for himselfe which was not long a doing for the heart that was already so strongly assaulted was soone framed to yeeld To bee short the young Duke Weddes and beddes the princesse with great honour and delight so easily is the pollicie of a state drawne to obey the necessity of the time the newes hereof is soone brought to Swethland wherein the wise lookt into the danger of the King how be it the King himselfe foresaw no peril But as a Man wholly deuoted to his delights doth against the aduise of all his friendes quickly after Marrie the said Gondole whereby he did sodainly runne into such a scandalous hatred of his owne Subiectes that they euer after held him vnworthy of his Crowne and kingdome Within a yeare after his Mariage he had a Sonne not long after whose byrth Duke Iohn hauing assured promises from his youngest brother Duke Charles procures an Army to be leuied by the King of Poland his Father in law and arriuing in the Dukedome of Estergutland was louingly entertained of his brother Duke Charles who ioyning their forces together hauing also the ayde of other Noble Men in the Country gaue battaile to his brother King Ericke who being ouercome and flying to Stock-holand was there by his two brothers taken and made away no man euer knew how A noble man in the Countrey brother to Herrerick Gusterson and deare vnto the King was at that time honorably slaine in the defence of his Prince The Quéene had before sent her young Sonne out of the Land foreséeing the danger that was like to happen Who now liues as an Exile in the great Duke of Moscouias Court and the Quéene her selfe confined to Stickborrow Castle where shee yet liues a sad and solitary life Thus ended the vnfortunate Raigne of King Erick who might long haue liued and gouerned in the Land had he but subdued his owne affections CHAP. IIII. King Iohn is crowned king of Swethland hath a Sonne borne called Sigismond The King of Poland dies young Sigismond is sent for to be King of Poland Hee staies there certaine yeares till the death of his Father and is then sent for by his Vnckle Duke Charles to receaue the Crowne and kingdome of Swethland DUke Iohn hauing thus by his brothers murther attained vnto the Crowne disposeth with his best Counsell the affaires of the kingdome disperseth his Army satisfies his Subiects in the cause of these indirect procéedings against his brother and hauing set all things in order sendeth for this Quéen out of Poland who with an honorable traine being conducted into Swethland was there Royally entertained and shortly after with Duke Iohn her husband in all princely manner Crowned King and Quéene of Swethland at Vpsale Castle Many Statutes he repealed which the King his brother had made being found preiudiciall vnto the Country and others hee enacted that were held more profitable To all Sutors he shewed himselfe very gentle and gracious And because the treasure of the kingdome was much exhauste in his expedition into Poland he was driuen to borrow many great Summes of money both there and of his Friends at home Hee kept a Princely port and was very liberall in his rewardes delighting much in all Martiall exerrises His liberality was equall to that which was so highly commended in a worthy Captaine of Thebes who when hee had obtayned a victory against the Lacedemonians tooke onely of all the spoile but one sword distributing the rest amongst his Souldiors saying Fellowes in Armes this I Challeng because I wrong it out of the hand of mine Enemie Whatsoeuer else is yours as the reward of your trauells for the Theban Senatours warre for honour not for treasure The Mercenary Man that beareth Armes for hier and for his ordinary Paye feareth not to venture his life in the face of his Enemy hauing but his wages hath but his due So that if hope of spoile and the bounty of his Captaine did not encourage him in his attempts he would both doubt the danger of his person and scorne for so little gaine to ranne vpon such imminent perills His liberality towards his associats in Armes and his experient wisedome and valour in Martiall enterprises made him both honoured feared and held in worthy estimation Thus by this and his other vertues Duke Iohn in short time Crept into the hearts of his Subiectes The first yeare of his raigne the Quéene brought him a goodly Boy which was Christened by the name of Sigismond the Emperor beeing his Godfather which Sisgismond is now King of Poland About the Tenth yeare of his raigne King Iohn made an honorable iourney into Russia vpon the breach of a League made betwixt them From whence he returned victorious The rest of his raigne was quiet
beautifull buildings that stood euen farthest out of reach So did the Clouds of discention burst open thâ—ir vaines and let fall the poison of them on these seuerall kingdomes In the expedition of these warres one Lucas Righter vndertakes to performe the Dukes pleasure in the proclamation of his intended procéedings vnto the Kings Army which consisted of foure and twenty thousand men The tenor of the Dukes proclamation made knowne his greeuances which although it be not answered to expectation Yet Lucas Righter making his returne is royally rewarded by the Duke and appoinâ—ed that day to attend the Dukes person The next day following the mist breakes vp and Armies discouer one another A ryuer being betwixt the King and the Duke right thousand of the Kings Souldiers were appointed to make good the bridge Captaine Scot full of Courage and valour giues the Charge but receaues the ouerthrowe the like successe had Captaine Hill Andreas Lemerson seconds them and bides the Shock The Duke perceiuing this issues out of the wood alone hartens his Souldiers fills his ordinance wanting shot with pibbie stones and makes choice to encampe himselfe and his hoast euen on the top of a Hill naturally defenced from passage and if any were those hee stoppped vp with heapes of stones in manner of a Kampier neare the foote whereof ranne a Riuer with an vncertaine ford where a troope of his â—â—st Souldiours were set in order to receaue the Enemy and the more to animate the mindes of his men the leaders went about exhorting and encourageing the Souldiers taking all occasion of feare from them and putting them in hope with all inducements of warre And the Duke himselfe coursing hither and thither protested that that day should bee the full end of their misfortunes and the beginning of their happinesse or else his owne perpetuall seruitude and bondage The Souldiers vpon this shewde as great forwardnesse and as Ecchoes redoubled his wordes vowing neuer to yeeld eyther for woundes or for life which they were all ready to sacrifice in the cause of their Country which resolution appearde in the squadron of Captaine Hill who leading his Army mette the Enemy with such a showre of shot that many were slaine and many wounded Andreas Lemerson giues the second charge and that with so fierce an encounter that he seizeth vpon the enemies ordinance and turnes the same vpon them In this conflict the Kinges Army is discomfited eight thousand of them being slaine drowned and taken Prisoners Upon this sad successe the King being in the Castle of Linnekeeping calles a Parley The Duke vpon knowledge of the Kings pleasure is willing to entertaine it Messengers are sent enterchangeably and vpon hearing and debating the gréeuances one of another the conditions are agréed vpon the Duke to haue pardon for what was past and whereas hee had one of his aduersaries already in his custody it was likewise agréede that he should haue the other These deliuered into his hands being the fowre Commissioners that disturbed the peace of Swethen which was performed accordingly so as the Duke detaines them prisoners with their wines and children After this friendly coherence the Duke rides to the King with sixeteene of his men leauing charge notwithstanding with Lemerson that if hee returned not nor sent word to the contrary within halfe an howre hee should come to him with his whole Army The King and the Duke doe so well concord and agree as they dine together and are feasted very royally all matters are pacified on eyther side so as a Rex-day is appointed and it is determined that the King shall haue his owne the Duke his and the disturbers of the peace their due The King returneth to Steckborow to his Fléete the Duke to Carborowgh where the Dutches lay The Peace being thus concluded the Duke dismisseth his Souldiers and receiues Letters from the King â—hat hee purposed to passe into his Country with a thousand men and desires prouision for them The Duke receiues his message very kindly and returnes this answere to the King that if it pleased him hee should finde prouision for two thousand As this prouision was preparing Fernsbecke Duke of Liefland perswades the King to returne with his power to Poland and not to stand to the Articles of agreement but to renew the warre alleadging that he could neuer be absolute King of Swethen so long as D. Charles liued And this was the onely ground of the Ciuill warre that followed CHAP. VII The King returnes to Poland Duke Charles renues the warre against the King his Nephew winnes the City and Castle of Calmer and setleth the state of the Dukedome of Finland THe King hauing thus falsified his own promise and deceiued the Dukes expectation returned with all expedition into Poland landing at Danske with his Army leauing the Castle of Calmer and certaine other holds adioyning strongly manned and victualed for a yeare Duke Charles being much discontented with this vnkingly breach of his Nephewes promise knew now that it was no time to capitulate and that no solicitation nor any submissiue meanes would serue to appease the Kings anger and to reintegrate himselfe into his loue and good opinion called his chiefe friends about him to haue their aduise what was best to bee done in this weighty businesse They all agréede that if it were possible they should recouer the Castle of Calmer that winter and certaine other holds lately manned and victualed by the King whereupon the Duke with his Army marcheth to Greenekeeping a little City in Swethland where hauing certaine dayes rested and refreshed his Army he hasted to besiege the Castle of Calmer The City being indefensible yeelded vnto him at his first approach The Duke hauing made his entrance into the City deliuered sayre speeches to the Citizens the iust cause that was giuen him to renue the warre and that no ambitious desire or turbulent spirit of his owne drew him so violently to these actions of hostility but that he was full Master of his owne affections and the necessity of the time in the Kinges incensed hate against him did moue him to these Armes that being quoth he at the first but priuate betwixt him and the three Dukes his aduersaries that alwayes maligned his estate might very well without the generall disturbance of both kingdumes haue been ended long agoe and nexther hee helde guilty nor the land defiled with the shedding so much Polish and Swethish blood But sith the king had so vnkindly taken part with strangers against a kinsman and had so vnnaturally laid their treacherous plots against his loyalty nature and iustice were the faire protectors of his quarrels that should defend the equity of his cause against the mouth of enuy or any such calumnious tongues whatsoeuer The Citizens that alwayes affect peace rather then war looking into the condition of the disturbed States were much perpleed in mind and seuerally distracted in their opinions being vncertaine how to stand affected They knew that