tho' he was sensible of the Danger of slighting the feeblest Enemy he was afraid lest by shewing too visible a Concern on this occasion he shou'd strengthen the Party of the Impostor At last he resolv'd to desire the Administrator's Widow to write to the Dalecarlians and that Princess in obedience to his Request assur'd 'em by a Letter that her Son died above a Year ago that all the Inhabitants of Stockholm who assisted at his Funeral were Witnesses of his Death and that she had but one young Child living of whose Education the King took as much care as if he were his own Son This Letter had all the success Gustavus cou'd expect and the undeceiv'd Peasants forsook their fictitious Prince who fearing that they wou'd deliver him up to the King fled to Norway where he found a new Protection upon the Recommendation of the Bishops of Sweden to the Archbishop of Dronthem by whom he was receiv'd and entertain'd as Prince of Sweden By this Prelate's Interest the Impostor rais'd new Troops in that Kingdom and by his own Insinuations he persuaded a Lady of the highest Quality there that the Crown of Sweden did rightly belong to him and promis'd he wou'd one day raise her Daughter to the Dignity of a Queen The Lady dazel'd with the prospect of a Crown made her Tenants take up Arms in Defence of his Right furnish'd him with great Sums of Mony to begin the War and presented him with a Gold Chain of considerable Weight as the Pledge of the Alliance she wou'd contract with him The King upon Advice that the Impostor was preparing to return to Sweden order'd a Body of Horse to prevent him At the same time he writ to Frederic King of Denmark complaining of the Protection he gave in his Dominions to a notorious Cheat protesting he wou'd seek him out at the Head of his Army in the furthest Parts of Norway if he were not speedily expell'd out of that Kingdom That wise and politick Prince cou'd not without a secret Jealousy look upon the Union of the Swedes and the Prosperity of Gustavus's Reign and wou'd have been glad to see Sweden imbroil'd in Civil Wars by the Counterfeit Steno But fearing a Storm from Sweden when he expected every moment a Descent from Christiern he sent Orders to Hans to depart immediately out of his Dominions and that unhappy Wretch fled from Norway to Rostock a Free and Imperial City in Mecklemburg upon the Baltick Gustavus having receiv'd advice of his Retreat sent to the Magistrates of that City requiring 'em to deliver up the Impostor and threaten'd to stop all their Ships that shou'd he found in his Ports if they wou'd not comply with so just a Desire The Magistrates of Rostock having no reason to protect such an abandon'd Wretch caus'd him to be Beheaded by which Execution they put an end to Gustavus's fears and baffled all the Hopes of his dissaffected Subjects Tho' the Clergy had not publickly appear'd in this Revolt yet the King was fully convinc'd that they wou'd have infallibly declar'd for the Impostor if his Attempt had been attended with success He knew them to be his most dangerous Enemies and that nothing but the Fear of his Power kept them from open Rebellion The Bishops influenc'd the Curates and inferiour Clergy to keep the People steady in their ancient Religion being sensible they must lose the best part of their Revenues assoon as Lutheranism shou'd be establish'd Such powerful Motives as Religion and Self-Interest put the whole Body of the Clergy into a ferment and made them turn every Stone The Monks but especially those call'd Mendicant Frius run thro' all the Provinces under pretext of begging Bread for their Subsistence but in effect to foment the Discontents of the People They made sure of their Friends influenc'd their Devotoes form'd Cabals in all the Villages and spoke so disrespectfully of their Prince as if their affected Zeal for the Defence of the Catholick Faith cou'd have justify'd the Spirit of Rebellion The King being under some apprehension that the Clergy and those Monks might at last occasion some dangerous Revolt resolv'd to gain the Bishops and especially the Heads and Superiors of the Religious Houses and to remove such as wou'd not comply with his Designs Most of the Superiors of the Mendicant Friars were Germans and Foreigners all Doctors in the chief Universities of Germany who were sent by their Generals to visit and govern the Swedish Monasteries The King issued out a Declaration forbidding those Foreigners to meddle with the Government of the Monks his natural Subjects under pretence that being Subjects of the Emperor and other Princes who were Enemies to the Nation they incited not only the Monks but even the common People to Rebellious Practices So that they were oblig'd immediately to leave the Kingdom and the King took care to substitute in their Places such Monks as were intirely devoted to the Court This Declaration was follow'd by another to prohibit the Visits and too frequent Journies of the Monks By this Edict they were not allow'd to go above twice a Year out of their Monasteries and to stay but a Fortnight each time to receive the Bounty and Alms of the People This done the King apply'd himself to the Bishops of Stregnez and Westeras who were his Creatures and assur'd 'em that in all these Proceedings he had no other Aim than to see the Word of God observ'd in his Kingdom and to banish all Superstitions that a worldly Interest had introduc'd into religious Worship He desir'd 'em cheerfully to surrender the Fortresses that were in their Hands promis'd to make 'em futable and advantageous Returns and to advance their Families to the principal and highest Dignities in the Kingdom Upon which Declarations of his Affection and the Confidence he plac'd in 'em they told him they shou'd always be ready to submit to his Will without inquiring into the Reason of his Orders imagining that their Complaisance cou'd not be reputed Criminal so long as they did not openly profess those Doctrins which they look'd upon as erroneous especially since they cou'd not oppose the King's Designs without exposing themselves to his Indignation But the Archbishop of Vpsal resisted the Temptation with a Resolution that cou'd neither be shaken by Promises or Threats His Temporalities were seized his Family persecuted and his Person for some time confined to a Convent at Stockholm under pretence that he had a hand in the Impostor's Rebellion In a word none of those indirect Persecutions were omitted to which Princes usually have Recourse when they wou'd reclaim obstinate Subjects that will not be reduc'd by gentler Methods He answer'd those who urged him to yield to the King's Will that he was advanc'd to his Dignity without making the least Interest for it that King Gustavus himself recommended him of his own accord made an Interest for his Choice and he cou'd not imagine that Prince shou'd expect from
him ibid. Gustavus retires from Upsal with precipitation 149 his infantry being terrifi'd left the main body of his Army ibid. his Gentleman being hurry'd on with an unruly Horse fell upon him and threw him backward in the water ibid. he sustains as it were alone the whole shock of the Danish Forces ibid. he forms a design to surprize the Archbishop ibid. he receives the German Troops commanded by Colonel Sassi 150 he defeats the Archbishop's Army and re-enters into Upsal with his victorious Troops ibid. he marches directly to Stockholm 152 he obliges the Vice-Roy and the Archbishop to leave the City he is inform'd by a Courtier of the reducing of the Castles of Wadestene Hora and Sceninc in Ostro-Gothland 154 the Towns of Lincoping Norcoping and Sudercoping at the first approach of his Forces take up Arms and expel the Danes ibid. Gustavus receives the sad news of the death of his Mother and Sister who were cast into the Sea wrapt up in a Sack by the command of Christiern ib. he give orders cut in pieces all the Danes that could be taken ibid. he marches to Ostro-Gothland putting Garrisons and Governours into the Towns that adher'd to his party ibid. he advances to besiege the Bishop of Lincoping in his Castle 156 That Prelate opens his Gates and goes out to meet him with his principal Clergy ib. he calls a Meeting of the Estates of the Realm at Wadestene few Deputies of the Provinces are present and for what reason ibid. The Assembly earnestly entreats him to take upon himself the Administration of the Government 157 they are also desirous to confer on him the quality of King ibid. he positively refuses this Title and contents himself with that of Administrator ib. he is ackowledg'd by the Estates and in the Army as General Governour and Soveraign Administrator 〈◊〉 Sweden 158 H. HAquin King of Norway 9 I. INdulgences the Augustin Monks were usually employ'd to publish the Indulgences in Saxony 134 The Jacobins under Pope Leo X. take this Commission from them ibid. They amplifie the Virtue and Efficacy of Indulgences ib. They spend in Feasts and Riotous Excesses the Money so gather'd ibid. Luther preacheth at first against the Scandalous way of Publishing Indulgences ibid. Afterwards being exasperated with the Threats and Injuries he receiv'd from the Jacobins he inquires into the Origin and Foundation of Indulgences 135 He maintains the Indulgences were neither grounded on Advice nor Precept and that they were equally unprofitable both in this and the other World ibid. Jonas of Nerderby a Swedish Gentleman outlaw'd by Christiern retires to Gustavus's Army 131 K KIngs of Sweden their limited Power and Authority seq Many have attempted at several times to make themselves Masters of the Government 8 but in vain 9 c. see see Sweden L LAurentius Petria Lord of Sudermani declares in favour of Gustavus 143 he besieged the Town of Nicoping ibid. Leo X. Trolle Archbishop of Upsal receives the Pallium from the hands of Pope Leo X. 38 The Administrator of Sweden writes to the same Pope complaining of the Archbishops Misdemeanours 47 Leo X. answers him in obliging and favourable Terms ibid. However he only blames that Prelate in appearance ibid. for what reason ibid. He orders his Legate endeavour to procure an accommodation betwixt the Archbishop and the Administrator 53 The Archbishop being constrain'd to renounce his Dignity in a full Senate makes a complaint to the Pope of the Violence that was offer'd to him 66 Leo X. threatens to Excommunicate the Administrator of he doth not forthwith re-establish the Archbishop ibid. The Administrator Steno complains to the Legate of the Pope's partiality ibid Pope Leo X. upon the Administrators vsâ—sal to restere Trolle Archbishop of Upsal 〈…〉 former diâ—uity suspends the whole Kingdom of Sweden from Divine Service and Excommunicates the Prince and Senate 69 He commits the execution of this Bull to the King of Denmark the profess'd Enemy of the Swedes ibid. Lincoping The Bishops of Lincoping and Stregnez privy to the Secrets of the Archbishop of Upsal 83 They boldly declare for Christiern II. King of Denmark ibid. They hinder'd the Nobility from taking up arms to defend their Country ibid. They magnify the power of the Danes 84 They oppose the Election of a new Administrator ibid These two Prelates bring over to their Party three Senators and some Lords ibid. They engage these Noble-men to demand a Truce of Otho in the name of the whole Nation ibid. The Bishop of Lincoping is condemn'd to death by the order of Christiern 110 However he causes him to be set at Liberty and for what rea-son 110. 111 This Prelate durst not declare for Gustavus against Christiern but shuts himself up in his Castle 155 The Bishop of Lincoping being inform'd of his displeasure and approach goes forth to meet him with some of the chief of his Clergy in order to appease his Anger and to make a Submission 156 Lords of Sweden their Authority and Power 6 see Sweden 6 Luther Martin an Augustin Monk Doctor and Professor in the University of Wirtemburg 134 He Preaches against the abuse the Jacobins made of their power in publishing of Indulgences ibid. He publish'd his Opinions concerning the Remission of Sins Repentance and Purgatory He calls in question the Popes Authority 136 Luther is condemned at Rome as a Heretick 135 He engageth the Secular Princes in his defence against the Court of Rome ibid. Laurentius and Olaus Petri propagate his Doctrin in Sweden 151 Olaus Petri publickly Preaches it in the Cathedral Church at Stregnes ibid. He prevails upon the Professors and Scholars of the University to profess the same Dostrin 152 The Bishops of Sweden neglect to take notice of the rise and progress of Lutheranism ibid. M. MAgnus Smeck his Reign Wife and Children 9 He attempts to render himself an absolute Monarch in Sweden and entirely to abolish the Senate ibid. He is driven out of Sweden by his Subjects ibid. Margaret The Estates of Norway confer upon her the Regency of the Kingdom and the Guardianship of the Young Prince Olaus her Son After the death of Prince Olaus she is elected by the Estates for their Soveraign Princess ibid. Her Father Waldemar King of Denmark dying without Issue she sends Deputies to the Estates of that Kingdom to sollicit her Election in their Assembly She is proclaim'd Queen of Denmark ibid. The Swedes offer their Crown to the Queen Margaret ibid. 13 She accepts it and for what reason 13 The Treaty which she made with the Swedes ibid. She is acknowledg'd as the Soveraign Princess of Sweden ibid. The Character of this Princess 12 Having no Children and not being willing to Marry she appoints her a Successor at the request of the Swedes 14. 15 She proposes the Union of the 3 Kingdoms under the same Monarch to the Deputies of the 3 Nations Assembled at Calmar 15 she obtain'd her desire 16 by what means she made
Enemies to make themselves Masters of one Inch of Swedish Ground And besides the cunning Minister took occasion to insinuate that Gustavus might if he pleas'd be acknowledg'd King of Sweden by Christiern himself who sixing all his Thoughts and Designs upon the Reduction of Denmark had offer'd to relinquish and resign his Pretensions to Sweden provided Gustavus wou'd enter into a League against the Danes But he added that his Master refus'd absolutely to entertain any Correspondence with his Father's Murderer and declar'd that he was his Enemy both as a private Person and as King of Sweden Frederic perceiv'd by the Courage and Resolution of the Swedish Envoy and by the Relation of his own Ambassador that Gustavus's Power was greater than the Archbishop had represented it He found that 't wou'd not be convenient in thepresent Juncture of Affairs to renew ancient Pretensions that might make his Country the Seat of a War He offer'd to come to a Friendly Agreement with Gustavus and to enter into an Offensive and Defensive League with him against Christiern and for a Pledge and Mark of his Esteem and Friendship he sent back the Administrator's Widow and the rest of the Swedish Ladies that had been retain'd his Prisoners in Denmark since the Massacre of Stockholm appointing an honourable Convoy to attend ' em Gustavus July with all his Court went to meet the Widow-Princess and receiv'd her with all the Respect that was due to her Birth and Merit He gave her an Apartment in the Castle of Stockholm and advanc'd her to the Rank she held in the Kingdom during the Life of the Administrator He endeavor'd with all imaginable Marks of Honor and Respect to make her bear with less impatience the Misfortunes of her Family and put all the rest of the Ladies in possession of their Estates Most of 'em had Youth enough to recommend 'em to second Husbands but almost all the Lords of their Quality were either kill'd in the Massacre of Stockholm or were already marry'd No Woman of Quality whether Maid or Widow was suffer'd in Sweden to contract an Alliance with a Family less noble than her own But the King remov'd that Obstacle and permitted these Ladies to chuse their Husbands as they pleas'd tho' under that seeming Complaisance he conceal'd a politic Design for he manag'd their Inclinations so dexterously that they were easily perswaded to chuse the principal Officers of his Army He exhorted these Illustrious Widows to prefer Merit before Riches and to bestow their Fortunes and Affections on Men that had lost part of their Blood in the Service of their Country rather than on those who deriv'd their Blood from a long series of noble Ancestors but had never spent a drop of it for the defence and preservation of the State By these Alliances he secur'd the greatest Families of the Kingdom and at the same time found out a cheap way to reward his Creatures and to enable 'em to serve him more effectually Whatever Joy he exprest at the Arrival of the Administrator's Widow the inward satisfaction of his Mind was not answerable to those external Demonstrations She had two Children who were meer Infants at the death of her Husband Prince Steno for whose Memory and Family the Swedes had an extraordinary Veneration Gustavus took the two young Princes under pretext of educating 'em in the Palace and resolv'd to provide a Husband for the Princess their Mother who cou'd not draw any advantage from that Alliance to the prejudice of his Authority and Government He propos'd and made her accept of Tureiohanson the first Senator and Great Mareschal of the Kingdom The King had consider'd the Character of that Lord and found him to be such a Person as he design'd for a Husband to the Princess He was a Man of great Quality and had a considerable Estate both in Sweden and Denmark He was extreamly proud of these Advantages but had neither Valor nor Courage to recommend him to the Esteem and Affection of the Soldiers His Birth was his only Merit and consequently he cou'd not be suppos'd to have any considerable Interest in a Kingdom where a brave Warrior was infinitely more esteem'd than one that cou'd only boast of his Descent from an Illustrious Family Gustavus made it his next care to sind out the best Expedients to weaken the Power of the Clergy whom he suspected and hated for their great Riches and for the Affection they still retain'd to the Danish Government which had always maintain'd their Authority Arch-bishop Trolle was still a zealous Promoter of that Interest 'T was by his Advice that Frederic caus'd himself to be crown'd King of Sweden and to preserve his Credit with that Prince he entertain'd a secret Correspondence with the Swedish Clergy The King was resolv'd to humble a Body of Men who by their Power and Cabals had always disturb'd the Government and oppos'd the Authority of the Prince and were never satisfied but when they were intrusted with the largest share of the management of public Affairs But he was oblig'd to defer the execution of that Design for some time and was too prudent to begin his Reign with disputing the Privileges of an Order whom the most absolute Prince shou'd never touch but with a tender and wary Hand He contented himself at first with managing the Elections for the filling up of vacant Benefices He procur'd two Persons to be nam'd to the Bishopricks of Stregnez and Westeras Sommor and Petrus Magni who were entirely devoted to him and cou'd not pretend to any Power or Interest in the Kingdom but by his Favour and Protection Afterwards he sent word to the Canons of Vpsal that considering the Flight and Condemnation of their Arch-bishop 't wou'd be convenient to chuse a sit Person to succeed him After the Forms and Proceedings that are requisite in such Cases and the usual Citation and Summoning of that Prelate to return to the Kingdom and vindicate himself from the Crimes that were laid to his Charge his Contumacy in not appearing was reputed a voluntary Abdication and the Chapter proceeded to a new Election By virtue of a Recommendation from the Court which even then was not much different from an absolute Order the Choice fell upon one John Magnus a Native of Sweden who was learned in Scholastick Divinity very pious and of an exemplary Life He was naturally of a fearful Temper and unfit for the management of Affairs He was a Lover of Solitude and had no Interest in the Kingdom and consequently was neither capable of forming nor prosecuting any Designs against the Government Gustavus concluded that by these Nominations he had secur'd the Quiet of the State which was usually disturb'd by the Ambition of the Bishops But as he was entertaining himself with the delightful Prospect of an un-interrupted Prosperity as the glorious Reward and Fruit of his Labours and was preparing to make his Subjects sensible of their Happiness under the
a zealous Calvinist who imagin'd that if he cou'd negotiate that Match for his Pupil he might one Day establish Calvinism in Sweden Queen Elizabeth receiv'd with all the external Marks of kindness and respect the Proposals he made to her in the Name of his Master relating to Trade and the Alliance or League betwixt the two Nations and gave him a favourable Answer with respect to Prince Eric but only in general Terms The Embassador fancying that all her obliging Expressions concerning that Prince were real Promises made haste home to Stockholm as if he had consummated his Negotiation At his return he assur'd the King that nothing but the Prince's Presence was wanting to bring it to perfection and that he was consident his good Mien and personal Merit wou'd fix the Queen's Affections Prince Eric flatter'd with so tempting a Prospect was very earnest with the King his Father and press'd him hard to consent that he might take a Journey to England But Custavus jealous of the Glory of his Family wou'd not expose the presumptive Heir of the Crown to a Refusal nor give his consent that he shou'd go out of the Kingdom before some Articles were sign'd 'T is possible a more important but more secret Reason induc'd the King to reject that Voyage Eric was a Prince indow'd with many excellent natural Qualities He had a majestick Presence an Air of Authority which drew Respect from all Men a fiery Briskness in his Behavior and a certain Ardor that was usually taken for Courage or Valor But the lustre of all these external Advantages was obscur'd by some inward Defects that were not unknown to the King his Father which he was willing to hide from the English This Prince inherited a sort of Extravagancy or Distraction from the Queen his Mother which now and then seiz'd upon his Brain and prompted him to outragious Acts There was a certain peevish Sulleness that appear'd in his Behaviour and Actions which by an odd kind of Contagion seem'd to infect all those who approach'd him And in his most lucid Intervals he discover'd so much hardness and wildness of Temper that People were afraid of his Government even before he was own'd and declar'd to be the next Successor to the King his Father These Considerations made such an impression upon Gustavus that he was sometimes resolv'd to leave the Crown to his second Son a generous and good-natur'd Prince who by his Caresses and obliging Behavior had won the Hearts of all those who were to be his Brother's Subjects But the King fearing lest this Preference wou'd stir up a Civil War both in his Family and Kingdom resolv'd at last to regulate the Succession according to the order of Birth-right In the mean time to satisfy Prince Eric whom his Tutor had inspir'd with a violent Passion for Queen Elizabeth he consented at last that Prince John his second Son shou'd go to the Court of England under pretence of Travelling and indeavour to draw at least a verbal Promise from the Queen This young Prince being arriv'd at London was receiv'd by Queen Elizabeth with great Demonstrations of Joy He had a share in all her Divertisements and she frequently invited him to Hunting In short that wise Princess who made those several Proposals of Marriage subservient to her Interest and politick Ends omitted nothing that might amuse the young Prince by insinuating that both his Presence and Proposals were agreeable to her But she declin'd ingaging further in that Affair pretending that she cou'd not in the present Juncture conclude that Marriage so soon as she cou'd have wish'd This was the usual Pretext with which she amus'd all the Princes that courted her whom she was willing to admit as Lovers but cou'd not resolve to accept 'em for Husbands Upon the return of this Prince into Sweden the King presently concluded that his eldest Son Prince Eric wou'd have no better success in the Pursuit of this Match Philip II. than the K. of Spain the D. of Alenson the Arch-duke of Austria E. of Leicester my Lord Courtney and so many others whom this Princess had flatter'd with the same Hopes one after another and often at the same time But Prince Eric was so deluded by his Tutor's Suggestions that he imagin'd his Presence wou'd surmount all Obstacles and pretended that his Brother had thwarted his Inclination either out of Jealousy or Self-interest He solicited the Senators and the King's Ministers both by Intreaties and Threats to procure the King's Consent for him to go to the English Court. Gustavus considering his fierce and unruly Temper and fearing that he wou'd either go without his Consent or raise some Disturbance in the State was at last persuaded to grant his Desire and nam'd the Persons that were to attend him Then he made his last Will and divided his Dominions among the Princes his Children He left his Crown to Prince Eric the Dukedom of Finland to Prince John East-Gothland to Magnus and Sudermania to Charles The younger Princes being to injoy their Provinces by the Title of Principalities but on condition of paying Homage and Fealty to the Crown of Sweden Prince Eric was so highly displeas'd at this Distribution that he was ready to take up Arms to demand the Revocation of the Will but the fear of his Father who was King of his Children as well as of his Subjects kept him in awe He conceal'd his Anger with a Resolution to do himself Justice when the supreme Power shou'd fall into his Hands and was just ready to set Sail for England when he was detain'd at the Port of Elsburg by the News he receiv'd of his Father's Decease That great Prince was seiz'd at Stockholm with an inward Fever that wasted him by degrees yet he continu'd still to manage Affairs with his usual application and resolv'd to Reign to the last moment of his Life Some hours before his Death he sent for Eric Steno the Secretary of State to whom he dictated Memoris concerning the most secret Affairs of the Kingdom Then he sent for the young Princes and charg'd 'em to love one another and submit peaceably to Prince Eric who was now ready to mount the Throne He gave each of 'em his Blessing and made 'em presently withdraw lest his Mind shou'd be disturb'd by the Tears of his Family He dismist even his Physicians who in that Extremity continu'd still to flatter him with hopes of Life that he might spend the last moments of his Life in fixing his Thoughts wholly upon God Thus he died peaceably in the Arms of his Servants in the 70th Year of his Age. His Body was carried to Vpsal Sept. 29. where his Funeral was solemniz'd with publick Orations and Panegyricks with the Tears of all his Subjects and the immortal Memory of his glorious Actions He ow'd his Crown meerly to his own Valor and Reign'd with as absolute a Power as if the Crown had been his Birth-right He made