Christiern kyng of DeÌ„marke doth enterprise to inuade Swedia This Christiern ful fraighted with ambicion as it should seme naturally enclined to mischiefe began immediatly after hys fathers death wyth haught mynde to make ciuil warres and first he enterprised to inuade Swecia But when he perceiued them to be of suche great myght that as long as there was no domesticall discencion nor vnnaturall hatred betwene them they could wel defend their country nerehand also subdue their enemy abroade He practised to get that by polecy whych he could not get by force and therfore he went about to kyndle contencion and to sowe sedicion amonge the Swedian confederates Fyrst he procured to this treason Gostaue the Metrapolitan Byshop of Vpsalien Who by the instigacion of Christiern did not onely condiscend agree therunto hym selfe but also alured a great nomber more to ioyne wyth hym Gostaue the Byshop of Vpsalien goâ—th about to betrayâ— his country whych were fully determined and certainly apoynted the yere of Christ .1517 to betray and delyuer theyr country to kyng Christiern But as soone as thys treason was related perfectly knowen to the seconde Steno generall Gouernour of Swecia he presentlye perswaded and exhorted the Byshoppe to leaue of hys euyl begun enterprise friendly chargeing hym to remeÌ„ber the end before the beginning and not to take that in hand Friendlye admonicioÌ„ which should be the destruction of his natiue and natural country also purchase to hym selfe an euerlasting infamy But the bishop coÌ„temning this fauorable admonicion dyd with a stedfast mynde continue in hys trayterous entent now seing hys diuelish doinges to be bewrayed The byshop besieged in the castel of Stech he fled for refuge to the Castell of Stech where in he was by Stenoes soldiours besieged Christiern kyng of Denmarke hearyng of the daunger that Gostaue was in lyke a faythful confederat did leuy an army for his deliuery trusting by hys power to set the bishop at liberty also by his might to vanquish the country Christiern ouercoÌ„med and dryuen out of Sweâ—â—â— But he beyng driuen backe ouerthrowen by the Swecians was compelled to forsake the rescue of Gostaue and to returne with the losse of a great nomber of hys men into Denmarke The Byshop vnderstaÌ„dyng of the vnfortunate successe of hys companion beyng voyde of al hope vtterly in dispayâ—e of al ayd dyd fayne a repentaunce Gostaue faiâ—â—th a repeÌ„â—aunâ—â— and â—oth yelde was contented symplye to yelde hym selfe onely the siege to be raised It was agred vpon the Byshop thus deliuered because he would seme to be perfect sory for hys offence he left hys ecclesiastical dignity priuately lyued of hys own patrimony Now Christiern seing the head chiefe instrument of hys confederacye to be vnarmed whereby the rest that wer of no such auctority as the Bishop might the easslyer be dismeÌ„bred he began to execute his malicious enterprise with open force Christiern the seconde tyme bothe inuade swecia Stockholm desieged gathering together a huge myghty army dyd leade them into Swecia fullye bent wyth his monstrous power to ouer ruâ— the country to subdue the people with cruel seruitude He incamped round about Stockholme makyng hys fyrste attempt wyth theyr chiefe principal Citye But the Swecian soldiours laced hym his army in so straight that they could get neyther victuel for theÌ„ selues The extrem hunger of the Danes nor forage for theyr horse whych caused hys hoste to peryshe wyth extreme hunger In thys miserable estate they remayned almost two monethes plaged wyth al euyls discommodities that myght be and returne into Denmarke they coulde not the wyndes were so aduers agaynst them Christiern practiseth his deliuery by craft Fleyng therfore to hys old priuy mischiefes he practised the deliuery of hym his by craft from those extremities wherein they were wrapped For beyng thus wyth the sharpe gredy plague of famin ouecoÌ„med he desired truse an end of the wars Steno Gouernour of Swecia wyth glad mynde condiscended agreed to the peace A treaty oâ— peace The noble dede of Steno He also considering the horryble penury of his aduersaries did vpon a valiant pityful mynde send in to the campe of the Danes a nomber of Biefes wyth other victuel wherby the paynful hunger of hys enemies was relieued Christiern faining a great fauour to Steno fraudulently semyng to be muche beholdyng vnto hym for thys good turne of hys dyd send into the City requestyng hym friendly to come into hys tent speake with him Steno was voyde of discâ—yght The which Steno who ment all truth had done if the Senate of Stockholm had not stayed him For he was so noble of mynde that he thoughte no disceite could lurke in a Princes brest But the Auncientes of the City consideryng their wealth decay to remain in hys parson would not suffer him vpon so slender an entreaty to depart out of the towne The Dane therfore perceiuyng this euyl to be spyed or at the least frustrate The Dane deniseth yet another misâ—hiefe dyd yet denise a nother mischief declaring how he would come into the City among theÌ„ if he might haue pledges for his safe returne Steno being therto throughlye perswaded dyd appoynt certaine yong noble Gentlemen to be his warrauntes Among whom was the most valiant Gostaue Erichson Father to the noble Eric Gostaue Erichson father to Eric nowe kyng of Swedia to sent for a pledge to Christiern who caryed hym prysouer into DeÌ„marke now Kyng of Swecia He wyth the rest coÌ„mitting them selues to the fidelity of the Danes entred into theyr Campe from whence they were caried to their shyps and there contrary to the expectacion of Steno were bound in Irons The king thus falselying his fayth dyd not according to his princely promise come into the city but waying his anckers hoysing vp hys sayles made speede with hys pray into Denmarke The Swecians not without iust cause did greatly enuy the infidelitie of the Danes Christiern returnes into DeÌ„mark and also deplored lamented for the losse of these noble meÌ„ Who were by the fraudulent dealynges of Christern cleane against the lawe of armes forceablye made not pledges as appointmeÌ„t was but prisoners as the Dane would After this flight Christiern the space of .iiii. yere was quiet strengthning his power with men enrytching his cofers with money remaining still in this destable purpose diuelish entent at tyme conuenient to scourge Swecia with some greater plage Vnto which furious madnes Nature had borne hym will had framed him Fortune had apointed him Leuying therefore a great army did once more inuade Swecia Christiern doth the third time inuade Swecia Leuying therefore a great army did once more inuade Swecia Steno remembring the Irregal part of Christiern with an ireful minde of reuenge did wyth great expedicioÌ„ make haste to
tirannye that was best lyked For amonge all their diuelishe deuises thys dampnable sentence chiefelye pleased That Christiern should appoynt a general triumphe feast for his Coronacion The dellysâ— of their dyuclywe attempt whereunto al the Nobility GentlemeÌ„ of Swecia would repaire with a great nomber of others And hauing them once within the Citye by the coulour of friendly chere familiar countenaunce he might the soner with lesse daunger ouerthrow confounde them Then he might execute that which his beastly immoderate importunat nature did driue him to when as no wisdome no power nor no polecy should redresse theyr woful cause so suddein a mischief coÌ„ming vnlooked for The are should lye on their neckes before they shoulde thinke to dye Their weapons warme in their bloude before they coulde iudge any harme and heapes should be murdred before they should finde the peryl This was thought by the whole consent societye of thys facinorous assemblye to be the chiefe and perfecte meane for the vtter decay of the whole countrye The Kyng also greatly aloweth this practise Christiern burneth for the sequell of hys tyranny burning with an incredible desire to accomplishe bring to effect thys horrible deuice he commaundeth the feast he maketh great preparacion he apointeth the order of the triuÌ„phe he geueth honorable entertainment to al the Nobility lodging most part of them in the Castel he prouoketh a myrth he semeth to reioyce he vseth al men with a smilyng countenaunce friendlye The Danes set out them selues in althinges merely and the Swecians doo the same not knowing that their bloud should pay for their banquet Three daies continued their good chere wherin there wanted nothing that might force a gladnes Three daies continued they good chere But now the doleful fate of the SweciaÌ„s aproching and their miserable murdrish tormentes at hande no one among them al could spy the imminent peril of their present destruction No hart panted no flesh trembled nor no minde was moued with any mocion of their present end Christiern thirsteth for the attempt of his tirannye Christiern whose cruell courage vehementlye thursted for the attempt of this tiranny dyd sende hys Garde into the Castel with straight commaundement violently to bynde spoyle the Swecian Geastes who wer in the middest of their banqueting myrth pleasantly passing the tyme The Swecians in the myddest of their baÌ„ket The begyâ—ning of this diuely she myrth more reioycing in long life then preparing for present death to cast them into Dungeons Now beginneth this fury to heape mischiefe vpon mischiefe nowe doth he repugne against humaine nature with an incredible audacitie surmounteth hys hellyshe purpose The day folowing the gates of the towne werammed vp the Lieftenauntes were sent out to defend ciuyl force the Trumpets were coÌ„maunded earlye in the morning to sound their bloudy dreadful noyses Al the mighty soldiours wer apointed to be ready through the City in their armour with terrible cruell countenaunces like wilde and horrible Monsters That what with the roaring noyse of the enemy the feareful clashing of harnis euery one should more doubt hys owne death then eyther the losse of the Citye the resistyng of the aduersary or the safegard of his owne familye It was also apointed It was appoynted that no place shoulde bee voyde of slaughter that what with spillyng of bloude slaughter of Citizens no place no streete nor any waye should be voyde of most dampnable murther And that from the Castel to the Market place al shoulde be ouerthrowen torne downe and ruined wyth the warme bloud of the vnfortunate Swecians Then was there brought from the palace two Byshops Scarencis and Strengenencis which wer with pulling halyng terrible thrusting amonge a sorte of tirannicall villaines brought to the place of execution Twoo Byshops behedded There stoode an aultare before the counsel house where they being cruellye throwen agaynst the grounde lost their heades After them the Rulers chiefe Officers Auncientes The auncientes Senate chief Officers at tirannously murdred wyth suche as were knowen to haue done any thing boldly in the defence of theyr CouÌ„try also the Senat of Stockholme men graue wytty and wealthy were al drawen from the Castell all together were most tirannouslye murdred Then made they a prescript table A Table made wherin is wrytteÌ„ the names of theÌ„ that shoulde be kylled wherein was written the names of those whom they wold haue slayne With this the Garde ran through the Citye executyng theyr detestable mischiefe vpon all those whom they had marked From the which no man coulde flye nor hyde him selfe for all places of refuge was shut vp The Danes augmented their monstrous doinges with aâ—lewd vngracious actes both of handes body For the Soldiours and common people beynge mingled together was cause A generall slaughter that with vehement violence thei did not onely kyl such as wer apointed but also others that wer but lookers on of so cruel a spectacle They spared none they pitied none nor they regarded none but entring into their houses did draw out their vnarmed naked and yelding bodies to the slaughter So muche did the diuelish desire of hellysh madnes conquer them that they executed infinite cursed wycked vengeaunce as wel agaynst God as man Some Citizens bydde them selues When as in thys tumult bloudy broyle a great nomber of the Citizens had hydden them selues in darke secret places and Christiern perceiuing a many that had not as yet tasted of his tyrany A false proclamacion he caused to be proclaimed from the counsel house that al such as liued had escaped his terrible tormeÌ„ts should remayne vnpunnished be free with their lines The good fame and report of this most horrible disceite and false lye so crept into the eares of the vnhappy Citizens whose hartes were wrapped in infinite miseries that wher as they lucked with some safety in obscure vnknowen coruers they came abrod and opened them selues to their enemies at whose hands they fouÌ„d neither fauour grace nor mercy but present death For the example of their former tirannies proceded likewise vpon these The Garbe was coÌ„maunded to coÌ„mit euery one to the sword whose bloudy myndes voyde of al pity dyd murther as many as they could fynde so continued tyl such tyme as al were kylled The loude clamour of the Danes the verâ—e coâ—â—tenace of slaughâ—â— the pitiful noyse of the Matrons playning with shriking cries for the death of their husbaÌ„ds myngled wyth the hydeous gronynge of the murdred Swecians was horrible to heare Al places was fylled wyth armour carkases bloud and lamentation Because Christiern would haue his tiranny the more to excel 〈◊〉 most crual deteâ—â—â—â— Uranay he dyd with great villany spight take a certain noble man whose name was Iohn cleaue against al lawes both natural
humaine he spoyled hym of hys apparel and in contempt naked nailed him on a crosse Who long hangyng there in great payne penurye dyd commit the reuenge of his innocencie to God with lamentable teares be wayled the miserable estate of the City The Wane 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 The Dane ouercommed with furious wrath and wrapped in odible mischiefe dyd cause the natural secret members of the deade to be cut of cast at the face of him that was on the crosse Afterwarde they stroke him through the syde 〈◊〉 â—â—â—th his 〈◊〉 where they tooke out his hart slonge it in hys face So great so large and so immoderate was his irefull mynde that he doubled hys tyrannye wyth violent force The family of Ribiguâ— cruelly persecuted They chiefely persecuted the whole house and family of Ribingus towardes whom they vsed such so much cruelty that when there was no more lefte of sufficient age for slaughter they tooke the yonge children A pityfull murder of Chyldren tying their tender heare in knots hanged them on cages Commaunding his flagitious Tormentours to cut of theyr heades and let the deade carkases to fall on the fylthye ground This done be willed that al their bodies wyth the rest of those that wer murthered should be brought into the Market place where on with gasing gapyng like a fury of hel he fed his wrathful eyes satisfied hys monstrous lust A most hortyble syght to loke vyâ—Ì„ fulfylled the desyre of his most horrible mynde with this his outtagious fierce mischiefe Three dayes dyd their dead bodies lye there in moste loth some wise wrapped defiled all ouer in their owne clottred and congeled bloud Three daies dyd theyr dead bodies lie in the mas ket place Those that yet plunged in the panges of painful death aspiring with panting and feable breath to their fatal end did with trembling flesh neither quicke nor dead dequeth their wofull spirites to God What eye so merciles could stay from teares to behold such torne bodies dismembred of their lymmes and to see such pale wan visages as dead carkases do represent whose innocent ghosts no doubt the hoauens possest No hart but Christierns woulde haue executed such deteâ—table tirannies Chriâ—â—â—â—â— hatte waâ— sâ—onyâ— No men but Monsters could haue bene apt instrumentes for such a murther As he was such was his seruauntes For what he commaunded that they fulfylled in most extreme wyse After al this Christiern not yet fully satisfied nor perfectly glutted in these facinorous factes gaue strayght commaundement that their carkases should be cast into stincking sinckes â—â—â—â—k beab 〈◊〉 are â—â—â—yed in â—â—yules filthy pits priuies without the City He drew the bodye of Steno out of his sepulture so much did the rage of tiranny gouerne him Stebi is â—â—â—â—en out of his graue that his desire of deuouring was like a gredy Hound Who coulde be safe from his fury or how was it possible for anye to be free from his malicious dedes when as the close and secret graues could not hide nor kepe their dead froÌ„ him When he had on this maner depopulated and wasted the City of men leauing not one that the biting edge of weapon myght harme nor sparing of any that the twyned cord might strangle he turned all to rapine theft The cruel countenaÌ„ce of homiciâ—â—â—â— The Wiues were spoyled of their Husbandes the Infantes tender Sucklinges of their Parentes the Widowes of those thinges they best loued namelye theyr Children their Friendes their Kinred and of all their goodes Virgins were destoured Maydens were rauished their auncient Monuments wer rased their Temples ruined no prophane nor sacred thyng was spared Whylest the Tiraunt was executing of these detestable mischiefes with in he kept fast the gates of the Citye least the horrible fame cruel cry of their euyls shoulde haue fled into the eares of the Countrye whereby iust warres myght partly haue reuenged theyr moste abhominable doinges What studdes of teares shewrd down from euery mans eyes The lamen Racid of the Country with dolerous sobs What plunging sighes boiled out of euery mans brest with mased myndes What thundring noyse roared foorth of euerye mans hart What desperat musis what terror wyth what inward feare euery one was laden clogged with al through the whole Country when the horror of thys incredible newes was perfectlye reported vnto them there is none but may iudge Some Fathers lamented the losse of their Sonnes Some ChildreÌ„ bewayled the cruel end of their Fathers Some Myues playned the woful death of their Husbandes some friendes sorowed for the terrible tormentes of their Familiars but generallye euerye one pitied the miserable slaughter of their country men and with great despight enuyed the hellysh doynges of the Danes Christiern departeth from Stock holme When Christiern had thus finished the end of all hys murdrish factes he departed the City and in his iorney went to an Abbey called the New valley Where of the Abbot and Monkes he was honorably receiued friendly entertained and gently vsed hauing al thinges ministred to him his at their desire Christiern commeth to an Abbey called the New valley where he executeth a crucl tirany The Tiraunt did faine a great loue towardes them taking verye thankfullye their diligent curtesy And beyng there on Candelmas day he went to their Church and heard seruice neuer offering nor shewyng anye signe of mischiefe tyll suche time as their ceremonies wer done The vnquenchable flaine of his ripe euyls pestilent doinges woulde not be by any meanes repressed nor extincted Tirani waâ— rooted in 〈◊〉 hart of Christiern for the bloudy seede of murther was so rooted in his tyranous harte that the hurle winde of mischief renting breath of vices had ship wrackt in hym al princely vertues For after he had receiued such honorable chere wyth an adiniracion of the Abbots prouision A cruell account Immediately when theyr sacred seruice was ended he belched out his poysoned nature callyng the Monkes to account for his good entertainment rewarded them wyth bynding beatyng and drowning The Abbot by fortune escaped their handes and prouyng to saue his lyse by swymmyng the cruell and most parnicious companye of the Saylers dyd so wounde hym that loosyng hys strengthe he was lykewyse drowned Thus thys Christiern full gorged wyth the bloude of the Swecians 〈…〉 wyth â—â—â—dy spâ—ll â—â—â—urns inâ—â— DeÌ„ark and laden wyth rytches slaughter and spoyle leauing a garyson of Danes in the Castel of Stockholme saylde wyth his horrible praye into Denmarke He scourged Swecia with the plages of battell theft murder al other kinde of mischeuous euyls The diuelysh sury of â—ostaue the â—ounterfayt Byshop Gostaue the false and counterfaite Bishop desyryng contrary to his sacred profession to excel in the bloudy fury of a soldiour and delyghtynge in the daungerous broyles of battel dyd thrust out irradical and
grounde much lyke the cituasioÌ„ of Venis from whence he taketh his name For although it be builded in water yet is the foundacion very strong sure The sea entreth into it by two great and large armes that any shyp ful fraited may sayle with her burden into eyther of them After the incarnacion of Christ 1307. this city was wonderfullye afflicted 〈◊〉 â—â—râ—full 〈◊〉 not of 〈◊〉 â—â—ard of and almost vtterly ruined by a fyre that fell from heauen For when the lyghtnyng had taken hold of the houses it miserably burnt broyled as well the people as their goodes There perished in this pitifull flame xvi hundred men But moste part of the wemen with an innumerable sort of maydes conueyed them selues with their substauÌ„ce children abourd such shyps as lay in their hauens with theÌ„ not a few men Notwythstandyng A thousand and syxâ— hundred menne 〈◊〉 before they could depart the whole multitude fleing from the peryl of present death violently imbarked them selues with the rest hauing no regard to their common calamity dyd ouer charge theyr shyps in such sort that the waters deuoured them both Such as wyth great hope hasard A wonderful and a laâ—â—â—ntable â—haunce escaped the hatefull death of burning here ended their lyues with the vnlucky chaunce of drowning An example to the worlde no les worthy to be noted then it is of al men to be pitied Thys country of Swecia is ful of Marchandrise for strauÌ„gers for their own necessaries they haue inough to make exchaunge with others They haue also great store of precious furres mettals The hye MouÌ„taines of Norway Denmarke are playnly and perfecly sene of them A greate Kynd of curâ—â—â—y It is for a trothe reported that the inhabitants of Swecia haue a wonderful kinde of curtyse entertainment wyth them For they account hym an euyl naughtye man that denyeth to the straunger lodgyng so that contencion strife doth often chauÌ„ce among them who Wall first receaue the traueler into hys house Where as they pay neither for meate nor drinke And besides this In Swedland the traueler pâ—ieth not for â—â—â—vytails but in corporate townes they wyll guyde their Gest to hys next bayght lendyng hym horse and other necessaries for the quicker dispatch of hys iourney What greater honour can one do to his country then in vsyng a straunger friendly The people of Swecia are many of strength armes mighty both on horsebacke a foote In battel bold and valiant eyther on the land or the sea The Dukedome of Angermani conteineth the North partes to the confines of Laponie whose country is full of great woods and large Forestes where their chiefe wylde beastes are hunted The Dukedome of Midelpathus occupieth the south of Angermani after whom lyeth the Dukedomes of Helsingia Gesâ—ritia Firingia Vpsalia their Metrapolitane city the Dukedome of Coperdalia where ther is a valley that groweth ful of Copper A valley that groweth ful of Coppet also Dalecarlia a people strong mighty in armes The Dukedome of Vplandia which hath all hys Countrye with mynes of Siluer Copper Steele Vplandia rytche of al mettals They haue a notable city called Nicopia strongly fortified wyth hye walles great Bulwarkes Kolinolnemus deuideth Swecia from Gothelande by the Poole that stretcheth out a longe from Nicopia ¶ Of the Kynges of Swecia TO seeke the fyrst spryng and originall of the SweciaÌ„s my labour should be no les therin theÌ„ an endles trauel I thinke it as vn possible for others to finde as myselfe both for others to finde as my selfe both for the antiquiti of their name and also the auncient state continuaunce of their raigne Notwythstanding that whych passed tyme hath coÌ„mitted to the report of letters which of al auctorities is accounted ol best I haue here briefly collected 〈◊〉 were 〈…〉 lande 〈…〉 â—â—ich 〈◊〉 Long time past and long before the natiuity of Christ Sichtrug as saithe Saxus Gramaticus reigned kyng of Swecia tyl such time as Gram kyng of Denmarke dyd ouercome and kyl Sichtrug in battel whereby the Swecians were made for a whyle subiectes to the Danes Then Swiddager kyng of Norway expulsed and draue fourthe Grame bothe out of Denmarke and Swecia 〈…〉 by whyche meanes he brought all three kyngdomes vnder one crowne Suche alteracion and ouerthrowes of Princes as our Elders haue seene them so we in our daies haue felt the profe of them For when for tune is disposed to daly with Princes The â—â—unâ—â—â—â—us â—â—aâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—or 〈◊〉 she maketh theyr seat so much the hygher that theyr fall in the ende maye be the greater After Swiddager succeeded hys sonne Hasmond in the kyngdomes of Swecia Norway Vffo after Hasmond and Hindin after Vffo Hynding succeded Hindin and after his death he left the crowne of Swecia to his sonne Hothrod Who whilst he striued to amplefy enlarge hys kyngdome lost both it hys lyfe Whereby a way was made for the Danes to the crowne of Swecia But Atisle Nother the sonnes of Hothrod consideryng the straight tribute of the Danes recouered for a small tyme enioyed the crowne after their Fathers death For Rolfe kyng of Denmarke inuaded Swecia and slew Atisse in battel He tooke the Regall name of a king from them and would in no wise haue them beare any Princely dignitye but to remayne subiectes onely to the crowne of Denmarke Tyll such tyme as Hiartur a noble man borne of Swecia dyd so enter into the fauour and grace of Rolfe Swecia is made a â—â—â—butary â—â—â—tenant sâ—yâ— that he graunted them the title of a Lieftenant appointing therwithal a yerely tribute to be payd And because he wold be the more assured of hys fidelity he gaue hym his syster in mariage The iestes doynges of Swecia remayned in thys state but a whyle For Hiartur dyd cut of the heade of Rolfe he againe of the Danes was polde by the same Barber Then Mother the brother of Atisse whoÌ„ Rolfe dyd kyll seyng the Regall seate voyde of a kyng dyd wyn the Nobilities fauour so muche that they possest him wyth the same and also they made it easye for hym to brynge in subiection the kyngdome of Denmarke Denmarke subiect to the crowne of Swecia whych he dyd But as wyth small trauel lytle tyme he obtayned it so wyth inconstancy and lightnes of minde in les whyle he lost it For Baldar dyd driue hym out of Denmarke Not long after Mother was slayn in battel where vpon the Nobility beyng weary loathyng the yoke of the Danes dyd make Atisse one of the bloude Royal kyng Thus passed their state for a tyme wher in no notable thyng is founde to be done amonge the Swecians wether the Danes to them or they to Danes were subiectes But as by histories it is certaynlye knowen that aboute the time of Augustus Cesar Alric was kinge of Swecia who was slayne
by Eric a man of wyt excellent of toung eloquent of handes ready valiaunt who vanquished Alric and raygned kynge after hym Thys was the same tyme that Christe descended from heauen tooke vpon hym our mortal nature At 〈◊〉 tyme Christ descended oute of heauen Haldan the sonne of Eric succeeded hys father in the kyndome of Swecia who was slayne and hys sonne Siward as heyre to his father possest the crown Then Eric the sonne of Siwardes doughter and the sonne of Froto kyng of Denmarke dyd both step in for the kyngdome Betwene 2. stooles the â—â—â—le goeth 〈…〉 ground but they ended theyr raygne by mutual battell Haldane the second did get into the Regall seate a man onely geuen to the warres regarding neither the maryage of wyfe nor the gettyng of chyldren esteming more the field conquest then the bed victory rather delighting in the bloudy dedes of Mars then in the pleasaunt pastimes of Venus not wythstandyng he apoynted who should weare the crowne after hym which was Vngulnus He dyed left both Swecia and Denmarke vnder the gouernment of his sonne Siwald After whom Reignold and after Reignold Aluer one of the noblest men in Swecia successiuely raygned kynges Then Ingus the eldest of Aluers three sonnes dyd lawfullye succede hys father The kyngdome deuided betwen thee bretbreÌ„ But he deuidyng the Realme wyth hys brethren Olaue and Ingellus did onely reserue to him selfe the general decree of al lawes He was slayne with his brother Olaue in the Denmarke warres Ingellus by the victors consent enioyed the whole kingdome Ringus beyng yet but a chylde dyd raygne after hys father Ingellus and after hym Gotare who was slayne in battell agaynste the Danes whereby the crowne of Swecia came to Iarmeric kyng of Denmarke Thys was aboute the yeare of Christe 380. at what tyme the Gothes that longe before were gone oute of Swecia and Gothia made great spoyle and wonderfully troubled the Romaynes both in Italye Spayne and Fraunce The Gothes which continually remained in theyr countrye dyd vnit and knyt them selues to the Swecians bothe in lawes and maners and euer synce haue bene subiectes to the Kynges of Swecia ¶ Who were Kynges of Swecia after Charles the great SInce the yearely histories and actes of Swecia from Iameric to Fro is vnknowen to me I am compelled to let slyp and ouer leape that tyme. Fro was kyng of Swecia when Lodowic the sonne of Charles the great Fro kyngs of Swedia was slayns by the wemen of Norway dyd syt in the Imperial seat of Rome Thys fro was slayne by the wemen of Norway And Herot chosen kyng in hys place which left the succession to Sorle whom Regner kyng of Denmarke ouercame in battell whereby the crowne came to Biorne the eldest sonne of Regner who after the trauel of a few yeares in Swecia gaue place to Fortune For Vnichsert the second sonne of Regner was chosen kyng for hys brother And after hym Eric the thirde sonne of Regner was apoynted to raygne in Swecia But Often a man nobly borne of the bloud royall of Swecia did oppres and ouerthrow Eric and tooke the gouernement and rule of hys natiue countrye into hys own handes Now the brethren of Eric both to reuenge his death and also to get their old regiment did so trouble and vexe the kyngdome of Osten that they brought the crowne to Sturbiorne Kynge Biorns sonne wyth whom Fortune dalyed but a whyle for he was lykewise ouercoÌ„med and driuen out of Swecia Olaue the first kyng that professed Christe iâ— Swedia was christâ—ned Iames the yeare of Christ 〈◊〉 by Eric sonne to Olaue cousin to Regner This man enioyed the crown wythout any let trouble or daunger who left the kyngdome to his sonne Olaue which quietly possest the same and was the first among the SweciaÌ„ kyngs that openly professed Christ He receyued the holye sacrament of Baptisme and was named Iames. There were manye in Swecia that longe before hys time did secretly professe the faith and tooke vpon them the holye order of Anscharius Thys was the yeare of Christ 1000 at such time as holy Hary was Emperour of Rome After Iames his brother Emonde borne of a harlot a Christian onely in name dyd succede to the crowne a man in marcial affaires nothing fortunate He left the kyngdome to Stinkell a very good Prince better worthy of the place then his predecessor for the Christian religion dyd greatlye increase in hys tyme. He pulde downe banished the Idolatry that the Vpsalieus did vse whereby he much honoured his country wan him selfe a fame perpeiuallye He also appointed the same place to be their Metrapolitane City About the yeare of Christ 1100. he yelded to nature her due What two â—riueth for the third eniâ—yâ—th after whose deathe twoo Erics not wythout great slaughter effucion of noble bloude contended for the crowne But Halsten sonne of kyng Stinkell vpon the vnlucky end of both these Erics who perished in battel as lawful heire possest the kyngdome from whence he was by rebellion driuen out agayne Animander chosen kyng in hys place Who for hys crueltye to religion with in a lytle while after was compeld to treade the steps of hys predecessor Aquine elected kyng in hys roume Then Magnus the sonne of Nicholas kyng of Denmarke by the helpe of the Gothes whych were wearye wyth their often chaunge in Swecia was made kyng The Gothâ—â— deuided â—â—om the â—wedians The Gothes deuiding them selues once more from the body of Swecia and gaping for an alteracion dyd trust that the Imperiall Crowne shoulde chaunce to hym whom they would assigne it to The Swecians beyng valiant of mynde would not beare so great an iniurye that their old auncient custome of chosyng their prince should be by any astred Wherfore they determined that their king should be elected and appointed at their pleasure They aduaunsed to the crowne one of their owne countrey and not onely not regarded but also despired the kyng which the Gothes had made The Gothes stubburnly and rebelliously resisting the decree and sentence of the Swecians dyd make ciuyll warres agaynst their newe kyng whom they dyd ouercome And because they would haue Magnus to raigne which was of the Gothes election they made the Imperiall seate voyde of a Ruler The Swecians anoyding domestical discencion internal hatred did condiscend and agre wyth the Gothes not by compulsion The Swedians sâ—the of ciuyll waâ—ris but by request that Magnus shoulde be kyng After whose death they generallye exalted Swercone to the kyngdome Who left a sonne named Charles that quietlye peaceably succeded his father al the tyme of Waldimar kyng of Denmarke to whose doughter he was maried After Charles reigned Eric who quietlye passed hys lyfe with the Danes was about the tyme of Christe 1249. Whose fate fortune beyng at an ende they made great variaunce discord with the kyng
Birgerius He left the kyngdome to Waldimare who takyng his viage into the holy land did leaue the protection of his realme to his brother Magnus which with vnnatural rebellioÌ„ did vsurpe the same would neuer surrender it againe The vncertayne sâ—aie of a prinâ—â— Birgerius succeded Magnus and tragecally enioyed the crowne For when he thought him selfe most assured and in the type of al hys glory he was depriued by Eric his brother cast into the wretched bandes of imprisonment From whence at length being by good fortune deliuered he ioyned his sonne Magnus quopartner with him in his raigne Birgerius now at libertie knitting amalicious reuenge with his auctoritie did cal to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce the spiteful wrongs he had suffred at the handes of his brethren His vnquenchable colour kynled so fast for repaying the like euyll that he would by no meanes be pacified til that with their bloud he was satisfied A vnnaturall murder among brethren When hys brethren least feared hym and when they thought the stinking mist of al malice to be voide then did he with a tained coulour of frendshyp request them to a banquet where in the myddest of their mirth they were cruelly slaine This horrible detestable fact dyd so creepe into the eares of the Commons that it moued euery maÌ„ to the iust reuengement of so murdrish a dede Then he with his Quene fled left his sonne Magnus behinde him whose heade recoÌ„pensed the offence of his father After whoÌ„ they aduaunced Magnus the son of Eric which was behedded at his brothers banquet to the imperial crowne His raigne was so prosperous that with the help of vertue and the fauour of good fortune The kyngdom of Norway knyt to the crownâ— of â—weâ—ia he ioyned the country of Norway to his kingdom of Swecia was crowned king of both countries He yelded Nature her due the yeare of Christ 1326. and left a sonne called Magnus heire to bothe the kyngdomes Magnus did promis the mariage of his sonne Aquine to the natural sister of the Earle of Holst on this condition that if Aquine receiued her not a Maide al the noble men and rulers of Swecia shoulde be free of theyr othe and alegeaunce to the King This Maide saylinge into Swecia was taken vpon the sea of Waldimar King of Denmarke Margaret Waldimars doughter was maried to Aquine Which thyng the Gouernours of Swecia perceiuyng denyed their duty homage to their Prince because he kept not promise with them forthwith they were sent of the Earle of Holst to Albert Duke of Magnopolis father in law to the sayd Earle who had maried Eufemia the kings sister whose sonne named Albert they would haue to their king and so depriued Magnus from al his royall dignitie But he seing him selfe deposed forsaken dyd ioyne with Aquine to make cruel war against Albert whose force nought auailed for Alberts power was more able to resist them then theirs was to ouerthrow him Magnus of â—dâ—iuexyle Wherfore Magnus was compelled in the ende to be contented with his banishment wherein he dyed Albert being now established and with princely auctority confirmed in his kingdome did apoint hymselfe with al honourable furniture syt for a King leauing the charge of the regall gouernement in the handes of Dismarie did sayle to his Countrey Magnopolus The valyaÌ„t and haught mynde of a woman In the meane season whilst these thinges were a doing Margaret the doughter of Waldimar king of Denmarke Norway after the death of her husbande protected the two kingdomes with her litle sonne Olaue And hauing a desire to the regiment of Swecia she began to quarel with Albert king of the same They both leuied two mighty armies committing the successe of their good or euyl fortune to the bloudy lot of war Albert who hadde finished the course of hys prosperous raygne was wyth his yonge sonne Eric of Margaret taken prisoners with whom they were kept in miserable captiuitye the lyngring tyme of seuen yeares Margarâ—â— Queene of the three kyngdomes By which ouerthrowe of Albert the thre kyngdomes were once more subiectes to one crowne and haue alwayes remained so euer since The Norwaise neuer chauÌ„ging nor disagreing but the Swecians refusing to beare the troublesome yoke of a straunger haue often tymes shaken of the societie of the Danes Now Albert vpon this condicion was deliuered oute of myson that he should within three yeares folowyng pay three score thousand marke or els deliuer the town and Castel of Stockholme otherwyse to be imprisoned againe Albert would haue surrendred the City but the Swecians would not by any meanes agree to it he being therfore in dispaire and voyde of all hope of recouering hys kyngdome dyd geue vp al and contented hym selfe wyth his old Magnopolus The mightye Margaret triumphantlye raygnynge Quene of the three kingdomes passed her youthe wyth great pompe among the Swecians tyll suche tyme as crooked age with creping pace ouertoke her whose stalking steps none can ouer runne and then by the coÌ„mon counsel and consent of her rulers and gouernours she adopted Eric Captaine of Pomeranie to her sonne The Capytaine of Pomeranye is made kyng â—ome say the this Phillippâ— was the kyngs dangâ—ter of England After whose death he was made Kyng of the three kyngdomes quietly passed his tyme a great while amonge the Swecians For Philippa the Quene his wife and daughter to the kyng of Portugal dyd most commonly lye in Swecia where in the end she dyed Now the kyng hauing continual warres wantyng money dyd contrary to his othe spoile the Swecians and sought al the meanes he myght to impouerishe the country because it semed welthiar much more rytcher then the rest Which made the Nobilitie to declare their impacience with open enuy for the Swecians as they are slow to conceiue a wrong so are they quicke in the reuenge of iniurie but when this was reported and perfectly related to the Earles of Eric he which for his euil estemed nothing litle regarded it The smal regard of princes is 〈◊〉 tymes cause of their more â—â—struction Tyll suche tyme as Engelbert a noble man both by birth condicion dyd rayse rebellion against him And where as he had tortified the Castels and fortes of Swecia with captaines officers of the Danes Thys Engelbert remoued theÌ„ and did constitute apoint Swecians in their places Then Eric at the first wyth great expedicion sought to feare Engelbert wyth cruell threatnynges whyche nought auailed for his magnanimity was able to counterpaise the others enuy Wherefore he raysed a mighty army thinkyng thereby to pacefy the Swecians furye He saylinge with hys parnicious companye towardes Swecia was preuented of his purpose by a terrible tempest wherin most of them were drowned And Eric him selfe compeld to land with a few where he sawe by experience that fauour and not force wold vanquish the Swecians Althinges chauncing contrary
to his expectacion he dyd wyth muche speede and lyttle gayne returne into Denmarke At length the Portes townes adioyning to the sea made this concord agrement betwene Eric and Engel bert Eric shuld be king on this coÌ„dicion A kyng vpoÌ„ condicions that no Danes but Swecians should beare office in their holdes their Cities shoulde keepe their olde liberties and their marchauntes their accustomed fraunches The kyng beyng resident in the country should receiue hys whole reuenewe and beyng absent but the one halfe These thynges agreed vpon he saild into Denmarke where the Danes takynge example of the Swecians prescribed certayne rules and orders which they would haue compelled their kyng to folow wherby much trouble happened in their country He therwithall wonderfully offended 〈◊〉 forsâ—oke hys kyngdome did gather together as much treasure as he might And swearing neuer more to medle wyth the troublesome state of a kyng dyd sayle into Prussia After whom Christopher Prince of Palatine Duke of Bauar consin to Eries sister was generallye chosen by the chiefe Rulers of the three kingdomes Whereby they thought to haue prouided a great tranquilitie and quietnes to their Marchauntes This man altered nothyng in Swecia tyl such tyme as not contented with his owne prosperitye he began to enuy their countrye And then he heaped vp al the treasure of the kingdome as wel that which was gathered of many yeres before as his own and sent it away by the sea After whose death the Swecians would ioyne their kingdome no more with the Danes The Swecians refuse to be knyt wyth the Danes but with a muche better wyl dyd chuse to their kyng Charles Canutus one of their owne a worthy Ientleman nobly borne of the old auncient bloud of the kinges of Gothea and Swecia He scant had finished .vii. yeares in his raigne when he began to ware very greuous couetous in all thinges Peruers counsel bredeâ—â— contemple to the Prince altring his noble nature from vpright Iustice to seuere cruel punishment accounting his wyl in eche decree to be a law which caused hys faythfull louyng subiectes to reuolt and turne from hym When he perceiued that they sweld so agaynst hym suche thinges as he had before his election he gathered together and placing the treasure of the crowne in a sure hold imbarked him selfe and went to Gedamus When the kyng was crosse saild and wanting nothing for hys departure but onely waying of Ancker one of his noble men demaunded of hym it he had not left something a shore vndone This is not sounde in Mounster but ye shall reâ—deâ—â— in the history of the Bâ—thes whych he would haue executed To whom the Kyng with a great sygh answered Yes verelye I haue neglected longe tyme synce the executyng of thee and thy lyke which yf I had then done I had nowe quietlye remayned in the common wealth Then Christiern whom the Danes and Norwayse had elected for their Kyng was called into the kingdom to be crowned whereby the thre kyngly titles did ioyne agayne in one Not long after the Swecians did moue iust rebellion agaynst kyng Christiern because he kepte not promise with them nor did not wisely obserue those thinges he had taken in hand The kyng therfore the .7 yeare of his raygne the yeare of Christ .1469 dyd enter with cruel battel into the couÌ„try of Swecia wher as the inhabitantes being knit together did easely resist him Notwithstanding thys repulse he had .2 Castels in the Country that wonderfully vexed troubled the Swecians Afterwarde the Kyng entryng agayne wyth an army into Swecia could doo no good for hym selfe nor damage to his enemye for the strayghte passage of the mountaynes In the meane season Charles Canutus that was Kyng of Swecia dyed in whose place they chose Steno one of theyr worthy Captaynes The Swecians chuse Steno to be gouernour to whoÌ„ thef giue the auctoâ—iâ—ye of a kynge but not the name to whom they gaue the authority of a Kyng but not the name He myght call commaund all the Swecian Princes and Rulers to anye affayres about the Realme suche one whom the Germaynes name a Marshal the FrenchmeÌ„ a Constable the Romaynes a Mayster of the Horse In great reuerence and estimacion was thy Steno among the Swecians For they accounted hym as well worthy of the crowne as any of his predecessors which they not seldom tymes offered hym wyth the name of a Kyng but he continually refused it Iohn the sonne of Christiern â—ohn kyng of DeÌ„mark 〈◊〉 gape for the crowne 〈◊〉 â—â—ecia beyng placed successor in both the kingdomes of Demnarke Norway dyd also gape for the crowne of Swecia Whose expectacion they lykewise had satisfied if he would haue bene bound as the rest of his predecessors were to the obseruances of al their old lawes and customes whych he refused vnles he myght haue it wyth the franke auctority of a Prince Many yeares passed whilst the affayres of Swecia remayned in thys state and chiefe lye because theyr protector was of such Iustice that the people had no desyre to a Kyng Now Iohn the sonne of Christiern gatheryng together an excedyng great and myghty army â—ohn kyng of DeÌ„mark dothe vanquysh Swecia did lead them into Swecia Where after many bloudy battels he conquered the Country Not long after when the Kyng was busyed about the determinacions and apoyntmentes of hys doynges ther rose a rumir among the people how easely they myght recouer theyr liberty The kyng beyng so busely occupyed aboute the establyshyng of his own estate But he perceiuyng theyr murmuryng myndes dyd leaue hys wyfe wyth a Garyson in the Castel of Stockholme priuely departed out of the Country The Quene thus left the Swecians did besiege the Castel â—â—â—ng ThoÌ„s 〈◊〉 is alâ—â—â—st â— yere 〈◊〉 Nâ—nste wherein she was at lengthe by the extremity of famyne hungar she yelded and went to the Monastery of saynt Brydget from whence she was after the space almost of two yeares delyuered by Raymond Legat of Rome In the meane tyme kyng Iohn dyd leny a huge army to cary into Swecia where he hauyng many friendes whych sent hym word eyther to bryng fifty thousand men or els his trauel should be in vayne Notwithstandinge he attempted thys warre Fyfty thousand Danes go into swecia and preuayle not wherein he litle preuayled hauing his sonne Christiern a soldiour wyth hym After the trauel of a smal tyme in these doutful doynges he dyed and lefte Christiern hys sonne in hys place ¶ The tragicall hystorye and tiranicall doynges of the second Christiern king of Denmarke CHristiern the second king of DeÌ„marke son to Iohn dyd plainly demoÌ„strate in his youth where vnto he would be chiefely addicted in his age For beyng a soldiour vnder his Father in the Swecian warres he vsed hym selfe verye fierce and cruel in peace at home double deceitfull