Arguments to excuse and even to justify Injury and Oppression The devout King Eric was Barbarously Assassinated by his seditious Subjects and the King of Gothland was suspected of encouraging and corresponding with the Rebels Charles VII The Swedes advanc'd this Prince to the Throne that the two Gothlands might be reunited to the Crown He took all possible care to keep his Subjects from suspecting that he had a Hand in the death of his Predecessor In pursuance of that design he began the Exercise of his Regal Authority by ordaining that all the Laws of St. Eric shou'd be punctually observ'd He recall'd Canut that Prince's Son who after his Fathers Death had made his escape into Norway And to remove all the pretexts that might be us'd for embroiling the Kingdom in a civil War he made a Law that Canut shou'd inherit the Crown after his Death and that for ever afterwards the King shou'd be chosen by turns out of the two Royal Families Afterwards he erected several Monasteries to gain the Esteem and Affection of the People who are always extreamly fond of such external Marks of Piety and Devotion He sent an Embassy to Rome to obtain from Pope Alexander III. the Title of Arch-Bishop and the Pallium for the Bishop of Vpsal who was Primate of the Kingdom The Pope was easily prevail'd with to grant or rather to sell him the favour he desir'd according to the usual Maxims of the Court of Rome and that Prelate was invested with the Archiepiscopal Dignity on condition that the Estates of all those who died without Children in the Kingdom shou'd be intail'd upon the Holy-See but the Swedes soon grew weary of that Religious Bâ—â—dage and freed themselves from so 〈…〉 Canut Tho' King Charles had made a solemn Law to settle the Succession upon this Prince his Ambition cou'd not be satisfied with the prospect of a Crown in reversion He levy'd Forces in Norway and resolving at once to recover the Throne and revenge the Death of his Father he invaded Sweden routed King Charles kill'd him in the Battle and by that Victory made himself Master of the Kingdom He lest no means unattempted to extirpate the whole Race of his Predecessor but since 't was never in the power of a Tyrant to secure his Ursupation by the Death of his Successor all the cruel Diligence with which he persecuted the Family of the late King cou'd not hinder the Swedes from Electing Suercher the Son of that Prince according to the Law by which 't was ordain'd that the two Families shou'd enjoy the Crown by turns Suercher III. This Prince imitating the Barbarous policy of his Predecessor order'd an exact search to be made for all the Relations and Posterity of St. Eric But one of those Princes escap'd his fury and rais'd an Army to make head against his Persecutor Eric X. He defeated King Suercher in a Battle and after that Prince's Death obtain'd the Crown which at that time was always the Reward of the Conqueror As soon as he was fix'd upon the Throne he endeavour'd to make a friendly Agreement with the Family of his Predecessor in order to which he offer'd to re-establish the Law that was made by King Charles for regulating the Succession and to convince the posterity of that Prince that he really design'd to put the Treaty in Execution he appointed John the Son of Suercher to succeed him excluding his own Son Prince Eric who was oblig'd to content himself with a distant prospect of inheriting the Crown after the Death of Prince John Iohn I. He conquer'd some places in Livonia and endeavour'd by Force of Arms to make the Esthonians renounce the Idolatry that prevail'd among 'em But the People of that Country looking upon their forc'd Conversion as a sort of Slavery took up Arms and drove the Swedes out of their Province In the mean time King John Died in the Isle of Wiensingso after he had reign'd three years Eric XI call'd the Stammerer He was the Son of Eric X and obtain'd the Possession of the Crown without the least Effusion of Blood It may be reckon'd a very rare Instance of moderation that a Royal Family shou'd so tamely divest themselves of the Sovereign Authority and suffer a Prince of another House to mount the Throne without Opposition This Monarch had occasion during his Reign to perform a very important piece of service to the Regency of Lubeck The Danes Besieg'd that City with a numerous Army and shut up the Port with an Iron Chain which was defended by a potent Fleet. But when the City was reduc'd to the utmost extremity the King of Sweden sent a considerable number of Ships mann'd with Soldiers under the Convoy of several Men of War who beat the Danes open'd a passage thro' their Squadrons broke the Chain with which the Mouth of the River Trave was block'd up reliev'd the City with Men Provisions and Ammunition and by that seasonable and important supply deliver'd the Republick from the Danish Yoak The Regency as a Testimony of the publick gratitude for so signal a Deliverance ordain'd that the Swedish Merchant Ships shou'd from that time be exempted from the payment of Customs and Duties Waldemar The Family of King Suercher shou'd have had their turn in the Election by vertue of the Treaty concluded with the House of Eric But it seems the Swedes had either forgotten or neglected that Agreement for tho' Eric the Stammerer left no Issue they Elected Waldemar the Son of that Prince's Sister and of Ierl or Count Birger who was General of the Swedish Forces during the preceeding Reign It may perhaps appear strange that the Son tho' an Infant was preferr'd before his Father but 't is plain from the Swedish History that tho' the Kingdom was always Elective 't was the perpetual custom of the People to chuse a Prince of the Royal Family preferrably to all the other Lords of the Kingdom In the mean time the Count or Ierl Birger was intrusted with the care of the Government during the Minority of King Waldemar And that Wise Lord who was his own Son's Minister made it his principal Care to raise the Honor and Authority of the Crown He concluded a Peace with the Neighbouring Princes and then apply'd himself wholly to the contriving and pursuing of those Maxims that might make him absolute in the Kingdom He built and fortify'd the City of Stockholm instituted good and useful Laws and exacted a punctual observance of ' em Upon advice that some Lords began to grow Jealous of his Authority and to complain that he made an ill use of it he suppress'd those brooding Commotions by ordering the principal Fomenters of 'em to be beheaded Afterwards he marri'd the King his Son to Sophi the Daughter of Eric King of Demark that the Authority of his Family might be secur'd by so powerful an Alliance As soon as the young Prince was of Age he advanc'd his Father from the Dignity
and Title of a Ierl to that of a Duke as a Recompence for his paternal Care and by his Father's Advice he created his Brother Magnus Prince of Sadermania Eric Prince of Smaland and Benedict Prince of Finland Birger having sâ—ttl'd his Family and establish'd his Son upon the Throne died not long after and the Peace and Happiness of Sweden ended with the Life of that Great Man King Waldemar repenting his Kindness to the Princes his Brothers endeavour'd to deprive 'em of the Estates he had bestow'd on 'em by way of Appennâ—ge especially Duke Magnus whom he accus'd of aspiring to the Crown These Animosities occasion'd a furious intestine War which was fomented by the Danes and ended in the Defeat and Abdication of King Waldemar who was taken Prisoner and after he had resign'd the Crown retir'd with his Danish Auxiliaries to Malmogen in the Province of Schonen Magnus Ladisias The Merit of this Prince entitl'd him to the Possession of the Crown which his Brother was neither able to preserve nor worthy to enjoy In the Beginning of his Reign he made it his Business to encrease his Revenues and diminiâ—h his Charge as the surest way to establish his Authority He made so strong an Interest in the Convention of the Estates that the Sovereignty of all the Mines in the Kingdom and of the Four great Lakes Meler Wener Weter and Hielmer and all the Duties or Rents of the difforested 〈◊〉 were solemnly vested in the Crown This wise Prince made use of so considerable an Augmentation of his Revenues to secure his Authority against the natural Inconstancy of a Nation that could neither live without a King nor submit to the Dominion of a potent and resolute Prince He invited several German Lords to his Court and advanc'd 'em to the principal Offices in the Kingdom The Promotion of these Strangers and the Interest which the King had in Foreign Countries made the Swedish Lords extreamly uneasie and at last irritated 'em to such a degree that they assassinated all the Germans The King was highly incens'd at so bold an Action but had the Prudence to conceal his Indignation In the mean time he made secret Levies and as soon as he saw himself in a condition to execute his Revenge he surpriz'd the Male-contents and caus'd their principal Ring-leaders to be beheaded The Spirit of Rebellion seem'd to be quite extinguish'd by the Severity of so terrible a Blow and that wise and daring Prince wou'd have certainly establish'd his Authority upon such sure Foundations and advanc'd it to so great a height that he might have bequeath'd an absolute Power to his Children if the Accomplishment of his Designs had not been prevented by his Death He left three Sons Birger Eric and Waldemar the eldest of whom was not 11 years old Birger II. During the Minority of this Prince the Care of the Government was intrusted to Torckel Enutson who made himself Master of Carelia took Hexholm from the Russes and fortified Wiburg to cover the neighbouring Places from the Incursions of that People After the King was of Age to undertake the Management of Affairs he marri'd Meretta the Daughter of Eric King of Denmark Prince Waldemar his Brother toook to Wise the Daughter of the Regent Enutson and Prince Eric marri'd Ingeburgh the Daughter of Haquin King of Norway This Prince was so far from being deterr'd by the Faâ—â— of his Unkle King Waldemar that he seem'd re 〈…〉 follow the same Methods which occasion'd all the Disorders that discurb'd the Reign of that Prince He seiâ—d on the Tythes and imprison'd some Bishops who took the liberty to complain of his Incroaching upon their Privileges Nor did the Princes his Brothers meet with a better Treatment for instead of suffering 'em to live unmolested in their respective Governments he endeavour'd to make 'em depend absolutely on the Court and to reduce 'em to an entire subjection to his arbitrary Commands The injur'd Princes perceiving the general Dissatisfaction of the People took up Arms and were follow'd by all those who were offended at the publick Violation of their Liberty and Privileges In the mean time the King levy'd Forces to oppose the Designs of his Brothers and was assisted by his Brother-in-law the King of Denmark But finding himself unable to resist the prevailing Faction he resolv'd to execute his Designs by Treachery since he cou'd not depend upon the Success of his Arms. In pursuance of that unmanly Resolution he invited his Brothers to Court under the pretext of a sincere Reconciliation and as soon as he had made himself Master of their Persons by that infamous Stratagem he order'd 'em to be cast into a Dungeon where they were starv'd to death The Swedes abhorring the Baseness and Inhumanity of their Treacherous Sovereign took up Arms immediately advanc'd Magnus the Son of Duke Eric to the Throne and march'd in pursuit of King Birger who had the Misfortune to see his Army defeated and his Son taken Prisoner by his Enemies That unhappy Prince was made a Sacrifice to the Fury of the incens'd Multitude who cut off his Head to deliver Magnus from so dangerous a Competitor and his miserable Father dreading the same Fate fled to Denmark where he died in an obscure and ignominious Retreat The Reader will find at the beginning of this Work the Names of the succeeding Princes with a short account of their Actions 1330 Magnus Smeck the Son of Duke Eric 1372 Albert of Mecklenburg 1395 Margaret the Daughter of Waldemar K. of Denmark and Q. of the three Northern Nations 1424 Eric XIII Duke of Pomerania Sovereign of the three Kingdoms of the North. 1441 Christopher of Bavaria K. of the three Northern Nations 1445 Charles Canutson a Swedish Lord elected K of Sweden Norway 1457 Christiern of Oldenburg Ancestor of the present King of Denmark King of the three Northern Nations 1470. Steno I. King Canuâ—son's Nephew Administrater of the Kingdom of Sweden 1504 Suanto Sturius Administrater of Sweden 1512 Stero II. the Son of Suanto Administrator 1520 Christiern II. Sovereign of the â— Kingdoms of the North. 1523 Gustavus Vasa a Swedish Lord Administrator and afterwards King of Sweden procures the Crown to be entail'd A Table of the Principal Matters A. ANderson Chancellor of Sweden his good and bad Qualities 42. his Employments 43. he embraces the Dectrins of Luther 44. he confirms Gustavus in his design to humble the Clergy ibid. he advises him to make use of Luther's Reformation in order to suppress the Temporal power and riches of the Clergy ibid. he presides in the King's behalf in a Lutheran Council held at Orebro 92. Arwide Besieges Stegeburg 2. B. The Bishops of Sweden Gustavus King of Sweden impatiently suffers the Power and Riches of the Clergy 41. his designs to humble them 43. he infringeth their Privileges 49 and 100. he prohibits by Declaration the Bishops to appropriate to themselves the Goods and Succession of Ecclesiastical Persons in
meeting of the Estates at Westeras the Capital City of Westmannia where those two Governours were accus'd of contriving and abetting a Treasonable design against their Countrey and Commissioners were appointed to draw their Indictment The fear of punishment and the hope of a pardon made so strong an impression upon 'em that they confess'd their design to deliver up these places to the King of Denmark and accus'd the Arch-Bishop as the Author and Fomenter of the Conspiracy The Administrator having this advantage over him resolv'd to proceed against him with the utmost Rigour and in order to his Conviction order'd him to be summon'd to give an account of his Behaviour to the Estates Some of the Senators who were sensible of the dangerous tendency of these divisions and dreaded the fatal consequences of an open Rupture endeavour'd under-hand to perswade the Arch-Bishop to submit to the Administrator and even offer'd him a safe Conduct sign'd by the principal Members of the Estates hoping to divert the threatning storm and to gain the stubborn Prelate by easie and gentle methods The Arch-Bishop was enrag'd to find that his designs were blasted by too early a discovery he complain'd to his Friends of the King of Denmark's remissness and neglect and immediately sent one of his Creatures to that Prince to acquaint him with the danger to which his party in Sweden was expos'd and to hasten his March to that Kingdom In the mean time to amuse the Senate he desir'd that a new Convention of the Estates might be summon'd under pretext that the greatest part of the deputies that compos'd the Assembly at Westeras were either the Creatures or Relations of his declar'd Enemy The Estates were so incens'd at the Pride and Obstinacy of that religious Prelate that they resolv'd to secure his person and bring him to a Tryal They intreated the Administrator to invest the place where he resided and at the same time orders were given out to apprehend his Father and such of his Friends and Relations as were suspected to be privy to his designs against the Government or might be suppos'd to be able and willing to take up Arms in his Defence And since they foresaw that these Proceedings would infallibly occasion a Rupture with the King of Denmark the Administrator was desir'd to raise the Militia and to put the Kingdom in such a posture that it might not be in danger to be surpriz'd by its Enemies The Breach betwixt the Arch-Bishop and the Estates gave the Prince an occasion to revenge a private quarrel under the plausible pretext of punishing a publick Enemy and that he might not lose so favourable an opportunity he gave Orders immediately for a general Rendezvous of all the Nobility and Militia of the Kingdom His Friends and Relations repair'd to his Assistance at the head of their Forces every one striving to signalize his Fidelity to his Country and Affection to the Prince in a War that was undertaken to maintain his Election and defend the Liberty of the Nation Among all the Noblemen who assisted the Administrator on this occasion there was none who expressed a more vigorous Zeal for his Interest then Gustavus Ericson the great Standard Bearer of the Crown A young Lord about Six and Twenty Years of Age descended from the ancient Kings of Sweden and particularly from King Canutson who was his great Uncle He was the Son of Eric Vasa Governour of Finland and Cousin Germain to the Administrator with whom he was educated He had naturally a high and daring Spirit his Soul was postess'd with an eager desire of Glory and infinitely more sensible of the Manly Delights of Ambition than of the softer Charms of Pleasure The Administrator divided his Favour and Confidence betwixt him and his Father but the old Age of that Senator and a certain Timorousness that appear'd in all his Actions made such an impression upon the Prince that tho he did not esteem him less for these Disadvantages he took more pleasure in Gustavus who with an equal solidity of Judgment was Master of more Courage and Strength of Mind and never propos'd any Designs or Expedients but what were suitable to the Bravery and agreeable to the Inclinations of his young Master 'T was by his Advice that the Prince resolv'd to give Fire Arms to the Peasants who till then had only or for the most part made use of Bows and Arrows The Administrator order'd a considerable number of Musquets to be brought to Lubeck and put on Board a Ship which 〈◊〉 Sail immediately for Stockholm but was taken by the Danish Admiral as she came out of the Mouth of the Trave which passes by Lubeck This Act of Hostility serv'd for a Declaration and Signal of a Bloody War which began betwixt the two Nations notwithstanding the opposition made by the Estates of Denmark who were desirous to continue the Truce The Administrator was not so discourag'd by this Loss as to give over the design he had form'd against the Arch-Bishop He put himself at the head of the Militia or Infantry which was the most numerous Body in his Army and gave the Command of the Horse to Gastavus The Bishops of Stregnez and Lincopinc march'd before under pretext of interposing their Interest and Mediation to bring their Primate to a Sence of his Duty but their real Design was to give him notice of the Strength and Condition of the Administrator's Forces For though the Prelates were engag'd both by Interest and Inclination in the Danish Faction as well as the Arch-Bishop they were more Politick and Cunning and took care to conceal their real Sentiments the discovery of which cou'd neither be advantageous to their Party nor safe for themselves at a time when the whole Nation was in Arms for the Administrator At their arrival at Steque they intreated the Administrator to excuse 'em for not declaring against that Prince according to their agreement at Upsal assuring him that they only waited till the King of Denmark shou'd enter the Kingdom to support ' em They advis'd him to reflect upon the Power and Strength of the Administrator who in few days wou'd appear before the Wâ—â—â—s of his Castle at the head of a numerous Army and concluded with telling him that 't would be an Action worthy his Prudence to divert the impending Storm and amuse the young Prince with a seeming Submission from which he might easily disengage himself as soon as they should meet with a more favourable juncture to put their desirous in Execution The Arch-Fishop rejected the Advice of his positick Subingans with Anger and Disdain and chid 'em for their Weakness which he branded with the names of Treason and Cowardice He told 'em he had to â—â—ived Advice by an Envoy from Denmark that Christiern was preparing to invade Sweden with all his Forces that his Fleet was fitted out and ready to make a Descent that the Administrator was 〈◊〉 in a Condition to oppose so potent
Churches or of the old ones who alter'd the usual Ceremonies took up Arms with a great deal of fury The Priests and Monks joyn'd with 'em and all the Catholicks and Malecontents espous'd their Quarrel some out of zeal for their Ancient Religion and others out of spite because they had no share in the Spoils of the Church The Bishop of Scara no sooner heard of this Commotion but he fled privately to that Province to joyn with the Rebels He was accompany'd by the Great Marshal and many Gentlemen of West-Gothland who had ingag'd not to lay down their Arms till they had obtain'd the Restoration of the Ancient Religion They were receiv'd with great Acclamations by the Dalecarlians who gave the general Command of their Forces to Tureiohanson This Lord had three Sons the two Eldest of whom were near the King's Person and the Third was Grand Provost of the Cathedral of Vpsal who hearing that his Father was at the head of the Rebels made it his business to scatter Manifestos against the King thro' the whole Province of Vpland exhorting the People to take up Arms and revenge the Injuries that were done to the Altars and to incourage the People by his example he put himself at the head of some Troops In the mean time the great Marshal his Father sent order to his two other Sons to steal away from the Court and joyn their Brother or come to him with as many of their Friends as they cou'd perswade to follow ' em But these young Lords were highly displeas'd with their Father's Rebellion which oblig'd 'em either to declare against him or against their Sovereign and of two Duties which appear'd to 'em equally indispensable to chuse the one and renounce the other But their Allegiance to the King prevail'd at last over their Duty to their Father and even to Religion it self They concluded that in a State-Affair they ought to adhere to the Supream Authority and that the difference of Religious Worship was not a sufficient ground to excuse 'em from the obedience they ow'd to their Lawful Prince They consider'd besides that their Loyalty to the King might probably obtain their Father's Pardon and that it was more agreeable to the rules of prudence to put themselves in a condition by their Fidelity to obtain Pardon for their Father than to make themselves guilty of the same Crime in expectation of a better Fortune Upon these considerations they deliver'd their Letters to the King protesting that they were ready to lay down their Lives for his service Gustavus receiv'd 'em very graciously and promis'd to prefer 'em But seem'd neither to be surpriz'd nor alarm'd at the News Nor did he make any apparent preparations in order to reduce the Rebels saying that he wou'd decline appearing in Arms that his Subjects might not be oblig'd to fight against each other and that he hop'd to crush the Rebellion by gentler Methods Yet he lost no time but made his Troops secretly file off by different ways towards the Borders of Dalecarlia that he might be all of a sudden in a condition to reduce the Rebels by the fear of Punishment Upon the first News of the Insurrection he had sent some Persons from Court who had Friends among the Malecontents and were not unknown among the Dalecarlians with instructions to reduce the Rebels by fair means These Agents apply'd themselves first to the Bishop of Scara the great Marshal and other Malecontents that had joyn'd the Dalecarlians They indeavour'd to gain the leading Men by advantageous Offers but they found 'em most obstinate and those who were willing to treat had so little an influence upon the party and stood upon so high Terms that the Agents did not think fit to buy 'em off at so great a rate They had better success among the Dalecarlian Peasants whom they prevail'd upon to send Deputies to the Court perswading 'em that his Majesty wou'd deny nothing to a People to whom he ow'd his Crown and Glory but their true design was only to amuse 'em that they might be less cautious in providing for their own defence The Deputies of the Dalecarlians not penetrating into the King's Policy but concluding by the steps he made that he stood in Awe of 'em thought they might easily make their own Terms In the Name of their Province and of all the Roman Catholicks of the Kingdom they demanded that Lutheranism shou'd be punish'd in Sweden as a Capital Crime that the Marriage of Priests and Monks shou'd be Abolish'd the Bells and Church-Plate restor'd and all Persons Burnt without any Regard or Distinction that shou'd be convicted to have eaten Flesh on Fish-Days That the King shou'd oblige himself after the example of his Predecessors never to pass the River of Brunebeck which separates their Province from Westmania without giving 'em Hostages for the security of their Priviledges But above all that both King and Courtiers shou'd reassume the ancient Habit of Sweden and not be beholden to strangers for new Fashions and Dresses Gustavus gave the Deputies great hopes that he wou'd grant at least part of their Demands while he secretly put all things in a readiness to surprize the Rebels with his whole Army Having receiv'd advice that his Troops were come within a days March of their appointed Rendezvous he immediately dismiss'd the Deputies and order'd them to tell their Country-men that he wou'd never condescend to treat with his Subjects and that they might appear in Arms in the Plain of Tuna to fight the Battel he was resolv'd to offer them at the head of his Army He added that if they wou'd avoid the effects of his indignation they must expel the Malecontents out of their Province lay down their Arms and submit to his Mercy Assoon as the King had dismist the Deputies he took Post immediately for the Army and the Rebels were so amaz'd at his unexpected Diligence and Resolution that they were seiz'd with a sudden Fear and Consternation when they heard of his Approach Tureiohanson and those of his party suspected the Dalecarlians and fancy'd they had made a separate Peace for themselves and the Peasants reciprocally thought they were betray'd by the Lords In short they were jealous of each other and their mutual suspicion and distrust was by degrees chang'd to Hatred and Enmity The Bishop of Scara and Tureiohanson not thinking themselves safe with the Dalecarlians made their escape privately into Norway from whence they retir'd to King Christiern in the Low-Countries and the rest of the Malecontents alarm'd at their flight some fled one way some another The Dalecarlians seeing themselves without a Head or Leader resolv'd to submit and yield to their Prince's Mercy They went to the Plain of Tuna where the King staid for 'em at the Head of his Army He commanded his Horse to surround 'em and the Rebels at the same time to discover their Ring leaders The affrighted Peasants declar'd their names and the
Government in Sweden and 't is probable the Crown was only Hereditary when the Sons of the deceast King were strong enough to maintain themselves in that station nor were they advanc'd to it before they had signaliz'd themselves by some bold and extraordinary exploit Suibdager King of Norway Conquer'd Denmark from Gram King of Cepers The Swedes charm'd with his Valour or aw'd by his Power chose him for their Sovereign by which Election he saw himself at the same time absolute Lord of the three Northern Kingdoms This Prince according to the Swedish History is the first Foreigner upon whom the Crown was conferr'd Hasinund Son and Successor of Suibdager was slain in a Battle against the Danes Vffo Son and Successor of Hasinund carry'd on a War against the Danes with success but at last Hading King of Denmark under colour of an Interview for a Treaty of Peace drew him into a place where he caus'd him to be Assassiinated Huning Vffo's Brother and Successor after a Bloody War which he undertook against the King of Denmark to revenge the Death of his Brother chang'd of a sudden his violent hatred against his Enemy into an excess of Friendship A Solemn Peace was concluded betwixt these two Princes with a Solemn Oath on both sides that upon the Death of either the other shou'd not survive him It happen'd not long after that Hading was salsly reported to have been Assassinated by his own Daughter which Huning believing resolv'd to die according to his promise In pusuance of this design he regal'd his Friends and the chief Persons of the Kingdom with a sumptuous Entertainment and at the conclusion of the Feast being Drunk he threw himself into a deep Tub full of Mead and so drown'd himself Hading was vext at the News but resolving to imitate the Generosity of his Friend he very coâ—â—ageously Hang'd himself in the sight of all his People if there be any credit to be given to those ancient Histories or rather to the Histories of those Ancient Ages Regner The Son and Successor of Huning was made King of Sweden notwithstanding all the opposition of his Mother-in-Law Torilla He Govern'd his Subjects with much Equity and Moderation But these peaceful Virtues were so far from procuring him the Love and Esteem of a Cruel and Barbarous People that he was slighted and contemn'd because he wou'd not gratify their savage Humour by Plundering the Neighbouring Countries and perhaps also because he was too generous to cause his private Enemies to be Assassinated Hothebrod The Son and Successor of Regner was a warlike and daring Prince and undertook several fortunate Expeditions against the Finlanders Russes Esthonians and Curlandians After which he Attack'd Roe King of Denmark whom he kill'd at the Head of his Army He pursu'd this Victory with so much vigor that he made himself Master of the whole Kingdom But he did not long injoy his Conquest for the Danes revolting at the instigation of Helgo Roe's Brother Hothebrod was routed and kill'd and by this means the Swedes were expell'd out of Denmark These pretended Conquests of Kingdoms were only Inrodes made by the victorious party into the Enemies Country For since there were no places of strength where Garrisons cou'd be left to secure the Conquest as soon as the Victorious Army retir'd with their Booty the Conquer'd Nation took up Arms and chose a new King or Captain to Command ' em Attila I. Succeeded his Father Hothebrod and Marri'd the Mother of Rool King of Denmark But that Match instead of producing a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms and a good Understanding betwixt the Kings serv'd only to re-kindle the War with greater fury than ever The Queen of Sweden having seiz'd upon the Treasury of the King her Husband fled to her Son in Denmark Attila incens'd at her persidiousness invaded Denmark with his Forces and routed the Danes Rool was defeated and kill'd by one of the Swedish Generals and Hother Attila's Brother was made King of Denmark Hother King of Sweden and Denmark routed the Danes who revolted at the instigation of Balder a Prince of that Nation after which he march'd against the Russes but lost his Life in that Expedition Rodric This Victorious Prince reveng'd his Father's Death by the defeat of the Russes and subdu'd the Finlanders Wendi and Slavonians Attila II The Son and Successor of Rotherick he fought a single Combat at the Head of his Army with Frovia General of the Danish Forces and kill'd him Frovia left two Sons who as soon as they were grown up to Age went to Sweden and offer'd their service to Attila pretending to be Soldiers of Fortune They were receiv'd into the King's House whom they afterwards Assassinated to revenge the Death of their Father Botwil Charles II Grimmer Lordon Gothar Adolphus Algot Eric II. Lindorp The Fabulous Chronology mentions only the names of those Nine Princes without relating their Adventures or so much as the length of their Reigns Alaric Under this Prince's Reign the Swedish Monarchy was divided into two Kingdoms Alaric reigning in Sweden and Gestiblind in both the Gothlands This Division and the Neighbourhood of two Barbarous Nations occasion'd Bloody Wars betwixt ' em Alaric according to the custom of those Times challeng'd Gestiblind to a single Combat who declin'd it by reason of his Age but offer'd in his stead Eric Prince of Norway who was come to his Assistance These two Champions fought with all the Fury and Obstinacy that Men are capable of when they resolve either to vanquish or die Alaric was slain and Gestiblind to reward Eric's Valour not only gave him the Crown of Sweden but appointed him his Successor in the Kingdom of Gothland by which means these two Crowns were not long after reunited upon the Head of that Prince Eric III. surnam'd the Wise This Prince liv'd in a profound Peace and apply'd himself wholly to the Administration of Justice and Execution of the Laws This got him the surname of Wise which he preferr'd to that of Brave and Courageous tho' he really deserv'd it by the Valour he shew'd in the Combat he fought with King Alaric Halden I. The Son and Successor of Eric the Wise A. C. 43. he signaliz'd himself in the Wars of Norway and restor'd Fricdelef King of Denmark to his Fathers Throne from which he had been expell'd by an Usurper Returning to Sweden at the Head of a Victorious Army he resolv'd to make his Will the only Standard and Rule of his Government Upon which his Subjects revolted his Officers and Soldiers forsook him and he was at last put to Death by the Malecontents Siward Haldan's Son was own'd for his Successor upon condition that none shou'd be molested about the Death of his Father Under this Prince's reign the Goths were again separated from the Swedish Monarchy and chose for their King a Prince call'd Charles of the Family of their Ancient Kings who to establish his Authority made a League with