The life of Gustavus Adolphus : surnamed The Great, King of Sweden

Front matter

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Preface

In considering the progress of the great cause of civil and religious freedom within the last three centuries, it must be evident that its present imposing condition is neither the result of the events of any single period, nor of a quiet and peaceful increase favoured by the more generous convictions and extended benevolence of mankind. As philosophers teach us that the most stupendous mountain-chains have been raised to their present height by a long series of convulsions, each contributing, more or less, to the elevation of the resisting mass, it seems to have been determined by a law of moral analogy, that the best interests of mankind should owe their permanent establishment and universal diffusion to numerous and violent derangements of the conditions of social life— derangements often attended with the most terrible and calamitous effects during the time of their immediate operation; but like all other moral as well as physical evil, finally over-ruled

IV PREFACE,

to the wider and more lasting extension of good. Amidst such recorded events, the celebrated "War of Thirty Years in Germany is invested with the highest degree of interest — not only from the obstinacy of the struggle, but as exhibiting in its simplest and most intelligible form the conflict of principles which have since been happily so far modified in most civilised countries by a more general recognition of the principles of equity, as often to be with difficulty discoverable in their still continued opposition.

Considering the reputation obtained by the most prominent Character in this momentous contest at the time of his decease, it is somewhat singular that more than a century was suffered to pass away after that event before any biographer appeared willing to undertake the task of recording the principal occurrences of his life in any of the more popular languages of Europe. The splendid abilities of Frederick of Prussia, displayed during the sanguinary and protracted contest which arose from the question of the Pragmatic Sanction, and in the early part of the Seven Years' War, seem first to have recalled the general attention to the exploits of Gustavus Adolphus; while the circumstance of the same countries becoming the theatre of hostilities, which had formerly been traversed by the armies of the Empire, Saxony and Sweden, in the Thirty Years' War, naturally tended to endue with fresh interest a series of long-past events which had fallen into comparative oblivion. Two lives of

PBEFACtf. V

Gustavus Adolphus accordingly appeared, towards the middle of the last century, with but a brief interval between the dates of their publication ; the first, the well-known work of Harte, which has passed through three editions ; and the second purporting to be compiled principally from papers left by Archenholtz, the celebrated biographer of Christina of Sweden, which is known to have been edited by Professor Mauvillon. The latter is certainly the more valuable, since it is in great measure founded not only upon the writings of Swedish historians, apparently unknown to Harte, whose information may be conceived likely to be the most correct, but upon original archives then preserved at Stockholm, but which, it is to be feared, no longer continue to exist, since the author of the brief work, somewhat pretendingly entitled " Gustave Adolphe, ses Lettres et Memoires," states in his preface that most of the historical documents relating to the expedition into Germany under Gustavus Adolphus, comprising the whole of the correspondence of that monarch with Oxenstiern, had been consumed some years before in an accidental fire at Stockholm. The biography of Harte, although containing an immense mass of information, has never been extensively popular : a fact easily to be accounted for by what Lord Chesterfield has justly termed the unaccountable vulgarity of the style, and the careless manner in which the materials have been brought together. He has, however, hardly deserved

Vl PREFACE.

the severe castigation bestowed upon him on all occasions by his rival, who, in addition to the bitter feeling of jealousy, so common among literary men in the time of Voltaire, seems to have entered upon his task with all the acrimony of a political partisan, desirous of taking vengeance for the assistance afforded by England to the then most formidable opponent of France, by inveighing on all occasions against the conduct of the former nation in regard to the Thirty Years' War. The biographies of both authors have been extensively used in the preparation of the following pages, while other authorities referred to in the margin have been occasionally consulted, not, it is hoped, without benefit to the volume, which will have fulfilled every design of the author, if it answers the purpose of a popular Life of a Character in all respects one of the most worthy the attention of the student of history, until the appearance of a more elaborate narration of his great achievements from some pen better qualified to record them.

Chapter I. Page

Early History of Sweden — Convention of Calmar — Its Effects — Sweden is invaded by Christian II. of Denmark— His Perfidy and Cruelty towards the Swedish Nobility — Gustavus Ericson re-establishes the Freedom of his Country, and is, in consequence, declared King— State of Sweden tinder his government — Reigns of Eric XIV. and John III. — Contests between Sigismond, son of the latter monarch, and the Swedish Estates— Sigismond is declared to have forfeited the crown, which is conferred upon his uncle, Charles IX. — Birth of Gustavus Adolphus — Prognostications of his future greatness— His Education and early manifestations of Genius . .1

Chapter II

Continuation of the reign of Charles the Ninth — Swedish Conquests in Livonia — Condition of Muscovy, and successive revolutions in that country— The Czar Basil Ivanovitz Zuslci invokes the assistance of Sweden— Jacques de la Gardie takes the city of Novogorod by assault — Jealousy of Christian the Fourth of Denmark at the Swedish successes — He declares war, and lays siege to Galmar— The King of Sweden marches to its relief— Surrender of Calmar to the Danes, and singular correspondence between Charles and Christian — First military exploits of Gustavus Adolphus — Death of Charles the Ninth— Council of Regency-— Assembly of the States-General at Ny-Koping — Law respecting the age of succession to the throne abrogated in favour of Gustavus Adolphus, who is declared King — His address to the States on that occasion . . . 23

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III. page

Continuation of the War with Denmark — Unsuccessful attempt of James I. of England to mediate a Peace— Gustavus is compelled to raise the siege of Heleingburg — Christian IV. reduces Klfsburg, but is foiled in an attempt upon Stockholm — Renewed interposition of England — Peace of Knaredh — Gustavus reforms the Civil Code of Sweden, and founds the Town of Gottenburg — His private Studies — His Attachment to the Countess of Elbe Brahe — First and second Expeditions into Muscovy — Peace with the Czar Michael Fcedorovitz— Coronation of Gustavus Adolphus — His Visits to the Courts of Berlin and Heidelburg — Marriage of Gustavus — Renewal of the War with Poland . . .44

Chapter IV

Operations in Livonia — Gustavus lays siege to Riga — Prince Radzivil is despatched to its relief — Ineffectual attempt of the Poles to succour the place — Radzivil retiree— The Swedes assault the town without success — Preparations for a second assault — Riga capitulates— The Swedes enter Courland and take Mittau — Gustavus returns to Stockholm — Death of the Prince Charles Philip — Sigismond at Dantzig — Negotiations for peace, which are broken off by Oxenstiern — Second invasion of Livonia— Defeat of the Polish general Sapieha at Walhoff— Marriage of Bethlem Gabor with the Princess Catherine of Brandenburg — Gustavus resolves to invade Prussia — Takes PHlau, Elbing, and Dirschau, and prepares to invest Dantzig— Sigismond marches against him, and forms the siege of Meaw — Obstinate skirmish between the two armies — Retreat of the Poles, and termination of the campaign of 1626 — 'Birth of the Princess Christina, who is acknowledged as the successor • of Gustavus by the Swedish Estates — Exploits of Coniecpoliski — Gustavus returns to Prussia . , 69

CHAPTER V. Preparations for the investment of Dantzig — Gustavus

, wounded — Coniecpoliski approaches the quarters of the

Swedes — Severe skirmish between the two armies — The

King receives a second wound — Defeat of the Swedish Fleet

CONTENTS. IX under Stternskioeld — Gustavus recruits his Navy — Capture of a Dantzig Squadron off the mouth of the Vistula— The Swedes prepare to pass into the Lesser Werder — Novel kind of Artillery, first used by Gustavus Adolphus — Other improvements in the arms and discipline of his soldiers- Swedish Articles of War — Severity of Gustavus against duelling — Scottish officers in the service of Sweden — Coniecpoliski again defeated— Sadden rise of the Vistula, in consequence of which the Swedes abandon the siege of Dantzig— -Gustavus advances into Lithuania — His successes — He despatches a body jof troops, under the command of Sir Alexander Leslie, to the relief of Stralsund . 98

Chapter VI

Causes and Origin of tho Thirty Years' War — Treaty of Passau — Ecclesiastical Reservation— Other grievances complained of by the Protestants — Disputes concerning the Succession of Cleves — Evangelic Union — Catholic League — Commotions in Bohemia — Letter of Majesty granted by

the Emperor Rodolph II He is forced to abdicate the

Crown of Bohemia, in favour of his brother Matthias ■ Reign of that Prince— His Resignation in favour of Ferdinand of Gratz, afterwards Emperor — Rebellion under Count Tfaurn — Violence committed on the persons of the Imperial Deputies Martinitz and Slavata— War commenced — Frederick V., Elector Palatine, chosen King of Bohemia- He is defeated before Prague— -Severities exercised by the Imperialists towards the vanquished — War transferred to the Palatinate — Which is defended by Count Mansfield — Christian of Brunswick appearo in arms in Westphalia- Mansfield defeated by the Bavarian army under Count Tilly, who take Heidelberg and Manheim — Diet of Ratisbon — New League against the Emperor, headed by Christian IV. of Denmark — Count Albert of Wallenstein raises an army for the Emperor— His character — Battle of Lutter — Mansfeld is repulsed by Wallenstein at Dessau — Retires into Hungary — His death — Conquest of Holstein and Jutland by the Imperialists — Wallenstein besieges Stralsund 122

Chapter VII

Prospects of the Emperor Ferdinand on the defeat of Christian IV.— Excesses of the Imperialists under Wallenstein in

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Mecklenburg and Pomerania — Treaty of Lubeck — Insults offered to the Swedish Deputies — Wallenstein sends ten thousand men to the assistance of the King of Poland — Edict of Restitution — General disgust throughout the Empire in consequence— Dissatisfaction of the Elector of v Saxony — The Swedes obtain fresh Victories in Prussia- Advance of Arnheim with the Imperial Auxiliaries- Obstinate Engagement near Stuhm — Hercules de Charaace arrives in the Polish Camp — He induces Sigismond to consent to a Truce for six years — Meeting between the Deputies of the Belligerent Powers at Altemark— Conditions of the truce — Charaace persuades the King of Sweden to invade the Empire— Disputes between France and Spain respecting the Duchy of Mantua — Gustavus makes Preparations for his expedition — Embassy of Count Falkenberg — The King of Sweden convokes the Estates-General of the kingdom previously to his departure — His farewell Speech, and parting with the Princess Christina — Arrival of the Swedish Fleet off the Isle of Kuden — Devotion of Gustavus at his landing — The Swedes establish themselves in Usedom and Wollin — Forces at the disposal of the Empire — Prodigies observed in Germany . .158

Chapter VIII

Assembly of the Diet of Ratisbon— -Intrigues of Richelieu- General clamour against Wallenstein, and petitions to the Emperor for his dismissal— Policy of the Catholic League— Arrival of Gustavus Adolphus at Stettin— He is received into the town by the Duke of Pomerania — Disgrace of Wallenstein-— Gustavus publishes his manifesto— Ferdinand writes to the King of Sweden — Torquato Conti falls back upon Gartz — He entrenches his forces— .Treachery of Quinti del Ponte — The Swedes reduce Wolgast — Cruelties of the Imperialists at Passwalk — Lieutenant-Colonel Monro surprises Rugenwalde — Expedition of Gustavus Adolphus to the Duchy of Mecklenburg — Colberg invested*— Torquato Conti repulsed in an attempt to recover Stettin— Gustavus defeats the Duke of Savelli — Dissolution of the Diet of Ratisbon— Letter from the King of Sweden to Oxenstiern — Torquato Conti resigns his command, and is succeeded by Count Schaumberg — Greiffenhagen taken by

'* the Swedes— Schaumberg sets fire to Gartz, and retires to

CONTENTS. XI

Frankfort — Excesses of the Imperialists in the March of Brandenburg — Arrival of the Administrator Christian William in Magdeburg, and revolt of the city m hit favour — Insurrection excited by the Duke of Saxe Lunenburg, who is defeated, and taken prisoner by Pappenheira— Tilly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial armies — Investment of Magdeburg, and preparations for the defence of the city . . .19]

Chapter IX

Assembly of the Protestant States at Leipzig, convoked by the Elector of Saxony — Conclusions of the Diet — Treaty between Gustavas Adolphus and Louis XIII. — Demmin besieged by the Swedes — Feeble resistance of its Governor, the Duke of Savelli — Surrender of Demmin — Tilly advances towards Mecklenberg — His Cruelty at Neu Brandenburg—- Returns to Mngdeburg — The Swedes advance to Frankfort on the Oder, which is carried by Assault — Terrible Carnage among the Imperialists within the Town— The King of Sweden reduces Lansberg, and prepares to march to the relief of Magdeburg — He demands the Fortresses of Custrin and Spandau from the Elector of Brandenburg — Hesitation of the Elector, which is at length overcome by the entreaties of Gustavus — The Swedes advance to Potzdam — The Elector of Saxony denies them a passage over the Elbe by the Bridge of Wittemberg — They are prevented from relieving Magdeburg in consequence . . . 228

Chapter X

Siege of Magdeburg — Arrival of Tilly before the Walls — Reply of- the Administrator to his Summons— Pappenheim continues the Siege during his expedition to Mecklenberg — He returns — Count Falkenberg retires into the Old Town —Pappenheim pushes on his Approaches — Preparations for a General Assault — Storming of Magdeburg, and horrible atrocities committed by the Imperialists — Narration of Thodaenus, a Protestant Minister— Of a Fisherman of Magdeburg— Tilly enters the City in Triumph — The King of Sweden publishes a Manifesto in justification of his conduct in not relieving Magdeburg — Spandau restored — Gustavus marches to Berlin, and compels the Elector of Brandenburg to place the fortress a second time iu his hands — He returns

Xll CONTENTS.

PAOR

to Stettin — Arbitrary conduct of Ferdinand towards the Bishop of Bremen and the Administrator of Wittemberg — Submission of Suabia — Greifswalde surrenders to the Swedes —The King prepares to advance towards the Elbe . 252

CHAPTER XL

Advance of Tilly into Thuringia against the Landgrave of Hesse — Gustavus crosses the Elbe at Tangermond — Tilly marches to meet him-*-The Swedes retreat to Wirben, and entrench themselves between the Elbe and Havel — Gustavus surprises five Regiments of Imperial Cavalry at Rheindorf— •Arrival of six thousand English, under the Marquis of Hamilton, in Pomerania — The Queen of Sweden lands at Wolgast — Tilly approaches the Swedish lines at Wirben, but is compelled to retire with loss — The Swedes over, run the Duchy of Mecklenburg — Reinstallation of the deposed Dukes at Gustrow — Alliance between the King of Sweden and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel — Message of Tilly to the Elector of Saxony — Answer of John George, who declares in favour of the Swedes— The Imperialists ravage Saxony, and lay siege to Leipzig — Surrender of the City — Tilly takes post at Breitenfeldt— Junction of the Swedish and Saxon forces at Duben —They advance to meet the Imperialists — Battle of Leipzig . . 284

Chapter XII

Plans of the Allied Armies after the Battle of Leipzig — Separation of the Swedish and Saxon Forces — Gustavus marches upon Erfurt, crosses the Duringer W aid, and reduces Konigshofen — Siege and Assault of Wurzburg — Movements of Tilly — Defeat of the Troops of Prince Charles of Lorrain, who retreats across the Rhine — Operations of the Saxons under the Elector and Anaheim in Bohemia — Recovery of Prague — Victory gained over the Imperialists under Tieffenbach — Surrender of Eger — Distress of Ferdinand, and perplexity of the Imperial Councils — Negotiations with WaL lenstein on the subject of his reassuming the command- He agrees to superintend the levy of a fresh Army for the Emperor— The King of Sweden advances to Franckfort on the Maine — Franckfort surrenders — Triumphal Entry of Gustavus into the City • • • .321

CONTENTS. XUl

CHAPTER Xni.

The King of Sweden prepares to besiege Mentz — Passage of the Rhine — Mentz surrenders — Foundation of Gustavusburg— Arrival of the Queen of Sweden at Franckfort on the Maine — Negotiations with Sir Henry Vane respecting the Restitution of the Palatinate, and with the French Court on the Neutrality of the Catholic League — Proposed Interview between the King of Sweden and Louis XIII. — The Elector of Treves places himself under the protection of France — Creutznach besieged and taken by the Swedes— Terms of Peace proposed by the King of Sweden— His Ambition —Operations of Gustavus Horn against Tilly in Franconia— The Swedes take Bamberg and lay siege to Forcheim — Advance of Tilly— Horn is defeated — Retires to Schweinfurth — State of the contending parties on the Elbe and the Weser ' —Operations of Ozenstiern and the Rhinegrave Otho Louis against the Spaniards — Completion of the Levies * carried on by the Dnke of Friedland — The Emperor Ferdinand again requests him to accept the command — Terms of Agreement proposed by Wallenstein, which are accepted by Ferdinand ♦ 350

Chapter XIV

Tilly retreats into the Upper Palatinate— The Swedes enter Nurenberg — Speech of the King to the Deputies of the Senate — The Swedes lay siege to Donawerth, which is abandoned by the Duke of Saxe Lauenburg — Gustavus crosses the Danube — Maximilian and Tilly take post on the banks of the Lech — The King determines to attack them in their position — Difficulties of the Undertaking — He constructs a Bridge over the Lech under the Artillery of the Enemy — Tilly endeavours to oppose Mb Passage, and is mortally wounded in the Attempt — Retreat of Maximilian — Death of Tilly — Conquest of Rain by the Swedes — Gustavus besieges Augsburg— Capitulation of the Imperial Garrison — The King enters the City in Triumph — Oath of Allegiance to the Crown of Sweden taken by the Magistrates — General Dissatisfaction of the Allies of Gustavus — Siege of Ingolstadt — Narrow Escape of the King, and Death of the Marquis of Baden Durlach — Speech of Gustavus on the occasion — Siege of Ingolstadt raised — Interference of St. Etienne in favour of the Elector of Bavaria — His Dialogue with Gustavus — Recovery of Bohemia by the Imperial army under Wallenstein . .381

XIV CONTENTS.

Chapter XV

The Swedes advance to Munich — Surrender of the City — Clemency of the King of Sweden towards its Inhabitants — He refuses to destroy the Electoral Palace— His visit to the Arsenal — Cruelties exercised by the Bavarian Peasants upon the Swedes — Consternation of the Emperor Ferdinand — Intrigues of his Agents at Rome—Dialogue between Gustavus Adolphus and Sir Henry Vane — His constitutional irritability — The Imperialists recover Weissenberg — Junction of the Armieto of Maximilian of Bavaria and Wallenstein at Eger — They advance towards Nurenberg — The City implores the assistance of the King of Sweden, who hastens to its relief, and entrenches himself beneath the Walls — Encampment of Wallenstein — Speech of the King of Sweden to the German Officers in his Army — He intercepts an Imperial Convoy — Is joined by Oxenstiern aud other Generals — Distress of both Armies— Gustavus resolves to attack the Entrenchments of the Imperialists — His ill success in the attempt — He decamps from before Nurenberg and inarches to Netfstadt — The Imperialists leave their lines near Nurenberg and retire to Forcheim . 413

Chapter XVI

Movements of the Swedes upon the Rhine — Expedition of the Saxons under Arnheim into Silesia — Their Successes — Wallenstein breaks up from Forcheim and prepares for the Invasion of Saxony — He is repulsed from before Culmbach and the Castle of Plassenburg, and enters the Defiles of Tburingia — Consternation of the Elector of Saxony — Gustavus determines to march to his assistance — Arrival of the Swedes at Erfurt — Gustavus takes leave of his Queen— His Humility at Naumberg, and Sentiments respecting Conquerors in general — Wallenstein despatches Pappenheim to Halle — Advance of the Swedes from Naumberg — The Imperialists encamp at Lutzen — Preparations for Battle, and Disposition of both Armies — Battle of Lutzen — Death of the King of Sweden — Pappenheim arrives upon the field — H* is slain — Defeat of the Imperialists by the Duke of Saxe Weimar, who succeeds to the command of the Swedish Army — Flight of Wallenstein to Leitmeritz — Funeral Honours of Gustavus Adolphus, and Reflections upon his Character . . . . .44$

THE LIFE

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

Chapter I

Early History of Sweden— Convention of Calmar— Its Effects- Sweden is invaded by Christian II. of Denmark— His Perfidy and Cruelty towards the Swedish Nobility — Gustavus Eriesoa re-establishes the Freedom of his Country, and is, in consequence, declared King— State of Sweden under his government — Reigns of Eric XIV. and John III. — Contests between Sigismond, son of the latter monarch, and the Swedish Estates — Sigismond is declared to have forfeited the crown, which is oonferred upon his ancle, Charles IX.— Birth of Gustavus Adolphus — Prognostications of his future greatness — His Education and early manu festatioos of Genius.

The origin of the Swedish nation, like that of most of the tribes of the North, is lost in the darkness of remote antiquity. The most ancient compilers of its records, with a vanity the more pardonable, as it has been shared by the earliest historians of almost all nations, have asserted, that Sweden was peopled before any country to the north of the Mediterranean Sea, subsequently to the occurrence of the general Deluge ; and the learned Puffendorff* himself has not only admitted this as an incontrovertible fact, but busied himself at some length in endeavours to account for it. At whatever period, however, the history of Sweden

• Puffendorff, Hist, of Sweden, Book I. B

2 tk* LIFE OF GUSTAVU5 ADOLFHUS.

may be considered to commence, it is certain that little worthy 4f notice is presented by its perusal, until towards the end of the fourteenth century. The first event which claims attention, not only as important to the nations immediately concerned by H, but as productive of results subsequently experienced by Europe at large, is that generally known under the name of the Union of Caknar.

By this celebrated convention, Margaret, the daughter of Waldemar IV., King, of Denmark, and widow of Haquin, King of Norway, who, by a success* ful course of policy, had obtained the sovereignty of both these kingdoms on the death of her father and husband, and, by a still further effort of ambitious intrigue, had caused herself to be elected Queen of Sweden, after the expulsion of Albert of Mecklenburg, endeavoured to unite the three crowns she possessed, in a single sovereignty, to be transmitted unimpaired to her successors. As the civil constitutions of the respective kingdoms appeared to be but little affected by the change, no great difficulty was at first raised to its accomplishment ; yet the effects which ultimately resulted from it were disastrous in the extreme. Sweden, at first under Margaret, and afterwards beneath the sceptre of Eric, who succeeded her, found itself in the condition of a tributary state, dependent upon Denmark, and subjected to all the oppression and injustice, generally shown towards a newly-conquered province. After a submission of some continuance, the Swedes determined upon recovering their liberty by the last expedient left for ensuring national independence, when supplication and remonstrance have failed. During the reign of Christian I., a revolution was organised by the grand Marshal Canutson, which terminated in the complete success of the Swedish insurgents. By the intervention of the * Vertot, Revolutions cU Suede clergy, however, who were mostly attached to the Danish interests, the freedom of Sweden was still threatened either by open warfare or secret conspiratcies, and during the governments of Steno and Suanto Sture, who, rejecting the regal title, were contented with filling the first office of the state under that of administrators or regents, the conrt of Copenhagen was constantly flattered by the hopes of a re-establishment of the union of Calmar, and the regaining of all the advantages it had formerly reaped under its operation.

At the death of Suanto Sture, in 1504, the throne of Denmark was occupied by Christian II., on whom it had lately devolved. In the character of this prince, remorseless cruelty, and perfidy not often equalled in the darkest annals of human depravity, were united with an ambition of the most insatiate character ; and the odious appellation of tyrant has seldom been bestowed upon an individual more deserving of the name. The unsettled state of Sweden immediately after the election of a hew administrator, seemed to hold out a favourable opportunity for making himself master of that kingdom, and his designs were unhappily seconded by an ally, in every respect worthy of himself. ' This was Gustavus Trolle, archbishop of Upsal, whose father, Eric, had been an unsuccessful candidate for the administratorship, and whose natural inclination towards the interests of Denmark was stimulated by personal hatred to the family of the Stures, who had again managed to secure the contested dignity for a member of their own family. By means of this prelate, a sentence of excommunication was obtained from Leo X. against the young administrator, Steno, and his adherents, and the armies of Christian, entering the Swedish territory under the pretence of carrying the spiritual edict into effect, began to lay waste the country with fire and sword. They were b 2 quickly met by Steno, with a force hastily collected for the occasion ; but after a few partial successes obtained over the invaders, the Swedes were entirely defeated in a great battle on the banks of the lake Veler.

The administrator himself received a mortal wound upon this fatal field ; his forces dispersed in all directions, and Christian, upon hearing of the complete success which his generals had obtained, advanced in person to lay siege to Stockholm, the last remaining strong -hold of Sweden, (with the exception of the fortress of Calmar,) which, defended by the administrator's widow, still maintained a vigorous resistance, amidst the general defection or submission of the rest of the kingdom. On the fall of this important barrier of liberty, which was surrendered on conditions after a protracted blockade, Christian found himself in entire possession of the dignity to which he had so long aspired ; but to his jealous and suspicious temper, the removal of every obstacle which might at a future period render its possession insecure, was a requisite indispensable to its enjoyment. On a. former occasion he had, in utter contempt of his own honour, and the law of nations, seized as hostages, seven of the principal lords of Sweden, whom he kept under confinement in his dominions. He now hastened, by an act of atrocious injustice, fully to consummate his ambitious plans. A general assembly of the nobility and clergy was convoked at Stockholm for the purpose of witnessing his coronation, and investitur3 with the order of the Golden Fleece, conferred upon hip by the emperor, Charles V. After the performance of these ceremonies, in a style of the highest magnificence, two days of unsuspecting revelry succeeded; during which the Swedish nobility were entertained by Christian with the utmost affability, and indulged with every external mark of confidence. On the third, the sudden appearance of the Archbishop of Upsal in a full assembly of the

Estates, attended by a numerous train of dependents, for the purpose of appealing against numerous acts of alleged injustice on the part of the deceased administrator and many of the nobles present, was an ominous introduction to the tragic scene about to follow. Ninety-four lords, in addition to the magistrates and consuls of Stockholm, were instantly apprehended on the accusation of the archbishop. The sentence of excommunication, previously pronounced against them at Home, was supposed to preclude the necessity of a formal trial ; and after the interval of only a few hours, the whole of the prisoners, many of whom were still adorned with the dresses of state they had assumed for the late solemnities, were led to expiate upon a public scaffold, their too great credulity in trusting their personal safety to the oaths and promises of a monarch, who was incapable of being bound by either. But the hatred of Christian towards the Swedish nation, was not to be appeased by the effusion of noble blood alone. The domestics, who had accompanied his victims, were condemned to a similar fate with their masters, and the Danish troops, under pre* tence of searching for criminals not yet apprehended, burst into the private houses of Stockholm, and filled every quarter of the city with scenes of bloodshed and outrage. By this act of summary vengeance, the king of Denmark imagined he had given a deathblow to the spirit of Swedish independence ; but at the very moment while he was flattering himself with the complete success of his projects, Divine Justice was raising up an avenger, whose talents and patriotism were not only the means of wresting from him the kingdom over which he had acquired a temporary dominion, but the principal cause of his final expulsion from his own.