Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Reign of Gustavus Vasa, 1523–1560 - A. The Administration
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The Vesteras Riksdag 113
did not mention the source whence the means were to
come, but every one knew the only source available.
According to Peder Svart, "Bishop Brask then an-
swered : ’We who belong to the spiritual Estate have
sworn our Most Holy Father, the Pope, that we will
not do anything in spiritual matters without his con-
sent. Therefore, it is not possible for us to relinquish
any of the possessions of the Holy Church.’ The king
then asked the council and the nobles if they thought
this answer was right. Councilman Ture Jonsson and
his party said that they could not see but that the an-
swer was practically correct. Then Gustavus’ patience
gave way. ’On such conditions/ he said, 1 have no
desire to be your king. I had, indeed, expected another
answer from you. Now I am not surprised that the
peasantry are wild and unruly, for I see what fine
abettors they have. If they get no rain they blame me,
if they get no sunshine they do the same. I may work
for your good to the utmost, but I have no reward to
expect but your wish to see the ax sunk in my head,
though no one dares to hold the handle. Be therefore
prepared to pay me back what I have spent of my own
for the kingdom, and I will depart and never return to
my ungrateful country.’ Toward the end of the speech
the king burst into tears. He would say no more, but
left the room and went to the castle. Now, when the
king began to shed tears, the greater part of the peo-
ple wept too. But they were all so stunned that they
could come to no action that day. . . . The next day
they met again to engage in the business of the meet-
ing. But they got nowhere. . . . The third day the
burghers and peasants began to upbraid the clergy
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