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152 IV. THE ROMANIZED CHURCH (A.D. 13891520).
Strengnas does not scruple to write about it in his poem,
entitled
"
Engelbrekt and Karl Knutsson "
:
God roused up that little man Engelbrekt,
Who had slight skill the work to direct ;
He gave him might and wit.
Castles and cities, folk, counties and lands
Fell all right quickly into his hands ;
As God willed He ordered it.
For three years this hero became the most powerful man
in Sweden, and its true ruler. His great achievement was
the winning of the Council of State, which he found sitting
at Vadstena in East Gothland on its return from Copen
hagen. He marched into the room, leaving his followers
outside, and dealt straightly with its members, and in
particular with the bishops. He first seized (we are told)
Bishop Knut of Linkoping by the throat, and threatened to
drag him out to the people. He made as if he would treat
Bishop Sigge of Skara in like manner. Bishop Thomas of
Strengnas, afterwards his great friend and elegist, was also
in trouble. He persuaded the council, then and there, to
write a letter, dated i6th August, 1434, to King Eric, re
nouncing his authority. The rebellion succeeded so well
that in the next year, 1435, Engelbrekt was elected adminis
trator of the kingdom at the Diet of Arboga. Unfortu
nately, however, the patriotism of the nobles was of short
duration. They made terms of some sort with Eric, by
which he was to rule through Swedish noblemen ;
and the
titles of steward and marshal were revived the first being
given to an old man, Christer Nilsson Vasa, and the second
to a young and popular knight, Karl Knutsson Bonde, who
was the rival of Engelbrekt in the affections of the people.
Christer Nilsson is interesting to us as the direct ancestor
of King Gustaf Ericsson Vasa. The family acquired the
name Vasa from the charge on their shield, a faggot or
fascine used to fill up a ditch in storming a fortress.
Christer s son-in-law, Bengt Jonsson Oxenstierna, was
himself administrator in 1448, and father of the famous
archbishop, Johannes Benedicti, who was administrator in
1457 and 1465. Christer was also grandfather in the male
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