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6. THE NEW BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOP. 207
perform, the taxation of the clergy, the Swedish mass, etc.
This was deposited with two members of the Chapter of
Strengnas, and does not seem to have been known to the
king. Its object, we may presume, was to justify their
action in case a change of government brought back the
old order of things, and to escape punishment on account
of it. Hans Brask had shown the usefulness of such a
protest in regard to the case of Gustavus Trolle, and such a
protest had been also made before the Riksdag of
Vesteras.14
Petrus Magni shortly after this fell into disgrace by his
indiscreet management of the unpopular call upon each of
the churches to deliver up or redeem their largest bell, and
to make other contributions to the necessities of the State,
but he remained in office till his death in 1534. There was
an even more serious breach between the king and his old
ally, Magnus Sommar, and he was deposed in 1536, but
afterwards pardoned and allowed to live in quiet retire
ment, while his place was taken by Botvid Sunonis, a
friend of Olaus Petri.15
Thus, by the year 1536, the various
sees were filled by men who were in sympathy with the new
teaching. The reformers had hitherto worked by influenc-
14
On the contents of this protest see more in Anjou : E. T.,
p. 282. He adds :
"
It was not drawn up to be made public,
unless under a change of circumstances, which should render it
necessary as a self-defence. It was another evidence of the
moral laxity in the high places of the Church, which we have
had more than one occasion to notice."
15
The exact date and circumstances of the consecration of
Bishop Botvid of Strengnas are not known. He is an important
link in the episcopal succession in Sweden, since he consecrated
Paulus Juusten of Abo in 1554, who in his turn consecrated Arch
bishop Laurentius Petri Gothus, i4th June, 1575. The fact,
however, of Botvid s consecration cannot be doubted. See A.
Nicholson: Apostolical Succession in the Church of Sweden,
pp. 36-48, 1880. Up to 7th September, 1536, Botvid was only
"electus." On 3oth August, 1539, he ordained Olaus Petri
priest (Nicholson, pp. 37 and 41). Unfortunately the records of
Strengnas have been destroyed by fire, or we should know at
what date between those two days he was consecrated ; probably
it was in 1536.
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