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4- ARCHBISHOP ABRAHAM AND OLAUS MARTINI. 265
4. RIKSDAG OF SODERKOPING (1595). HARSH VISITA
TION OF ARCHBISHOP ABRAHAM. BATTLE OF
STANGEBRO (1598). DIFFICULT POSITION OF
CHARLES. ARCHBISHOP ABRAHAM IMPRISONED.
NlCOLAUS BOTNIENSIS ARCHBISHOP-ELECT OF
UPSALA (15991600). OLAUS MARTINI ELECTED
ARCHBISHOP AT THE RlKSDAG OF STOCKHOLM
(1602). HIS CONSECRATION.
In the autumn of the same year Charles took a more
decisive step than before in convoking a Riksdag at Soder-
koping, not only without the consent of Sigismund, but
contrary to his previous prohibition (Geijer :
pp. 190-1).
This assembly, in which Charles obtained his wishes by a
direct appeal to the people, decided that foreign dissenters
from the evangelical religion were to be exiled from the
kingdom, and this particularly concerned those at Stock
holm, Drottningholm and Vadstena. Swedes might re
main, provided they did not cause scandal. Vadstena was
to be closed as a convent. Duke Charles was elected
governor of the realm of Sweden, thus securing his
superiority to the local governors, whom Sigismund had
left depending on himself. Finally, two bishops were
elected, Petrus Kenicius to Skara and Petrus Jonae
Angermannus to Vexio.13
One of the results of the Riksdag of Soderkoping was
the general visitation of all the dioceses in Sweden, under
taken by Archbishop Abraham under a commission from
the duke. It was intended not only to punish offenders
against morality and Church discipline, but also sectaries.
It began in West Gothland in February, 1596. The arch
bishop s procedure was stern and vigorous ; directly he had
pronounced his judgment on offenders they were seized by
his assistant
"
deacons," and punishment followed imme
diately. The commonest punishment was birching with a
13
See Baaz :
pp. 567-9. The Commission to Archbishop
Abraham follows, dated Vadstena, i8th Dec., 1585 (pp. 571-2).
Then the Archbishop s letter to the clergy (572-5).
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