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482 FORTIA’S ‘TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.
received as the rule of faith throughout the kingdom, which put an end to thofe dif. °
putes concerning religion which had lafted fo great a length of time.
To the former poffeflions of the crown, Guftavus added the immenfe property of
the clergy ; and in 1531, with a view of giving greater weight to the new religion, he
replaced the canons of Upial by Lutherans; and caufed Lawrence Petri, a Proteftant,
to be inftalled Archbifhop of that city for the celebration of the marriage of the King,
and coronation of the new Queen: Guftavus even gave one of his relations in marriage
to the Archbifhop. In 154r, he made a treaty with Francis the Firft, King of France,
to whom he fent an embaily the next year, the two Sovereigns by this treaty contracted
an alliance offenfive and defenfive. In 1544, Guftavus requefted the States, affembled
at Wefteros, to make the crown hereditary in his male line, which was unanimoufly
confented to, as a reward juftly earned by his important fervices. It was decided at the
fame time, that in cafe of, the royal line becoming extinct, the fenate, in conjundion
with the States, fhould elect a new King. :
This prince died in 1560, after a glorious reign of nearly forty years. He pofleffed
the requifites of a great man, was brave, enterprizing, active, a great politician, and inac-
ceffible either to love or flattery; never did he unfheath the {word except from neceflity,
yet never did he yield aught it was his duty to defend. He releafed Sweden from the
fhackles of Denmark, and notwith{tanding the turbulent reftlefs fpirit of his people,
was cherifhed by them as their common father. In fhort, he was a prince whom pofte-
rity may take for a model. Why were not his children like him?
Eric XIV.
Eric, the fon and fucceffor of Guftavus, fenfible and well informed, was yet highly ~
culpable, irrefolute in his plans, and imprudent in his conduct. The clofe of his reign
was marked by atts of fury and madnefs, ‘of which the Stures were the unfortunate vic-
tims. He placed great reliance in judicial aftrology. He charged his brother John
with rebellion for having married Catherine the daughter of Sigifmund I. King of Po-
land, and an ally of the Mufcovites, with whom he was at war; and notwith{tanding he
had confented in the firft inftance to the marriage, he befieged John in the caftle of
Abo, and having taken him prifoner, confined him in the caftle of Gripfholm, whence
he was releafed in 1567. The Prince however never forgave his brother this imprifon-
ment, but joining with his brother Charles in 1568, afterwards Charles IX., they be-
fieged the King in Stockholm, and obliged him to abdicate the throne. This unfor-
tunate prince was imprifoned in many different caftles, and after nine years’ confinement
was finally poifoned. g
This death, while it excites our pity for the victim, infpires one with horror at his
brother John, who fucceeded him.
Eric XIV. in 1568, created Counts and Barons. Of the three dignitaries made on
this occafion, Peter Brahé was the firft. The famili¢s of the other two are extinct.
Joun III.
John the Third was declared King by the Statesaffembled at Stockholm ; he reigned
alone, notwithftanding his engagement of fharing the throne with his brother Charles,
and which engagement was’the inducement for Charles affifting him again{t Eric. The
fucceeding year Eric was condemned by the States to perpetual imprifonment ; but in
1578, fome partifans yet remaining faithful, he attempted to efcape from prifon. John,
apprehenfive of danger to his crown from fuch a riyal, determined on poifoning him,
to
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