Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. Gustavus Vasa. The Reformation. A.D. 1524—1543
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
1543.] Di^tgSandtaobles!he GUSTAVUS VASA. THE REFORMATION.
the prelates of the Church heeded not, but wished
to preserve their old usages, be they right or
un-right. There were some who slandered him
publicly and shamelessly, pretending that he would
suffer no priests to remain in the country ; but he
was minded to die like a Christian man, and knew
that teachers were indispensable. He would
support them in all matters if they discharged their
duties satisfactorily, but he requested the
advice of the estates regarding those who did not use
the faculties of their office for the behoof of the
commonalty. He himself was ready to abdicate
his dignity in exchange for a fief and to give
them thanks for the honours they had conferred on
him, but if any government were to exist, means
must be found for its sustentation, and now more
than formerly, if Sweden were to have a king.
That method of carrying on war which was now
used in other countries, made greater charges
necessary ; the fortresses and castles of the
kingdom were dilapidated and in part destroyed ; the
income of the crown was endangered, whilst every
one wished to be king over his own labourers ;
and yet the baronage had become weaker, so that
it was unable to fulfil its obligations for the defence
of the realm. The customs had sunk to nothing ;
the mines of silver and copper had fallen to decay ;
the trade did not support the towns, and for the
little which yet remained, the country and the
towns were quarrelling ; the yearly outlay of the
crown now amounted to two and a half times more
than the receipts 9. For such a strait help was
required, whosoever might bear rule in the land.
When this statement had been read, the king
requested an answer from the barons and the
bishops. Thure Jenson, the oldest member of the
council, who had been raised by the king in the
preceding year to be high steward, called upon
bishop Brask to speak. The prelate declared that
he knew indeed well hi what fealty he was bound
to his king ; yet that he and his whole class were
also obliged to render obedience to the Pope in
spiritual things, and could not without his sanction
consent either to any alteration of doctrine, or to a
diminution of the rights and property of the
Church. Had worthless priests and monks sought
gain by encouraging superstitious usages, which the
heads of the Church themselves disapproved, such
practices might be abrogated and punished.
The king inquired of the council and the nobility,
whether they deemed this a fair answer ; Thure
Jenson declared that he knew of none better.
" Then have we no will," exclaimed Gustavus,
" longer to be your king. From you we had
expected another answer, but now we cannot wonder
that the common people should give us all manner
of disobedience and misliking, when they have such
ringleaders. Get they not rain, the fault is ours ;
if sunshine fail them, ’tis the same cry ; if bad
years, hunger, and pest come, so must we bear
the blame. All of ye will be our masters ; monks,
and priests, and creatures of the Pope, ye set over
our heads, and for all our toils for your welfare, we
have no other reward to expect, than that ye would
gladly see the axe at our neck, yet none of you
but grasp its handle. Such guerdon we can as well
want as any of you. Who would be your king on
His demands .._
granted. 1 •
such terms ? Not the worst fiend in hell, much
less a man. Therefore look to it, that ye release
me fairly from the government, and restore me
that which I have disbursed from my own stock for
the general weal ; then will I depart, and never see
again my ungrateful father-land." The king at these
words burst into tears and hastily quitted the hall.
In the confusion which now ensued no one
ventured to speak, much less to tender advice.
Thure’ Jenson alone was bent on showing his
courage, and prepared for his departure with beat
of drum, affirming that no man within this year
should turn him into a heathen, Lutheran, or heretic.
But when on the following day the same indecision
prevailed among the barons, expressions of
impatience began to be heard from a number of the
common people. If the matter were rightly
considered, they said, king Gustavus had reason 011
his side ; the good lords might now make an end of
the business, else would the peasants take counsel
for themselves. The traders from the towns were
of the same opinion ; the burgesses of Stockholm
cried that they would at least keep the capital open
to the king; and Magnus Sommar, the bishop elect
of Strengness, at length declared, that the servants
of the Church wished not to be screened at the
peril of ruin to the whole kingdom. Many thanked
him for this speech, and besought the clergy that
the contested points of doctrine might be handled
before the estates, in order that laymen also
might gain some insight into them. Olave
Peterson and doctor Peter Galle thereupon disputed
throughout a whole day, the latter answering at
first only in Latin, till the people with threats
compelled him to make use of his mother-tongue. On
the third day even Thurd Jenson and his party
were obliged to yield, since the peasants and
burghers tumultuously called, that they would go
to king Gustavus, and with his help visit and
destroy them all if they would not give way. A
deputation was despatched to the king, who
meanwhile was taking his pleasure in the castle with
his captains of war. The chancellor and Olave
Peterson laid before him the supplication of the
estates, that he would quietly continue in the
government, and they would pay him willing
obedience ; yet Gustavus gave them a severe answer,
denying their request. Three times was the same
petition carried up by new commissioners, in the
last instance falling on their knees with tears,
before he allowed himself to relent. When he
again, upon the fourth day, appeared among the
estates, " there wanted little," say the chronicles,
" for the common people to have kissed his feet;
although a great part of those who were there
congregated soon forgot this transaction, and were
afterwards no better than before."
All his demands were conceded. The king’s
propositions (as the phrase now is, but then called
" framsattningar," while Swedish words were still
used for Swedish affairs) were answered by each
class for itself, by the nobility, the traders, the
miners, and the peasants, although their
deliberations appear to have been held in company. The
statute which was the result of these, known under
the title of the Recess of Westerns, and dated on
Midsummer’s day 1527, was issued in the name of
9 In the Recess of Westeras, in Stjernman, the king
states the certain receipts of the crown at 21,000 marks
(£800) at the most, while the outlay amounted to more than
60,000 marks (£2000) yearly.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
