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188 Sigismund’s charter to
tlie nobility.
HISTORY OF THE SWEDES. Arrangements for his
departure.
[1592-
council of state and the nobles, especially during
the Union age ’.
Induced thereby king Sigismund i.ssued before
his coronation a special assurance to tlie knights
and nobility, by which, upon the expressed ground
that the nobility had approved the hci-editary set-
tlement, John’s privileges were considerably aug-
mented. Judicial posts were now reserved ex-
clusively for nobles, as well as all the high offices
of state in the chancery, the government of the
provinces, and the command of the army, and no
mean or unnoble men should be placed in any
office above them or beside them. The kingdom
should be governed by the advice of the council,
and no man be received into it without the ap-
proval of its remaining members. The council and
nobility should be duly supported in the service of
the realm with land and fiefs, according to the house-
hold laws ordained by preceding kings ^. The con-
ditions of the horse-service were furtlier lightened,
and all freeholds originally acquired by the assump-
tion of its burdens were to be enjoyed unimpaired
by the nobility and their dependents. It is sur-
prising that the right of the crown, grounded upon
the false statute of Helgeaudsholm, is controverted,
and against it Eric Sparre manifestly directed a part
of his essay. That metallic ridges in Sweden are
no regalities he shows by the statute of 1486, in re-
spect to the advantage devolving to the crown, and
the rights of the proprietor, and adds, that accord-
ing to the old register of the kingdom in Strengness
the oldest councilloi’s at that time attested that this
so obtained in the time of king Christopher. Against
claims of the crown to the commons of hundreds
he appeals to the Land’s Law; that of exclusive
right over the streams is also held bad. All such
assertions in the charters of privileges are also de-
clared illegal.
—The true import of the dignities of
count and baron at this time we learn from the
letters confirmatory of such grants. The inhabitants
of the domains annexed are exhorted to acknowledge
the possessors for their rightful count or free baron,
to him after the crown to show fealty and obedience,
and to make to him all those payments which were
otherwise due to the crown. Fiefs were distributed
in numbers. Complaints were made of partiality,
and of tlie intolerable influence of the royal secre-
tary therein. The nobles were not content. Sig-
ismund requested on the 9th March, 1594, the
oj)inion of Charles, since the nobility, notwith-
standing the assurance given in Upsala, still in-
cessantly solicited amendments of their privileges.
Charles, who had previously warned the king
against the new privileges*, replies, that he now
cannot advise, because he should only be ill inter-
preted *.
The duke had gone after the coronation to his
principality; and sickness, perhaps also mistrust,
retained him at Nykoping during the short time
fur which Sigismund still tarried in Sweden. The
8 We quote tlie above from a manuscript copy. According
to Warmlioltz, it was printed at Stoclcholm in 1594.
5 For this Eric Sparre refers to the decree of the Council of
State at Telje in 1380.
’
Charles writes, Nov. 5, 1593, that he had heard the
nobles requested further amendment of their privileges ;
that the king should request to know upon what grounds ;
alsQ, since they referred to ancient charters, that they should
show them. Minute for Sigismund. Register.
2 Answer to Sigismund, April 4, J 594. In the same letter
king’s intention of returning instantly (according to
his promise given) to Poland, had already been
made known to the estates in Upsala, with a decla-
ration that the duke and the council should con-
duct the government in Sweden. The people
thereon regarded Charles, the magnates the coun-
cil, as the ruling authority. That the latter was
the ojjinion of the council itself was soon shown,
when they produced on the 20th of March, 1594,
their own scheme of government, in the minuteness
and formality of which is again recognised the pen
of Eric Sparr^. This was a circumstantially ordered
polygarchy, meted out and balanced in several
offices filled by nobles, with the council at the head
of the administration, affairs being decided by a
plurality of voices. We see that the statutes of
Calmar were not forgotten. The author refers
also to the example of Denmark, where the council
now held the government during the minority of
Christian IV. The king appeared content with this
form of government, which was promulgated by
commissioners in the country. Charles rejected it,
as contrary to Swedish law and Swedish manners.
Born ])rince hereditary of Sweden, he was entitled
to conduct the government during the king’s ab-
sence, although he would have willingly dispensed
with its toils, if the king himself would stay in the
country ;
the council, according to Sweden’s law,
was to advise, not to govern ; Denmark was an
elective monarchy, and its example not applicable
to Sweden ^. To the council he wrote, that for
what concerned the ordering of the government,
there was no more certain rule than the law of
Sweden and tlie king’s oath. To govern accord-
ingly must be exacted of the man to whom the
king, with the assent of the estates, should commit
the government during his absence ;
then any
further circumstance was needless ; all cases could
hardly be so anticipated and comprised in a deter-
minate order, that the condition of the realm might
not well demand another disposition ; every other
order of government must be the subject of dis-
cussion, as well with him to whom the government
was to be committed, as with the estates, who
were to be governed in accordance therewith *.
Charles therefore requested the convocation of the
estates anew, ere the king quitted the country, but
communicated a proposition, upon the principles
stated, as well for the warrant which he required
from Sigismund, as for the assurance of fealty he was
to give in return ^. Among the king’s attendants an
individual was found, who advised the accepting of
both without limitation ;
this was Arnold Grothusen,
his former tutor. Sweden, he argued, needed
a government ; Charles would take in any case
what he now requested ;
it would be better to leave
it to him with a good grace ;
the matter touched
Sigismund’s hereditary right and crown, which
could only be preserved by this method. This was
what Charles himself had not concealed. " If your
he says, that he could not advise any thing touching the
dowry of queen Gunnila; yet he was of opinion that her
claim should be abated in several respects, and that the
young duke John, after the death of duke Magnus, (which
occurred June 21, 1595,) should receive East-Gothland.
3 Answer to Sigismund’s messengers, Werwing, i. 250.
* To the council, upon the ordering of government, June
5, 1594. Register.
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