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270 A History of Sweden
teachers so much to heart that he became ill in conse-
quence.
The haughty, hot-tempered queen hated the officious
Estates, who had so impudently thrust themselves into
the sanctity of family life, intruded themselves be-
tween parents and children. Her "head began to reel,"
she wrote in her diary. She must get away from this
intolerable dependence. There was but one course : to
overthrow the system of government.
The Plot and Its Results. Some friends of the court
plotted to bring about the desired change, and gained
supporters among the soldiers, sailors, and workmen
of Stockholm. The plan was that these conspirators
should gather some night, and under the lead of some
trusty officers, cause an uprising, seize the important
positions in the city, arrest the chief men of the coun-
cil and the Estates. The king should then summon a
new Eiksdag and induce it to grant greater powers to
the king. But unfortunately for the court, they were
forced to let into the secret too many unreliable men of
the lower classes.
One innkeeper, known for drunkenness and rash-
ness, had in readiness a few hundred men, whom he
had induced to assist in the uprising. But he could not
wait till the leaders had made all necessary prepara-
tions. One night, when drunk as usual, he would, for-
sooth, of his own accord carry out the plan. One of his
confidants went to a corporal of the guard, aroused
him and asked : "Are your men willing to do their duty
in loyalty to their king in case an order is given to
act?" The corporal answered, "yes," but hastened to
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