The vvarres of Svvethland With the ground and originall of the said vvarres, begun and continued betwixt Sigismond King of Poland, and Duke Charles his vnkle, lately crowned King of Swethland. As also the state and condition of that kingdome, as it standeth to this day.

Chap. II. Gustovus is discouered in Lubecke: The Lubeckers take his part, The King his Father dies, He reco∣uers by their meanes the Kingdome of Sweth∣land.

THe newes (being arriued in Germany) of Gu∣••tovus his flight out of Swethland, before his comming thither, was diuersly intertained in Lubeck: Some pittied the state and condition of the young Prince, that so Noble a Gentleman, so full of hope, and expectation, euen in the prime of his youth, should in this vile manner suffer violence: Others spake against him, supposing that his owne naturall Father, and others of his blood, would not in this manner haue proceeded a∣gainst him, if he had not showne himselfe dangerous vnto the State, as the mindes of the people are in this case diuersly distracted. The Prince after his comming to Lubeck staied certaine dayes in a common Inne, not daring to discouer himselfe, and to auoid the suspition of a stranger in such com∣mon places, found meanes to preferre himselfe vnto a rich Merchant of the Towne (if such a place in the meanenesse of his fortune at that time may be called preferment.) Being there entertained, he contented himselfe to doe any bodily la∣bour

in the house, striuing to suite his minde vnto his misery, yet could hee not so well counterfeit this part of his sinister fortune, but that the Merchant did soone suppose him to be a better man, then hee seemed to bee, and perhaps the man hee was. So hard a thing it is for Nature to learne to forget her custome. Staying some few moneths in the Merchants house, hee heard of a Gasant sent from the king to the State of Lubeck, being supposed hee would bend his course thither. The tenor of the Gasants message, was to deliuer to the Lubeckers that the kings desire was, that either they should not entertaine him at al, or els send him backe to Swethland, for that hee was knowen and proclaimed to bee an enemie. But they being at that time ignorant of the Princes abiding, answered for the time to those things, that might stand with the Kings pleasure. The Gasant being dispatcht, Gustovus liued in a continuall feare of being discouered, as well for that many great men in the Towne had before seene him in Swethland, and might then remember him: As also for that his Master would many times prie into his countenance, and behauiour, and vtter strange words, and shew strange pas∣sions, euen in his presence, sometimes repeating the name of Gustovus.

The Prince holding thus a Wolfe by the eares, in doubt whether to stay or goe, (in both which he found danger) was wondrously perplexed: Sometimes he thought to discouer himselfe, opposing his mind against the worst of fortune, that if the Towne did betray him, his blood should be shed in In∣nocence, and he be rid of that torment: wherin his mind was diuersly distracted betwixt Hope, and Feare, and Feare the predominant: but at last resoluing with himselfe to stay, hee still framed his mind vnto his businesse. One day cleauing of wood, in the strayning of his bodie, a button that held the flappe of his Ierken, brake, and there withall a little Chaine of gold, whereon did hange a Iewell of inestimable price, fell from his necke: Which a maid seruant in the house (beeing by) perceiuing, was desirous to see it: but hee suddainely

snatching it vp, told her that it was a thing of no worth, but giuen him by a friend of his, in the remembrance of her. The maide dissembled her opinion for the present, but soone after told it to her master. The Merchant vpon this accident, con∣firmes his former suspition, and hauing now matter more re∣latiue then before, enformed the State of Lubeck with this circumstance. The Burgomasters of the Towne, sitting then in Counsell, sent for the stranger by a guard, to come be∣fore them, How the Message was entertained by the Prince, let them iudge that haue vndergone the like ad∣uenture. There was no deniall, nor possibility of escape, O∣bey he must, And it is a hard thing when Princes must obey. Being brought before the Magistrates, it was demaunded of whence he was? he answered, of Swethen. They askt him of what degree? He told them, as meane in birth as in fortune: what mooued you (quoth they) to forsake your Countrey? The Prince replied, my vnkind vsage there. A principall Senatour of the Towne looking all this while stedfastly vpon his countenance, perceiued that it was Gu∣stovus, and whispering the rest in the eare, assured them, that it was the Prince. The matter was before concluded what they meant to doe, Whereupon this great Citizen be∣gan to speake in this manner. Your birth (quoth hee) is farre better then your fortune, Therein you dissembled, but your fortune beares the blame, your first and last answere is true, for we know that you are of Swethland, and your name is Prince Gustovus, and the vnkind vsage of your Countrey hath driuen you from thence: what we meane to doe, you shall vnderstand shortly. In the meane time repose your selfe securely and hopefully in the rulers house. The Prince acknowledged himselfe, and thankt them for these signes of their good will. And if you shall find (quoth he) my protection, or defence to prooue dangerous vnto your State, Let my life rid you from that feare: I shall be well con∣tent, so I may free you from danger, to be your Sacrifice; Whereupon they all imbraced him, with the teares stan∣ding

in their eyes, euery one honouring him▪ and putting him in great hope and comfort, They caused him presently to be inuested with royall ornaments and in all honourable and louing manner, conuayed him that night to the ••ulers house. The Prince stayed as prisoner, but honourably attended a∣bout two yeeres in Lubeck. During which time, the king his Father sent diuers Gasants with faire words, and large promises to haue him deliuered, but it would neuer be gran∣ted; Howbeit they promised that they would keepe him safe from attempting any innouation. The Prince during his stay there would often visite his old master, whom he would alwa••es call his kind master, affirming that if his discouery had not bene made knowen, he could as contentedly haue li∣ued a poore seruant in his house▪ as he did then a princely pri∣soner in the Towne: The Merchant would many times tell him, he had much adoe, to keepe himselfe, from the sinne of pride, for that it was his fortune, to be master of such a ser∣uant.

Within two yeeres after, the king his Father died, and the State of the Countrey proclaimed the Queenes Sonne, King of Swethland. Gustovus had quickely intelligence thereof, as such newes flies euer with the Swallows wings, receiues Letters from many Noble men, and other of his friends in the Countrey, wherein he was aduised to vse all means possible for his return, with assured cōfidence of their assistance The Prince shewes the Letters to y^e Lubeckers, solicits them in his own behalfe for aide, giues them princely pomises of their requitall. The Prince returnes to Swethen full of hope and encouragement, His friends meete him in great multitudes with all signes of loue and obedience: His enemies are disperst without battaile: some fled, some taken prisoners, the Queene with her sonne conuaied to Vpsale Castle, The three Dukes beheated, and all the rest pardo∣ned. When all things were established, and the summes of money paid backe to the Lubeckers, Gustovus was shortly after with all solemnitie Crowned king of Swethland, and

not long after was honourably married out of Germanie, His Queene being nobly borne in that Countrey, By whom he had foure sonnes: Prince Erick the eldest, Duke of Doland, Iohn Duke of Finland, Magnus Duke of Warm∣land, and Charles the youngest Duke of Estergutland, that now liues and inioyes the Crowne of Swethland.

This Gustovus Raigned peaceably and happily, Laden with many yeeres, but with many more Trophies of ho∣nors, The care and loue hee bare vnto his subiects was well seene in their reciprocall respect to him. His sonnes brought vp in all princely knowledge, acknowledged faithfully their naturall duties during his life, Though after his death they fell at vnnaturall debate, one with another.

In the last of his yeeres he shewed the best of his affections, different from the obseruance taken in other Princes, who after a long continued Soueraignetie, doe much decline from the gentle behauiours of their beginnings. But at last (as euery thing is vnstable, & each estate, that hath being in this world, holds his vncertaintie) This noble king deceased, at that time, wherein his life was most desired of his subiects: whose loue had bene the like vnto his sonnes, had it not bene crost by the nature of the tumultuous times that followed: The dead corps being now the sadde remnant of a king, was with all solemnitie conuaied and enterred in Vpsale Castle: His friends following it with all tokens of sorrow, calling him the proppe and protector of Religion, the defender and preseruer of his Countrey, the honour and glory of the Swethen Nation. His fame went before him, dilating his Noble acts, and princely vertues, that (not buried in the graue with him) returned backe, posting through the world, and still sounding foorth the prayses of Gustovus, whose name shall neuer die, so long as the memorie of the Swethen State indures.