CHAP. XIII.

Of the Kingdom of Sweden.

§ 1. THE Swedish Historians have out of their ancient Monuments shown the World,* that the Kingdom of Sweden is the most antient Kingdom in Europe, and that this Country, was, after the Deluge, sooner stored with Inhabitants than the other parts of Europe. Neverthe∣less it is very uncertain who were the first Inhabitants, and at what time they first settled there, as likewise whether they were immediately governed by Kings, or whether the Fathers of Families, had the chief sway among them, till the Regal was grafted on the Paternal Power. The names and deeds of their Kings, and the time of their Reigns are also not easie to be determined, for the List which has been published of these Kings, is not so Authentick, but that it may be called in question; And, as to the transactions of those times, they are most of them taken out of antient Songs and Fabulous Le∣gends, and some of them out of the allegorical Traditions of their antient Poets or Scalders, which have perhaps been wrongly interpreted by some Authors. And Jo∣hannes Messenius in his Scandinavia Illustrata, does not stick to say, that the old Swedish Historiographer Jo∣hannes Magnus did strive to outdo in his bragging Hi∣story, the Danish Historian Sanno Grammaticus.* Jo∣hannes Magnus Makes Magog, the Son of Japhet Grand∣son of Noah, the first Founder of the Schytick and Go∣thick Nations, and says that from his two Sons Sweno, and Gether and Geg, the Swedish and Gothish Nations had their names. He relates, that after this Family was ex∣tinguished, Sweden was during the space of four hun∣dred years under the Government of certain Judges, and that about eight hundred years after the Deluge, both the Kingdoms of the Swedes and Gothes were uni∣ted Page  462 under Bericus, who in person planted a Colony of the Gothes beyond the Seas, after having Conquered the Ʋlmirugii, who then inhabited Prussia, from whence he extended his Conquests over the Vandals. A consi∣derable time after, these Nations did settle themselves not far from the Mouth of the River Danube near the Black Sea, from whence having under taken several Ex∣peditions both into Asia and Europe, at last in the third and fourth Centuries after the Birth of Christ, did en∣ter the Roman Provinces on this side of the Danube, and carried their Conquering Arms into Italy and Spain, where they erected two Kingdoms. But the greatest part of this Relation is contradicted by Messenius, who also rejects the List which Johannes Maginis h•• given us, of the Kings before our Soviour's Birth, al∣ledging that the times before Christ's Nativity, are all involved in fabulous Narrations, as to those Northern parts, and that most of these Kings lived after the Birth of our S•viour. But, since even the Chronology of the first 〈◊〉 after Christ's Nativity, and the Genealogy of those Kings it somewhat uncertain in these Contries, it will suff•ce to mention here some few of the most famous among them, till the latter times furnish us with an opportunity to relate things with more certainty.

§ 2. Sixty years before the Birth of Christ, the fa∣mous Othin or Woden,* having been driven by Pomp•y out of Asia with a great number of people, first Con∣quered Bussas, afterwards the Saxons and Danes, and last of all Norway and Sweden, about twenty four years before Christ's Birth. Othin kept for himself Sweden only, yet so, that all the other Scandinavian Princes should own him a• their Supreme Lord, from whence came that Custom which was used for several hundred years after, viz. That at the great and general meetings of these Nations, the King of Denmark used to hold the Bridle of the King of Sweden's Horse, whilst he mounted it, and the King of Norway the Stirrup. He was suc∣ceeded by Frotho surnamed.* Jorgo, who covered the Temple at Ʋpsal with Gold, and surrounded its Pinacle with a golden Chain. After him were these following Page  463 Kings Niord, Sigtrug, Asmund, Ʋffo, Hynding, Regner, Halvard, Helgo, Attilus, Hother, Roderick surnamed Singabond, Hogmor, and Hogrin, Erick, Haldan, Sivand, Erick, Haldan, Ʋngrin, Regnald. About the year 588. Rodolf was King of the Gothes, but being vanquished by the English, whom he left in the possession of that King∣dom, he himself fled into Italy, where he sought Sanctu∣ary of Dicterick the King of the Gothes. In the mean while Frotho, either the Son, or else a Kinsman of Regnald, was King of Sweden, whom succeeded these following Kings Fiolmus, Swercher, Valander, Vislur, who was burnt by his own Sons. Damalder, who was Sacrificed by his own Subjects to their Idol at Ʋpsal. Domar, Digner, Dager, Agnius, who was hanged by his own Wife. Alrick and Erick, who flew one ano∣ther in a single Combat, Ingo, Hugler, Haco, Jerundar, Hacquin surnamed Ring, under whose Reign that most memorable Battel at Brovalla was fought,* betwixt the Swedes and Danes, where thirty thousand Men were killed on the Danish, and twelve thousand on the Swedish side. This King Sacrificed nine of his Sons to the Idol at Ʋpsal, and would have done the same with the tenth, who was the only Heir left to the Kingdom, if he had not been prevented by the Swedes. Him suc∣ceeded his Son Egillus, whom followed in the Kingdom of Sweden, Othar, Adel, Ostan, Ingvard, Amund, Si∣vard, Hirot or Herolt, who married his Daughter Thera to Regnerthethen King of Denmark.* Ingellus the Son of Amund, succeeded Hirot in the Kingdom of Sweden; who, the night after his Coronation caused seven of those petty Princes, that were Vassals of the Crown of Sweden to be burnt in their Lodgings; and after∣wards exercised the same Cruelty against five more of the same Rank. His Daughter Asa, that was married to Gudrot a Prince of Schonen, exceeded her Father in Cruelty, for having murthered her Husband and his Bro∣ther, she betrayed the Country to the Enemies; which so exasperated Ivan, the Son of Regner, King of Den∣mark, that he fell with great fury upon Ingellus, who had taken his Daughter into his Protection, destroying all with Fire and Sword. Ingellus being reduced to the utmost extremity, by the advice of his Daughter Page  464 burnt himself, his Daughter, and the whole Family, in his own Palace, except his Son Olaus, who sheltered himself in Wermeland. After the death of Ingellus, a certain Nobleman, of an antient Family in Sweden, whose name was Charles, assumed the Royal Title and Power, but Regner King of Denmark, who pretended that it belonged to his Son, did send a challenge to the said Charles, and having killed him in the Combat, transferred the Kingdom of Sweden to his Son Bero or Biorn, who was Hirots Daughters Son.

§ 3.* Under the Reign of this Bero or Biorn, Ansga∣rius, a Monk of Corvey,* and afterwards Bishop of Bre∣men, was sent into Sweden,* by the Emperour Lewis the Pious, to Preach the Gospel in that Kingdom. But the King refusing to hearken to his Doctrine, was by the Swedes banished the Kingdom, together with his Father Regner.* His Successor Amund did also Rule but a very few years, and having raised a most horrible Persecuti∣on against the Christians, was also banished the King∣dom. The Swedes being quite tired out with Amund's tyrannical Government,* did call in Olaus, out of Wermeland to be their King, who to establish himself in the Throne, married the Daughter of Regner to his Son Ingo, and thereby obtained the quiet possession of the two Kingdoms of the Swedes and Gothes.* Not ma∣ny years after Ansgarius rerurned into Sweden, and Con∣verted Olaus, (who then resided at Birca a most popu∣lous City) to the Christian Faith. Olaus then marched with a Potent Army into Denmark, and having com∣mitted the Administration of that Kingdom to his Son Ennigruus, returned into Sweden; where he was by his Heathen Subjects Sacrificed to their Idol at Ʋpsal. His Son Ingo,* the better to Establish himself in the Throne, married the King of Denmark's Daughter,* and after∣wards was killed in the War against the Russians. Him Succeeded his Son Erick surnamed Weatherhat,* famous for his skill in Witchcraft, who was succeeded by his Son Erick surnamed Seghersell,* who Conquered Finland, Curland, Livonia, and Ehestland From Denmark he retook Halland and Schonen, and at last drove the Danish King Swen out of Denmark, who could not re∣cover Page  465 his Kingdom till after his death.* His Son Sten∣chill, surnamed the Mild, was Baptized at Sigtuna (a great City at that time) and having destroyed the Idol at Ʋpsal, and forbid his Subjects upon pain of death to Sacrifice to the Idols, the Pagans were so enraged there∣at, that they slew and burnt him near Ʋpsal, and with him the two Christian Priests that were sent to him by the Bishop of Hamburgh.* His Brother Olaus nevertheless obtained from King Etheldred of England several Chri∣stain Priests, who not only preached the Gospel in Sweden, but also the King, and a great number of People were Baptized by one of these called Sigfried in a Fountain called Husbye, which is called St. Sigfrieds Kalla Wel to this day. This Olaus was surnamed Skot∣konung, because upon the persuasion of the English Priests he granted to the Pope a yearly Tax against the Saracens, which was called Romskot. This Olaus took from Oluf Tryggeso the Kingdom of Norway, which he however recovered afterwards. This Olaus Skotkonung was also the first who made a perfect union betwixt the two Kingdoms of the Swedes and Gothes,* who had hi∣therto been often at great enmity with one another.

To Olaus succeeded his Son Amund, under whose Reign the Christian Religion increased very succesfully in Sweden;* after whom Reigned his Brother Amund, surnamed Slemme,* a Man very negligent both in main∣taining Religion and Justice. He was slain with the greatest part of his Army by Cnut King of Denmark, near a Bridge called Strangepelle. After his death the Gothes and Swedes disagreed about the Election of a new King,* the first choosing Haquin surnamed the Red. the latter Stenchill the younger. At last it was agreed betwixt them, that Haquin being pretty well in years should remain King during his life, and should be suc∣ceeded by Stenchill. After the death of Haquin, who Reigned thirteen years,* Stenchill the younger, Olaus Skotkonung's Sisters Son, began his Reign, who van∣quished the Danes in three great Battels. Him suc∣ceeded Ingo surnamed the Pious.* This King utterly destroyed the Idol at Ʋpsal, which so enraged his Pa∣gan Subjects, that they Banished him the Kingdom, and afterwards murthered him in Schonen, he was buried Page  466 in a Convent called Wa•hei•• in West-Gothland. After him reigned with great applause his Brother Halstan,* whom succeeded his Son Philip* Ingo, Philip's Son, and his Queen Ragoild,* were also very famous for their Piety and other Vertues:* she was after her death honoured as a Saint,* and her Tomb frequently visited at Talge.* This King left no Sons, but two Daughters, Christina and Margret, the first was married to St. Erick, the second to Magntis King of Norway. He was poisoned by the East Gothes, who were grown weary of the Swedish Government. Under the Reign of these five last Kings there were golden times in Sweden, the Christian Faith was then Established and the Subjects lived in Peace and Plenty.

§ 4. After the death of Inge, the East Gothes, with∣out the consent of the other Provinces, made one Ragwald Knaphofde,* a Man of great bodily Strength, but of no great Wisdom, their King, who was slain by the West Gothes. In his stead the East Gothes chose Swercher II.* a very good King, who nevertheless was murthered by one of his Servants. After the death of Swercher, the East Gothes chose his Son Charles for their King, but the Sw•des at their General Assembly at Ʋpsal Elected Erick the Son Josward,* he having mar∣ried Christina the Daughter of Ingo surnamed the Pious. But both the Swedes and Gothes considering afterwards, how necessary it was to keep up the Union betwixt these two Kingdoms, made an agreement that Erick should remain King over both Kingdoms, but that Charles should succeed him, and that afterwards their Heirs should Rule the Kingdom in the same manner in their several turns. This Erick having reduced the Finns to their former Obedience, obliged them to re∣ceive the Christian Doctrine.* He also ordered the an∣tient Constitutions of the Kingdom to be Collected into one Book,* which was called after his name St. Erick's Law. He was slain in the Meadows near Ʋpsal by Magnus the King of Denmark's Son, who having first defeated his Army, was proclaimed King.* But the Swedes and Gothes under the Conduct of Charles the Son of Swercher, fell again with such fury upon the Danes, Page  467 that they kill'd all the Danes with their King and his Son upon the spot, and out of the spoil built a Church near Ʋpsal which they called Denmark,* Charles there∣fore, the Son of Swercher became King of Denmark, who Reigned with a general applause;* till Cnut the Son of Erick returned out of Norway,* and under pre∣tence that he had abetted his Father's death, surprised and killed him. His Lady and Children fled into Den∣mark, where having got some assistance they joined with the Gothes under the Conduct of Kell, the Bro∣ther of Charles, to recover the Kingdom, but their General was killed upon the spot, and their Forces dispersed by Cnus Erickson. After which he Reigned very peaceably for the space of twenty three years. After the death of Cnut,* Swercher the Son of Charles was made King of Swedeland, but had for his Rival Erick, the Son of the last deceased King. At last the difference was thus Composed, that Swercher should remain King during his life, but should be succeeded by Erick. But Swercher, who notwithstanding this agree∣ment was for settling the Crown upon his Family, did barbarously murther all the Sons of Cnut, except Erick,* who escaped into Norway; from whence he returned with some Forces, and being assisted by the Swedes vanquished Swercher, who fled into West Gothland. Having obtained Succours of sixteen thousand Men, from Weldemar, the King of Denmark, he attempted to recover his Kingdom, but was miserably beaten by Erick's Army, he himself narrowly escaping into Denmark;* from whence he not long after again fell in∣to West Gothland,* but was again defeated and slain in the Battel,* Leaving Erick Cnutson in the quiet pos∣session of the Throne, who renewed the former agree∣ment made betwixt those two Families, and Constituted John the Son of Swercher his Successour in the King∣dom. He married Ricnet the Sister of Waldemar King of Denmark,* and dyed in Wisingsoe. Him succeeded according to agreement, John the Son of Swercher, who Reigned but three years and dyed also in the Isle of Wisingsoe, which was the general place of residence of the Swedish Kings in those days.

Page  468 § 5.* After the death of John, Erick, the Son of the former King Erick, became King of Sweden, who be∣ing lame, and besides this lisping, was surnamed the Lisper. There was about that time a very Potent Fa∣mily in Sweden called the Tolekungers, who aimed at the Crown. To bring these over to his Party the King had married three of his Sisters to three of the Chiefest a∣mong them, he himself having married Catharine the Daughter of Sweno Tolekunger. But these being grown more Potent by this Alliance; Cnut Tolekunger rebelled against the King, and having worsted him, obliged him to fly into Denmark; from whence he soon returned with a strong Army and vanquished Tolekunger, and having caused him and Halingar his Son to be slain, re∣stored the Peace of the Kingdom. Under the Reign of this King it was that Gulielmus Sabinensis the Pope's Legat did first forbid the Priests in Sweden to Marry, whereas before that time it had been a common Cu∣stom among the Priests there to Marry,* as well as Laymen. This Erick under the Conduct of his Bro∣ther in Law Birger Yerl forced the Finnes to return to Obedience, and to receive the Christian Faith, and built several Fortresses upon their Frontiers.* He dyed without Issue in Wisingsoe. Whilst Birger Yerl was ab∣sent in Finland,* the States made Waldemar the eldest Son of Birger Yerl their King, as being the deceased King's Sisters Son:* Who being Crowned in the year next following, the Administration of the Kingdom was committed during his minority to his Father Birger, who augmented the antient Law Book, and deserved so well of the Publick, that upon the request of the Estates he was created a Duke, whereas before he had been only an Earl, or as it is in their antient Language Yerl. He met with great opposition from the Tolekungers, who had not quite laid aside their pretensions to the Crown, so that their jealousie at last broke out into open War. But the Duke, under pretence of making an agreement with them, after having granted them a safe Conduct persuaded them to give him a meeting, where having made them all Prisoners caused them to be Executed, except Charles Tolekunger who fled into Prussia, and re∣mained Page  469 there all his life time. Things being thus settled, he gave to his Son, in Marriage, Sophia the Daughter of Erick King of Denmark,* and laid the first foundation of the Castle and City of Stockholm; and tho his Son was become of Age, yet did he never surrender the Go∣vernment to him as long as he lived.* He died after he had been Regent fifteen years, leaving four Sons, Wal∣demar King of Sweden, Magnus Duke of Sudermanland, Erick of Smaland, and Benedict of Finland, who after∣wards raised great Disturbances: for Waldemar having, during his Pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, left the Administration of the Kingdom to his Brother Magnus, at his return accused him of having aimed at the Crown. The States of Sweden held an Assembly at Strengness to com∣pose these differences if possible;* but met with so much difficulty that it was impossible to be effected. Where∣fore Magnus and Erick being retired into Denmark, soon returned from thence with a considerable Force; and having routed the Vanguard of King Waldemar, made him their Prisoner. Whereupon Magnus called together the Estates of the Kingdom; who being most of them of his Party, did assign the whole Kingdom to Duke Magnus, except only East and West Gothland, Smaland and Daht, which the King was to have for his share. But this Agreement lasted not long; for the Danes, who had not received their Subsidies promised by Mag∣nus, siding with Waldemar, the War was renewed, which was carried on with various Success; till at last the Danes, having received satisfaction for the Money due to them, left Waldemar in the lurch, who, in the presence of the Estates, resigned the Kingdom to Mag∣nus.

§ 6.* Waldemar having resigned the Kingdom, Mag∣nus was crowned at Ʋpsal:* who resumed the Title of King of the Swedes and Goths, which had not been used by his Predecessors ever since the time of Olaus Skotka∣nung, but is since retained by the Kings of Sweden to this day. Under this King's reign the Family of the Tolekungers began to raise new Commotions, and being assisted by some of the Nobilty, murthered Ingemar Danschkep the King's Favourite, and took Gerhard the Page  470 E. of Holstein and Father-in-law to the K. Prisoner, laying also close Siege to the Castle of Joncoring; which oblig'd the K. to appea•e them for that time by fair Promises: but not long after the E. was released, the K. accused them before the Assembly of the Nobility of High Treason, and caused them all to be executed at Stockholm, except Phi∣lip of Runby, who was fain to redeem his Life at a very dear Rate. And with this Stroke the Greatness of the Family of the Tolekungers was quite laid in the dust. Having thus settled his Affairs, he got his Lady Hederig crowned at Suderasping; and, with the advice of the Senators, made King Waldemar a Prisoner in the Castle of Nicoping,* where he died four years after. Magnus died in Wisignioc,* but was buried at Stockholm in the Church of the Grey Friars, having left the Tuition of his Son Birger, who was but eleven years of age, and the Care of the Kingdom to Torckell C•utson the Rix∣Marshal. Torckell Cnutson was Regent for the space of thirteen years,* during which time he also imprisoned King Waldemar's Son; but after their decease he sent an Army into Car•lia, and having subdued this Nation, and induced them to receive the Christian Faith, he built on their Frontiers the Fortress of Wibourg, and took from the Russians Kekhelm.* King Birger being by this time come to his riper Years, married Mereta the Daughter of Erick King of Denmark; and having sent new forces into Carelia and Ingermania,* built the For∣tress of Norburgh on the Frontiers of Russia, which how∣ever a few years after was retaken and demolished by the Russians. Soon after he declared his Son Magnus, who was but three years old his Successor in the Kingdom,* which was confirmed by the chief Men of the Kingdom, and especially by his Brothers. But this solemn Trans∣action was of no long continuance, for the Brothers quickly fell into divisions among themselves, and the two younger growing mistrustful of the King, the Mar∣shal retired first into Denmark, and from thence into Norway, to make use of that King's Intercession to re∣cover their Inheritance, which King Birger had seised upon; but all this proving ineffectual, they made several Inroads into West-Gothland, and killed and dispersed the Swedish Troops that were sent to oppose them. The Page  471 King went at last in person with an Army, and was met by his Brothers with some Forces, which they had ob∣tained of the King of Norway; when by the Intercessi∣on of some Senators, the Differences betwixt the Bro∣thers were composed, and the two younger restored to their Estates in Sweden. This Agreement cost the old Torc∣ell his Head,* who, under pretence of having upheld the Ammosities betwixt the Brothers, and some other matters laid to his charge, was beheaded at Stockhelm. But no sooner was this Wise Man dead, but the two younger Brothers began to aim again at the Crown, and having surprised the K. and Q. at their Country Seat called Hatuna forced him to resign the Kingdom, and to surrender the Crown and City of Stockholm to his Brother Erick, who made the King a Prisoner in the Castle of Nicoping; but his Son Magnus was, during this Tumult, carried into Denmark. The King of Denmark undertook 3 several Expeditions to relieve his Brother-in-law and Sister, but to no great purpose, only that at last it was a∣greed, that the King, Queen and their Children should be set at liberty, and the matter decided in the Assembly of the Senate of the Kingdom. The Senate therefore having been called together at Ar•oga, it was there con∣cluded, That in case King Birger would pardon all past Injuries, and be contented with what part of the King∣dom should be assigned to him, he should be set at li∣berty: which was performed accordingly, the Senate and his Brothers having again sworn fealty to him. Thus matters seemed to be composed for the present, when not long after a greater Storm broke out.* Erick the King of Denmark, having made an Alliance with Haquin King of Norway, came with an Army of 60000 Men into Sweden, to assist King Birger in bringing his Brothers under his Subjection: their first Success was answerable to their great Preparations, having taken Joncoping, and forced the Duke's Forces to fly before them; but the Danes, who began to be in want of Pro∣vision, being most of them gone home, there was a Meeting appointed betwixt the Brothers to be held at Helsinburgh, where the former Agreement made at A•∣bega was renewed; by virtue of which Duke Erick, was to have West Gothland, Daht, Halland, Wermeland, Page  472 and Smal•nd; Duke Waldemar was to have for his share Ʋpland, Oeland and part of Finland; the rest was to re∣main under the King, and the Dukes to hold their Pos∣sessions in Fief from him. Thus all Animosities seemed to be laid aside, and the three Brothers lived in great splendor, striving to out-do one another in Magnifi∣cence; which occasioning some new Taxes, proved also the occasion of some Insurrections in the Kingdom, which were nevertheless happily appeased, and Peace restored to the whole Kingdom.

In the mean while Duke Waldemar in his journey from Calmar to Stockholm, gave a visit to the King at Nycoping, who not only treated him with extraordinary Civility, but also desired him to return and bring his Brother along with him, by which means he hoped that the very seeds of their former Animosities betwixt them might be rooted out.* Waldemar, being overcome by these fair Promises, over-persuaded his Brother Erick, who was very averse to it at first, but at last consented. Be∣ing arrived in the Castle where the King was, they were kindly received and splendidly entertained at Supper; but they had not been long in bed, and most of their Servants dispersed into several Quarters of the Town, till they were made Prisoners, beaten, abused, and half naked, loaden with Irons, thrown into a strong Tower, their Servants having been all either killed or taken Pri∣soners. The King marched directly for Stockholm, in hopes to surprise the City; but the News of this barba∣rous act having been already carried to Stockholm, they not only repulsed him, but also pursued him to Nycoping. The King perceiving that they intended to besiege Nyco∣ping, retired to Stockeburgh; but before his departure, having caused the Doors of the Prison to be barricado'd up, he threw the Keys into the River, and commanded upon pain of death, not to open the Doors till his re∣turn. Soon after Nycoping was besieged, but before it could be forced both the Brothers died by Famine. King Birger having by this Treacherous fact animated the whole Kingdom against him, sought for Aid in Denmark; and having obtained some Forces, shifted with them from place to place, till some of them were suprized at Sudercoping, and the Danish Horse having also left Ny∣coping, Page  473 the King, destitute of all, retired with the Queen into Gethland, leaving his Son Magnus in the Castle of Stegeburgh. The Swedes having immediately after in∣vested the Place, forced it to surrender by Famine, and sent Magnus a Prisoner to Stockholm. The Senate of the Kingdom made there Matthew 〈◊〉 Regent of Sweden,* who vigorously prosecuted the Remnants of the King's Party, which obliged King Birger to seek for shel∣ter to Christopher King of Denmark.

§ 7.* After K. Birger had left Gothland, the Estates as∣sembled at Ʋpsal, chose for their King Magnus the Son of D. Erick being then but 3 years old. The Year next fol∣lowing Magnus the Son of K. Birger, notwithstanding that the Senate and Estates of the Kingdom had sworn Fealty to him as to their future King, was villainously sentenced to death and beheaded accordingly, and King Birger and his Queen died soon after for Grief. But the Swedes, who had conceived great hopes of their new King, found themselves extreamly deceived in their Ex∣pectation after the death of of Ketelmundson, who at first managed affairs with great Prudence. For the King be∣ing now of age married Blanch the Daughter of an Earl of Namur, and laying aside the old Counsellors made use of the Advice of his young Favourites, among whom one Benedict born in West-Gothland had the chief place. The Inhabitants of Schonen being sorely oppressed by the Holsteiners, put themselves under his protection, which was afterwards confirmed by Waldemar King of Denmark, and the Sound, by common consent, made the common Borders of these two Kingdoms on that side. After he had ruled twelve years in peace, he undertook an Expedition against the Russians, which succeeded very ill, being obliged to redeem the peace by the sur∣render of a part of Carelia. His Treasury having by this War been mightily exhausted, he not only imposed new and heavy Taxes upon the people, but also pawned a great many of the Crown Lands. Pope Clement VI. also had excommunicated him because he had applied the Revenues of S. Peter, given to the Roman Chair by Olaus Skotkonung, to the use of the Russian War. The People being extreamly discontented at these Pro∣ceedings, Page  474 the Sena•e perswaded the King that he should cause his two Sons to be declared Kings, viz. Brick of Sweden, and Haquin of Norway, which was done accor∣dingly. The Nobility being now headed by a new King▪ began to withdraw from their obedience to the old King, and killed his Favourite Benedict. The King who now began to see his Errors, sought for Aid from the King of Denmark, which so exasperated the Nobi∣lity, that they obliged the young King to take up Arms against his Father, which occasioned a bloody War, till at last the Kingdom was divided betwixt them, the Fa∣ther having got Ʋpland, Gothland, Wermeland, Dabt, North-Halland,* West-Gothland and Ocland. But Sh•••n, Bleckingen, South-Halland, East-Gothland, Smaland and Finland fell to the Son's share.

But notwithstanding this agreement, the jealousie con∣tinued betwixt the Father and Son, and not long after the Father having sent for his Son under pretence of some Business of great moment, he was there poysoned by his Mother. By his death King Magnus being put again into the possession of the whole Kingdom, studied nothing but revenge against the Nobility. The better to encompass his design, he made an under-hand Alli∣ance with the King of Denmark unto whom he surren∣dred Shonen again; who not only took possession of it, but also by connivance of King Magnus fell into Goth∣land and Oeland,* where he killed a great many Boors, plundered the whole Country, and demolished Borgholm. The Swedes being thus put to a nonplus submit them∣selves to the protection of Haquin King of Denmark, who made his Father Magnus a Prisoner in the Castle of Cal∣mar. The Senate of the Kingdom then perswaded King Haquin to marry the Daughter of Henry Earl of Holstein, which he seemingly consented to at that time. But the Bride in her Voyage into Sweden, having been driven on the Coast of Denmark, was detained by Waldemar King of Denamark, who intended to marry his Daugh∣ter to King Haquin. Albert Duke of Me•klenburgh and the Earls of Holstein did denounce War against the King of Denmark if he did not release the Bride, but King Waldemar had in the mean while so well managed the Affairs with Haquin, that he resolved to marry Margaret Page  475 his Daughter. The Bride was then set at Liberty, but being arrived in Sweden was so slightly received by King Magnus, who in the mean time had obtained his Liberty, that she retired into a Nunnery; and those Senators who urged the King to perform his Marriage Contract, were by Magnus banished the Kingdom,* who soon after mar∣ried his Son to Margaret, that was then but eleven years old. At this Wedding which was held at Copenhagen, Waldemar caused the Parents of Haquin to be poysoned, which worked so violently upon Blenha, that she died immediately, but King Magnus was preserved by the skill of his Physicians.

§ 8.* Those Swedish Lords that were banished by King Magnus, having for some time lived in Gothland did at last agree among themselves to elect Henry Earl of Hol∣stein, King of Sweden. But he being a Man in years, and not willing to entangle himself in those troublesome Affairs, recommended to them Albert Duke of Mecklen∣burgh, King Magnus's Sisters Son. The banished Lords therefore having chosen his second Son, whose name also was Albert their King, carried him into Gothland, and from thence to Stockholm, which they easily took, being assisted by a strong party within the City. Having then called together such of the Nobility as they knew to be Enemies to King Magnus, they proclaimed Albert King in the City of Stockholm.* Magnus and his Son having thereupon got together considerable Forces both in Swe∣den and Denmark, marched against King Albert into Ʋp∣land, and were met him near by Encoping, where a bloody Battle ensued, the Victory inclined to Albert's side, King Magnus was taken Prisoner, Haquin wounded but escaped the Hands of his Enemies. During the impri∣sonment of King Magus,* Sweden was reduced to a most miserable estate, by the Wars that were carried on be∣twixt King Albert and Haquin and Waldemar, the two last sending continual Supplies into Sweden to uphold their Party, and Haquin was grown so strong, that he defeated King Albert in a Battel and besieged Stockholm. At last it was agreed that King Magnus should have his Liberty,* paying a Ransom of 12000 Marks of sine Sil∣ver, and resign the Crown of Sweden and Shonen to Page  476 King Albert, which was performed accordingly, King Magnus retiring into Norway, where he was drowned by accident. King Haquin did not long survive his Fa∣ther, and his Son Olaus dying very young, Queen Mar∣garet after his decease was sole Queen of Norway. By the Death of this Olaus, the antient Race of the Swedish Kings was extinguished, which ever since the time of St. Erick viz. for the space of 220 Years had ruled in Sweden.* Not long after, Waldemar King of Denmark died without leaving any Male Heirs behind him. In whose stead the Danes to unite Norway with Denmark, declared his Daughter Margaret their Queen. King Albert by the Death of his Enemies being now establi∣shed in the Throne of Sweden began to slight the Swedish Nobility, and to employ the Germans in his Service, who grew very Rich and Potent; and his Treasury be∣ing exhausted by the war which was carried on against Denmark he demanded from the States that part of the Revenues of the Clergy, and some of the Lands which belonged to the Nobility should be incorporated with the Crown, which they refusing to consent to, he never∣theless pursued his Intentions by open Violence. Whilest therefore some that were no loosers by it and hoped to partake of the Booty, sided with the King, the rest were consulting how to deliver themselves from these oppressions, and having renounced their obedience to King Albert,* sought for Protection by Margaret Queen of Denmark, which she granted them, upon condition that if she should deliver them from King Albert, she was to be Queen of Sweden. Which the Swedes being forced to accept of, she was proclaimed Queen of Sweden. This proved the occasion of unspeakable mi∣series, both Parties committing great Outrages in the Country, which was quite exhausted before, by King Albert who also at last was forced to pawn the Isle of Gothland for 20000 Nobles to the Prussian Knights of the Cross;* notwithstanding which being not able to defray at length the Charges of the War,* he challenged Queen Margaret to a Battel to be fought in the Plains of Talkoping in West-Gothland.* The appointed day be∣ing come, a bloody Battel was fought in the before∣mentioned Plain, where the Queen's Forces at last ob∣tained Page  477 the Victory, King Albert and his Son being taken Prisoners. But this Victory rather encreased than dimi∣nished the miseries under which the Kingdom had groan∣ed before, because the Dukes of Mocklenburgh; Earls of Holstein and the Hanse Towns sided with King Albert's Party, who sent constant Supplies from Rostock and Wismar by Sea to Stockholm, Calmar and other strong∣holds in their possession, from whence the German Gar∣risons made miserable havock all round the Country, and the Sea Coasts were extreamly infested by Priva∣teers, which had quite ruined the Trade of the King∣dom. This pernicious War having thus lasted seven Years, a Treaty of Peace was set on foot at Helsingburgh, which proving fruitless,* another meeting was appointed at Aleholm,* where it was agreed that the King, his Son, and the rest of the Prisoners of note should be set at Li∣berty, under condition that he within the space of three Years, resign all his pretensions to the Kingdom unto Queen Margaret, or else return to Prison; and that in case of failure, the Cities of Lubeck, Hamburgh, Dant∣zick, Thorn, Elbingen, Saralsund, Stetin and Campen should oblige themselves to pay 60000 Marks of fine Silver to the Queen. Thus King Albert returned into Mecklenburgh, after he had reigned 23 Years in Sweden. He had notwithstanding this agreement not laid aside his hope of recovering his Kingdom, for which he had made great preparations, if his Son had not died, two Years after, when he at the appointed time resigned his pretensions, and the places as yet in his possession to the Queen, and at last ended his days in his native Country of Mecklenburgh. Thus Margaret became Queen over all the three Northern Kingdoms, which she governed with extraordinary Wisdom, yet so that the Danes were much better satisfied with her Govern∣ment than the Swedes.

§ 9.* Queen Margaret having restored Peace to the Northren Kingdoms, her next care was to unite these three Crowns for ever on one Head. For which pur∣pose she had sent for Henry a young Duke of Pomerania, her Sister's Son, whose name to please the Swedes, she Page  478 changed into that of Erick.* This Prince, tho' very young, was in the second Year after the releasing of King Albert, proclaimed King. In the Year next fol∣lowing, the Senators and Nobility of all the three King∣doms being assembled at Calmar,* where also the young Erick was crowned, the Union of the three Kingdoms was proposed, which at last was perfected and confirm∣ed by Oath and by the Hands and Seals of the States of the three Kingdoms; which might have tended to the great Advantage of these three Nations, if the Danes had not afterwards broke this Union, and endeavoured to make themselves Masters of Sweden, which proved the occasion of bloody Wars betwixt these two King∣doms. But because King Erick was but very young Queen Margaret had the administration of Affairs du∣ring his Minority, when the Swedes and Norwegians soon perceived that the Articles of this Union were likely to be but ill observed, since the Queen preferred the Da•es and other Strangers much before them, and what Taxes she levied in Sweedland, were for the most part spent in Denmark, where she generally resided. In the eighth Year after King Erick was crowned, Queen Margates attempted to re-gain the Isle of Gothland from the Prus∣sian Knights, without paying the Ransom; but having not succeeded in her Enterpise, she redeemed it for 10000 Nobles.* King Erick being by this time come to his riper Years,* married Philippa the Daughter of Henry IV. King of England, and having after his Aunt's Death, which happened not long after, taken upon him the sole management of Affairs, he was intangled in a tedious War with Henry Earl of Holstein, the Hanse Towns, and the Dukes of Mecklenburgh and Saxony, about the Dut∣chy of Sleswick, which at last cost him his three King∣doms. For his Subjects being over charged with Taxes, which were employed towards the War, that could at the best only prove beneficial to Denmark, and their Commerce being interrupted with the Hanse Towns, it occasioned great discontents among them; besides this, the King's Officers had used the Swedes very tyrannical∣ly, and the King had upon several occasions receded from the Articles of Union made at Calmar, especially Page  479 when he sent the most antient Swedish Records into Den∣mark, which at last obliged the Swedes to take desperate Counsels. The first Insurrection was made by the Dale∣karls, who being headed by a certain antient Nobleman in those parts called Engelbrecht Engelbrechtson, besieged one of the King's Officers called Josse Erichson, who had exercised great Tyranny over them, in his Castle, nei∣ther could they be appealed till he was deposed from his Office, and another put in his place. But this Calm did not last long, for the Boors being again stirred up by Engelbrecht over-run all the neighbouring Country, de∣stroying with Fire and Sword, all such as would not side with them; and being joined by one Erick Pue••, who headed the Northlanders, they took a great many strongholds, killing all the Foreigners they met withal, whose seats they destroyed, and at last forced the Se∣nate of the Kingdom assembled at Wadstena, to renounce their Allegiance to the King. These intestine Commo∣tions obliged King Erick to make Peace with the Hol∣st•i••rs and the Hanse Towns, and to turn all his For∣ces against the Swedes. But his Fleet being for a great part destroyed by Storms, he arrived with the rest at Stockholm, but not being able to cope with so great a multitude, as Engelbrocht had raised against him; he was fain to make a truce with them for twelve Months. In the mean while he retired into Denmark. leaving only a Garrison of 600 Men in the Castle of Stockholm. After his departure Engelbrocht was declared Generalissi•• over all the Forces of the Kingdom, who, at last upon the perswasion of the Archbishop Cluf, agreed to a Treaty to be set on foot betwixt the King and his Subjects, where it was agreed that the Swedes should again ac∣knowledge him for their King, provided he would stand to the Union, which the King at that time consented to, reserving only to his free disposal the three Castles of Stockholm, Calmar and Nycoping, all the rest being to be committed to the Government of the Natives of Sweedland. Thus things seemed to be restored to the antient State, but no sooner had the King got the afore∣said Castles into his possession, but he began to recede, and having left a Garrison of 500 Men in the Castle of Stockholm, retired upon a sudden into Denmark. King Page  480 Erick having thus left the Kingdom a second time, the Swedish Senators, who feared that he might soon return with a greater Force, being assembled at Arboka, called together the whole Nobility, and a Burger-Master out of each City, to consult about the present exigency of Affairs; but before they could come to any steady re∣solution, Engelbrecht by the assistance of some of the Citizens of Stockholm, had made himself Master of that City, and besieged the King's Lieutenant in the Castle. The Treaty being thus broke of, and the flame of Re∣bellion rekindled,* the Marshal Charles Cnutson was de∣clared Governour and General of the Kingdom: This was like to have occasioned great Disturbances, if En∣gelbrecht, who pretended to be injured by this Choice, had not been first appeased with great Promises, and afterwards murthered by one Benedict Suenson, with whom he had an old quarrel.* But Erick Pu•ke the chief Companion of Engelbrecht taking up his Friend's Quarrel against his Murtherers that were protected by Charles Cnutson, it occasioned great Jealousies betwixt them. The Castles of Stockholm and Calmar being also in the King's possession, and some of the Chiefest of the Kingdom grown very jealous of the greatness of the Marshal, the Treaty was renewed with the King at Calmar, who came thither in Person, and promised to put into all Offices and Places of Trust, Natives of Sweden, and having made Benedict Suenson Governour of the Castle of Calmar, appointed an Assembly of the Se∣nate and Nobility to be held in September following when he would be ready to surrender all the Strong∣holds into the hands of the Native Subjects of Sweden, But in the mean time the King in his Voyage from Gothland to Suderkoping, was overtaken by a violent Tempest, wherein most of his Ships having been lost, he narrowly escaped drowing. As soon as the Swedes got notice of this Misfortune, not knowing whether the King was alive or dead, it was resolved that the last Treaty made at Calmar should remain in Force. Pur∣suant to this Decree, the Marshal having partly by great Promises, partly by Threats, got into the possession of all the Castles of the Kingdom, seemed to want nothing to accomplish his Designs, but the Title of a King, where∣•t Page  481 Erick Pueke being vexed to the Soul, raised a great number of Boors against him, who having defeated the Marshal and his Forces, would quickly have put an end to his Greatness, if he under pretence of reconcilia∣tion had not invited Erick Pueke to an interview, and notwithstanding his Faith given, sent him to Stockholm, where he was beheaded. In the mean while, the Sena∣tors of the Kingdom having got notice that the King was alive,* appointed an Assembly to be held at Calmar, where the King was to fulfil the former Treaty; but the King not coming at the appointed time, Commissio∣ners were sent into Denmark to treat with him about the performance of the Agreement made at Calmar, which he refusing to do, they made an underhand League with some of the great Men in Denmark against King Erick. the effects of which he felt soon after. Whilest these things were transacting in Denmark, the Marshal had by his cunning got the whole Power of the Kingdom into his hands, and obtained from the Senate in Sweden, to appoint a certain day for the King to ap∣pear in Sweden, and put an end to those Differences that were then betwixt him and the Estates, and in case of a refusal, they renounced their Allegiance to him. But the Archbishop Oluf, and some of the Chief Men of the Kingdom, that were dissatisfied at the Marshal's pro∣ceedings did so far prevail by their Authority, that a General Assembly of all the Senators of the three Nor∣thern Kingdoms should be held at Calmar, which in all likelihood might have had better Success than before, if the Archbishop had not been poysoned in his Journey thither by the Marshal. Notwithstanding this, the rest of the Senators appeared at Calmar, but the King's Com∣missioners refusing to acknowledge and to confirm the Treaty made at Calmar, which the Swedes insisted up∣on, the whole meeting proved fruitless. In the mean time King Erick was retired with all his Treasure out of Denmark into Gothland, and the Danish Senators who as well as the Swedes had been dissatisfied with the King for a considerable time before, agreed with the Swedes to renounce their Allegiance to him, and to choose one in his stead, that would maintain the Union betwixt these Kingdoms. The Danes therefore sent Page  482 to Christopher Duke of Bavaria,* who being King Erick's Sister's Son, had for some time lived in Denmark, de∣siring him to accept of that Crown.* As soon as he ar∣rived in Denmark, Ambassadors were sent to the Mar∣shal and the other Senators of Sweden, that were then at Calmar, to notifie the arrival of the Duke of Bavaria, and to treat with them to receive him also for their King, as the only means to maintain the Union and Peace betwixt those Kingdoms. The Marshal and his Party were not a little surprised at this Proposition; but perceiving that, at the Dyet held at Arboga, most of the Estates were inclined to maintain the Union, and re∣ceive Christopher for their King, they also agreed with the rest of the Estates, and Christopher was received by the Marshal and the Senators with great Pomp at Cal∣mar, from whence being conducted to Stockholm, and from thence to Ʋpsal, he was there crowned King of Sweden, and soon after returned into Denmark. After he had reigned four years, he married Dorothee the Daughter of John Marquis of Brandenburgh; and King Erick, who was yet in the possession of Gothland, doing considerable damage to the Swedish Ships, he was pre∣vailed upon by the Senate to undertake an Expedition into Gothland. Whilst every body was in great expecta∣tion about the success of this Enterprise, he upon the sudden clapt up a Peace with King Erick, leaving him in the quiet possession of Gothland.* He died at Helsin∣burgh, in his Journey to Joncoping, whither he had cal∣led together the Senate and Nobility of Sweden, having left great Legacies to several Churches in Sweden; but the Danes, who had all his Ships, Ammunition, rich Furniture and ready Money in their hands, would not pay one groat of it.

After the death of K. Christopher,* the Estates of Sweden that were assembled at Stockholm were divided into two parties, some of them being for deferring the Election of a new King, till such time as the Senators of the 3 kingdoms could, at a general Assembly chuse a King, according to the Union agreed upon betwixt them; but the Mar∣shal and his Party, which was the strongest, were, with∣out having any respect to the Union, for chusing imme∣diately a King of their own: this Contest lasted for se∣veral Page  483 days, and that with such heats that they were ready to come to blows, till at last the Marshal Charles Cnutson's Party prevailed, who was chosen King of Swe∣den. But the Danes offered the Crown of Denmark to Adolf Duke of Holstein, and he by reason of his old Age, having refused to accept of it, they made Christian Earl of Oldenburg, the Duke's Sister's Son, their King. Charles, at the very beginning of his Reign, besieged King Erick in the Castle of Wisby, who having deluded the Swedish Generals with a Truce, did, in the mean while provide himself with all Necessaries, and was at last relieved by Christian King of Denmark; who sent him into Pomerania, where, in the City of Rugen, he ended his days, without making any further pretension to the Crown.

In the mean while the Norwegians, except some of the Nobility, had made Charles also their King, which occasioned almost a continual War betwixt him and Christian king of Denmark, in which King Charles was pretty successful at first; but after the death of the brave Thord Bonde, his General, who was barbarously murthered; King Christian, with the Assistance of the Archbishop of Sweden and several others of the Swedish Nobility, who were Enemies to King Charles, proved too hard for him: for the Archbishop having surprised the King's Forces at Strengness, besieged him in the Ci∣ty of Stockholm; so that King Charles finding himself re∣duced to the utmost Extremity, resolved to embarque with all his Treasure for Dantzick, where he arrived safely, after a Voyage of three days, in the tenth year of his Reign.* No sooner had King Charles left the Kingdom,* but the Archbishop, having got all the Stron∣holds of the Kingdom into his hands, sent to Christian King of Denmark, to invite him into Sweden, who be∣ing arrived with a considerable Fleet at Stockholm, was, by the Senate and Nobility declared King of Sweden, and crowned at Ʋpsal. He reigned at first with a general satisfaction of the Swedes; but some years after, by his Cruelty and heavy Impositions laid upon the People, be∣came odious to them: for he not only caused some of the Great men, that were falsly accused of holding a Correspondency with King Charles, to be tortured to Page  484 death, but also exercised great Cruelty against a great number of Boors, that were risen in Arms against him; and having conceived a jealousie of the Archbishop, he caused him to be carried Prisoner to Copenhagen. This so exasperated Katil the Bishop of Lyncoping that he raised an Insurrection against the King, and forced him to retire into Denmark: and tho the King returned the year next following with a considerable Army, yet being defeated by the Bishop's Forces, he was forced to leave the Kingdom a second time;* and the Bishop ha∣ving laid siege to the City and Castle of Stockholm, where King Christian had left a Garrison, sent for assistance to King Charles, who being glad of this Opportunity, came with some Forces (which he had gathered in Poland and Prussia) into Sweden, where he was no sooner arri∣ved, but the City of Stockholm was surrendred to him, and he again received as King of Sweden. But this Joy was of no long continuance; for a difference being ari∣sen betwixt him and Bishop Katil, about the exchan∣ging the Archbishop that was Prisoner at Copenhagen, the said Bishop did underhand agree with King Christi∣an to restore him to the Kingdom of Sweden, under con∣dition that he should set the Archbishop at liberty. Ac∣cording to this agreement, a Reconciliation being made betwixt K Christian and the Archbishop; the latter was received very splendidly by the Bishop, and was no sooner arrived in Sweden, but having raised some Forces against King Charles, defeated him in a bloody Battel fought up∣on the Ice near Stockholm, and forced him to abjure his Right and Pretension to the Kingdom. After the King's Resignation, the Archbishop made himself Master of all the Strong-holds of the Kingdom, without any opposi∣tion, except that one Nils Sture, a particular Friend of K. Charles's, traversed sometimes his Designs. This Nils Sture and one Erick Axelson, Governour of Wibourg in Fin∣land, having at last made a party against him, play'd their Game so well that Erick Axelson,* who had married King Charles's Daughter was declared Regent of the Kingdom.* But the A. Bish. was obliged to surrender Stockholm and some other Strong holds into the Regent's hands. Ne∣vertheless the hatred betwixt the two exasperated Fa∣ctions, headed by Nils Sture and Erick Nilson (of which Page  485 party was also the Archbishop) continued with great ani∣mosity. Erick Nilson and his Party, under pretence of protecting the Archbishop against the Power of King Charles and his adherents, endeavoured the Restauration of King Christian, but Nils Sture and his Party openly de∣clared, that they would either have King Charles restored, or at least maintain the Regent in his Station. These two Parties did not only commit great Insolencies and Mur∣thers, making great havock all over the Country, but at last also came to an open War, wherein the Arch∣bishop's Party being worsted, he died for grief; and the Common People in hopes to put an end to the miseries of the Kingdom once more restored Charles to the Crown.

But Erick Nilson, Erick Carlson, T•olle and some o∣thers having again raised some Forces against him,* and surprised his Army during the time of the Truce, again forced him to seek for shelter in the Dalers, whither be∣ing pursued by Erick Carlson, he with an unequal number gave him a signal overthrow, forcing him to retire into Denmark King Charles being soon after returned to Stock∣holm, (which City and the whole Kingdom he recom∣mended before his death to Steen Scure his Sister's Son) he there died in the same year, leaving the Kingdom in such a confusion,* that for a twelve month after, there was a meer Anarchy in Sweden, some having declared for King Christian, some for Steen Sture to be made Regent of the Kingdom. At last the Government was commit∣ted to Steen Sture, who having vanquished King Christian in a memorable Battel fought near Stockholm,* and forced him to retire with his broken Forces by Sea into Den∣mark▪ got into the possession of the whole Kingdom of Sweden. And tho' King Christian kept the Regent of Sweden in a continual alarm as long as he lived, and se∣veral meetings were held concerning his Restauration, yet there was no open War betwixt the two Kingdoms, and Steen Sture reigned for a considerable time with a general applause; so that King Christian during his Re∣gency, never durst return into Sweden, but died in Den∣mark in the year 1481.

After the Death of King Christian,* the Danes and Nor∣wegians having made John the Son of Christian their Page  486 King, the Swedes also agreed with King John upon cer∣tain Articles, which the King having confirmed to them under his Seal, he was declared King of Sweden. But the Regent Steen Sture, notwithstanding this solemn Transaction remained in the possession of the Kingdom for fourteen Years after, under pretence that the Danes had not fulfilled their Promise according to the Articles of the Treaty, during which time the Kingdom was miserably afflicted by intestine Divisions, and the Wars which were carried on against Denmark and Rus∣sia. The Senators therefore of Sweden having in vain endeavoured to perswade Steen Sture to lay down his Office, at last deposed him from the Regency, and cra∣ved Assistance from King John,* who having defeated Steen Sture and his Party near Stockholm, was by the Senate and the Regent himself received as King of Swe∣den and his Son Christian declared his Successor after his death in that Kingdom.* This King reigned very peaceably for a while, but after some Years by the per∣swasions of some Courtiers, fell into the same Errour which had been the undoing of his Predecessors: For under pretence that the Revenues of the Crown were extreamly diminished, he obliged Steen Sture and several others to surrender the Fiefs belonging to the Crown, which they were in possession of, some of which he be∣stowed upon the Danes and Germans. Besides this, his Governours had committed great Insolencies in their Provinces, which so exasperated the People, that as soon as the News of his defeat in Ditmarsen was spread over Sweden, the Swedes being headed by Steen Sture, assem∣bled at Wadstana, where having renounced their Alle∣giance, they bid open defiance to him, alledging that he, had not fulfilled the Articles of the Treaty made at Calmar.

The King being surprised at this unexspected News sailed forthwith for Denmark, leaving the Queen with a good Carrison at Stockholm, which City was there∣upon besieged by Sture; who being soon after again constituted Regent of the Kingdom, forced the Castle of Stockholm to a surrender, and got almost all the rest of the Strongholds in Sweden into his possession; notwith∣standing which, the Danes burnt Elfsburgh and Oresteen, Page  487 and committed great Cruelties in West-Gothland, under the Conduct of Christian King John's Son, who had done the like not long before in Norway, where he had rooted out almost all the Noble Families. Yet because the Queen was as yet in Sweden, the fury of the Danes was for a while appeased by the intercession of the Lubeckers and the Cardinal Raimow, who having procured Liber∣ty for her to return into Denmark, she was conducted by the Regent to the Frontiers of Swaland. But in his return to Ioncoping, he died suddenly, and his death ha∣ving been kept secret for a while, there was a strong suspition that he had been poysoned by Mereta the Wi∣dow of Cnut Alfson, thereby to open the way to her Bridegroom Suante Sture, to the Regency of the King∣dom. As soon as the news of the Regent's death was spread all over the Kingdom,* the Estates convened at Stockholm, where it was disputed for some time, whe∣ther King John should be recalled, or Suante Nilson Sture should be made Regent, till the latter having prevailed, the said Sture was made Regent of the Kingdom.* Then the War was renewed with King John, which was car∣ried on with various Success, both Parties committing great devastations, without any other remarkable ad∣vantage. The Danes having at first stirred up the Em∣perour, the Pope and the Russians against the Swedes, did considerable mischief, but the Regent having made a Peace with the Russians, and set the Lubeckers against Denmark▪ retook Calmar and Bornholm, and would in all likelihood have made greater Progresses, if he had not soon after died at Westekaos, in the eighth year of his Regency. After the death of this Regent, there were again great Divisions in the Senate about the Ele∣ction of a new Regent;* the younger sort were for choosing Steen Sture the deceased Regent's Son:* But the Archbishop and Bishops, and the rest of the antient Senators, would have elected Gustavus Trolle an antient Wise and experienced Man. After several prorogations and very hot debates,* at last Steen Sture, who was fa∣voured by the common People, and had most of the Strongholds of the Kingdom in his hands, was declared Regent, and King John died in the year next follow∣ing at Ablburgh in Jutland.* After his death, the Danes Page  488 and Norwegians had declared Christian his Son their King but the Swedes who had not forgot his cruelties formerly committed in West-Gothland desired time to consider of a thing of such importance. King Christian finding himself after four years tergiversation deceived in his hopes, and that the Regent would not part with his Power by fair means, did not only stir the Pope Leo X. up against him, but also brought Gustavus Trolle the new Arbhbishop by great Presents over to his side, and per∣swaded the Russians to make an in-road into Finland. Steen Sture being soon convinced of the Archbishop's sini∣ster Intentions, had tendered the Oath to him, which he refusing to take, was besreged by the Regent in his Castle of Stecka. Then it was that the Archbishop call∣ed King Christian to his Assistance, who having taken some Ships loaden with Amunition belonging to the Re∣gent, and in vain endeavoured to relieve the besieged Castle, the War was begun on both sides. For the Arch∣bishop having been forced to surrender the Castle and his Office, Pope Leo thereupon excommunicated the Re∣gent, laying a Fine of 100000 Ducats upon the Swedes, and enjoyning the execution thereof to King Christian. Pursuant to this Decree, the King of Denmark fell with a great Army into Sweden, and was met by the Regent and his Forces in West-Gothland, but the Regent having received a Wound there, of which he died soon after at Strengness, his Army first retreated, and being deprived of a Leader, afterwards dispersed. King Christian then having divided his Army, sent one part into West and East-Gothland, which were soon subdued, and marched with the rest to Strengness.*

The Archbishop taking hold of this opportunity, re∣assumed his Archi-Episcopal Dignity, and being assisted by two other Bishops and seven of the Senators of the Kingdom did declare Christian King of Sweden in the name of the Estates at Ʋpsal. The King having been Crowned by the Archbishop Trolle, and received the City of Stockh•lm by surrender into his hands, treated the Swedes at 〈◊〉 with abundance of humanity, but soon after, found out a Weapon wherewith to destroy his Adversaries, and this was the business concerning the de∣gradation of the Archbishop and the ruining of his Castle Page  489 of Stecka. For tho' the King by an Amnestie had par∣doned all past Offences, yet no satisfaction having been given to the Pope, the Archbishop in his Name, demand∣ed a million pounds of Silver in reparation of the da∣mages done to the Church at Ʋpsal, and his Castle of Stecka. And to make up the matter, it was pretended that Gunpowder had been conveyed into the King's Pa∣lace to blow him up. Steen Sture's Widow, his Mother in Law, fifteen others besides the Senare and Common∣alty of Stockholm, were accused as Actors and Abettors, who were all condemned as Hereticks, ninety four of them, all People of Note, being beheaded at Stockholm and their Servants hanged up with Boots and Spurs. The deceased Regent's body having been digged up, was exposed among the rest of the executed Persons, and the Quarters set up and down the Country. His Wi∣dow and Mother in Law were forced to purchase their Lives with the loss of their whole Estate, and were ne∣vertheless with a great many other Women of Quality committed to Prison. In Finland, Hemoning Gudde, not∣withstanding his former Services done to him, was with ten more executed by the King's Command, the Ab∣bot of the Convent at Nydala was with eleven Monks drowned by his Orders, and two Gentlemen's Sons, one of nine, the other of seven years, beheaded at Joncoping, and after he had in this manner murthered 600 of his Swedish Subjects he returned into Denmark

§ 9. But in the mean while that King Christian was busied in bringing the Swedes under the Danish yoke, by all manner of inhumane Barbarities,* Gustavus Erichson (whose Father had been beheaded by the Ty∣rant, and his Mother thrown in Prison) had sheltered himself among the Dalek•rls, who being made sensible of the danger which threatened them and the whole King∣dom, had made Gustave their Head, whose example being followed by the Estates of Sweden, they soon after declared him Regent of that Kingdom, except the Arch∣bishop and his Party, that remained firm to the Danish Interest. King Christian being violently exasperated at Gustave, revenged himself upon his Mother and two Si∣sters, whom he sent from Stokholm to Copenhagen, where Page  490 they perished in Prison; he issued also out an Order, that no quarter should be given to any Swedish Noble∣man, and committed great Barbarities wherever he came. The Swedes on the other hand, under the Conduct of their Regent Gustave, repaid the Danes with the same Coin wherever they met them, and with the Assistance of the Lubeckers besieged Stockholm, which was as yet in King Christian's Possession, when they received the joy∣ful news out of Denmark, that the Jutlanders had re∣nounced their Allegiance to King Christian.* This so encouraged Gustave and his Party, that they did not only drive King Christian's Forces out of most Provinces of the Kingdom, retook Ocland and Borkholm, but also recovered the Castle and City of Calmar, and made Gu∣stave King of Sweden, who thereupon immediately sum∣moned Stockholm to a surrender, and the Garrison being without hopes of relief, surrendred the City and Castle to the Lubeckers, who restored the same to King Gustave. In the mean while King Christian was retired with his Queen into the Netherlands, and the Jutlanders having made Frederick I. King Christian's Uncle, their King, would fain have perswaded the Swedes to follow their example, but these being not ambitious of continuing the Union with Denmark, had refused their proffer, and chosen Gustave their King. But King Gustave finding the Treasury mightily exhausted by these long intestine Wars, he not only taxed the Clergy to pay considerable Sums towards the payment of his Souldiers, but also made bold with the superfluous Ornaments of the Churches, against which, Brask the Bishop of Lincoping having protested and made complaint thereof to Johannes Magnus the Pope's Legate, Peter Bishop of Westeraas endeavoured to raise an Insurrection among the Dale∣kerls.

But whilest these Bishops were employed in main∣taining their Privileges, the Protestant Religion had begun to spread all over the Kingdom. The same was by some Merchants and German Souldiers first introdu∣ced into Sweden, and some Swedish Students, that had studied at Wittenbergh, had brought along with them into their Native Country, both the Doctrine and Writings of Luther. Among these one Olaus Petri was Page  491 the chiefest, who having been an Auditor of Luther, at his return into Sweden was made a Canon and Protonotary to the Bishops of Strenguess: this Man after the death of the Bishop, having brought Lars Anderson the Arch∣deacon over to his Opinion, began not only to defend Luther's Doctrine publickly in the Schools, but al∣so to publish the same from the Pulpit. The Bishop being absent, Dr. Nils Dean of that Chapter, with all his might opposed this new Doctrine, which being come to the King's Ears, he advised with Lars Anderson, who having instructed him in the chief Points of it,* and in what manner a great many German Princes had taken away the superfluous riches of the Clergy, began to hearken to his Opinion, resolving nevertheless to go on cautiously in this business, and to see how some Princes in Germany should proceed in this Affair, as also how the Bishops in Sweden would relish this Doctrine. In the mean while Pope Hadrian IV. had sent his Legate into Sweden to endeavour the extirpation of this He∣resie, and the Clergy of Sweden grew every day more refractory, refusing to pay the Taxes imposed upon them, as being contrary to their Privileges. On the other hand, Olaus Petri being encouraged by the King, was not silent, but defended his Cause both by Dispute and Writing, with such Success, that the King not only constituted him Minister in the great Church of Stock∣holm, and put into other vacant Church-Benefices, such Ministers as had studied at Wittenbergh, but also consti∣tuted over the Dominicans and Black Fryars, such Pri∣ors as he knew to be faithful to him, and such of them as were Foreigners he banished the Kingdom, and told unfeignedly to Bishop Brask▪ that he could not deny Pro∣tection to the Lutherans, as long as they were not con∣vinced of any Crime or Errour.

But all this while one Soren Norby, who still adhered to King Christian, had Gothland in his Possession, and did considerable damage to the Swedes in their Trade; against him King Gustavus having sent Bernhard van Melan with some Forces to reduce the said Island, and Norby finding himself too weak put himself and the Island under the Protection of Denmark, which occasia∣oned some differences between these two Northern Kings▪ Page  492 who had been very good Friends ever before. About this time Olaus Petri was publickly married in the great Church at Stockholm, and the King had not only de∣manded the Tenths of the Clergy towards the main∣tenance of his Forces, but also Quartered some of his Horse in the Monasteries, which so incensed Bishop Brask, that he forbid in his whole Diocess so much as to name the Doctrine of Luther. But the King having understood that Olaus Petri was busie in Translating the New Testament into the Swedish Tongue,* commanded the Archbishop, to take care that the Roman Catholicks also should make a Translation, which though it •elished very ill with the Bishops, yet were they fain to comply with the King's command, who, to mortifie them the more, also ordered a Disputation to be held at Ʋpsal be∣twixt Dr. Pieter Galle and Olaus Petri, concerning the chiefest Points in question betwixt the Roman Catho∣licks and Lutherans, where Olaus Petri had much the better, and his Translation was approved of before the others, which had been patched up by so many Tran∣slators. In the mean time the Danish Clergy had given a considerable Subsidy to their King to be employed against King Christian, wherefore King Gustave, taking hold of this opportunity, demanded a considerable sup∣ply from the Swedish Clergy, but these objecting that it was against their Privileges and Rights, the King or∣dered the same to be examined in another Dispute be∣twixt Olaus Petri, and Dr. Pieter Galle, and because they were not able to prove their Title out of the Holy Scripture, the King concluded them to be dependent on his pleasure, and at the Dyet held at Westeraos not only demanded a supply from the Clergy, but also proposed that the superfluous Bells should be taken out of the Churches, and be employed towards the payment of the Debt due to the Lubeckers. And because the Arch∣bishop grew more troublesome every day, the King first took him into Custody, and afterwards sent him Ambas∣sadour into Poland, from whence he never returned in∣to Sweden. He also commanded another Disputation to be held concerning the chief Points in question betwixt the Lutherans and Roman Catholicks, which however met with great opposition from Bishop Brask, and the Page  493 rest of the Roman Catholick Clergy, who set up a Coun∣try Fellow, against Gustave. This Fellow pretended to be the Son of Steen Sture (notwithstanding he was dead a twelve month before) and having got a party among the Dalekerls, and being upheld by Bishop Brask and the Bishop of Druntheim in Norway,* and encouraged in his undertaking by King Frederick of Denmark, laid open claim to the Crown, threatning all the Lutherans and especially the City of Stockholm with Fire and Sword, which was the most forward in settling the Protestant Religion.

About the same time the Emperour had besieged Pope Clement VII. in the Castle of St. Angelo, where∣fore King Gustave taking hold of this Juncture, ap∣pointed a Dyet to be held at Westeraos, where in his Declaration he professed; that the Roman Catholick Clergy had made it their business to charge him with making Innovation in Religion for no other reason, but that he would not let them domineer over the Laymen, and had forced them to submit to the Civil Power, and to give part of their superfluous Riches, some of which they had got by fraud, towards easing the Common People of those burthensome Taxes (which he hitherto had been forced to impose upon them.) And that for the same Rea∣son the Emperour himself had been forced lately to teach the Pope his duty. The same thing was proposed by the King to the whole Dyet, where he told them; that the superfluous Revenues of the Clergy ought to be an∣nexed to the Crown, and especially such Lands as since the year 1454 had been given to the Clergy, should be restored to the right Heirs, promising withal that the Common People should be for the future eased of their Taxes; in case they would give their consent to the reduction of the Revenues of the Clergy. And the better to get the consent of the Temporal Lords and Senators he made a great Banquet, where he gave the next place to himself to these Senators, whereas the same had belonged formerly to the Bishops, who now were forced to be contented with the next place after them, the third place was given to the rest of the Nobility, the fourth to the inferiour Clergy, the fifth to the Ci∣tizens, the sixth to the Boors; which so exasperated the Page  494 Clergy that they assembled in the Church of St. Egidius, and secretly took a resolution among themselves not to obey the King in this Point, not to surrender any of their Revenues, or to recede from their antient Religi∣on. And Bishop Brask freely told the King, that the Clergy of the Kingdom had such a strict dependency on the Pope, that without his consent they could not do any thing whatsoever. Which as it met with great appro∣bation from all the rest of the Clergy, and from some of the Temporal Estates, so the King was so incensed thereat, that he immediately rose from his Seat, and told the Estates that he was ready to Abdicate the King∣dom, if they would repay him his Charges and Monies which he had laid out for that use, and to show them that he was in earnest, retired for several days with some of his chief Officers into the Castle. The Estates be∣ing much surprised at the King's resolution, especially when they saw the Citizens of Stockholm to be stedfast to the King, and that Dr. Peter Galle was worsted by Olaus Petri in a late Disputation, thought it their best way to beg the King's pardon and to intreat him not to resign the Crown. Upon their reiterated request the King having been at last prevailed upon to come out of the Castle, demanded from several Bishops to surren∣der into his hands their Castles, and to subscribe a De∣cree made at this Dyet, concerning the regulating of the Clergy, which they were fain to comply withal. As soon as the Dyet was ended he took not only from the Monasteries such Lands as had been given to them since the year 1454.* but also several other Church Lands and precious moveables, all which he annexed to the Crown. In the mean while the Bishops and their par∣ty were not idle, but were contriving all manner of mischief against the King, though with small success. For the Dalekerls, who had made an Insurrection, were frightened by the King to comply with his commands, and to send away their Leader, the supposititious S•ure; and Sigismund King of Poland, unto whom the dissa∣tisfied party had proffered the Crown, did not think fit to accept of it; so that Bishop Brask, despairing at last of the Roman Catholick Cause, under pretence of a Journey retired to Dantzick.

Page  495 The King having surmounted all these difficulties, thought convenient not to defer any longer his Corona∣tion,* which having been solemnized at Ʋpsal with the usual Solemnity: he summoned the Rebellious Dale∣kerls to appear before him at Thuana, threatning them with Fire and Sword if they did not appear at the ap∣pointed time; The Rebels being throughly frightened by the King's severity appeared without Arms at the ap∣pointed place, where he caused several of the Ringlea∣ders to be Executed, and dismissed the rest, after having promised to be obedient for the future. In Helsingland he appeased the tumultuous multitude with threats, and fined their Leaders, and having called together a Synod of the Clergy at Orebro, where the King's Chan∣cellour was President, the chiefest Points of the Popish Doctrine were there abolished, and in their stead the Protestant Religion introduced, where it was also or∣dered, that a Protestant Professor of Divinity should be Constituted in each Cathedral. This wrought in a man∣ner Miracles among the Inferiour Clergy and Monks,* who left their Monasteries, were married, and became Ministers in the Protestant Churches. But the Bishops and their party entred into an Association with some of the dissatisfied Lords in West Gothland, who accused the King of Heresie and other Crimes, renouncing their Al∣legiance to him. These were Headed by Thuro Johan∣son the Rix Marshal, who raised an Insurrection among the Dalekerls, and endeavoured also to stir up the West and East Gothes, whom he persuaded to make Magnus Brynteson, a Man in great Authority among them, their King. But the King having again appeased this tumult by granting his Pardon to them, Magnus the Bishop of Skara and Thuro Johnson fled into Denmark, but Magnus Bayteson, Nils Olofson and Thuro Erickson having been Convicted of High Treason at the Dyet held at Str•ng∣ness, the two first were Executed, and the third paid a considerable Fine. The King then, to settle the minds of his Subjects having renewed his Pardon, caused the superfluous Bells to be taken out of the Steeples, the same being granted to him by the Estates towards the payment of a Debt due to the Lubeckers. Which proved a new Subject for an Insurrection; for the Dale∣kerls Page  496 not only seised upon some of these Bells, but also pretended to hold an Assembly at Arboga, to consult a∣bout the Deposing of King Gustave, which obliged the King to call together the Estates at Ʋpsal, whither he came in person with a good Army, and meeting with great opposition from the mutinous People, ordered his Soldiers to fire among them, which so terrified them that upon their Knees they begged his Pardon, pro∣mising to be more Obedient for the future. Things being thus pretty well settled the King married Catha∣rine the Daughter of Magnus Duke of Saxen Lauen∣burgh, and having received intelligence that King Chri∣stian was landed in Norway with a considerable Force, he sent some Troops under the Command of Lars Sige∣son the Rix Marshal to the Frontiers of Norway, who having been joined by some Danes, forced King Chri∣stian to raise the Siege of Banus,* who at last surrendring himself to the Danes, was by Frederick King of Den∣mark, committed to Prison, where he died after twenty seven years imprisonment. But no sooner was this storm over, but the Lubeckers raised another against Sweden. For, they having demanded from the King, to grant them the whole Trade on his Northern Sea Coasts, which he refused to consent to, peremptorily demanded their Debt, and having joyned with a great many Re∣fugies of King Christian's party, and made John Earl of Hoya, who had married King Gustave's Sister, their Head, did propose to themselves no less than the Con∣quest of the Northern Kingdoms, having inticed some Citizens of Stockholm under pretext of making that City a free Hanse Town, to lay violent hands on the King: And after the death of Frederick King of Denmark, when that Kingdom was divided into several Factions persuaded the Senate of Copenhagen and Malmoe to en∣ter into the Confederacy of the Hanse Towns. Being thus strengthened by a considerable party within that Kingdom they had great success against the Danes, till these having declared Christian III. their King, and being assisted with Mony, Ships, and Forces by King Gustave beat the Lubeckers near He•sinburgh, and after∣wards in a Sea-Fight defeated their whole Fleet, and carried a great many of their Ships into Denmark, Soon Page  497 after King Gustave to strengthen himself the better at Home, married Margaret the Daughter of Abraham Erickson, Governor of West Gothland, which Alliance stood afterwards his Son Duke John in great stead a∣gainst King Erick. King Gustave having also conceived a jealousie against the Emperour Charles V. whom he suspected to be for making Palls Grave Frederick, Son in Law of the imprisoned King Christian, King over the Northern Kingdoms, took a resolution to strengthen himself with the Alliance of France. To put this de∣sign in execution he sent his Secretary into France, who having first made a Treaty of Commerce betwixt these two Crowns, did also afterwards conclude a defensive Alliance betwixt them.

Gustave having thus settled his Affairs called a Dyet to be held at Westeraas,* where the Estates of the King∣dom declared the Succession Hereditary for the future,* Constituting Erick Gustaveson,* who was then but eleven years old, his Father's Successor. At the same Dyet the Popish Religion was quite abolished, and the Lutheran Religion Established in Sweden, the King and the E∣states having obliged themselves by a Solemn Oath to maintain the same with all their power. In the year 1551. King Gustave, after the death of his Queen Margaret, married Catharine the Daughter of Gustave Olufson, and ruled the Kingdom of Sweden with great Tranquility, except that the Russians had faln into Li∣vonia and Finland, with whom having made a Peace, and being now grown very old he by his Testament gave to John his second Son the Dukedom of Finland, to the third Son Magnus the Dukedom of East Gothland, and to Charles,* the youngest of all, the Dukedom of Sudermanland, Nericke and Wermeland, which Coun∣tries they were to hold in Fief from the Crown. But his eldest Son Erick, who was •o succeed him in the Kingdom, having been persuaded by his Tutor, Diony∣sius Burraeus a Frenchman to make his Addresses to Elizabeth Queen of England, thereby to strengthen his Interest against his Brothers, sent the said Dionysius in∣to England, who having writ to his Master that nothing was wanting to make up the Match but his presence, the Prince would have gone forthwith into England, if Page  498 his Father had not opposed it, who sent in his stead his second Son John, and Steen Sture. These being very civilly entertained by Queen Elizabeth, at their return Home told the Prince that they believed nothing to be wanting to compleat the Marriage but his presence, which was very joyfully received by the Prince. But the old and wise King, who soon perceived, that they had mistaken Complements for Realities, thought it advisable to Communicate the business with the Estates Assembled at Stockholm, who after having confirmed the former Hereditary Union and the King's Testa∣ment, at last gave their consent to this Marriage, grant∣ing a considerable Supply towards the defraying of the charges of this Marriage. But whilst the Prince was preparing for his Voyage, part of his Baggage having been sent before, he being near ready to follow in per∣son, King Gustave dyed at Stockholm,* and King Erick, not thinking it advisable to trust his Brother with the Kingdom, was forced to put by his Journey into England.

§ 10.* King Erick was twenty seven years of age when he succeeded his Father in the Kingdom. His first business was to prescribe certain new Articles to his Brothers, thereby to maintain the Royal Autho∣rity against them, which though sorely against their will, they were forced to subscribe at the Dyet held at Arboga.* At his Coronation he first introduced the Titles of Earls and Barons into Sweden,* alledging that in an Hereditary Kingdom there ought to be also He∣reditary Dignities among the Nobility. At his very first Accession to the Crown he was engaged in the Troubles, which then sorely afflicted the Li•landers. For some of them having put themselves under the Pro∣tection of Denmark, some under the Crown of Poland, those of Reval and the Nobility of Esthenland, that were nearest to Sweden, sought for Protection to King Erick Whereupon the King having sent an Army un∣der the Command of Claes Horn (who was joyfully re∣ceived at Reval) took them into his Protection, and con∣firmed to the City and Nobility their former Privileges. As soon as the Poles heard of the arrival of the Swedish Page  499 Army at Reval, they sent an Ambassadour to demand Reval from the Swedes, who having received no other answer, but that the Swedes had at least as good a Title to Reval, as the Poles, returned Home again, and the Swedish Garrison that was besieged by the •olish Forces in Reval, forced them to quit that Enterprise. Soon after, the King being fully resolved to pursue his intentions concerning the Marriage with Queen Eliza∣beth of England, Embarked at Elshorgth to go thither in person, but was by a violent Tempest forced to return. As he was very inconstant in his Temper, and very Su∣perstitious, being much addicted to Astrology, so after this misfortune he laid aside the thoughts of this Marriage for a while, making his Addresses by his Ambassadours, and with great Presents, to Mary Queen Scotland, and the Princess of Lorain both at one time, and not long after to Katharine the Daughter of the Landgrave of Hessen, but succeeded in neither. In the mean while his Borther John had married Katharine Daughter of Sigismund King of Poland, which having been done without Ring Erick's good liking, who was both mi∣strustful of the Poles and his Brother, put him into such a rage, that he besieged his Brother in the Castle of Aboa, which having been taken by Strategem, he caused him to be sentenced to death, which Sentence he how∣ever changed into a perpetual Imprisonment for that time, but seemed to repent of it afterwards, when the Russi∣ans demanded the said Katharine, his Brother's Wife▪ in Marriage for their Great Duke. The Poles to revenge this Affront, stirred up the Danes and Lubeckers against the Swedes, and the Danes having affronted the Swedish Ambassadours at Copenhagen, preparations were made on all sides, which soon broke out into a War, wherein the Swedes routed the Danes and Lubeckers in several Sea Engagements, but also lost their Admiral (which Ship carried two hundred Brass Guns) and by Land there was great havock made on both sides, with al∣most equal Fortune, except that the Swedes had pretty good success in Livonia. But whilst King Erick was engaged in War with all his Neighbours round about him, the inward discontents began to increase more and more among his Subjects by the ill management which Page  500 he had shown both in his Affairs and Amours, being surrounded with a Seraglio of Mistrisses, (among whom one Katharine, an ordinary Country Wench had the greatest sway over him, whom he also married after∣wards, whereby he lost his Authority among the Nobi∣lity.) Besides this, he was guided in most concerns of moment by one Joran •erson his Favourite, and his former Tutor Dionysius Beuraeus, who fomented a con∣tinual jealousie betwixt him and the Family of the Stures, which at last broke out into a fatal revenge. For there having been Witnesses suborned against Suarte Sture and his Son Erick, they were with several others of that Family not only committed to Prison, and misera∣bly murthered there by the King's command, but he also with his own hands stab'd Nils Sture, and repenting soon after of so barbarous a Fact caused his former Tutor Dionysius, who advised it, to be slain by his Guards.

A great part of the Kingdom, having been put into confusion by these enormous cruelties, of which the King feared the consequences, he thought it his best way, to prevent further inconveniencies, to set his Bro∣ther John at Liberty under certain conditions, and to lay the blame of these barbarities upon Joran Peerson his Favourite, who having been committed to Prison the Intestine Commotions seem'd to be appeased for the pre∣sent. But the King having not long after been very suc∣cesful in several Engagements against the Danes, whom he beat quite out of Denmark he soon after released his Fa∣vourite, and not only declared him free from any im∣putation, but also justified the death of those Lords for∣merly murthered at Ʋpsal. By his advise also he would have taken from his Brothers those Provinces which were allotted them by their Father's Testament, in ex∣change of which he proffered them some Possessions in Livonia. But the Brothers having refused this proffer, he again resolved to make away his Brother John at the Nuptials which were to be celebrated at Stockholm be∣twixt his Mistress Catharine and himself, and to give his Widow in Marriage to the Grand Duke of Russia. But the Brothers having been advertised of the King's sinister intentions, did not appear at the Wedding, and having made an Association with several of the Nobi∣lity, Page  501 that were Kindred of the Lords murthered at Ʋpsal, they resolved to dethrone King Erick. The bet∣ter to execute their intentions, they had by the inter∣cession of the King of Poland procured a Truce with Denmark, and having gathered what Forces and Mony they could among ••eir Friends, and brought over some German Forces, that were in King Erick's service to their side, as also engaged Charles, King Erick's Brother, to join in the Confederacy, they seised upon the Castles of Stockeburgh, Lackoe and Wadstena, in the last of which they found a great Treasure. Then they published their Reasons for taking up Arms against the King and his evil Counsellours, and marched direct∣ly with their Forces towards Stockholm, near which place having fixed their Tents, they attacked the City on the side of the Brunckehill; King Erick on the other side defended himself valiantly for a while, and by frequent Sallies did great mischief, and being mistrustful of the Citizens of Stockholm, he sent a Messenger into Denmark, to crave assistance from King Frederick; but this Messenger having been taken and killed by the way the Senate of that City, who despaired to hold out much longer against the Dukes Forces, and also were favourers of their party, would have persuaded the King to a surrendry; which proposition having been rejected by the King, they whilst the King was at Church opened the Gates to his Enemies, so that he narrowly escaped into the Castle. The Dukes Forces laid then close Siege to the Castle, so that King Erick, having first received Hostages, was forced to come out, and after having resigned the Crown to surrender himself a Prisoner to his Brother Duke Charles. The Estates then assembled at Stockholm having also jointly renounced their Obedience to him, he was made a close Prisoner, and committed to the care of some of the Friends of the murthered Lords, who used him most barbarously.

§ 11.* After the Deposition of King Erick, John, was by the Estates then assembled at Stockholm proclaimed King of Sweden,* who having caused some of those that had been instrumental in the Murther of the Lords at Ʋpsal, to be Executed, sent his Ambassadour to Roeshild Page  502 to treat with the King of Denmark either concerning a Peace or at least the prolongation of the Truce; But these Ambassadours having exceeded their Commission, and agreed to such articles as were very prejudicial to Sweden the whole Transaction was declared void at the next Dyer, and King John sent other Ambassadours to desire more moderate propositions of Peace from the King of Denmark. And to give some sort of satisfaction to his Brother Charles, unto whom he had formerly pro∣mised a share in the Government, he put him in the Possession of Sudermannia, Nericke and Wermeland, which Provinces were granted him before pursuant to his Father's Testament. Then he was Crowned at Ʋpsal, and having sent back the Russian Ambassadours, he sent also some of his own into Moscovy to prolong the Truce betwixt them, but no sooner were they ar∣rived there, but the Moscovites took them into custody, and perceiving that the Liflanders would in no ways submit themselves under their Yoak, they found out this expedient to put Magnus Duke of Holstein into the Possession of that Country, with the Title of an Here∣ditary King, paying only some small acknowlegement to the Grand Duke of Moscovy. This Proposition having been approved of by the King of Denmark Duke of Holstein, and all the Liflanders in general who were very willing to live under the jurisdiction of a German Prince. The Moscovites to put their design in executi∣on advanced with a great Army, which obliged King John to make Peace with the Danes, at Stetin, upon very disadvantageous terms. But whilst the Moscovites had employed all their Forces in Livonia and Finland, the Tartars being set on by the Poles, fell into Moscovy, and having taken and burnt the City of Moscovy, cut above thirty thousand of the Inhabitants to pieces. This misfortune proved a main obstacle to their design upon Livonia,* yet having made a Truce with the Tar∣tars and Poles for some years they again entred Livo∣nia with 80000 Men, and committed most inhuman barbarities, which the Swedes, who were much infe∣riour in number, could not prevent at that time. But a Swedish party of 600 Horse and 100 Foot,* that were faln in with the Moscovites, having routed 16000 Mos∣covites, Page  503 killing 7000 of them upon the spot, the Czar of Moscovy was so dismayed that he of his own accord offered a Treaty of Peace to be set on Foot at Newgar∣ten, which place being disliked by King John, the War began a fresh, which was carried on but with very in∣different success on the Swedish side, they having been repulsed before Wefenbergh and Telsburgh. There hap∣pened also another misfortune in the Swedish Camp, which proved not a little prejudicial to their Affairs; for the German Horse and Scotish Foot that were in their Service came to handy blows, upon some distaste ta∣ken against one another, wherein 1500 Scotish Foot were all cut to pieces by the Germans, except 80 that escaped their fury, and the Russians not long after surprised the Swedes and Germans, that were drunk in their Camp (and killed a great many of them upon the spot; and because the Swedes were also not idle on their side, but made frequent inrodes into the Russian Territories, a Truce was concluded betwixt them for two years. Most of the Swedes are of opinion that King John might have prosecuted this War, with more vigour if he had not been more intent upon a Religious design, than upon warlike preparations.

The business proceeded thus: King John, though he was Educated a Protestant, yet having been very con∣versant with a great many learned Roman Catholicks, and influenced by his Queen, had resolved to restore by degrees the Roman Catholic Religion, under pre∣tence of making a Reformation in the lately introduced Protestant Religion. To effect this, he intended to fol∣low the footsteps of Georgius Cassander, that was em∣ployed by the Emperours Ferdinand I. and Maximi∣lian II. to unite and compose the Religious differences in Germany, and having called in some Jesuits disguised in Laymens Habits to be assisting to his Secretary Mr. Pieter Fretenius, who was to be the chief manager of the business, he at the Convocation of some of the Bishops and Clergy at Stockholm proposed to them a new form of a Liturgy, wherein a great many of the Popish Ceremonies were to be used in the Administration of the Sacraments, and Consecration of Bishops and Priests, as also the Mass was again introduced; which new Page  504 Liturgy he got subscribed by the new Consecrated Bi∣shops and some of the inferiour Clergy, and was called the Liturgy of the Swedish Church, conform to the Catholick and Orthodox Church. This Liturgy having been published under the new Archbishop's name in the Swedish and Latin Tongues, the Mass and other Roman Catholick Hymns were again sung in the Swedish Churches (except in the Territories belonging to Duke Charles the King's Brother) and the Celibacy of Priests and other Popish Doctrines mightily extolled in the Pulpits by these disguised Roman Catholicks. The next thing to be done was to try whether he could bring over his Brother Charles to his party whom he sollicited by his Delegates to introduce the Liturgy into his Terri∣tories, who having made answer that it was, (according to their Father's Testament) neither in his, nor in the King's power to make any Innovation in Religion, this proved the subject of a great misunderstanding betwixt them. Next the King had his recourse to the Pope, who also having disapproved his undertaking, he de∣manded from the Clergy at Stockholm to give their ap∣probation of the said Liturgy, but these answered that thereby a door was opened for the Roman Catholick Religion to be re-established in Sweden, and having made their Appeal to a General Synod of that Clergy in the Kingdom, a Convocation of the Clergy of the King∣dom (except those in the Duke's Territories) was held by the King's Authority,* where the King's party pre∣vailed,* so, that the Liturgy was confirmed not only by the said Clergy, but also by the Temporal Estates, who declared all such Traitors as should for the future op∣pose the same. The King having gained this point banished and imprisoned some of those, that would not conform to the said Liturgy, notwithstanding which a great many of the Clergy that were professed Enemies of the said Liturgy, and upheld by Duke Charles did not only boldly discover the deceitful snares of the ad∣verse party, but also sent to the German Universities of Wittembergh, Leipzick, Helmstad, Francfut and others, where their Zeal for the Augsburg Confession was ap∣proved, and the said Liturgy condemned as dangerous to the Protestant Religion. Hitherto King Erick had Page  505 suffered a very hard imprisonment during the space of nine years, but he having in the mean while by several ways endeavoured his delivery, and King John now fear∣ing, that perhaps these Intestine Divisions might furnish him with an opportunity to make his escape, he sent his Secretary to give him his last Dose, which he did ac∣cordingly, having poisoned him in a Pease Soop. The King being rid of this danger began now to act more barefaced than before; for now the Invocation of Saints was publickly taught in the Pulpits, those that contra∣dicted it were imprisoned, a new University of Papists was to be erected at Stockholm, he sent his Ambassadour to reside at Rome, and the Pope had his Nuncio at Stockholm, and to compleat the matter, a great many young Scholars were sent to the Jesuits abroad, to be duely instructed in their Principles. In the mean while the War betwixt the Swedes and Moscovites was carried on without any remarkable advantage on either side, till it was agreed betwixt the two Kings of Poland and Sweden, that each of them should act separately against the Moscovites, and what either of them could gain by his Sword, should remain in his possession. Then it was that Stephen King of Poland having attacked the Moscovites vigorously on his side, the Swedes also under the Command of Pontus de la Gordie took from the Moscovites the strong Forthress of Kekholm, the Castle of Padis, Wesenburgh, Telsburgh, Narva, (where 7000 Moscovites were killed) Jawmagrod and other places of note, which raised such a jealousie in the Poles that they not only made a separate Peach with the Mosco∣vites,* but also demanded several of those places, taken from the Moscovites by the Swedes, for their share, which put a great stop to the Swedish progresses, and occasioned a Truce of two years (which was after∣wards prolonged for four years longer) betwixt them and the Moscovites. Whilst these things were trans∣acting the misunderstanding betwixt the King and his Brother Charles could not be removed, notwithstanding that the Duke had shown his inclination of having these Differences composed, but the King having called toge∣ther a Dyet at Wadstena, sent a summons to the Duke to appear there in person. The Duke on the other hand, Page  506 who did not altogether trust the King, having assembled some Forces in his Territories, did not appear at the said Dyet, but lodged himself in some of the adjacent Villages, were at last by the mediation of some of the Senators, the Brothers were reconciled, the Duke having begged the King's pardon,* and referred the Differences concerning the Liturgy to the decision of his Clergy, who at an Assembly held at Strengness rejected the afore∣said Liturgy. In the mean while died Stephen King of Poland, and his Widow Ar••a being Aunt of Prince Si∣gismund the Son of King John, she prevailed with some of the great Men in Poland to make him their King, which was done accordingly, tho' not without great dif∣ficulty on the Swedish side, who could not for a great while agree to the several Propositions made to them by the Poles, and King Sigismund himself seemed soon after to repent of it. As soon as Sigismund had left Sweden, his Father King John began to renew his Care for esta∣blishing the new Liturgy in the Duke's Territories; but the Clergy there trusting upon the Duke's Authority and Protection, remaining stedfast in their Opinion; the King at last being tired out by their constancy, sent for his Brother Charles to Stockholm, where a hearty recon∣ciliation being made betwixt them, Charles was so dear to him ever after, that he did nothing without his Advice or Consent, which Friendship continued betwixt the two Brothers till a little before the King's death, when Charles having married Cloristina the Daughter of Adolph Duke of Holstein, the former jealousy was renewed in some measure in the King, which soon ceased by his death,* which happened a few Months after at Stock∣holm.

§ 12. After King John's death had been kept secret for two days, the same having been notified to Duke Charles, he forthwith came to Stockholm, and having sent a Messenger to King Sigismund in Poland,* he in the mean while took upon him the Administration of the Govern∣ment with the Consent of the Senate, which was con∣firmed to him by King Sigismund for that time. Soon after, he called together the Swedish and Gothick Clergy at Ʋpsat (the Finns refusing to appear) where the Augs∣burgh Page  507 Confession was confirmed, and the Liturgy, as al∣so Popish Ceremonies newly introduced quite abolished. This Decree having been approved of by the rest of the Estates, they also made another, wherein was declared, That no body should appeal out of Sweden to the King in Poland, and that the King should subscribe these De∣crees before his Coronation. This proved the subject of great broils afterwards, for the King having under∣stood what had passed at Ʋpsal, he declared, that he being a hereditary Prince in Sweden, would not oblige himself to any thing before his Coronation, and as to the Decrees made at Ʋpsal, he declared them void, which the Estates looked upon as an ill Omen for the Protestant Religion in Sweden. Their jealousie was also not a little augmented when they saw King Sigismund come into Sweden accompanied by the Pope's Nuncio, by whose advice the King demanded a Church for the Roman Catholicks in each City, that the new Arch∣bishop should be deposed, and that he would be Crown∣ed by the Pope's Nuncio which obliged the Estates to send their Deputies to Duke Charles, to desire him to in∣terpose his Authority with the King. Charles therefore having in conjunction with the Estates, in vain endea∣voured to perswade the King to a compliance with the Estates, entred into an Association with them for the defence of the Protestant Religion, and mustered his Troops near Ʋpsal. The King perceiving them to be in earnest, thought it his best way not to let things run to extremity, but having consented to most of their Propositions, which he surrendred to them the same morning when he was to be crowned, the Coronation was performed by the Bishop of Strengness. But no sooner was he returned to Stockholm,* but he took a resolution quite contrary to his Promise, with an intention to ob∣tain by force what he could not get by fair means. Wherefore having sent for some Forces out of Poland, he hoped to terrifie the Estates into a compliance at the next Dyet, but these being backed by Duke Charles, and having raised the Delekerls, remained stedfast in their Resolution. The King seeing himself disappointed again in his Design, resolved upon the advice of the Poles, to leave the Kingdom and the Government in an unsettled Page  508 Condition, hoping thereby to oblige them to be more pliable for the future. But as soon as the Senators un∣derstood that he was sailed towards Dantzick, they in conjunction with Duke Charles, took upon themselves the administration of the Government, deposed the King's Governour of Stockholm (he being a Papi•t) and for∣bid the exercise of the Romish Religion. And soon after, a Peace having been concluded with the Muscovites, a Dyet was held at Sudercoping, where after the Estates had justified their proceeding in a Letter to the King, the Augsburgh Confession was again confirmed, the Popish Religion abolished, and all Swedes that adhered to the same, declared incapable of any Employments in the Kingdom, and several other Decrees were made against the Papists, and for the maintaining of the Privileges of the Subjects. Then they constituted Duke Charles Re∣gent of the Kingdom to govern the same with Advice of the Senate, and the whole Transaction was published in the Latin, Swedish and German Tongues. This ha∣ving occasioned a general flight among the Roman Catholicks out of Sweden; King Sigismund was so dissatisfied thereat, that he quickly sent some Commis∣sioners out of Poland to disswade the Duke from these proceedings, but also when this proved ineffectual by his Letter to the Estates he committed the whole management of Affairs to the Senate, excluding the Duke from the Regency. In the mean while some Senators either to curry favour with the King, or upon some distaste taken against Duke Charles, had shewn themselves great Fa∣vourers of the King, and declined to appear at the Dyet, which was appointed to be held under the Duke's Autho∣rity at Arboga. Notwithstanding which, the few Senators and the Estates there present did again confirm the De∣crees lately made at Ʋpsal and Sudercoping, declaring Duke Carles sole Regent of Sweden. But Niclaco Flem∣ming the King's General, being in Arms, and having lately killed a great number of the Boors, the Duke also thought it not fit to fit still, but having gathered what Troops he could, possessed himself first of Gothland, and not long after of the whole Kingdom of Sweden, the King's Governours and those of the Senators, that had not appeared at the last Dyet held at Arboga, flying Page  509 in great numbers to the King in Poland. King Sigismund then perceiving that his presence was absolutely necessary in Sweden, resolved to go thither in Person with 6000 Men, which the Duke having been advertised of,* called to∣gether the Estates of the Gothick Kingdom at Wadstena, and having made known to them the King's intention, it was unanimously resolved to meet the King with an Army near Calmar. But the West-Goths and Smalanders having taken up Arms for the King, and the Finns equipped some Ships for this Service, the former were beat back by the Boors, headed by two Professors of Ʋpsal, and whilest Duke Charles was sailed with his. Fleet to reduce the latter, which he did with good Suc∣cess, the King without any opposition arrived at Calmar. Several Treaties were then set on foot to endeavour the settlement of the Kingdom, and to reconcile Matters betwixt the King and Duke, which proving ineffectual, both Parties had recourse to Arms. The first encounter happened near Stegeburgh, where the Duke's Forces be∣ing surrounded, were quickly put to the rout, but lay∣ing down their Arms, obtained Pardon from the King; but the Duke soon made amends for this Misfortune, at Stangbroo, where having surprised part of the King's Army, he killed 2000 of them upon the spot, with the loss of 40 Men on his side. This Defeat occasioned an agreement betwixt the King and Duke upon certain Ar∣ticles, of which the Estates were to be Guarrantees, and the King promised to come forthwith to Stockholm to settle the Affairs of the Kingdom, whither he would needs go by Sea, tho' it was in October, but in lieu of sailing to Stockholm, directed his Course from Calmar (where he was droven in by contrary Winds) to Dan•∣zick. The Duke being surprised at this unexpected de∣parture, called together the Estates of the Kingdom, who having once more constituted him Regent of Swe∣den at their second meeting at Stockholm,* renounced their Obedience to King Sigismund, offering at the same time the Crown to his Son Ʋladislaus, in case he would come within a twelve Months time into Sweden, and be educated in the Lutheran Religion, but in case of fai∣lure he and his heirs to be excluded from the Crown. Duke Charles thereupon marched against the Finns, Page  510 whom he quickly forced to Obedience, and having made an Alliance with the Russians,* convened the Estates of the Kingdom in the next following year at Sincoping, where some of the Lords that were here, having before fled into Poland,* were condemned of High Treason and exe∣cuted accordingly, and not only King Sigismund de∣clared incapable of the Crown, but also his Son Ʋladi∣slaus (because he had not appeared within the limited time) excluded from the Succession. About the same time the Duke being certified that the Eastlanders. and especially those of Reval were inclined to his side, he mar∣ched thither with a great Army, and being received very joyfully by the Inhabitants of Reval, the Polish Governours left the rest of the places of Esthland voluntarily to the disposition of Charles. The same for∣tune artended him at first in Livonia, where he took se∣veral places of note without much opposition, but was forced to raise the Siege of Riga upon the approach of the Poles, who retook Kakenhausen and some other pla∣ces thereabouts. Charles having in the mean time got notice how the Poles had set up the false Demetrius, and assisted him against the Muscovites, under pretence of being afraid of the designs of the Poles against Swe∣den, desired to resign. But these having first offered the Crown to John King Sigismund's half Brother, who refused to accept of the same, they bestowed it upon Charles, who being the only Son left of King Gu∣stave, and by his Valour and Prudence having deserved so well of the Kingdom, the Crown was confirmed to his Heirs even to the Females.* No sooner was Charles declared King,* but he undertook an Expedition into Livonia, where he received a signal overthrow from the Poles, which might have proved of very ill consequence to Sweden, if King Sigismund had not been prevented by the intestine Commotions of the Poles to pursue his Vi∣ctory. The Russians also had slain the false Demetrius, and having made one Suski their Grand Duke, craved Assistance from King Charles, who sent some Thousand Auxilaries under the Command of James de la Gardie, with whose Assistance they were very successful against the Poles. But in Lifland the Poles got the better of the Page  511 Swedes in several encounters, and the Danes seeing the Swedes engaged on all sides,* began to make great prepa∣rations against them. The Muscovites also had delivered their Grand Duke Suski up to the Poles, and offered that Crown to Ʋladislaus the Son of Sigismund, so that the Swedish Affairs looked with an ill face at that time, if Prince Gustave Adolph, King Charles's Son by his extra∣ordinary Valour had not upheld their drooping Cou∣rage. For whilst the Danes wee busy about Calmar, he with 1500 Horse, not only surprised their chief Ma∣gazin in Blekinyen, which is now called Christianstad, but also took from them the Isle of Oeland and the Castle of Borkholm; and whilst he was busy in putting his Forces into Winter-Quarters his Father King Charles died at Nycoping in the 61 year of his age.*

§ 13.* Gustavus Adolphus being at the time of his Fa∣ther's Death, yet under age, was under the Tuition of his Mother Christina, Duke John and some of the Swe∣dish Senators. But the Swedes being at that time embroil∣ed in the Polish and Russian Affairs, and the Danes pres∣sing hard upon them, it was concluded at the Dyet at Nycoping, that King Gustave Adolph, notwithstanding he was not 18 years of age, should take upon himself the administration of Affairs. The King immediately ap∣plied all his Care to the Danish War, which was carried on but with indifferent Success on the Swedish side espe∣cially by Sea, where the Danes played the Masters, the Swedish Fleet being but in a very ill condition; and the Danes having taken besides Calmar, also Risbyfort and Elffesburgh, two considerable places in Sweden. King Gustave finding this War very grievous to the Kingdom, and the Muscovites having about the same time declared themselves very favourably in behalf of his Brother Charles Philip, (unto whom they offered that Crown) a Peace was concluded with the Danes, the Swedes be∣ing obliged to pay them a Million of Crowns for these three places above-mentioned. In the mean while James de la Gardie had so well managed his Affairs in Muscovy,* that the Chiefest among them desired King Gustave Adolph, and his Brother Charles Philip to come into Mu∣scovy, but King Gustave Adolph who had more mind to Page  512 unite that Crown with Sweden than to leave it to his Brother, was not only very slow in his Resolution, but also at last in his Answer to the Muscovites only spoke of his own coming thither, without mentioning his Brother, which having been interpreted by the Muscovites as if he intended to make their Country a Province of Sweden, they made one Michael Foedorowitz Romano their Grand Duke, and when Prince Charles Philip afterwards came into Muscovy, some of them for a while adhered to him, but the new Grand Duke having the stronger Party, the rest also at last left the Swedish side, who vigorously at∣tacked and beat the Muscovites in several Engagements, and took from them some of their Frontier places,* till at last a Peace was concluded betwixt both Partys at Stolbova, by the mediation of the English, by vertue of which,* the Swedes got Kerholm and Ingermanland.

In the mean while a Truce had been concluded with Poland for two years, but the same being near exspiring, King Gustave Adolph resolved to pursue the War against the Poles with more vigour than before. The better to put this Design in execution, he after his Coronation had been performed at Ʋpsal with an universal Joy of the People,* paid to Christian King of Denmark the resi∣due of the sum due to him by vertue of the last Treaty of Peace; and having married Mary Eleonora the Daughter of John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburgh,* he attacked the City of Riga, which defended it self for six weeks bravely, but being reduced to the last extremity, sur∣rendred it self upon very honourable Terms. From hence he sailed towards Dantzick, to carry the War into Prussia, but King Sigismund being then at Dant∣zick, the Truce was renewed for two years longer. During the time of the Truce a Peace was proposed be∣twixt these two Crowns, which the Polish Estates were very desirous of, notwithstanding which, King Sigismund persisted in his former Resolution of pursuing the War. King Gustave therefore again entred Livonia with a good Army, where having defeated 3000 Lithuanians, who under the Command of Stanislaus Sariecha would have disputed his Passage, Kakenhausen, Dorpt, and other places of less note, surrendred themselves to the King. From hence he advanced into Lithuania, and took Bir∣sew, Page  513 and tho' the Poles had nothing left in Livonia, but only Duneburgh, and the Lithuanians were again defeat∣ed by the Swedes near Walsow in Sem-Gallia; King Sigismund persisted in his Resolution of carrying on the War, being encouraged by the Emperour, who then was very successful in Germany. King Gustave then re∣solving to give the Poles a home-stroke,* sailed with a Fleet of 80 Ships and 26000 Landmen towards the Pil∣law, where by Order of the Elector of Brandenburgh, having been received without opposition, he landed his Men, and without any resistance took Brandenburgh and Frauenburgh. The next was Elbingen, where the Citi∣zens having made some shew of resistance, the Senate surrendred the City without making as much as a Ca∣pitulation. The same good Fortune attended him before Marienburgh,* Meve, Dirshaw, Stum, Christburgh and other places in Prussia, which all fell into his hands, before the Poles had notice of his arrival. Soon after the Poles sent 8000 Horse and 3000 Foot into Prussia, who had formed a design to surprise Marienburgh, but were re∣pulsed with the loss of 4000 Men, and were also forced to raise the Siege of Meve. And Stanislaus Konierpol ki with his Podolians also besieged Dirshaw in vam, but re∣took Pautske from the Swedes, and dispersed some Ger∣men Troops that were listed in Germany for the Ser∣vice of King Gustave. In the next Spring the Swedish King having received new Supplies out of Sweden,* in∣tended to attack Dantzick, but having received a shot in the Belly before one of their out-works, he desisted for that time, but soon after made himself Master of the said Fort, having first beaten the Poles that came to its relief, who nevertheless, in the mean while had forced Meve to a surrendry. Soon after, both Armies encamped near Dirshaw, where King Gustave having drawn out his Forces in Battel array, the Poles did the like, having a boggy Ground before them, which the King did not think fit to pass with his Army; but when the Poles began to draw off again into their Camp, the King falling into the Rear, killed them a great num∣ber of Men. But some days after, attacking them in their Camp, he received a shot in his left Shoulder with a Musquet Bullet, which his Forces being dismayed at, Page  514 they returned without any further Action into their Camp. Towards the latter end of the year, a new Treaty having been set on foot betwixt the two Kings, the Treaty was so far advanced, that King Sigismund had resolved to sign it the next day, if the Austrians (who did promise to send 24 Men of War and 12000 Men to his assistance) had not prevented it. After the Treaty was broke off, King Gustave, before his Army went into Winter-quarters, took several places from the Poles, and at the beginning of the year next following, attacked a Fort near Dantzick, but was repulsed with loss. Soon after he had a smart Engagement with the Poles, wherein 3000 of them were killed upon the spot, the Swedes having taken four pieces of Cannon, and four∣teen Standards, tho' not without great blood-shed on their side. Then the King advanced nearer unto Dant∣zick, having sent eight Men of War to block up that Harbour, but the Dantzickers with ten Men of War having attacked the Swedish Squadron, they killed the Swedish Admiral Nils Sternshield, took his Ship, forced their Vice-Admiral to blow up his own Ship, and put the rest to flight, tho' the Dantzickers also lost their Admi∣ral and 400 Men in this Engagement. King Gustave then having detached 1000 foot Souldiers, who passed the Veixel in Boats, they surprised Niewburgh, which being a Magazin of the Poles, they took most of their Bag∣gage and 600000 Crowns in Money.* But in the year next following, he gave them more work; for Herman Wrangel raised the Blockade of Brodnitz where 3000 Poles were killed, 1000 taken Prisoners, with five Pieces of Cannon and 2000 Waggons with Provision. The Poles being frightened at this Defeat, were very desirous then to receive the Imperial Forces which were sent to their Assistance under the command of Arnheim, who with 5000 Foot and 2000 Horse, joined Koniccpoliski, the Polish General near Graudentz. King Gustave on the other hand encamped with an Army of 5000 Horse and 8000 Foot near Quidzin; and tho' the Swedes were much inferiour in number, yet did they not refuse the Combate; and both Armies soon after having met near Stum, there happened a brisk Engagement betwixt them, wherein the Swed•sh Horse were first repulsed, Page  515 with the loss of five Standards, but the King coming up in Person with more Forces, soon forced the Poles to re∣treat, who would have passed over a Bridge which they were laying over the River of Nogat. But King Gustave endavouring to cut off their retreat that way, the Fight was renewed on both sides with great fury, so that the King venturing himself too far, was taken hold of by his Shoulder-belt, which he slipping over his head, got free of them, leaving his Hat and Belt behind him. But immediately after, another catching hold of his Arm. would have carried him off, if one Erick Soop had not shot the Polander, and delivered the King. In this Action the Swedes got seventeen Colours and five Stan∣dards, the Imperial Forces having received the greatest damage. Not long after, there happened another En∣gagement about the same Bridge, where the Poles were again repulsed, and in the attack of Stum, they lost 4000 Men of their best Forces. The Poles having im∣puted these Losses chiefly to Arnheim the Imperial Gene∣ral (who being a Vassal of the Elector of Brandenburgh, was suspected by them to hold a correspondence with the said Prince) and being grown quite weary of the Im∣perial Forces, being also pestered with Famine and the Plague, by the mediation of France, England, Branden∣burgh and Holland, a Truce was concluded for six years, by vertue of which, King Gustave was to restore to Po∣land, Brodnitz Wormdit, Melsack, Stum and Dirshaw, Ma∣rienburgh was committed to the custudy of the Elector of Brandenburgh, King Gustave kept the Castle and Harbour of Pillaw and Mem•l,* as also Elbingen and Braunsbergh, besides all what he was possessed of in Livonia, so that King Gustave Adolph had ended both the Russian and Polish War to his eternal Honour and the great Advan∣tage of his Kingdom.

§ 14.* But he was not long at rest before Germany was the Scene where he acquired everlasting Glory to his Nation, and performed some of the greatest Actions that were ever seen in Europe. As soon as the Protestants in Germany began to be jealous of the Roman Catholicks sinister Intentions against them, they were then for bringing King Gustave over to their Alliance; but he being at that time entangled in the Polish Affairs, was Page  516 not at leisure to engage himself with them.* But Chri∣stian IV. King of Denmark who was ambitious of that Honour, having in the mean while received a great Defeat from the Imperialists, who since that had made themselves Masters of the Lower Saxony, and got foot∣ing on the Baltick, King Gustave fearing the consequence of it, pressed the harder upon the Poles to oblige them to a Peace or Truce;* and having called together the Estates of Sweden, he represented to them the danger which threatened Sweden from the Imperialists, who had not only got footing on the Baltick, but also made themselves Masters of a part of Denmark; whereupon it having been resolved by the Estates, that it was not advisable to stay till the Enemy should attack them at home, but to meet him abroad and to keep him from getting footing on the Borders of the Baltick, the King only waited an opportunity to put this Design in execution, which presented it self in the same year. For Albert Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland, the Imperial General, having laid a Design against the City of Strahl∣sund, the King who was then in Prussia, offered his Assi∣stance to that City, and having sent them voluntarily some Ammunition, and exhorted them to a vigorous Defence; the Citizens accepted of the King's offer, ma∣king an Alliance with him for the Defence of their City and Harbour, and to maintain their Commerce in the Baltick. Pursuant to this Treaty, the King sent some of his Forces to their assistance, who were very in∣strumental in defending that City against the Imperia∣lists, but he did not think fit to attempt any thing fur∣ther at that time, because Wallenstein and Tilly were with two considerable Armies not far off. But as soon as the •ol•sh War was ended, he resolved not to make any further delay. Having therefore in vain proffered his mediation for the procuring of a Peace in Germany, and represented again to the Estates of Sweden the ne∣cessity of meeting the Imperialists with an Army abroad, he with all expedition prepared himself for the next Campagne,* and having sent Alexander Lesley with some Troops before, to drive the Imperialists out of the Isle of Rugen (which he effected) and settled his Affairs at home, he embarked with 92 Companies of Foot, and 16 Page  517 of Horse (which were however considerably augmented afterwards by some Regiments raised in Prussia) and landed the 24 of June at Ʋsedom.* Upon his arrival the Imperialists having left their Forts thereabouts and at Wollin, he re-embarked his Souldiers with a Train of Artillery in some small Vessels and directly took his course towards Stetin, and having obliged the Duke of Pomerania to receive him and his Forces into that City, he made a defensive Alliance with him. From hence he marched to Stargard, Anclam, Ʋckermund and Wolgast, all which places he took without much opposition. And whilest King Gustave acted with such Success against the Imperialists in Pomerania, Christian Withelm administra∣tor of Magdeburgh (who had been deposed by the Em∣perour) had got into the possession again of the City and Territories of Magdeburgh, whither King Gustave sent D•cterick of Falekenbergh to be assisting to the said Ad∣ministrator in settling his Affairs that were then in great confusion. In the mean while several Regiments of Lif∣landers and Finlanders were arrived under the Com∣mand of Gustave Horn, these having been joined by such Troops as were lately come out of Prussia, the King left his Camp near Stetin, he himself marching with his Army into Mecklenburgh. In his absence the Imperialists had endeavoured to force the Swedish Camp near Stetin, but were vigorously repulsed, and at his return he also beat them out of Greiffenhagen and Gartz, nay, even out of the furthermost parts of Pomerania, and the New Marck. The Archbishop of Bremen, Duke George of Lunenburgh, and William Landgrave of Hesse, then en∣tred into an Alliance with the King, and the Protestant party in general being encouraged at the Success, began to consider of ways and means to rid themselves of the Roman Catholick yoke.

At the beginning of the next ensuing year,* King Gu∣stave at last concluded the so long projected Alliance with France,* by vertue of which he was to receive a yearly Subsidy of 400000 Crowns from the French King. Having thus strengthned himself, he notwith∣standing the Winter Season, took Lokenitz, Prentzlow, New Br•ndenburgh, Clempenow, Craptow and Leitz, with∣out much opposition. Demmin also, where the Duke of Page  518 Lavelli was in Garrison with two Regiments, was sur∣rendred after a Siege of three Days, and Colberg sur∣rendred after a Blockade of five Months. The Empe∣rour in the mean while perceiving that his Generals were not able to cope with King Gustave Adolph, had given to Tilly the Bavarian General the supreme Command over his Forces, who being an antient experienced and re∣nowned Captain marched directly to the relief of Dem∣min, but having received intelligence that the place was surrendred before, he fell with great fury upon Kniphausen who lay with two Regiments of Swedes at New Brandenburgh, which being a place of no defence, he forced after a brave resistance, killing most of the Common Souldiers. But perceiving that King Gustave being strongly entrenched, was not to be forced in his Camp, he directed his march upwards to Magdeburgh, in hopes to draw the King out of his advantageous Post. But King Gustave marched directly towards Franckfort upon the Oder, where the Earl of Shaumburgh lay with a small Army, notwithstanding which, he took the place by Storm after a Siege of three Days, slew 700 of the Enemies and took 800, among whom were a great many Officers of note: From hence he sent a Detach∣ment to Landsbergh, to endeavour to drive also the Im∣perialists from thence. About the same time a general meeting of the Protestant German Princes was held at Leipzick▪ where a League was proposed to be made in opposition to the demanded res•itution of the Church-Lands. Thither King Gustave sent some of his Ministers to exhort them to a mutual Union against the Emperour, and to demand some assistance from them of Men and Money. But the Elector of Saxony was very backward in declaring himself positively, pretending several reasons, but in effect intended to make himself head of the Pro∣testant League, and in the mean while to take this op∣portunity of putting the Protestants in a good posture, and to keep the ballance betwixt the Emperour and the Swedes. King Gustave therefore perceiving that the Pro∣testants in Germany were so very cunning and over∣cautious, thought it his best not to venture his Army at the discretion of others, wherefore tho' he was very wil∣ling to have relieved the City of Magdeburgh, which was Page  519 reduced to extremity, yet did he not think it advisable to march thither before he had secured his retreat. To render therefore his design effectual, he marched with his Army strait to Berlin, and having obliged the Elector of Brandenburgh, partly by fair words, partly by threats, to put into his hands the Forts of Spandau and Custrin for the security of a retreat over the two Rivers of the Ha∣vel and Oder, he would have straitways marched to the relief of the City of Magdeburgh, if the Elector of Saxony would have joined him, but whilest the said Electors made a great many tergiversations, the said City was taken by Storm by General Tilly,* who miserably burnt the City, and killed most of the Inhabitants, there ha∣ving been but 400 left of a great many thousands. After this Disaster, King Gustave having published his Rea∣sons, why he could not timely enough relieve that City, and having cleared the whole Pomerania of the Impe∣rialists, he divided his Army, and having sent part of his Forces to the assistance the Dukes of Mecklenburgh, he marched with the rest into Marck and encamped at Werben near the River Elbe, to observe Tilly, who having received Intelligence of the King's arrival near that River, was obliged to alter his march (which he intended to have directed towards Saxony) in hopes to force the King to a Battel. But the King surprised his Avaint-Guard near Wolmerstadt, where he totally ruin'd three Regiments of Horse. Notwithstanding which, Tilly approached near the King's Camp at Werben, but the King refusing of fight, and he not daring to attack him in his Camp, he was for want of Forrage, obliged to march back to his former Camp at Wolmerstadt. In the mean while the Dukes of Mecklenburgh had with the assistance of the Swedish Auxiliaries driven the Imperialists out of their Territories, except Domitz, Wismar and Ro∣stock, which places they also kept block'd up. And a∣bout the same time James Marquis of Hamilton came with 6000 English and Scots into Pomerania, but stood the King in no great stead, most of them dying in the same year by several Diseases. But Tilly seeing that he could not attack the King near Werben, decamped from Wolmerstadt and marched to Eisleben, and from thence to Halli, from whence he marched with 40000 Men Page  520 to Leipsick, which he took soon after. The Elector of Saxony being thus put to a nonplus, was then forced to send to King Gustave, and to desire him to join his Army which lay encamped near Torgawi, the King who had foreseen what would befal him, being already advanced near New Brandenburgh; and tho' the King was very glad of this opportunity, yet because the Elector being now put to a nonplus, now desired what he had resused before, he proposed to him certain Conditions, which the Elector having readily granted, he passed the River Elbe near Wittenbergh with 13000 Foot and 9000 Horse, and joined the Elector near Dieben. Then a Council of War having been called (where the Elector of Bran∣denburgh also was present) the King, who did not ex∣spect that the old cunning General would give them any opportunity to fight, was for acting very cautiously; but the Elector of Saxony was not for protracting the War, telling them that if the rest refused he would fight alone: This opinion at last prevailed, the King then thought it most convenient to attack him imme∣diately before he could be joined by the Generals Altrin∣ger and Tieffenbach, the first of which was already ar∣rived near Erffurt, the second being on his march out of Silesia. Thereupon the command of the right Wing being left to the King, that of the left to the Electors, they marched towards the Enemy. Tilly had no sooner been informed of their approach, but he began to fortifie himself in his Camp near Leipzick.* But Papenheim and the rest of the Imperial Generals trusting too much upon the bravery of their Veteran Bands, and despising the new Levies of the Saxons and the Swedes that were tired out by long march would by all means fight the Enemy in the Plains near Braitenfeld, where Tilly lost the fruits of his former Victories. He had possessed himself of all the rising Grounds where he had planted his Cannon, and had also the advantage of the Wind; but King Gustave who had put some Battalions of Foot among the Squadrons of Horse, by wheeling about, got the advan∣tage of the Wind from him, and having obliged the Imperialists to open their left Wing, John Banner fell in among them and brought them into confusion. But the greatest force of the Imperialists fell upon the Saxons, Page  521 whose Infantry and some of the Militia Horse were put to flight, which obliged the King to fall with his Wing upon the Enemy's Horse that were in pursuit of the Saxons, whom he quickly also forced to fly. But the Imperial Infantry still held out, till Gustave's Horse with some Squadrons of the right Wing fell into their Flank; and the King about the same time having taken all the E∣nemy's Artillery, they were put to an entire rout on all sides, leaving 7600 Men dead upon the spot, besides what was killed in the pursuit, 5000 Prisoners took Ser∣vice under the King. Tilly himself who refused Quar∣ter, was likely to have been killed by a Captain of Horse, if Rodulf Maximiliun Duke of Saxon-Lauenburgh had not delivered him by shooting the Captain thro' the head. The Swedes took above 100 Standards and Co∣lours, but lost 2000 Men most of them Horse; the Saxons lost 3000, who quickly retook Leipzick, whilest the King marched towards Merseburgh, where he out to pieces 1000 of the Enemies, and took 500 Prisoners. Then it was resolved at a Council of War held at Halle, not to follow Tilly, who was retired towards the River of Weser, but to carry their victorious Arms into the Emperour's hereditary, and other Roman Catholick Countries thereabouts. After some dispute it was agreed that the King should march towards Franconia, whilest the Elector of Saxony entred the hereditary Countries of the Emperour. Pursuant to this agreement, the King marched towards Erffurt, (where William Duke of Wei∣mar was received without opposition) and from thence into Franconia, where he took Koningshofen and Swein∣furt without any opposition, and the Castle of Wurtz∣burgh after some resistance. In the mean while Tilly the Imperial General having been reinforced by several Troops that were before dispersed in Germany, was come to the relief of Wurtzburgh, but coming too late, marched to∣ward the River of the Tauber to cover the Bavarian and the Emperour's hereditary Countries on that side, but in his march the Swedes falling into his Rear, cut off four entire Regiments. The King having then made an Alli∣ance with the Marquis of Anspach marched towards the Rhine, surprised Hanaw, but Franckfort on the River of Mayn surrendred voluntarily, and having possessed him∣self Page  522 of the whole Country of Ringau, directed his march into the Palatinate, which was then in the possession of the Spaniards. Soon after entring the Berghstrate he took Gersheim, and passed the Rhine near Stockstadt, ha∣ving defeated the Spaniards that would have disputed his Passage, and at Oppenheim he cut 500 Spaniards in pieces, but the Garrison of Mayence surrendred upon Ar∣ticles, and Landaw, Spiers, Weissenburgh and Mainheim, fell soon after into the King's hands. Rostock also and Wismar having in the mean while been surredred, the Baltick Sea-Coast was cleared from the Imperialists. And the Members of the Circle of the Lower Saxony at an Assembly held at Hamburgh, had resolved to levy 6000 Foot and 500 Horse for the defence of that Circle. The Elector of Saxony in the mean while having refused the offers made to him by the Spanish Ambassadour, had sent his Army under the command of Lieutenant General Arnheim into Bohemia, where among other places they had taken the City of Prague; but having conceived a jealousy against the King (whom he suspected to aim at the Imperial Crown) he could not be prevailed upon to march further into Moravia and Austria. And the Im∣perial Court seeing that Tilly was no more able to cope with the King, resolved to give the supreme Command of the Imperial Forces to Wallenstein, who being an old experienced Souldier, and in great Authority among the Souldiers, had besides this gathered such riches that he was able to raise an Army at his own charge. He having been at last prevailed upon to take upon him the supreme Command, raised an Army of 40000 Men against the next Spring.* But whilest these Preparations were making at Vienna, the King's Forces, notwithstanding the Win∣ter Season, having beaten the Spaniards upon the Mo∣selle, had taken Creutznach, Braunfels Kobenhausen and Kirchbergh, and the King having left the supreme dire∣ction of Affairs on the Rhine to Axel Oxenstirn, he him∣self towards the Spring marched into Franconia. But Tilly at his approach, retired on the other side the Danube, the King possessed himself of all the places along that River as far as Ʋlm, from whence he marched towards the River of Lech, where Tilly had entrenched himself in a Forest on the other side of that River. Here it was Page  523 that General Tilly was wounded by a Canon Bullet, of which he died in a few days after at Ingolstadt. His Army being dismayed at the loss of their General left their advantageous Post, and the Swedes having cut 1000 of them in pieces in their retreat marched straight∣ways into the Country of Bavaria, where they took possession of Raio, and Niewburgh upon the Danube. Augsburgh surrendred without much resistance. But their design upon Ingolstadt and Ratisbonne miscarried, being repulsed at the first, where the King's Horse was shot under him, and Christopher the Marquis of Baden killed by his side, but the latter the Elector of Bavaria had secured by throwing some of his Forces into the place. The King therefore returning into Bavaria set that Country under Contribution, and the City of Municken opened its Gates to the King. In the mean while Ge∣neral Wallenstein, having left the Elector of Bavaria a while to shift for himself, had driven the Saxons out of Bohemia, by the treachery of their General Arnheim, who was an utter Enemy of King Gustave, and the Imperialists under Lieutenant General Pappenheim had made considerable progresses in the Circle of the Lower Saxony, Wallenstein also had taken a resolution to fall with all his Forces upon the King in the Country of Bavaria. Pursuant to this resolution, the Elector of Bavaria having left a sufficient Garrison at Ingolstadt and Ratisbonne, marched towards Egen to join Wallen∣stein, whom the King pursued in hopes to hinder their conjunction, but coming too late, he encamped near Numbergh, till he could be joined by his Forces that were dispersed in several parts of Germany. Wallenstein then made a shew as if he would turn his Arms against the Elector of Saxony, thereby to draw the King out of his advantageous Post near that City; but the King remaining in his Post he marched towards him, spread∣ing his Cavalry all round about, which occasioned a great scarcity of Forage in the King's Camp, but as for Provisions he was sufficiently supplyed withal from Numbergh. Whilst the King was reduced to these Straits he received a reinforcement of 15000 Foot, and 10000 Horse from several places, so that being now superiour in number he attacked Wallenstein in his Camp, Page  524 who being strongly Entrenched repalsed the Swedes with the loss of 2000 Men. In the mean time the Imperial General Pappenheim had beat the Hessians near Volck∣marsen, had forced the Duke of Lunenburgh to raise the Siege of Callenbergh, had beat General Baudist from before Paterborn and Hoxter, had relieved Wolffenbuttel, and taken Hildesheim, from whence he was marched into Thuringia, to join Wallenstein. On the other hand the Saxons were entred Silesia with an Army of 16000 Men, where meeting with no opposition, they might have carried all before them, if their General Arnheim had not been treacherous to King Gustave, whom he hated, and was for working a reconciliation betwixt the Emperour and the Elector of Saxony. The King there∣fore, not to lose any more time, having put a good Gar∣rison into Numbergh, resolved to send part of his Army into Franconia, and with the main Body to return to∣wards the Danube into Bavaria, where he had taken several places on the River of Lech. But whilst he was carrying on his victorious Arms among the Roman Ca∣tholicks, frequent Messengers were sent to him by the Elector of Saxony craving his assistance against Wallen∣stein, who was with all his Forces entred into Misnia. The King though he had great reason to be dissatisfied with the Elector, yet fearing he might be forced to make a separate Peace with the Emperour, if he did not come to his assistance; he having left some Forces in Bavaria and Suabia, under the Command of Palts∣grave Christian of Berckenfeld, and commanded Gustave Horn to remain in Alsatia, where he forced Benfelden to surrender, (as Franckenthal was about the same time forced to surrender by Famine) himself marched with the Army towards Misnia. Being arrived at Nauenbu•gh he received information that the Enemies had raised the Siege of Werssenfels, and that they had detached Pap∣penheim with some Forces upon another design. Having therefore resolved not to stay for the Duke of Lunen∣burgh, who being already arrived at Wittenbergh, was to have joined him, but to fight the Enemy before he could be rejoined by Pappenheim. Pursuant to this re∣solution he marched to the great Plains near Lutzen,* where a most bloody Battel was fought betwixt them, Page  525 in which the Swedish Infantry fell with such fury upon the Imperial Foot that they routed them, and made themselves Masters of their Cannon. But the Swedish Horse being stopt by a broad Ditch, (that was cut cross the Plains for the conveniency of floating of Wood) the King put himself at the Head of the Smaland Re∣giment of Horse, encouraging the rest by his example to follow him. Thus furiously advancing before the rest, and being only accompanyed by Francis Albucret Duke of Saxen Launenburgh, and two Grooms, he there lost his life. Concerning his death there are different opi∣nions, but the most probable is, that he was shot by the said Duke of Lauenburgh, who was set on by the Im∣perialists that had their only hopes in the King's death. The Swedes were so far from being dismayed at the King's death,* that they fell with great fury again upon the Enemy, whom they routed on all sides. The Imperia∣lists having been rejoined by Pappenheim would have rallied again, but Pappenheim having also been killed, they were routed a second time, leaving an entire Vi∣ctory to the Swedes, which was nevertheless dearly pur∣chased by the death of so great a King.

§ 15.* The death of this great King caused great al∣terations in Europe, for, though the Imperialists had lost the Battel and a great many brave Officers,* yet were they in no small hopes that the Swedish Affairs would now sink under their own weight, and therefore made great preparations against them the next Campagne. The Protestants in Germany were by his death divided into several Factions, not knowing whom they should choose for their Head, and the Swedes overwhelmed with trou∣bles, his Daughter Christina being then but six years of Age. Nevertheless, having settled their Affairs at Home, and committed the Administration of the King∣dom to the five chief Officers of the State, the chief management of the Affairs in Germany was committed to the care of the Lord Chancellour Oxenstirn, who having been sent by the King's order into the higher Ger∣many, received this sad News at Hanau. The Chan∣cellour did not so much fear the Power of his Enemies as their constancy and unanimous Resolution, whereas Page  526 the Protestants were divided in their Counsels and Opi∣nions, and were not likely to follow his directions after the King's death, it being not probable that the Electors and Princes of the Empire would be commanded by a Foreign Nobleman; nevertheless he thought it not ad∣visable, by leaving their Conquests, to ruin at once the Protestant Cause and the Interest of Sweden, but rather to endeavour by a brave resistance to obtain an honorable Peace. Having therefore sent some Regiments back into Sweden, he divided his Army, and having sent 14000 Men under the Command of George Duke of Lunen∣burgh into the Lower Saxony and Westphalia, the last were ordered into Franconia, and some Forces were also detached towards Silesia. These Forces acted with good success agaist the Imperialists, especially in West∣phalia, where the Duke of Lunenburgh took several places, defeated the Earl of Mansfeld near Rinteln and besieged the City of Hamelen. But in Silesia the Com∣mon Cause was not carried on with the same forward∣ness, by reason of the misunderstanding betwixt the Swedish and Saxon Generals, the latter of which keep∣ing a secret Correspondency with Wallenstein, left the Swedes in the Lurch, who were at last miserably beaten by the said Wallenstein. But in all other places they had better success, where their Generals took several places of note, and the Duke of Lunenburgh had also retaken the strong City of Hamelen by accord, after having defeated 15000 Imperialists that were coming to its relief, whereof 2000 were killed upon the spot, and as many taken Prisoners. Thus the Swedish Army were every where flourishing but in Silesia, nevertheless the burthen of the War grew heavier upon them every day, most of their Confederates being grown weary of the War, and willing to be rid of the Swedes. Whilst they laboured under these difficulties, Wallenstein being faln in disgrace and killed by the Emperour's order, they hoped to reap some advantage by this Change, but the Emperour having made the King of Hungary (his Son) General of his Army, who having taken Ratisbonne, and being joined by the Spanish Forces that were marching towards the Netherlands besieged Nordlingen, where the Swedish Avantguard intending to possess themselves of Page  527 a Hill near that City, were engaged with the Imperia∣lists,* which occasioned a Battel betwixt the two Armies,* and the Swedish Left Wing having been brought into disorder by the Polish,* Hungarian and Croatian Horse, was forced back upon their own Infantry, which also were brought iuto Confusion and totally routed, 6000 having been slain upon the spot, a great number taken Prisoners, among whom was Gustave Horn, and 130 Colours were lost, besides the whole Artillery and Baggage. After this Battel the whole Upper Germany being over-run by the Imperialists, and the Ele∣ctor of Saxony having made a separate Peace with the Emperour, the Swedish Affairs seem'd to be reduced to a very ill condition, especially since the Elector of Bran∣denburgh also had sided with the Saxons, and the Truce with the Poles was near expired about the same time, which made the Swedes very desious of a Peace; but the same not being to be obtained in Germany they were fain to prolong the Truce with the Poles for twenty six years,* and to restore to them their so dearly beloved Prussia, and to draw France into Germany to their assi∣stance, to put them in the Possession of Philipsburgh. Thus having in a manner settled their Affairs, the War broke out betwixt them and the Elector of Saxony, who offered them a recompence of mony for the Arch∣bishoprick of Magdeburgh, which the Swedes refusing to accept of, there happened a sharp Engagement be∣twixt them near Allenburgh upon the Elbe, where of 7000 Saxons,* one half were killed, and the rest taken Prisoners. Notwithstanding this advantage the Swedes had no small obstacles to surmount, since the Emperour was in Possession of the whole Upper Germany, and had besides this set the Elector of Saxony upon their Back, which obliged the Swedes to take new Measures, and being now left by all their Confederates, they were at liberty at least to act more unanimously, though per∣haps with less force, the effects of which appeared soon after; for though the Elector of Saxony had the good fortune to retake Magdeburgh from the Swedes, yet they soon after revenged this loss near Perlebergh where they attacked the said Elector with a less number in his for∣tified Camp, and having routed his Army killed 5000 Page  528 upon the spot, besides what were killed in the pursuit, 1100 being killed on the Swedish side, and 3000 wounded, and having soon after droven the Imperialists out of Hessia into Westphalia, and regained Erffurt, they were again in a fair way to get footing in High Ger∣many. They had also in the next ensuing year several Encounters with the Imperialists and Saxons,* which proved most to their advantage, Banner having defeated eight Saxon Regiments near Edlenburgh, and soon after 2000 more near Pegau, and when the Imperialists thought to have got him with his whole Army into their Clutches near Custrin, he got off with great dexterity, but could not prevent, but that the Imperialists took several places in Pomerania, as also near the Rivers of Havel and Elbe; George Duke of Lunenburgh having also declared against the Swedes, who also began to be extremely jealous of Brandenburgh by reason of his pre∣tension upon Pomerania, after the death of Bagislaus XIV. the last Duke of Pomerania, (who dyed this year) an Alliance was concluded betwixt them and France for three years.

The Swedes having been brought the year before somewhat in the straits,* they now,* after having received fresh Recruits began to recover what they had lost the year before, Banner having driven Gallas the Imperial General back even into the Hereditary Countries of the Emperour. And Bernhard Duke of Weimar had the same success on the Rhine, where having besieged Rhine∣felden, he fought twice with the Imperialists, that came to its relief, and having routed them in the second En∣gagement took Rhinefelden, Kuteln and Fryburgh in Brisgau. After this exploit having blocked up Brisack so closely that it was reduced to the utmost by Famine, the Imperialists endeavoured to relieve it with 12000 Men, which were so received by the said Duke that scarce 2500 escaped. And not long after the Duke of Loraine having attempted its relief with 3500 Men, the same were also cut in pieces, and the place surrendred to the Duke. The Imperialists having been thus routed both near the Rhine and in the Lower Saxony, the Duke and John Banner had both taken a resolution to carry the War into the Emperour's Here∣ditary Page  529 Countries, and Banner marched straitways (after several Defeats given to the Imperialists and Saxons) into Bohemia, where he in all likelihood might have had great success if the untimely death of Duke Bernhard (who was to join him) had not broke his Measures. This Duke being sollicited by the French to surrender Brisack into their Hands, (which he refused) was Poisoned by them, and his Army with great promises and mony debauched to submit under the French Com∣mand. The Imperialists then growing too strong for Ban∣ner alone in Bohemia, he marched back into Misnia and Thuringia, and having been joined by the Duke of Longueville, who Commanded the Army of the lately deceased Duke of Weimar and by some Hessians and Lunenburghers near Erffurt (which made up an Army of 21 Brigades and 2000 Horse) he would fain have Fought the Imperialists, but these avoiding to come to a Battel the Campagne was most spent in marching up and down the Country. But at the beginning of the next ensuing year Banner had very near surprised the City of Ra∣tisbonne,* where the Emperour and the Estates of the Empire were then assembled, if the Ice which was by which was by a sudden Thaw loosned in the River, had not hindred them from laying a Bridge of Boats, which design having miscarried, Banner resolved to carry the War again into Moravia, Silesia, and Bohemia. But the Weimarian Forces under the Command of the French General having left him thereabouts, the Impe∣rialists had so closely beset him, that there was no way left to retreat but through the Forest of Bohemia, which was done with all expedition, having left Colonel Slange, with three Regiments of Horse behind, who after a brave resistance were all made Prisoners of War, but saved the Swedish Army, which would else have been in great danger if they had not detained the Imperialists, the Swedish Army being arrived but half an hour before them at the Pass of Presswitz, where they stopt the Enemies march. Not long after dyed the famous Swedish General John Banner,* whose death caused some dissatisfaction in the Army, notwithstanding which they beat the Imperialists near Wolffenbuttel at two se∣veral times, and Torstenson, (who was made General) Page  530 being arrived in the Camp, directed his march into Si∣lesia, where he toook Great Glogau with Sword in Hand,* and a great many other places, the chiefest of which was Sweinitz, where he defeated the Imperialists, that came to its relief, under the Command of Francis Albert Duke of Saxon Lauenburgh, who was killed himself and 3000 Horse. Afterwards he besieged Brieg, but was forced to raise that Siege, the Imperialists being superiour in number, who also prevented him from marching into Bohemia. Wherefore having directed his March towards the Elbe, and passed that River at Tor∣gaw, he straightways went to besiege the City of Leip∣zick. But the Imperialists under the Command of the Arch Duke,* and General Piccolomini coming to its re∣lief, a bloody Battel was fought in the same Plains near Breitenfeld, where King Gustave Adolf before had ob∣tained a signal Victory against the Imperialists. In this Battel the Left Wing of the Imperialists having been brought into confusion,* the Left Wing of the Swedes underwent the same fate, but the Swedes Left Wing rallying again and falling in the Flank of the Imperia∣lists Right Wing, they put them to the rout, 5000 be∣ing killed upon the spot, and 4500 taken Prisoners. The Swedes lost 2000 Men, and had a great many wounded. After the loss of this Battel Leipzick was soon forced to surrender, but Freybergh (which was soon after besieged by Torstenson) defended it self so well, that the Swedes, upon the approach of the Imperial General Piccolomini, were forced to raise the Siege with the loss of 1500 Men. And the Weirmarian Army un∣der the Command of the French General Gebrian was for the most part ruined by the Bavarians.

In the mean while Torstenson had received Orders to March with his Army into Holstein,* the Swedes pro∣voked by a great many injuries,* having resolved to turn their Arms against Denmark; which was executed with great secresie, so that the Swedes coming unex∣pectedly upon the Danes took the greatest part of Hol∣stein, beat their Troops in Jutland and Shonen, and ruined their Fleet; made themselves Masters of the whole Bishoprick of Bremen, and the Isle of Bernholm, which obliged the Danes to make a disadvantageous Page  531 Peace with them at Bromsebtoo given to the Swedes Jempteland and Herndalen, Gothland and Oesel, besides other advantages.* Torstenson having then made a Truce with the Elector of Saxony marched again into Bohe∣mia,* where another Battel was fought near Janowitz betwixt the Imperialists and Swedes, wherein the first were routed with the loss of 8000 Men, one half of whom were killed the rest taken Prisoners. The Swedes had 2000 Men killed. The Swedes then marched through Bohemia into Moravia, and from thence into Austria, where having been joined by Ragozi they were in a fair way of making greater progresses, if Ragoz, who had received satisfaction from the Emperour, had not left the Swedish Army, and marched Home with his Forces. The French also under the Command of Turenne having been again routed by the Bavarians, Torstenson marched back into Bohemia, who having put his Forces into Winter Quarters near the River of Eger, and growing very crazy left the Supreme Command of the Army to Wrangel, who finding the Enemy too strong for him there∣abouts, marched further back into Misnia, and from thence towards the Weser. But having not long after been joined by Turenne near Gieslen they attacked Augs∣burgh which being reinforced with 500 Men, they were forced to quit the Siege upon the approach of the Impe∣rialists, who also retook several places in the Hereditary Countries of the Emperour. Not long after Wrangel also made a Truce with the Elector of Bavaria, which however lasted not long, the said Elector having upon the persuasion of the Emperour broke the same a few months after, and joined his Forces with the Imperialists. But Wrangel marching early out of his Winter Quar∣ters, in conjunction with Turenne,* pressed so hard upon the Bavarians that they were forced to retire to Saltz∣burgh, leaving a great part of the Country to the dis∣cretion of the Allies, where these burnt a great many Houses, because the Inhabitants refused to pay Contri∣bution. About the same time Koningsmark had sur∣prised the Suburbs of Prague,* where he had got a pro∣digious Booty in the Imperial Palace, and other Noble-Mens Houses which are all built on that side of the Ri∣ver, but could not take the City, which was defended Page  532 by 12000 Citizens, so that having sent his Forces into their Winter Quarters thereabouts, whilst Wrangel was marching into the Ʋpper Palatinate they received the News of a Peace being concluded at Munster.

This Peace had been long in agitation before it was brought to perfection,* the Imperialists having endea∣voured, after they saw the Swedes recover themselves so bravely after the Battel of Nomingen to persuade them to a separate Peace without including the Protestant E∣states in Germany. But the Swedes having refused these offers as being neither honourable nor secure, seven years were spent in the Preliminaries, and these having been adjusted the Treaty it self was begun at Osnabrug and Munster, where the Emperours, Spanish, and Dutch Ambassadours, as also those of the most Roman Catholick Estates, and the Popes Nuncio were Resident, but in the first the Imperial Ambassadours also, and those of most of the Protestant Estates were assembled, where at last a Peace was concluded, by vertue of which Sweden got the Dukedoms of Bremen and Veerden, the greatest part of Pomerania, the Isle of Rugen, and the City of Wismar, to hold these Countries in Fief of the Empire, with all the Priviledges thereunto belonging, and five Millions of Crowns towards the payment of their Armies. Besides this they had the Honour of having been instrumental in re-establishing several Ger∣man Princes in their Territories, and setling both the Quiet and Protestant Religion in Germany. The War being thus ended to the great Honour of the Swedes, the Queen, who had already then taken a re∣solution of surrendring the Crown to her Nephew Charles Gustave, would willingly have put an end to the Differences betwixt Sweden and Poland, which were likely to revive again after the Truce expired, but the Poles were so haughty in their Behaviour, and refracto∣ry in their Transactions that no Peace could be con∣cluded at that time. Having therefore settled her Af∣fairs and reserved a certain yearly allowance for her self during her life, she surrendred the Crown to the said Charles Gustave her Nephew at the Dyet at Ʋpsal,* where he was Crowned the same day when she resigned the Government.*

Page  533 § 16.* Charles Gustave, finding the Treasury ex∣hausted, obtained at the first Dyet from the Estates that the fourth part of such Crown Lands as had been grant∣ed away since the Reign of Gustave Adolfe, should be reunited with the Crown, and having again settled the Military Affairs, which were somewhat decayed since the last Peace, resolved to force the Poles to an honour∣able Peace.* The better to execute his design, he march∣ed in Person into Poland, where he met with such suc∣cess, that after having defeated some that would have opposed his passage, not only the Polanders, but also the Lithuanians submitted voluntarily, swearing Allegiance to him, and John Casimir, their King, was forced to fly into Silesia. But whilst the King of Sweden was marched into Prussia, the Poles, with the assistance of the House of Austria, having with the same readiness again forsaken his Interest, were faln upon the Swedes in their Quarters, of whom they killed a great many, especially in Lithuania, forcing the rest to seek for shel∣ter in some strong Holds which were in their possession. The King having put an end to the differences betwixt him and the Elector of Brandenburgh concerning Prus∣sia, in conjunction with the said Elector, marched back towards Warsaw, where he obtained a signal Victory over the Poles and Tartars; and being in the beginning of the next year joined by Bogislaw Radzivil,* Prince of Transylvania, would in all likelyhood have humbled the haughty Poles, if the Danes had not threatened a dan∣gerous diversion near Home, and actually denounced War to Sweden.

This obliged the King to draw his main Army that way,* where he not only made great progresses both in Holstein and Bremen; but also by a prodigy scarce to be believed by Posterity marched over the Ice into the Island of Tuhnen,* and from thence to other Islands, and at last into Sealand, where he carried all before him, which brought the King of Denmark to such a distress, that he was forced to clap up a sudden Peace at Rocshild, giving to the Swedes Schonen, Halland and Bleckingen, the Isle of Bernholm, besides several other Possessions in Norway. But this Peace was of no long continuance, Page  534 for the King having again conceived a jealousie at the Danes, Embarked his Forces in Holstein, and under pretence of going towards Datzick landed in Sealand, and besieged Copenhagen,* whilst Wrangel reduced the strong Fortress of Cronenburgh. But the Danes being chiefly encouraged by their King's presence defended themselves bravely, till the Dutch Fleet gave them re∣lief, which obliged the King after having attempted, but in vain, to take it by Storm, to raise the Siege. But the greatest misfortune befel the Swedes in the Island of Tuhnen,* where being over numbred by the joint Forces of the Imperialists, Poles, Brandenburghers and Danes, they were totally routed near Nyborgh,* their Infantry being most cut to pieces, and the rest made Prisoners. The King being busie in repairing this loss, was seized with an Epidemical Fever, of which he dyed on the 23. of February.

§ 17.* Charles being but five years old when his Fa∣ther dyed, the Swedes applyed all their care to obtain an honourable Peace,* which was concluded with the Poles in the Monastery called Oliva, near Dantzick, wherein were also included the Emperour and Elector of Brandenburgh, and King John Casimir resigned his pretension to the Crown of Sweden, and the Poles to Livonia. In the same month a Peace was concluded with Denmark,* much upon the same conditions, which were agreed on formerly at Rocshild, except that the Danes kept the Isle of Bornholm, and Druntheim in Norway. For the rest, the Swedes were for preserving Peace with their Neighbours during the minority of the King, till having broke off the Triple Alliance made betwixt them, and the English and Dutch they sided with France against the Elector of Brandenburgh,* whom they pretended, by sending an Army into his Territo∣ries, to draw from the Interest of the Empire. But this occasioned a heavy War to the King, at the very beginning of his Reign,* wherein the Elector having routed the Swedish Army, took all what the Swedes were possessed of in Pomerania, as the Lunenburghers got in∣to their possession the Dukedoms of Bremen and Veer∣den, and the King of Denmark the City of Wismar, Page  535 and several considerable places in Shonen, but the Danes having at last been routed at two Battels in Shonen, the King after the Treaty of Nimeguen, by a particular Peace was put again into the possession of his Countries in Germany, very few excepted, and Denmark was forced also to restore the places taken from the Swedes in Shonen. This Peace having been again settled in Sweden, the King married Ʋlrica Eleanora the present King of Denmark's Sister, since which time the King has chiefly applied himself to settle his Military Affairs and Re∣venues, and to maintain the Peace with his Neighbours.*

§ 18.* The Swedish and Gothick Nation has antiently been famous for Warlike Archievements, and is very fit to endure the Fatigues of War; yet were their Military Affairs in former times but very indifferently ordered, their chiefest Force consisting in the Boors, till Gustave and his Successours with the assistance of some Scotch and German Officers and Souldiers have introduced such a Discipline as that now they do not stand in so much need of foreign Souldiers, except it be to make up the number of Men, wherewith they are not overstock'd, especially since the late great Wars. As in most other Kingdoms of Europe, by reason of the multitude of their populous Cities, the Estate of the Citizens is the funda∣mental part of the State, so is in Sweden that of the Boors, who enjoy more liberty in Sweden than in other King∣doms, and also send their Deputies to the Dyet, where their consent is requisite to any new Taxes to be levied upon the Subjects.

This Nation loves to shew a great deal of gravity and reservedness, which if not qualified by conversation with other Nations, often degenerates into mistrustful∣ness. They generally are apt to think very well of them∣selves, and to despise others. They have sufficient Capa∣city to attain to the first Principles of any Art or Science, but commonly want Patience to attain to the perfe∣ction of them. Their inclination is not much to Trade or Handy-work, and therefore Manufacturies are but little encouraged among them.

Page  536 § 19.* The Kingdom of Sweden is of a great extent, but full of great Forests and innumerable Lakes, and the Sea-Coast surrounded with many Rocks. But deeper into the Country, there are a great many fertile tracts of Ground, the Forests furnish them with Fuel, and the Lakes with great store of good Fish, which also contri∣bute much to the easie transportation of the Native Com∣modities from one place to another. The Country pro∣duces Corn sufficient for its Inhabitants, neither is there any want of Cattel or Horses. Sweden produces more Copper and Iron than any other Kingdom in the World, and their Mines are fitted by nature for that purpose, being surrounded with Woods and Rivulets. There is a Silver Mine in Westmanland. Finland brings forth Pitch, and Tar, and Deal; and Wermeland good store of Masts. The Native Commodities of Sweden are Copper, Iron, Tar, Pitch, Masts, Boards &c. In lieu of which, Sweden receives from abroad Wine, Brandy, Salt, Spices, Cloaths, Silk and Woollen Stuffs, fine Lin∣nen Cloath, French Manufactories of all sorts, Furs, Pa∣per and such like, all which in some years surpasses in value the Commodities fit for exportation here. To recompence this, Navigation and Commerce has been encouraged of late years among the Natives, and seve∣ral sorts of Manufactories, whereof those made of Cop∣per, Iron and Brass would questionless turn to the best account, if these Artists were duely encouraged to settle themselves in this Kingdom, Copper and Iron being the foundation of the Swedish Commerce abroad. This present King has put their Forces both Horse and Foot in a better Condition than ever they were before, which are maintained in Sweden, with a small charge to the Crown, the Foot being maintained by the Boors, but the Horsemen have for the most part some Farms in their possession belonging to the Crown, the Revenues of which are their pay. But the King's Guards are paid out of his Treasury. Formerly the station of the Royal Navy was at Stockholm, but since a new Harbour has been made in Bleckingen, where the Ships may be put to Sea sooner, and with more conveniency. Besides this, Sweden has this advantage, that it is covered on the side Page  537 of Norway with inaccessible Rocks, besides the three strong Fortresses of Bahus, Marstrand and Gothenburgh, and the Swedish and Finland Coasts are so well guarded by innumerable Islands, that it is very difficult to ap∣proach the shoar.

§ 20.* As to the Neighbours of Sweden, it borders on the East side upon Muscovy, with whom the Swedes in former times were often at War,* but since Finland is now well covered against them by the Fortresses of Narva, Kexholm and Noteburgh, and they have learn'd by experience that the Swedes are better Souldiers than they, there is nothing to be feared from thence. And since the Swedes have no great reason to covet any fur∣ther Conquests on that side, they may be taken now for good Neighbours.* With the Poles the Swedes used for∣merly to have no difference at all, except when in out∣rage that Nation espoused the quarrel of their King con∣cerning his Title to Sweden. But since Charles Gustave a little humbled their pretensions upon Livonia, as the Swedes have done upon Prussia, the Poles for the future may in all likelihood prove good Neighbours to Sweden.* The Swedes have had antiently a great Communication with the Germans, by reason of their Commerce with the Hanse Towns. But since the Swedes have by the Westphalia Treaty been put into possession of two Pro∣vinces in Germany, they enjoy the same right with the rest of the Estates, and the King of Sweden is now to be considered as a Member, and not as a Neighbour of the Empire, whose Interest therefore is to see, that the West∣phalia Treaty be kept in vigour. There is some jealousy betwixt the Swedes and the Elector of Brandenburgh, about some part of Pomerania, which would else have fallen to that Elector's share, and besides this, he is ob∣liged to keep up a constant standing Army against so con∣siderable a Neighbour, but since Sweden has preserved Brandenburgh and the rest of the Protestant Estates, and the said Elector has received a triple equivalent for this loss, it is but reasonable that something of allowance should be given as to this point especially, since it is not for the Interest of Sweden to make any further Conquests in Germany. But betwixt the Swedes and the House of Page  538 Lunenburgh, there ought to be a good understanding, since they are able to do one another great Service against Denmark Brandenburgh and the Westphalian Bishops. Since Sweden by making the Sea the borders betwixt them and Denmark,* has put a stop to these troubles which formerly used to proceed from the too near neigh∣bourhood of the Danes, and secured their Trade, it ought not to make any attempt of further Conquests in Den∣mark, it being the Interest of most Estates of Europe, to take care that neither of the two Northern Kings be∣come sole Master of the Sound. Wherefore Sweden ought to endeavour to keep the present limits betwixt them and Denmark, and to live in amity with those E∣states in Germany, who are jealous of the Neighbourhood of Denmark. The foundation of the good Correspon∣dency,* betwixt France and Sweden was built upon the common agreement of keeping under the overgrown Greatness of the House of Austria, but since the case is now altened, the King of France now pretends to play the Master over Princes. Sweden ought not to assist France in those Designs which overturn the Westphalian. Treaty, or are intended against the Protestants in Germany and Holland. The good understanding betwixt Sweden and Holland is chiefly founded upon this bottom,* that as Sweden cannot be glad to see Holland ruined, so the Hol∣landers are obliged to prevent the King of Denmark from making himself sole Master of the passage of the Sound or the Baltick.* England has hitherto had so little con∣cern with those Northern parts, that their greatest Cor∣respondency has been transacted by way of contemplat∣ing with very little Reality.* Spain is considered by the Swedes as a part of the House of Austria, tho' the Swedes have so far a concern in the Spanish Netherlands, as from their preservation depends the welfare of Holland. But the good understanding betwixt Sweden and Portugal depends only from the mutual Commerce of these two Nation, who else by reason of this great distance can scarce be serviceable to one another.