Part 6 (2/2)

[91] _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 185-186, 189-191, and 300-302; and Linkoping, _Bibliotheks handl._, vol. i. pp. 153-155.

[92] _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 191-192 and 193-197.

[93] The doc.u.ments relating to the repudiation of the ”klippings” vary somewhat in phraseology. In the Royal Archives at Stockholm is an official contemporary statement of the business transacted by the general diet in January, 1524, which declares: ”The 'klippings' were in so far repudiated as to be valued at only four 'hvitar,' though any person may accept them for what he will.” _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. p. 182; and _Svenska riksdagsakt._, vol. i. pp.

17-20. Svart, _Gust. I.'s kron._, p. 76, a.s.serts that the diet ”repudiated the 'klippings.'” Tegel, _Then stoormecht._, p. 81, says, ”the 'klippings' were utterly repudiated.” In a letter issued by Gustavus to the people of Dalarne immediately after the pa.s.sage of the Act he says the diet advised ”that the 'klippings' fall so that they pa.s.s for only five 'hvitar,' to which we and our Cabinet consented.”

_Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 182-183. In a letter issued at about the same time to the people of Vadstena, Gustavus made the same statement, except that he used the word ”four” instead of ”five.” _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. p. 184. The later letters of Gustavus, in which he declares that he has not repudiated his coinage, are printed in _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp.

196-197 and 202-207.

[94] _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 198-201, 211-212 and 303-306.

[95] _Diar. Minor. Visbyens._, p. 39; Rensel, _Berattelse_, pp. 36-38; Svart, _Gust. I.'s kron._, pp. 81-82; and _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 218-219.

[96] Eliesen, _Chron. Skib._, p. 577; Rensel, _Berattelse_, pp. 38-40; Svart, _Gust. I.'s kron._, pp. 82-83 and 93-96; _Christ. II.'s arkiv_, vol. ii. pp. 688-765; _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp.

223-224, 229-230, 236-241, 245-250 and 309-327; and _Sver. trakt._, vol.

iv. pp. 94-103.

[97] _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 223-225, 227-236 and 306-309.

[98] _Alla riksdag. och mot. bes.l.u.th_, vol. i. pp. 31-35; _Kon. Gust.

den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 251-265; and _Svenska riksdagsakt._, vol. i. pp. 22-29.

[99] _Dipl. Dal._, vol. ii. pp. 31-39; and _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 271-281 and 327-328.

[100] Johannes Magni, _Hist. pont._, p. 75; Svart, _Gust. I.'s kron._, p. 92; and _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol. xvii. pp. 117-119 and 135-148.

[101] _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol. xvii. pp. 151-155 and 157-159.

There is preserved among Brask's doc.u.ments of this period a proclamation, purporting to be issued by Gustavus, forbidding the sale of Lutheran tracts within the realm. _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol.

xvii. pp. 159-160. No reference, however, is made to it in other writings; and as it is clearly contrary to all the monarch's later views, it is certain that it did not emanate from him. Probably it was a mere concept drawn by Brask in the hope that it would meet with royal favor.

[102] _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol. xvii. pp. 162-164.

[103] _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol. xvii. pp. 205-216 and 220-223.

[104] _Handl. ror. Skand. hist._, vol. xiii. pp. 48-50 and 52-54, and vol. xviii. pp. 234-236 and 237-239; and _Kon. Gust. den Forstes registrat._, vol. i. pp. 231-233 and 306-309.

CHAPTER VI.

RELIGIOUS DISCORD AND CIVIL WAR. 1524-1525.

Riot of the Anabaptists.--Contest between Olaus Petri and Peder Galle.--Marriage of Petri.--Conspiracy of Norby; of Christina Gyllenstjerna; of Mehlen; of Sunnanvader.--Att.i.tude of Fredrik to Gustavus.--Proposition of Gustavus to resign the Crown.--Norby's Incursion into Bleking.--Surrender of Visby.--Flight of Mehlen.--Fall of Kalmar.

By the autumn of 1524 the whole of Sweden was in a ferment of theological dispute. When Gustavus returned from the congress of Malmo to the capital, he found the people in a wild frenzy of religious zeal.

The turmoil was occasioned mainly by the efforts of two Dutchmen, Melchior and Knipperdolling, who had renounced their respective callings as furrier and huckster to spread abroad the teachings of a new religious sect. The history of this strange movement has been so often told that it is hardly necessary to waste much time upon it here. It originated doubtless in the stimulus that Luther's preaching had given to religious thought. As so frequently occurs, the very enthusiasm which the Reformers felt for things divine led them to disregard their reason and give their pa.s.sions undivided sway. One of the chronicles puts it: ”Wherever the Almighty builds a church, the Devil comes and builds a chapel by its side.” The thing that most distinguished these weird Dutchmen was their communistic views. They taught that, since we all were equal in the eyes of G.o.d, we should all be equal likewise in the eyes of men, that temporal government along with cla.s.s distinctions of every kind should be abolished, and that Christians should indulge in absolute community of goods. In religious matters, too, they had peculiar views, believing that only adults should receive baptism, and that all adults who had been baptized in infancy should be baptized again. By reason of this tenet they were known as Anabaptists. Their first appearance in the Swedish capital occurred at a moment when the monarch was away. In that, at any rate, they manifested sense. The capital was all agog with Luther's doctrines, and everything that bore the stamp of novelty was listened to with joy. Melchior and Knipperdolling were received with open arms, the pulpits were placed at their disposal, and men and women flocked in swarms to hear them. The town authorities raised no opposition, believing the influence of these teachers would be good. In a short time, however, they were undeceived.

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