Part 12 (2/2)

pp. 554-602.]

This chronicle was written by Eliesen in the years 1519-1534, closing abruptly with the year 1534, though it has been continued by a later hand to the year 1555. The MS. was found in 1650, in the church at Skiby in Seeland. Eliesen was a Danish priest, a Catholic, and a vehement opponent of Christiern II.

PETRI, Olaus. _Svenska kronika_, ed. G. E. Klemming. Stockh., 1860. 8^o.

Born in 1497; died in 1552. Called the Luther of Sweden. Was a man of determined character, great eloquence, and common sense. He wrote in a strong, pure style, and with a critical judgment. His _Svenska kronika_ is the first history of Sweden written in modern Swedish. It was completed in 1534, but runs only to the year 1521. It awoke the hostility of Gustavus because of its leniency to the old bishops and clergy.

RENSEL, Clement. _Berattelse horande till Konung Gustafs I.'s historia._ [In _Handlingar rorande Skandinaviens historia_. Stockh., 1816-1865. 41 vols. 8^o. vol. ii. pp. 13-54.]

A native of Livonia, came to Sweden in 1521 to enlist under the banner of Gustavus. He writes like a blunt soldier who revels in the story of a battle. His _Berattelse_ seems to have been written for the king. It is chiefly a chronicle of Swedish wars, running from 1518 to 1536. The original MS. is in the University Library at Upsala, and seems to have run later than the year 1536, a portion at the end of the MS. being lost.

_Diarium Vazstenense ab anno 1344 ad annum 1545._ [In _Scriptores rerum Suecicarum_, vol. i. sect. 1, pp. 99-229.]

A long chronology of Church affairs, chiefly relating to the monastery at Vadstena. Written by unknown hands, and completed in the sixteenth century.

_Markvardige handelser i Sverige ifrn 1220 till 1552._ [In _Scriptores rerum Suecicarum_, vol. i. sect. 1, pp. 90-91.]

A very short chronology of general events in Sweden, by an unknown author, written in the sixteenth century.

MAGNI, Johannes. _De omnibus Gothorum Sueonumque regibus qui unquam ab initio nationis ext.i.tere, eorumque memorabilibus bellis late uarieque per orbem gestis, opera Olai Magni Gothi fratris eiusdem autoris ac etiam archiepiscopi Upsalensis in lucem edita._ Romae, 1554. 4^o.

The author, the last Roman Catholic archbishop of Sweden, was born in 1488 and died in 1544. The work is edited by his brother, Olaus Magni.

It runs to the year 1520. The writer lacks critical judgment, and his work abounds in errors. He writes as one who, though wronged, is unwilling to complain; yet he hints that later generations may not think so highly of Gustavus as those living at the time.

MAGNI, Olaus. _Historia de gentibus Septentrionalibus, earumque diuersis statibus, conditionibus, moribus, ritibus, superst.i.tionibus, disciplinis, exercitiis, regimine, uictu, bellis, fructuris, instrumentis, ac mineris metallicis, et rebus mirabilibus, necnon uniuersis pene animalibus in Septentrione degentibus, eorumque natura._ Romae, 1555. 6^o.

Author was a brother of Archbishop Johannes Magni. Born in 1490, travelled through the northern portions of Scandinavia in 1518 and 1519 on a papal mission. As a canon of Upsala and Linkoping was employed by Gustavus Vasa in several missions, being sent to Rome in 1523 to obtain papal confirmation of his brother's election to the archbishopric. After his brother's disgrace he followed him, as his secretary, to Rome, and at his brother's death was appointed archbishop of Upsala by the pope, but never attempted to a.s.sert his right. Died in Rome in 1558. He was a man of remarkable memory, and possessed strong powers of observation; but he lacked his brother's even temper. His _Hist. de gent. Sept._ is one of the most singular books ever written. It is an encyclopaedia of Sweden in the sixteenth century; and though filled with errors and barefaced exaggerations, is invaluable to any student of Swedish history.

MAGNI, Johannes. _Historia pontific.u.m metropolitanae ecclesiae Upsaliensis in regnis Suetiae et Gothiae._ [In _Scriptores rerum Suecicarum_, vol. iii. sect. 2, pp. 5-97.]

This work was first printed at Rome in 1557, with a preface by Olaus Magni. Reprinted at Rome in 1560.

PETRI, Laurentius. _Then Svenska chronikan._ [In _Scriptores rerum Suecicarum_, vol. ii. sect. 2, pp. 3-151.]

Born 1499, died 1573. First Protestant archbishop of Sweden, and brother of Olaus Petri. Lacked his brother's eloquence, but surpa.s.sed him and indeed all men of his time as a writer of Swedish prose. This work is nothing but his brother's _Svenska kronika_, wholly revised, with the omission of certain manifest errors. Like his brother's work, it runs only to the year 1521, and is believed to have been completed about 1559.

SVANING, Hans. _Refutatio calumniarum cuiusdam Ioannis Magni Gothi Upsalensis, quibus in historia sua ac famosa oratione Danicam gentem incensit._ 1560. 4^o.

A Danish priest and royal historiographer; born 1503, died 1584. Was a warm adherent of Fredrik II. of Denmark, and an opponent of Christiern II. Wrote this book to refute the work _De omn. Goth._ of Johannes Magni. It is so full of bitterness toward the Swedes that, while it was going through the press, the Danish chancellor suppressed the pages bearing Svaning's name, and the book was published under that of a German professor named Rosefonta.n.u.s, who had died in 1559. The name of the printer and place of publication was also left out, and it was made to appear as if compiled many years before from some doc.u.ments which Rosefonta.n.u.s had seen when Christiern II. took refuge at his house. The copy in the Royal Library at Stockholm contains the suppressed pages, all soiled and torn. A second edition, bearing the author's real name, was printed in Copenhagen in 1561.

SVANING, Hans. _Christiernus II. Daniae rex._ Francof., 1658. 12^o.

Published from an old MS. written by Svaning. Is written with much vigor, though somewhat unfair both to Christiern II. and to Gustavus Vasa.

SVART, Peder. _ahrapredikning offwer then fordom stormechtigaste, ooffwerwinnelige, och hogloffligaste furstes och herres, H. Gostafs, Sweriges, Gothes, Wandes etc. konungz och faders, christelige lijk._ Holmiae, 1620. 4^o.

This is the funeral oration delivered over the body of Gustavus in Upsala Cathedral, Dec. 21, 1560, by Peder Svart, who had formerly been preacher to the court and had been made bishop of Vesters by Gustavus in 1556. It is ornate and pretentious, and of little value.

<script>