FORTIA’s TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.

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received as the rule of faith throughout the kingdom, which put an end to thofe de-putes concerning religion which had lafted fo great a length of time.

• To the former poffeflions of the crown, Guftavus added the imtnenfe property ofthe clergy ; and in 1531, with a view of giving greater weight to the new religion, hereplaced the canons of Upfal by Lutherans ; and caufed Lawrence Petri , a Proteftant,to be inftalled Archbilhop of that city for the celebration of the marriage of the King,and coronation of the new Queen: Guftavus even gave one of his relations in marriageto the Archbifhop. In 1^41, he made a treaty with Francis the Firft, King of France ,to whom he fent an embaffy the next year, the two Sovereigns by this treaty contra&edan alliance offenfive and defenfive. I11 1 544, Guftavus requefted the States, affembledat Wefteros, to make the crown hereditary in his male line, which was unanimouflyconfented to, as a reward juftly earned by his important fervices. It was decided at thefame time, that in cafe of the royal line becoming extind, the fenate, in conjunctionwith the States, fhould elect a new King.

This prince died in 1560, after a glorious reign of nearly forty years. He poffeffedthe requifites of a great man, was brave, enterprizing, active, a great politician, and inac-ceffible either to love or flattery; never did he unfheath the fword except from neceffity,yet never did he yield aught it was his duty to defend. He releafed Sweden from the{hackles of Denmark , and notwithftanding the turbulent reftlefs fpirit of his people,was cherifhed by them as their common father. In fhort, he was a prince whom pofte-rity may take for a model. ■ Why were not his children like him ?

Eric XIV.

Eric, the fon and fucceffor of Guftavus, fenfible and well informed, was yet highlyculpable, irrefolute in his plans, and imprudent in his conduct. The clofe of his reignwas marked by a£ts of fury and madnefs, of which the Stures were the unfortunate vic-tims. He placed great reliance in judicial aftrology. He charged his brother Johnwith rebellion for having married Catherine the daughter of Sigifmund I. King of Po-land , and an ally of the Mufcovites, with whom he was at war; and notwithftanding hehad confented in the firft inftance to the marriage, he befieged John in the caftle ofAbo, and having taken him prifoner, confined him in the caftle of Gripfholm, whencehe was releafed in 1567. The Prince however never forgave his brother this imprifon-ment, but joining with his brother Charles in 1568, afterwards Charles IX. , they be-fieged the King in Stockholm , and obliged him to abdicate the throne. This unfor-tunate prince was imprifoned in many different caftles, and after nine years’ confinementwas finally poifoned.

This death, while it excites our pity for the victim, infpires one with horror at hisbrother John, who fucceeded him.

Eric XIV. in 1568, created Counts and Barons. Of the three dignitaries made onthis occafion, Peter Brahe was the firft. The families of the other two are extindt.

John III.

John the Third was declared King by the States afiembledjat Stockholm; he reignedalone, notwithftanding his engagement of {haring the throne with his brother Charles ,and which engagement was the inducement for Charles affilting him againft Eric. Thefucceeding year Eric was condemned by the States to perpetual imprifonment; but in1578, fome partiians yet remaining faithful, he attempted to efcape from prifon. John,apprehenfive of danger to his crown from fuch a rival, determined on poifoning him,