EORTlA’s TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.
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were formed in confequence, and that of the Senate prevailed. But the Duke affembledthe partizans which adhered to his caufe, and caufed himfelf to be chofen Governor bythem again; he wifhed to make the Senate agree with this election, but it refuted.Upon this he took up arms and made himfelf mailer of a number of places. Sigifmund,unable to prevent hoflilities by negotiation, determined in 1598 on tranfporting anarmy to Sweden . The two parties came to blows near Linkceuping, and the King wasworfted; notwithflanding this, Charles came to an accommodation with his nephew, by theterms of which the King refumed poffeffion of his cattles, ftrong places, veffels, &c. andthe Duke was declared entirely innocent. The treaty was figned by the two Princes ;after which the King retired to Poland , in lieu of repairing, as he had promifed, toStockholm , where his firft a£t was to enter a proteft againlt the treaty he had enteredinto.
Such a procedure irritated both the Duke and the States, and engaged them to re-nounce their oath of fidelity to the King. An affembly for this purpofe was called atLinkceuping in 1600, at which both Sigifmund and his eldeft fon Ladiflas were excludedfrom the throne; to the latter a year had been granted for his recanting the Romilhfaith, and coming to affume the crown. A long time afterwards, even the fame pro-pofal was made him anew, yet ineffedtually. The fame alfembly of the States veiledCharles with abfolute power, and acknowledged his fon, then fix years of age, and hisheirs male as his fucceffors. Thus Sigifmund continued to reign in Poland , preferring,notwithflanding he had children, an eledlive to an hereditary throne; this is certainlyan election for which it is difficult to affign a caufe, particularly as an able Pririce mighthave conciliated both parties and preferved them friends. He died in 1632, after along and flormy reign : he wanted that difcrimination and policy required in the de-licate and aukward fituation he found himfelf, and was rather guided by his own thaat he will of his people, which he was deftitute of that vigour neceffary to controul.
Charles IX . enjoyed fovereign authority ; but had not the title of King, than at whichprice his ambition was not be fatisfied ; pretending a defire to be releafed from the bur-then of government, he was on the contrary raifed to the throne by the unanimousfuffrage of the States, affembled at Norkioeupingin 1604. The few years of his reignwere employed in wars with the Poles, the Ruffians, and the Danes. His fon, Gufta-vus Adolphus, when yet but fixteen years of age, took Chriltianftadt in Scania fromthe Danes. Such a beginning was taken as a prefage of what he afterwards effected.Charles died in 1611, aged 61 years. By the previous details, it will be evident thatthis Prince was ambitious and politic. Pie was frequently at war, and difplayedproofs of his ability in that department. It cannot, however, be difguifed, that heufurped the throne; but ,hiftory will pardon his ufurpation, fince to that was owingthe fucceffion of Guftavus Adolphus, one of the brighteft ornaments of the Swedilh.crown.
Guftavus Adolphus mounted a throne yet infecurely eftablilhed, and attacked by threepowerful enemies. Although fcarcely feventeen years of age, the council appointed byhis father confided with him the governmentr'of the Hate. This prince put himfelf im-mediately at the head of his troops to oppofe the Danes. Different places were reci-procally taken and loft, without any evident. advantage on either fide. Peace wasfhortly afterwards concluded, and a truce was made with the Poles. In 1614 he found
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