te in defence of their native land. At length it seemed as if
her supplications were destined to prevail. A firmer purpose spread
among them, and they girded up their loins for another conflict. Their
spark of courage, however, proved abortive. No sooner did the enemy
again appear than the patriots turned their backs and fled in wild
dismay. On coming once more together after this bloodless battle, they
resolved without further ado to lay down arms. A letter was despatched
to Krumpen requesting parley. This was granted; and on the 22d of
February it was agreed that the two parties should hold a conference in
Upsala on the 3d of March, for the purpose of making terms. The Swedish
party then urged Christina to attend the conference. She however turned
a deaf ear to their entreaties, and sent off a despatch at once to
Dantzic begging for aid against King Christiern; so the conference began
without her. As a preliminary, Krumpen produced a document from the king
of Denmark empowering him to offer terms of peace. This done, a
proposition to declare allegiance to King Christiern was at once brought
forward; and at the instance of Gustaf Trolle and the other
Danish-minded magnates present, the proposal was finally accepted,
though not until Krumpen had consented to certain terms on which the
patriots insisted. These terms were that all past offences against the
Danish crown should be forgiven, that all fiefs hitherto granted to
their fellow-countrymen should be preserved, and that Sweden should
continue to be governed in accordance with her ancient laws and customs.
The document reciting these terms was issued on the 6th of March, and on
the 31st it was confirmed by Christiern.[40]

The main body of the Swedish nation being thus again in the hand of
Denmark, it was expected that Christina would no longer dare to offer
resistance. It was therefore resolved to approach her once more upon the
subject. An armed body of some three thousand men was despatched
forthwith to Stockholm, a couple of ambassadors being sent ahead to
invite Christina to a conference outside the town. The reception which
they met was such as to convince them that the regent's widow possessed,
at any rate, a portion of her husband's courage. No sooner did they near
the capital than the portcullis was raised and a volley fired upon them
from within the walls. Thus discomfited, the ambassadors withdrew, and
Krumpen, having insufficient forces to undertake a sieg