had fallen to about
one quarter. "Every other house," wrote Gustavus, "is now empty;" and
there appeared so little chance of a revival that the king issued a
proclamation calling on the burghers of other towns as far as possible
to sell their houses and settle down in Stockholm. Another cause of
dissatisfaction was that, though the war was over in Sweden, the Swedish
possessions in Finland were still in the hands of the enemy, and a
considerable army was needed to reduce them. Fredrik, king of Denmark,
had resigned his claim to Sweden; but certain islands off the coast, as
well as some districts along the frontier of Norway, were still matters
of dispute. All these circumstances tended to raise a spirit of
discontent, which, though for the nonce restrained, was ready to break
out into violence at any moment. To prevent evil, Gustavus resolved to
issue a proclamation to the people.[82]

On the 8th of September the annual fair at Vesteras was opened, and
Gustavus seized this opportunity to make a public statement of his
doings. This statement was in the nature of an apology for the recent
tax. It declared in the first place that the expenses of the war had
reached a higher figure than had ever been incurred by Swedish king
before, amounting to a total of over nine hundred thousand marks. A
large part of this sum was for foreign troops, hired that the Swedish
peasantry might "stay at home in peace, tending their fields and
pastures, and caring for their wives and children." When the war was
over and the mercenaries were ready to depart, they had demanded with
threats of violence immediate payment for all the arms and vessels they
had furnished. Having no means to satisfy them, Gustavus had consulted
with his Cabinet, and by their advice had called upon the churches and
monasteries for a loan, "which with God's help shall be paid, if all
goes well." "Nor," continued the monarch, "was this tax in any way a
departure from the practice of former rulers, as may be seen by
referring to the ancient records.... Some there are among you who assert
openly or in private that we have fleeced the churches and monasteries.
This we assert distinctly we have not done, but have merely called upon
them for a loan, which shall be paid.... We trust you will give no heed
to such conspirators and traitors, but will aid us in bringing them to
punishment." The document closes with some remarks upon the coinage. "It
must be clear to all," it runs