, "that with the enormous expenses which
have been rolling up against us we could not issue coins of the quality
which you are accustomed to of old. From sheer necessity we have issued
'klippings' after the pattern of King Christiern, though his coins are
now, thank God! departed from the realm.... These 'klippings' are at
present not accepted for more than half their worth; and while this has
been strenuously forbidden, the only result thus far has been that
traders have refused to trade at all, and have carried their salt and
hops and clothing back to Germany. We therefore intend at the first
opportunity to instruct our Cabinet with the most learned men of the
various classes to determine whether the 'klippings' shall be accepted
for their present value or for less; and whatever their decision, we
promise faithfully we shall obey."[83]

After administering this soothing drug, the monarch turned his thoughts
once more to the appointment of a new archbishop. The letter despatched
by the Cabinet to Pope Adrian immediately after the diet of Strengnaes
had proved of little service, for Brask on the 18th of July had secretly
sent a messenger to the pope with word that Church property was being
confiscated. Gustavus, ignorant of the bishop's perfidy and wondering at
the pope's delay, now wrote again. "For a long time, Holy Father," began
the courteous monarch, "our cathedral chapters have urged us to solicit
you in behalf of the persons elected by them to fill their vacant posts.
Trolle having resigned the archbishopric, the prelates and canons of
Upsala have chosen your legate Johannes Magni in his stead; the canons
of Skara have chosen their archdeacon Magnus Haraldsson to the bishopric
vacated by his predecessor's death; and the canons of Strengnaes have
chosen their provost Magnus Sommar. The prelates and canons of
Vesteras, their bishop having died, present the name of Petrus Magni for
the post. In Abo, though the bishop died a year ago, no successor has as
yet been chosen, that church having only recently been captured from our
enemies. As the persons above named are satisfactory to us and to our
people, we beg you to confirm them as soon as possible, and thus avert
the danger to which vacancies in the episcopal office would expose the
Church." Whether or not the Chapters had actually elected all the
persons named, may well be doubted, and is, indeed, of little moment;
for their spirit was by this time broken, and if th