keep the Church at enmity with Luther.[101]

That Gustavus played his cards with skill is manifest from a letter
written by Magni to the Linkoeping Chapter. "I understand," he wrote,
"that you feel little anxiety at my proposed return to Rome, thinking
that I have not shown enough energy in restoring the disabled Church. I
may say, however, that I have pleaded and now plead for her before the
king, who protests that his whole heart is in her preservation, and that
any harm done by his officers to our tenants has been done against his
will. He says too, and with tears in his eyes regrets, that the
importunity of his soldiers has forced him to lay burdens on the Church.
Nor is it his Majesty's intention to compel our weary priests to give up
the care of souls. His excuse for exacting tribute from the churches to
aid the kingdom is that he undertook the war as much for the freedom of
the Church as for the safety of the kingdom. I give you this excuse for
whatever it is worth. His Majesty promises that when he has paid the
enormous debt contracted to Lubeck, and has wholly freed the kingdom,
both clergy and people shall rejoice as never they have rejoiced before.
In the extirpation of Lutheranism I am aided as much by the efforts of
his Majesty as by the authority of the pope. It seems to me that the
strife going on by letters among the clergy should be put to an end, and
more toleration shown. I know it will, if continued, spread
conflagration in other lands. The clergy of Strengnaes have promised me
firmly that they will abstain from all new doctrines, and will send out
no more letters unless they are harassed." This warning from the legate
proves that the Swedish prelates were already cutting one another's
throats. Apparently, too, it worked like magic in quieting their
disputes, for six months now elapsed before the charge of heresy was
raised again.[102]

On the 21st of February, 1524, Laurentius Andreae returned to the assault
with a long epistle to the Vadstena Chapter. This epistle is moderate in
tone, and contains this sound advice: "His Majesty desires that when you
discover strange doctrines in the books of Luther or of any other, you
should not reject them without a fair examination. If then you find
anything contrary to the truth, write a refutation of it based on Holy
Writ. As soon as scholars have seen your answer and have determined what
to accept and what reject, you can preach according to their judgment