this letter was despatched, Brask wrote to a friend in terms which
show that his anxiety was great. After intimating that the king's
constant demands on him for money were probably inspired by the friends
of Luther, he exclaimed: "This party is growing all too fast among us,
and I greatly fear lest some new heresy, which God forbid! may break out
soon." As the king appeared not likely to take very stringent measures
to repress the heresy, the bishop hastened to exert his own authority,
and issued a mandate, to be read from all the pulpits in his diocese,
forbidding the sale of Luther's books and teachings. A few days later
the monarch's answer came. It was couched in temperate language, but
offered little solace to the bishop. "Regarding your request," so wrote
Gustavus, "that we forbid the sale of Luther's writings, we know not by
what right it could be done, for we are told his teachings have not yet
been found by impartial judges to be false. Moreover, since writings
opposed to Luther have been circulated through the land, it seems but
right that his, too, should be kept public, that you and other scholars
may detect their fallacies and show them to the people. Then the books
of Luther may be condemned. As to your charge that Luther's pupils are
given shelter at our court, we answer that they have not sought it. If
indeed they should, you are aware it is our duty to protect them as well
as you. If there be any in our protection whom you wish to charge, bring
your accusation and give their names." The method of trial suggested in
this letter was not in harmony with the bishop's views. What he wanted
was an inquisition, and in writing to a fellow-bishop he did not
hesitate to say so. "I maintain that every diocese should have an
inquisition for this heresy, and I think our Most Holy Father ought to
write his Majesty to that effect." The mere prohibition of Luther's
writings was of no avail. As Brask declared to Johannes Magni, "The
number of foreign abettors of Lutheranism is growing daily, despite our
mandate, through the sale of Luther's books. I fear the remedy will be
too late unless it is applied at once."[104]

This letter was written on the 20th of June, 1524. About the same time
Petri was called to Stockholm to fill the post of city clerk, and
Andreae, already secretary to the king, was made archdeacon of Upsala.
This double advancement of the Lutheran leaders left no room longer to
doubt the king's designs. Fro