ious spirit that had filled
her breast in earlier days was with her still, and she longed to see
upon her son's head the crown that but for his early death would have
been worn by her husband. This son, a mere boy of twelve, had recently
returned from Dantzic, whither he had been sent as exile four years
before by Christiern. He had disembarked at Kalmar, and still remained
there under custody of Mehlen. In this state of affairs the piratical
Norby conceived the project of marrying Christina, and then of conjuring
with the name of Sture to drive Gustavus out of Sweden. To this bold
scheme Christina apparently gave her consent. At all events, the news of
her projected marriage was spread abroad, and nothing was done on her
part to deny it.[110]

Norby's chief anxiety was to get possession of the boy. Mehlen had
shown reluctance to give him to Christina, and one might readily
conclude his purpose was to hand him over to the king. Such a purpose,
however, Mehlen seems never to have entertained. He preferred to watch
developments, and at the proper moment resign his charge to the party
that should make the highest bid. The truth is, Mehlen had fallen into
disrepute. His pusillanimous conduct in the siege of Visby had gradually
dawned upon the king, and ere the close of 1524 report was spread that
Mehlen had incurred his monarch's wrath. Though summoned to Stockholm in
January to the marriage of the monarch's sister, he did not venture to
appear, but wrote a letter to Gustavus begging for a continuance of
favor at the court. The answer that came back was characteristic of the
king. Stripped of all its verbiage, it was an assurance that the general
report was wrong. Mehlen might still bask in the smiles of royalty, and
must pay no heed to public slander. In confirmation of these sentiments
Gustavus induced the Cabinet to enclose a letter. "Dear brother," the
Cabinet lovingly began, "we hear a rumor is abroad that you have grown
distasteful to the king, and you are said to shun his presence in fear
of danger to your life. We declare before Almighty God we never heard
the monarch speak one word in your disfavor, though we can well believe
there may be slanderers who would rejoice to see such discord spread. We
doubt not you will stamp out such discord with your utmost power.
Therefore we beg you pay no heed to evil messengers, but come here at
the earliest opportunity to the king." This urgent exhortation meeting
with no respon