will
be for you." Accompanying this letter was a passport, similar to one
drawn up for Mehlen, to take his brother from the realm. He was not,
however, to be allured by passports or even terrified by threats. The
castle continued firm, and Gustavus began to levy forces to besiege
it.[116]

While these forces were being gathered, Gustavus renewed his efforts to
gain favor through the land. This he soon discovered to be no easy task.
Surrounded by conspirators on every hand, he could not turn without
confronting some new rumor. Stories of the most contradictory nature
were set afloat each day. At one time the report was spread through
Dalarne that he had cast Christina into jail. After that it was rumored
that he was sending despatches frequently to Gotland, from which some
persons caught the notion he was in secret league with Norby. This
notion was so baleful that Gustavus felt it best to answer it. "No one
need think," he said, "we attach the slightest importance to anything
that Norby says. As he asked us for a hearing, we have promised to let
him have it. He used smooth words to us, and we have given him smooth
answers in return.... As to these slanderous stories," continued
Gustavus, in writing to an officer, "you are aware we cannot close men's
mouths. We believe our actions toward our people will bear examination
before both God and man." Such an examination he proposed to make, and
on the 25th of March he sent out notice of a general diet to be held in
the early part of May. This notice contained among other things these
startling words: "If it shall happen that the Cabinet and people then
assembled believe the present evils are in any respect the outcome of
our methods of government, we shall lay it before them to determine
whether they wish us to continue in the government or not. It was at
their request and exhortation that we assumed the reins at Strengnaes,
and whatever their judgment now may be, it shall be followed." In
addition to this notice, sent to all portions of the land, Gustavus
wrote to the people of Mora that he had heard of a complaint from them
that the kingdom was going to pieces and that he was causing it. He
assured them that the rumor was untrue, and that he was doing all he
could to hold the realm together. When these assurances reached Dalarne,
the poor peasants of that district were already starving. Half mad with
hunger, they called a mass meeting of their little parishes, and drew up