a heart-rending though unfair statement of their wrongs. A copy of these
grievances they despatched at once to Stockholm. It charged the king
with appointing German and Danish officers to the highest positions in
the state, and with quartering foreign soldiers in the towns and
villages till the inhabitants were constrained to flee. He had further,
they asserted, laid taxes on the monasteries and churches, and on the
priests and monks; he had seized jewels consecrated to God's service; he
had robbed the churches of all their Swedish money, and substituted
"klippings," which he then had repudiated; and he had seized the tithes.
Finally they charged him with imprisoning Christina and her boy. The
letter ended with a warning that unless he at once drove out all
foreigners, released Christina with the others whom he had in prison,
and took some measures to better trade, they would renounce allegiance
to him. Gustavus received this document while the diet was in session.
His answer to the people of Dalarne contained these words: "We cannot
believe this letter was issued by your consent. Rather, we think, it was
inspired by certain wiseacres among you hoodwinked by Sunnanvaeder and
the like. That the purpose of these men is to bring back Christiern we
have definite proofs, not only within the kingdom but without. Ever
since Sunnanvaeder went among you, letters and messengers have been
passing between Dalarne and Norby, the meaning of all which is that
Norby is to attack the government on one side and Dalarne on the other,
and that we are to be dragged down from the throne, which is then to be
handed over to Norby for the benefit of Christiern." This letter
reflected in some degree the spirit of the diet. The main object for
which it had been called was to spread an impression that the king was
acting as representative of his people. It was not asked to legislate,
and it did not do so. Gustavus, however, went through the farce which he
had promised, and asked the delegates if they wished him to resign the
crown. Of course the answer was a shower of plaudits upon the king. As
Gustavus modestly puts it, "The Cabinet and people over all the land
besought us not to resign, but govern them hereafter as heretofore; and
they promised obedience as in the past, swearing by hand and mouth to
risk in our service their lives and everything they had." With this
seductive ceremony the diet was dismissed.[117]

Ere the diet had come together,