ed for the public eye. Gustavus was careful to keep his
actions dark, and, the monks of Arboga being accused of secreting
certain treasures, the royal officer was instructed to make a diligent
investigation, but to lay his hands on nothing until he received more
positive commands. He was careful, also, that his practice of
confiscating Church property should not be taken as an excuse for
private individuals to do the same. In one case, where such a thing was
done, he denounced the perpetrator in the strongest terms. Moreover,
when the monasteries began to murmur against the soldiers quartered with
them, he sent out an open letter to them, declaring that he had
instructed his officers to be as courteous to them as they could. It may
be noted, however, that he showed no signs of mitigating their
distress.[152]

Early in 1527 Gustavus determined that the crucial moment for the
Reformation had arrived. Dalarne, as usual, was in a state of
insurrection, and every effort which he made to check the Church called
forth a storm of imprecations from the northern provinces. The tax
imposed upon the Dalesmen being still withheld, it was particularly
necessary that the insurrection should be stayed. In February,
therefore, Gustavus wrote a letter to appease the people. "Dear
friends," began the monarch, "we understand a report is spread among
the people that some new creed is preached here to the dishonor of God,
the Virgin, and the saints. Before God we declare this rumor to be
false. Nothing is here preached or taught except the pure word of God,
as given by Christ to his Apostles.... It is indeed true, that
denunciations have been heard in public against the vice and avarice of
the clergy, and against the flagrant abuse of their privileges. They
have oppressed the ignorant with excommunication, withholding of the
sacrament, and all sorts of impositions. Wholly without authority from
Holy Writ, they have imposed their Romish indulgences upon you, carrying
vast treasures of gold and silver out of the kingdom, thus weakening our
realm and impoverishing our people, while the high prelates have grown
rich and haughty toward the lords and princes from whom these very
privileges were derived.... We therefore urge you all by your sworn
allegiance, not to be deceived by false rumors about us, doubting
nothing that we shall move heaven and earth to promote your interests.
And we beg you earnestly to believe that we are as good a Christian