courts, in all disputes, of their own or of their churches, concerning
property, torts, or contracts, and shall pay to the king the same
penalties as laymen. But all complaints against the clergy for
non-fulfilment of their priestly duties shall be laid before the bishop.
(12) If a priest and layman come to blows, one shall not be placed under
the ban any more than the other, for God has forbidden priests to
quarrel as well as laymen. Both shall suffer for their acts according to
the laws of the land. (13) Since it has been found that mendicant monks
spread lies and deceit about the country, the royal stewards are to see
that they do not remain away from their monasteries more than five
weeks every summer and five weeks every winter. Every monk must get a
license from the steward or burgomaster before he goes out, and return
it when he comes back. (14) Monks who receive rents shall not go out to
beg at all. (15) When a priest dies, the bishop is not to defraud the
priest's heirs of their inheritance. Priests shall be bound, in regard
to their wills, by the same law as other people. (16) If a man has
sexual intercourse with a woman to whom he is engaged, he shall not be
punished, since they are already married in the eye of God. (17) No
person who is infirm shall be compelled by priests to make a will. (18)
The sacrament shall not be withheld from any one for debt or other
reason. The church or priest has a remedy in court. (19) Fines for
adultery and fornication belong to the king, not to the bishop. (20) The
Gospel shall hereafter be taught in every school. (21) Bishops shall
consecrate no priest who is incompetent to preach the Word of God. (22)
No one shall be made a prelate, canon, or prebend unless he has been
recommended by the king, or his name submitted to the king.[166]

These ordinances were practically a signal for the death of popery. They
not only transferred to the king the rich emoluments on which for
centuries the bishops had grown fat; they transferred also to him a
right to superintend the actions of ecclesiastical authorities in
matters appertaining to the Church. It is hardly credible that so vast
an object should have been attained without more friction, and that it
was attained is a lasting testimony to the shrewdness of the king. We
may sneer at the childish indignation with which Gustavus strode forth
from the diet, but the fact remains that this pretended indignation
gained its end. Above all el