tions of his times, and early won ill-favor with King Hans. The
young Gustavus in his fifth year, so runs the story, happened to be
playing in the hall of Stockholm Castle, when King Hans espied him,
and, attracted by his winning manners, patted him on the head and said,
"You'll be a great man in your day, if you live." But when he found out
who the child was, he wanted to carry him off to Denmark with him. To
this the boy's great-uncle, Sture, raised serious objections, and lest
the king should use some treachery, hurried Gustavus out of the way at
once.[6] In the very next year, 1501, occurred the rebellion against
Hans, which resulted in the election of Sture to the regency. Erik was
one of the supporters of his uncle throughout this strife, and in 1502
we find him signing a document as member of the Cabinet.[7] About the
same time he was made commandant of Kastelholm Castle.[8] This post,
however, he held but a short time, and then retired to his old estate at
Rydboholm.[9] Among his children, besides Gustavus, were one younger
boy, Magnus, and several girls. Gustavus, we are told, was a handsome,
attractive little fellow, and it is added that in his sports he was
always recognized as leader by his playmates.[10] In 1509, when in his
thirteenth year, he was sent by his parents to Upsala, and placed in a
preparatory school.[11] Soon after, probably in the next year, Gustavus
was admitted to the University. This institution, which had been founded
in 1477, through the persistent efforts of Archbishop Ulfsson, and of
which the archbishop was chancellor, was at this time in a semi-dormant
state. Scarce anything is known either about its professors or about the
number of its students. It is probable, however, that Peder Galle, who
was cantor of the Upsala Chapter so early as 1504,[12] and whose powers
as a theological gladiator will become known to us further on, was one
of the professors. Another was Henrik Sledorn,[13] whom Gustavus later
made his chancellor. Of the progress made by Gustavus in his studies we
know nothing. It may well be surmised, however, that the politics of his
day engrossed a large share of his attention. Upsala was not then the
peaceful town that it now is, and the chancellor of the University was
in the very vortex of the struggle. If Gustavus was still connected with
the University in 1512, we may suppose with reason that he took his part
in the great demonstration which resulted in the election of