refused to yield. At last, at midsummer, having received tidings that
rescue was near at hand, his heart grew bold within him, and he resolved
to make a dupe of Sture. The latter not being at the time at Staeket, the
archbishop sent a messenger to say that he was ready for a parley. The
regent, daily fearing the approach of Christiern, received the messenger
with joy. He called together the burgomaster and Council of Stockholm,
and instructed them to select delegates to act in behalf of Stockholm.
With these delegates and a few advisers on his own account he proceeded
to Staeket, and after consultation as to the terms which they should
offer, signalled the guard on the castle walls that he was ready to
treat with Trolle. After standing some time in the midst of a pouring
rain, and without any prospect of an answer, the regent grew impatient,
and sent word to Trolle that he could offer no other terms than those
already offered. The charlatan then threw off the mask. He replied that
he placed implicit confidence in Christiern, and was in no hurry for a
parley. Any time within six weeks would do. At this announcement the
regent had nothing for it but to withdraw. Drenched to the skin, and
burning at the insult offered him, he returned to Stockholm.[25]

He did so none too soon. The Danish forces, four thousand strong, were
already off the Swedish coast. This was by no means the first proof of
actual hostilities on the part of Christiern. Six months before, while
the truce between the kingdoms was still in force, Christiern had seized
a Swedish vessel while lying in the roads outside Lubeck, and at the
general diet held at New Year's in Arboga, it had been voted to resist
the tyrant till the dying breath. As a result, the congress of the three
realms which was to have been held in February had never met. A
broadside was issued by the regent to all the men of Sweden, calling on
them to prepare for war. Throughout the spring and summer the advent of
the tyrant was expected, and the announcement that his army had at
length arrived was a surprise to none.[26]

It was early in the month of August, 1517, when the Danish fleet was
sighted off the coast twelve miles from Stockholm. Sture proceeded at
once to the point at which it was expected they would land, and thus
prevented them. The fleet hovered about the coast for several days,
sending out pillaging parties in small boats to the shore. One of these
parties was intercepted;