SECT. I.

CENT. ingly, the first object of his attention was the XVI. instruction of his people in the sacred doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, for which purpose he invited into his dominions several learned Germans, and spread abroad through the kingdom the Swedish translation of the Bible, that had been made by Olaus Petri [n]. Some time after this, in the year 1526, he appointed a conference, at Upsal, between this eminent reformer and Peter Gallius, a zealous defender of the ancient superstition, in which these two champions were to plead publicly in behalf of their respective opinions, that it might thus be seen on which side the truth lay. The dispute, in which Olaus obtained a signal victory, contributed much to confirm Gustavus in his persuasion of the truth of Luther's doctrine, and to promote the progress of that doctrine in Sweden. In the year following, another event gave the finishing stroke to its papagation and success, and this was the assembly of the states at Westeraas, where Gustavus recommended the doctrine of the reformers with such zeal, wisdom, and piety, that, after warm debates fomented by the clergy in general, and much opposition on the part of the bishops, in particular, it was unanimously resolved, that the plan of reformation proposed by Luther should have free

But Gustavus no sooner returned to Stockholm, than he ordered the leaders of these fanatics to be seized and punished, and covered the Lutherans with bitter reproaches for not having opposed these fanatics in time.

[n] It is very remarkable, and shews the equity and candour of Gustavus in the most striking point of light, that while he ordered Olaus to publish his literal translation of the sacred writings, he gave permission at the same time to the archbishop of Upsal, to prepare another version suited to the doctrine of the church of Rome; that, by a careful comparison of both translations with the original, an easier access might be opened to the truth. The bishops at first opposed this order, but were at length obliged to submit.

This re- CENT.

free admittance among the Swedes [o]. This resolution was principally owing to the firmness and magnanimity of Gustavus, who declared publicly, that he would lay down his sceptre, and retire from his kingdom, rather than rule a people enslaved to the orders and authority of the pope, and more controlled by the tyranny of their bishops, than by the laws of their monarch [p]. From this time the papal empire in Sweden was entirely overturned, and Gustavus declared head of the church.

XVI.

SECT. I.

XXXI. The light of the reformation was also In Denreceived in Denmark, and that so early as as the year mark. 1521, in consequence of the ardent desire discovered by Christian, or Christiern II. of having

his

[o] It was no wonder indeed that the bishops opposed warmly the proposal of Gustavus, since there was no country in Europe where that order and the clergy in general drew greater temporal advantages from the superstition of the times than in Sweden and Denmark. The most of the bishops had revenues superior to those of the sovereign, they possessed castles and fortresses that rendered them independent on the crown, enabled them to excite commotions in the kingdom, and gave them a degree of power that was dangerous to the state. They lived in the most dissolute luxury and overgrown opulence, while the nobility of the kingdom were in misery and want. The resolution formed by the states assembled at Westeraas, did not so much tend to regulate points of doctrine, as to reform the discipline of the church, to reduce the opulence and authority of the bishops within their proper bounds, to restore to the impoverished nobility the lands and possessions that their superstitious ancestors had given to an all-devouring clergy, to exclude the prelates from the senate, to take from them their castles, and things of that nature. It was however resolved, at the same time, that the church should be provided with able pastors, who should explain the pure word of God to the people in their native tongue; and that no ecclesiastical preferments should be granted without the king's permission. This was a tacit and gentle method of promoting the Reformation. [P] Bazii Inventarium Eccles. Sueco-Gothor. published in 4to at Lincoping, in 1642. Sculteti Annales Evangelii Renovati, in Von der Hart. Histor. Liter. Reformat. part V. p. 84. et 110. Raynal, Anecdotes Hist. Politiques et Militaires, tom. i. part II. p. 1, &c.

XVI.

SECT. I.

CENT. his subjects instructed in the principles and doctrines of Luther. This monarch, whose savage and infernal cruelty (whether it was the effect of natural temper, or of bad counsels) rendered his name odious and his memory execrable, was nevertheless desirous of delivering his dominions from the superstition and tyranny of Rome. For this purpose, in the year 1520, he sent for Martin Reinard, one of the disciples of Carlostadt, out of Saxony, and appointed him professor of divinity at Hafnia; and after his death, which happened the year following, he invited Carlostadt himself, to fill that important place, which he accepted indeed, but nevertheless, after a short residence in Denmark, returned into Germany. These disappointments did not abate the reforming spirit of the Danish monarch, who used his utmost endeavours, though in vain, to engage Luther to visit his dominions, and took several steps that tended to the diminution, and indeed to the suppression of the jurisdiction exercised over his subjects by the Roman pontiff.

It is, however, proper to observe, that in all these proceedings, Christiern II. was animated by no other motive than that of ambition. It was the prospect of extending his authority, and not a zeal for the advancement of true religion, that gave life and vigour to his reforming projects.

His very actions, independently of what may be concluded from his known character, evidently shew, that he protected the religion of Luther with no other view than to rise by it to supremacy, both in church and state; and that it might afford him a pretext for depriving the bishops of that overgrown authority, and those ample possessions which they had gradually usurped [9], and

of

[9] See Jo. Gramii Diss. de Reformatione Daniæ à Christier no tentata, in the third volume of the Scriptores Societ. Scientar Hafniens. p. 1–90.

SECT. I.

of appropriating them to himself. A revolution CENT. produced by his avarice, tyranny, and cruelty, XVI. prevented the execution of this bold enterprize. The states of the kingdom exasperated, some by the schemes he had laid for destroying the liberty of Denmark, others by his attempts to abolish the superstition of their ancestors [r], and all by his savage and barbarous treatment of those who dared to oppose his avarice or ambition, formed a conspiracy against him in the year 1523, by which he was deposed and banished from his dominions, and his uncle, Frederick, duke of Holstein and Sleswic, placed on the throne of Denmark.

gress of the

the reigns

Christiern

XXXII. This prince conducted matters with The promuch more equity, prudence, and moderation, Reformathan his predecessor had done. He permitted the tion under protestant doctors to preach publicly the opinions of Fredeof Luther [s], but did not venture so far as to rick and change the established government and discipline of the church. He contributed, however, greatly to the progress of the reformation, by his successful attempts in favour of religious liberty, at the assembly of the states that was held at Odensee in the year 1527. For it was here that he procured the publication of that famous edict, which declared every subject of Denmark free, either to adhere to the tenets of the church of Rome, or to embrace

G 2

[r] See for a confirmation of this part of the accusation, a curious piece, containing the reasons that induced the states of Denmark to renounce their allegiance to Christiern II. This piece is to be found in the fifth volume of Ludewig's compilation, entitled, Reliquiæ MStorum, p. 515. in which (p. 321.) the states of Denmark express their displeasure at the royal favour shewn to the Lutherans in the following terms: "Lutheranæ hæresis pullatores, contra jus pietatemque, in regnum nostrum catholicum introduxit, doctorum Carolostadium, fortissimum Lutheri athletam, enutrivit.”

[$] See Jo. Molleri Cimbria Literata, tom. ii. p. 886.— Carist. Olivarii Vila Pauli Eliæ, p. 108.-Erici Pontoppidani Annales Ecclesiæ Danica, tom. iii. p. 139.

SECT. I.

CENT. embrace the doctrine of Luther [t]. Encouraged XVI. by this resolution, the protestant divines exercised the functions of their ministry with such zeal and success, that the greatest part of the Danes opened their eyes upon the auspicious beams of sacred liberty, and abandoned gradually both the doctrines and jurisdiction of the church of Rome. But the honour of finishing this glorious work, of destroying entirely the reign of superstition, and breaking asunder the bonds of papal tyranny, was reserved for Christiern III. a prince equally distinguished by his piety and prudence. He began by suppressing the despotic authority of the bishops, and by restoring to their lawful owners a great part of the wealth and possessions which the church had acquired by the artful stratagems of the crafty and designing clergy. This step was followed by a wise and well-judged settlement of religious doctrine, discipline, and worship, throughout the kingdom, according to a plan laid down by Bugenhagius, whom the king had sent for from Wittemberg to perform that arduous task, for which his eminent piety, learning, and moderation rendered him peculiarly proper. The assembly of the states at Odensee, in the year 1539, gave a solemn sanction to all these transactions; and thus the work of the reformation was brought to perfection in Denmark [u].

XXXIII.

[t] It was farther added to this edict, that no person should be molested on account of his religion, that a royal protection should be granted to the Lutherans to defend them from the insults and malignity of their enemies; and that ecclesiastics, of whatever rank or order, should be permitted to enter into the married state, and to fix their residence whereever they thought proper, without any regard to monasteries, or other religious societies.

[u] Erici Pontoppidani, see a German work of the learned. Pontoppidan, entitled, A Compendious view of the History of the Reformation in Denmark, published at Lubec in $vo, in 1734; as also the Annales Ecclesiæ Danicæ, of the

same