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Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

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Before arriv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> person, Sigismund had sent from<br />

Pol<strong>and</strong> his promise to his new subjects that he<br />

would preserve religious freedom <strong>and</strong> "neither hate<br />

nor love" any one on account of his creed. The<br />

popular <strong>in</strong>terpretation put upon this assurance<br />

expresses the measure of confidence felt <strong>in</strong> it. Our<br />

future sovereign, said the Swedes, tells us that he<br />

will "hate no Papist <strong>and</strong> love no Lutheran."<br />

The nation was wise <strong>in</strong> time. The synod was<br />

summoned by Duke Charles, the adm<strong>in</strong>istrator of<br />

the k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>in</strong> the absence of Sigismund, to meet<br />

at Upsala on the 25th February, 1593, <strong>and</strong> settle<br />

ecclesiastical affairs.<br />

There were present four bishops, four<br />

professors of theology, three hundred <strong>and</strong> six<br />

clergymen, exclusive of those who had not been<br />

formally summoned. Duke Charles, <strong>and</strong> the n<strong>in</strong>e<br />

members of council, many of the nobles, <strong>and</strong><br />

several representatives of cities <strong>and</strong> districts were<br />

also present at this synod, although, with the<br />

exception of the members of council, they took no<br />

part <strong>in</strong> its deliberations. The bus<strong>in</strong>ess was formally<br />

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