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Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 9<br />

Establishment of<br />

<strong>Protestantism</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Denmark</strong><br />

BUT the wider the light spread, <strong>and</strong> the more<br />

numerous its converts became, the more<br />

vehemently did the priests oppose it. Their plots<br />

threatened to convulse the k<strong>in</strong>gdom; <strong>and</strong> Frederick<br />

I., judg<strong>in</strong>g an aggressive policy to be the safest,<br />

resolved on another step towards the full<br />

establishment of the Reformation <strong>in</strong> his dom<strong>in</strong>ions.<br />

In 1530 he summoned all the bishops <strong>and</strong> prelates<br />

of his k<strong>in</strong>gdom,[1] <strong>and</strong> the heads of the Lutheran<br />

movement, to Copenhagen, <strong>in</strong> order that they might<br />

discuss <strong>in</strong> his own presence, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> that of the<br />

Estates of the Realm, the dist<strong>in</strong>ctive articles of the<br />

two faiths. The Protestants, <strong>in</strong> anticipation of the<br />

conference, drew up a statement of doctr<strong>in</strong>e or<br />

creed, <strong>in</strong> forty-three articles, "drawn from the pure<br />

founta<strong>in</strong> of the Scriptures," <strong>and</strong> presented it to the<br />

k<strong>in</strong>g as the propositions which they were prepared<br />

to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>.[2] The Romanists, <strong>in</strong> like manner,<br />

155

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