Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

among his people; the power of the priesthood,
from whom he had most to fear, was diminishing
in the same proportion. His great task was
becoming less difficult every day; time was
fighting for him. His coronation had not yet taken
place, and he resolved to postpone it till he should
be able to be crowned as a Protestant king. This
was, in fact, to tell his people that he would reign
over them as a Reformed people or not at all.
Meanwhile the projects of the enemies of
Protestantism conspired with the wishes of
Gustavus Vasa toward that result.
Christian II., the abdicated monarch of
Denmark, having been sent with a fleet, equipped
by his brother-in-law, Charles V., to attempt the
recovery of his throne, Gustavus Vasa, knowing
that his turn would come next, resolved to fight the
battle of Sweden in Denmark by aiding Frederick
the sovereign of that country, in his efforts to repel
the invader. He summoned a meeting of the Estates
at Stockholm, and represented to them the common
danger that hung over both countries, and the
necessity of providing the means of defending the
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