Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

knowledge of all of them, that the kingdom had
been brought to the brink of civil war, mainly
through the factious opposition of the clergy to
their just share in the burdens of the State, that the
classes from whom this opposition came were by
much the wealthiest in Sweden, that this wealth
had been largely acquired by unlawful exactions,
and was devoted to noxious uses; that the avarice
of the bishops had reduced the nobles to poverty,
and their oppression had ground the people into
slavery; that for this wealth no adequate return was
received by the State; it served but to maintain its
possessors in idleness and luxury; and that, unless
the necessities of the government were met, and the
power of the throne upheld, he would resign the
crown and retire from the kingdom.[8]
This bold resolve brought matters to a crisis.
The Swedes could not afford to lose their
magnanimous and patriotic king. The debates in
the Diet were long and warm. The clergy fought
stoutly for their privileges, but the king and his
chancellor were firm. If the people would not
support him in his battle with the clergy, Gustavus
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