OMENS OF GREATNESS. 131 



directed to benefit their father-land ; and being besides 

 distinguished warriors, which in those troublous times 

 was a matter of vast importance, they were almost idolized 

 by the people. 



The exact period of the birth of Gustavus is wrapped in 

 some obscurity ;* but it is supposed to have occurred about 

 the year 1490. It is said that the ladies present at his birth 

 noticed a caul, or what in Swedish is termed Seger-hufva 

 (literally, cap of victory), on the child's head, and a red cross 

 on his breast, which in those days were looked upon as 

 omens of his future greatness. 



On the side of both father and mother he could lay claim 

 to some of the best and most ancient blood in Sweden. His 

 correct name was Eriksson (or the son of Erik), the surname 

 of Vasa being derived either from the estate of Vasa, or, 

 more probably, from the family arms a Vase, or sheaf of 

 grain. He was ushered into the world at Lindholmen, a 

 Borg, or fortified palace in the province of Upland, the ruins 

 of which are still extant, where his father, like other feudal 

 lords of the time, held a sort of court. 



At the age of six, Gustavus was removed from the 

 paternal roof to the Court of his relative, Sten Sture the 

 elder, the then Regent, to be brought up and educated, 

 where every justice was done him. As his food and 

 manner of living were simple, and his great delight was to 

 ramble with his comrades amongst the woods and rocks, 



* The annals of Sweden, at and previous to this time, are unfortunately 

 very obscure and uncertain, owing to the dreadful conflagration which 

 occurred in Stockholm in the year 1697, by which event the royal library 

 was consumed, containing eighteen thousand printed books a very large 

 quantity for that country and those times together with four thousand manu- 

 scripts, many of which referred to anterior epochs. 



K 2 



