BEAUTY OF HIS PERSON. 133 



instructors public as well as private. His talents were 

 such, that he soon made himself master of every subject to 

 which he turned his attention ; and his amiable and conde- 

 scending manners won him golden opinions, as well from his 

 teachers as his fellow-students, from several of whom, indeed, 

 he in after-life received essential service. 



Subsequently he resided at the Court of the Regent, Svante 

 Sture, King Johan having some time before been driven out 

 of the country for misrule ; and after the death of Svante 

 Sture, he remained at the Court of his son, Sten Sture the 

 younger, who held the same high appointment, where he was 

 soon regarded by every one with kindness and favour. 



And this more especially by Hemming Gadd the faithful 

 friend and counsellor, as well of the then Regent, as of his 

 father before him between whom and Gustavus, indeed, the 

 strictest intimacy soon subsisted. From this experienced 

 statesman, and at that time determined enemy of the Danes 

 (for as with other of his countrymen, he at an after-period 

 went over to the enemy), Gustavus acquired a perfect know- 

 ledge of the internal affairs of Denmark, and of the relations, 

 secret and otherwise, between that kingdom and Sweden ; 

 and as a consequence, he imbibed a greater hatred to the 

 Danes and to the Union between the two countries, an 

 increased love for his father-land, and a fixed determination 

 to sacrifice everything for its welfare. 



Gustavus was in person handsome, and in his bearing 

 noble and imposing. He was upwards of six feet in height, 

 his body without blemish, his arms strong, and his hands 

 and feet small and beautiful. 



In disposition he was cheerful, and in all knightly exercises 

 highly accomplished. His voice was powerful, yet soft and 





