HIS DISSOLUTE HABITS. 135 



" Low places are only fit for low people, high places for those 

 who are high born." His parts were not bad ; but wanting 

 application, he made no very great progress in his studies. 

 He understood and wrote Latin, however, an accomplishment 

 not very common in those days. 



As he grew up he led a dissipated life, in which he was 

 encouraged by many who were anxious to win the favour of 

 this rising sun. He and his gay associates were accustomed 

 to bribe the guards of the palace gates, to let them in 

 and out at pleasure; and in company they used to roam 

 the city throughout the night, engaging the while in all 

 kinds of dissolute and ridiculous adventures, and at times 

 indeed in acts of violence. Their orgies, which were drunken 

 and licentious to excess, at length became town-talk; and 

 report of them finally reaching the King's ears, he sent for 

 his hopeful son, and gave him not only a stern lecture, but 

 so severe a thrashing, that he fell on his knees and vehe- 

 mently promised never more to offend. Johan, however, 

 had but little reliance on either him or his word, and used 

 to say : " He would turn out a degenerate and bad man." 



When in his twentieth year, and for the purpose of giving 

 employment to his hasty and uncertain temper, his father 

 sent him to Norway, to quell an insurrection that had 

 recently broken out in that country. Here, whilst effecting 

 his object, which he gained partly by force, but principally 

 by the vilest treachery and deceit, he displayed both capacity 

 and courage; but was, at the same time, guilty of such 

 excessive cruelty, as to destroy for the most part the Nor- 

 wegian nobility, who, at that time, were very powerful. 



Some few of these unfortunate men escaped, and took 

 shelter in the interior of the country, where their descend- 



