136 HIS DUPLICITY. 



ants lived obscure and unnoticed. But they were not un- 

 mindful of their high descent; and to this day one may 

 occasionally see in the larger of the peasants' houses, amongst 

 the distant fjalls, the pedigree of the family, cut in the broad 

 beams of which the buildings are constructed, and often traced 

 up to their most celebrated heroes and kings. 



Prince Christian was subsequently sent by his father, King 

 Johan, on an expedition into Sweden, where also he was 

 guilty of gross duplicity and extreme cruelty. Fire, rapine, 

 and murder followed his footsteps, so that his name carried a 

 terror with it over the whole of the north. 



Although in this and the preceding campaign in Norway, 

 Christian, by the frequent forfeiture of his word, by his abomi- 

 nable deceitfulness, and his great barbarities, had dishonoured 

 his rank, one at least of his opponents evinced towards him 

 so very knightly and chivalrous a spirit, as to be deserving 

 of record. 



This was a Swedish nobleman, named Ake Johansson 

 Natt och Dag,* who had been sent by Sture, the Regent, 

 with a considerable force horse as well as foot to relieve 

 the fortress of Elfsborg, then hard-pressed by the Prince. 

 Leaving the infantry to follow as best they could, the chief- 

 tain, with the cavalry alone, hastened to the assistance of the 

 place. On the way he learnt that it had fallen, and that 

 the garrison had been mercilessly put to the sword. But this 

 did not retard his onward course. When, however, he with 

 his people reached the outskirts of the Danish camp, which 

 was situated in a meadow, a thick mist hung over it; and 

 the enemy, unsuspicious of danger, were quietly slumbering 



* Natt och Dag literally signifies night and day. 



