140 HIS ATROCITIES. 



mean birth, and of a crafty and ambitious disposition ; and 

 few things were done without her counsel and sanction. 



Among the Tyrant's other atrocities, it is recorded that 

 though Knut Knutsson, a Norwegian nobleman of great 

 weight and influence, whom he had caused to be arraigned 

 for high treason, before both the Swedish and the Nor- 

 wegian Council, had been acquitted by both, he nevertheless 

 put him to death, and confiscated his property. On another 

 occasion, when a Danish nobleman Mogens Tomisson 

 was accused of having ill-treated his serfs, he, although the 

 poor man was then in his grave, without legal investigation, 

 or judgment of any kind, caused the body to be exhumed 

 and hanged on a gallows, for the purpose of terrifying his 

 compeers. 



For a while, Christian had the support of the lower orders ; 

 for though fully aware of the injustice of his cruel and 

 atrocious proceedings, they rejoiced to see the destruction 

 of their oppressors. But at length even this class became 

 estranged from the Tyrant, arid it was only the fear of his 

 revenge that withheld them from rising in open revolt. 



