CHAPTER XL 



STOCKHOLM SURRENDERS FEARFUL SCENE THE TYRANT IS CROWNED HIS 

 PROFOUND HYPOCRISY TRIAL OF THE NOBLES NUMBERS ARE DOOMED 

 SPIRITUAL COURT FUNEREAL PROCESSION PROTEST OF THE PRISONERS 

 THE EXECUTION THE BODIES REFUSED CHRISTIAN BURIAL VENGEANCE 

 ON THE DEAD FARTHER CRUELTIES NOBLE-MINDED HEADSMAN THE 

 CHURCH OF ROME. 



WHEN Gustavus landed in Sweden, Stockholm, as already 

 mentioned, was defended by the Regent's widow, Kristina 

 Gyllenstjerna. On the death of her husband, who received 

 his mortal wound at the battle of Bogesund, fought in 1520, 

 this courageous woman, not cast down by her sad bereave- 

 ment, and the total discomfiture of the Swedish armies, so 

 far from making her submission to the Tyrant as too many 

 of her countrymen, considering all to be lost, had already 

 done hastened to the capital, and put it into as good a state 

 of defence as circumstances would permit. Owing to the 

 fatigue of the journey, and her subsequent great exertions, 

 she had the additional unhappiness to lose her infant son. 

 But even this fresh sorrow shook not her resolution. Encou- 



