THE TYRANT IS CROWNED. 159 



they might belong, should be put to death; and that the 

 rest of the nobility should be so crushed, as to be rendered 

 powerless thereafter. 



With this dire resolve, and for the purpose of being 

 crowned, the Tyrant returned to Stockholm on the 20th 

 of October. 



The Diet, consisting of the four estates of the kingdom, 

 were summoned to the capital, that they might be present 

 at the ceremony, which took place on the 4th of the following 

 November, and was celebrated with much parade and splen- 

 dour. To every one's astonishment, however, the regalia, 

 instead of being carried by Swedes, were borne by Danes. 

 On this occasion, Christian took the Holy Sacrament, 

 and renewed his oaths as to the strict observance of the 

 treaty he had so recently entered into with Sten Sture's 

 widow. 



When the diadem had been placed on his head which 

 office was performed by Archbishop Trolle, who once more 

 was in the plenitude of power and favour the monarch, 

 according to ancient usage, seated himself before the high 

 altar, for the purpose of conferring the honour of knight- 

 hood on the most deserving of those present. Several Danes 

 were called forward, and dubbed in due form, and with all 

 solemnity, but not a single Swede had that dignity bestowed 

 upon him ! And when the ceremony was completed, a 

 herald advanced and proclaimed : " That as Sweden had 

 been won by the sword, no Swede could therefore claim the 

 honour of knighthood at Christian's hands ; but that should 

 they thenceforward prove brave and faithful, he would bear 

 them in remembrance." 



After the solemnities were over, the company repaired to 



