JESUITICAL REASONING. 161 



against Archbishop Trolle. But as Christian had, at his 

 coronation, taken a solemn oath to abide by the treaty of 

 Stockholm, in which pardon was promised to all who had 

 sinned either against himself or the Archbishop, it was very 

 difficult for him to break his word in so open a manner. This 

 point was, however, soon got over by Didrik Slaghok a 

 barber originally, but then a bishop, and one of the Tyrant's 

 Danish minions who observed : "It was perfectly true, 

 that so far as the King was individually concerned, he had 

 certainly given such a pledge ; but that neither he nor any 

 one else could, on the part of the Pope and the Church, 

 forgive the delinquents." 



This Jesuitical reasoning was received with acclamation by 

 the assembled Council ; and it was at once determined that 

 Trolle should accuse the doomed individuals of having 

 offended, not only against himself, but against the holy 

 office which he filled ; as also that he, in virtue of Chris- 

 tian's oath to administer equal justice to all his subjects, 

 should demand from the King on his own part, as well as on 

 that of the Pope, the immediate and condign punishment of 

 the criminals. 



It having been resolved that this most atrocious plan 

 should be carried into execution on the 7th of November 

 that is, immediately after the conclusion of the festivities 

 consequent on the coronation a very great number of dis- 

 tinguished Swedes were, under one pretext or another, 

 summoned to the palace. Here, on their arrival, they were 

 ushered into a large and lofty hall, and saw with appre- 

 hension the doors closed behind them, and that there was 

 no escape. 



When all were assembled, Christian entered, and took his 



VOL. II. M 



