164 SPIRITUAL COURT. 



burgomasters of Stockholm, and many of the most influ- 

 ential citizens, were indiscriminately thrust into a tower, 

 situated at an angle of the palace. 



One of those under sentence, a citizen named Klas Boye, 

 an uncommonly fat and big man, got off on this occasion 

 in a very remarkable and somewhat ludicrous manner. The 

 soldiers would have thrown him into the dungeon along 

 with the rest, but were literally unable by fair means to get 

 him in at the narrow doorway; and being much occupied 

 with the other prisoners, they left him in a corner, intend- 

 ing at their leisure to squeeze him through the opening. 

 But this Swedish Falstaff was much too sensible a fellow to 

 allow so fair a chance to slip, and therefore beat a retreat 

 as quickly as possible ; and was so fortunate as to keep his 

 unwieldy carcase concealed in the palace during the following 

 two days, when he came out of his hiding-place, and was 

 pardoned by the King. 



Even those who had escaped condemnation, were confined 

 together in a room, where they had to pass the whole 

 night in a state of the most horrible suspense and 

 anxiety. 



On the following morning, the 8th of November, 1520, 

 at a pretty early hour, several ecclesiastics, who were 

 amongst the last-named body of prisoners, were called into 

 the great hall, where, in conjunction with Archbishop Trolle 

 and other prelates, they formed a sort of spiritual court. 

 One of the number, Jons Beldenack by trade a shoe- 

 maker, but transformed into a Bishop by Christian then 

 put the following question : " Ought not those who have 

 conspired against the Pope and the Holy Roman See, 

 to be looked upon as heretics?" Some of the clergy, 



