FUNEREAL PROCESSION. 165 



who were in league with Christian, answered in the affirma- 

 tive ; others, who were not aware of the drift of the question, 

 responded to the same effect ; whilst there were those again, 

 who perfectly well understood the meaning of the interroga- 

 tory, hut having the fear of the Tyrant before their eyes, 

 replied "yes," likewise. This perfectly satisfied Christian, 

 who himself pronounced the following sentence : " That as 

 the criminals had arrayed themselves against the Holy 

 Father, they were, agreeably to the decision of the Court, 

 heretics, and that as heretics they should therefore die." 



The gates of Stockholm had been locked the whole of the 

 morning, so that no one might enter or leave the town ; 

 and a trumpeter had proclaimed, that until permission was 

 given, no citizen, on the peril of his life, was to leave his 

 house. Large numbers of Danish troops were drawn up 

 in the squares, and other open places, and loaded cannon 

 were pointed down the principal streets. As may well be 

 supposed, the inhabitants were all in a state of great anxiety 

 at these fearful doings, not knowing what would come 

 next. 



At noon the gates of the palace were thrown open, and 

 a large body of armed men marched out and stationed them- 

 selves on both sides of the way, leading from thence to the 

 Town- hall. Then came the poor prisoners, consisting of 

 the highest officers of state, many senators, two bishops, 

 the most distinguished nobles of the land, the burgomasters, 

 and the whole of the magistracy of Stockholm, walking in 

 pairs, and conducted by the executioners. Ninety-four 

 persons the most exalted in the land, whether for birth, 

 office, or virtue ; the bishops in their full canonicals, the 

 magistrates in their robes and insignia, as they had risen 



