166 PROTEST OF THE PRISONERS. 



from the treacherous board of the Tyrant thus passed before 

 the eyes of the grieving people, who had now been permitted 

 to leave their houses, and looked on with fear and trembling 

 at these terrible preparations. 



On the arrival of this most moving procession at the place 

 of execution, Nils Lycke, a Danish chieftain, who had been 

 knighted at the coronation, addressed the assembled multi- 

 tude from the balcony of the Town-hall, to the following 

 effect : " Good men," said he, " be not surprised at what 

 you now see. The individuals before you are one and all 

 cursed heretics, who have set at nought the Holy Father in 

 Rome. They have laid gunpowder under the palace, with 

 the intention of destroying the King, who nevertheless would 

 have pardoned them, had not Archbishop Trolle fallen three 

 several times on his knees before his Majesty, and demanded 

 that the Pope's judgment over these doomed heretics, enemies 

 to the Church, and traitors to their country, should be carried 

 into effect.?' 



On hearing these words, Bishop Vincentius, who was bound 

 in fetters, exclaimed with a loud voice : " That it was all 

 a heap of lies ; and that God's righteous judgment would 

 some day or other fall upon Christian, for his perfidy and 

 cruelty." Two of the Town Council of Stockholm, who 

 were amongst the condemned, also addressed themselves to 

 the spectators, warning them never again to be deceived 

 by false promises, and exhorting them to revenge this dread- 

 fully outrageous and tyrannical act. But their voices were 

 presently drowned by the sobs and lamentations of the by- 

 standers, and by the soldiers, who, that the multitude 

 might not hear what was said, commenced making great 

 outcries. 



