168 THE EXECUTION. 



Brahe, his brother-in-law, were amongst the sufferers on 

 this occasion. Christian, it is said, would have spared 

 Erik, either because he was a pious and inoffensive person, 

 or that he might hold him as a hostage for the good 

 behaviour of his son ; but when this was told the noble old 

 man, he gallantly replied : ' My colleagues are all honour- 

 able men, and in God's name let me die with them." 

 And whilst uttering these words, he bowed his grey head to 

 the block ! 



Besides the doomed, others, who were mere spectators, 

 suffered on this occasion. Amongst the rest was a 

 citizen named Lars Hansson, who with tears in his eyes 

 was looking on at the horrible scene, which the soldiers 

 perceiving, they pulled him within the circle ; and simply 

 because he had shown sympathy for the sad fate of his 

 countrymen, he also was obliged to submit his neck to the 

 executioner. 



Independently of those who perished on the scaffold, and 

 who were principally of the higher classes, very many 

 were also hanged, the Tyrant having caused several 

 gibbets to be erected for that purpose. It is said that in 

 several instances, when the retainers of the knights and 

 of others who suffered, in total ignorance of what was hap- 

 pening, rode into Stockholm from the country, they, booted 

 and spurred as they arrived, were at once suspended to the 

 fatal beam. 



As Christian remarked that many whom he was desirous 

 of putting to death had concealed themselves, he, on the 

 following morning, the 9th of November, caused it to be 

 proclaimed, " that every one might now with safety come 

 forth from concealment, as it was not his intention to make 



