HIS ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE. 187 



Here he remained hid in a cellar until the following Sunday, 

 when, after Divine Service, he addressed the assembled con- 

 gregation on the subject next his heart. He spoke to them 

 of Stockholm's "Blod-bad," in which Sweden had been 

 deluged with the blood of her noblest sons ; how Christian 

 had caused the remains of Sture, their beloved Regent, to 

 be exhumed; and of the horrible treatment of his widow, 

 Kristina, and her mother, Sigrid BaneV; and finally, he 

 reminded them of the glorious example set them by their 

 fathers, in the days of the Stures and of Engelbrekt.* On 

 hearing of these atrocities, the multitude expressed the 

 highest indignation. But when Gustavus exhorted them 

 to take up arms, they replied that, though desirous of ex- 

 pelling the Tyrant from the country, they must first ascertain 

 the feelings of their neighbours, without whose assistance 

 nothing could be effected. 



Satisfied with this his first public address to the Dale- 

 carlians, Gustavus took his departure from Rattvik, and 

 proceeded to Mora, situated at the northern extremity of 

 the lake Siljan, and one of the richest and most populous 

 parishes in Dalecarlia, where the incumbent, Jakob Persson, 

 gave him a most hospitable reception. As, however, there 



* One of the most illustrious names in the Swedish annals. He played a 

 very distinguished role during the reign of Erik XIII. Feeling indignant at 

 the cruel and tyrannical conduct of the Governors and others in authority, 

 more especially in Dalecarlia, his native province, he instigated the peasants to 

 revolt ; and putting himself at their head, he made regular war on that 

 monarch. At one time he had no less than one hundred thousand men under 

 his command. After the lapse of about two years, however, in which while 

 his career had been most successful, he was basely murdered by one Mans 

 Bcngtsson, with whom, though formerly his enemy, he was then on terms of 

 amity. 



