194 THEY CORROBORATE HIS STATEMENTS. 



against it ; and one hundred years afterwards, many were 

 still to be seen sticking there, a convincing memorial of the 

 combat. 



At this period a number of the Swedish nobility and 

 others, who had been declared Fogelfria by Christian, were 

 wandering in the forests, which covered the face of the 

 country. Several of these unhappy men, hearing that 

 Gustavus was in Dalecarlia, proceeded thither, for the 

 purpose of seeking him out, and in the hope to find 

 shelter and protection. Amongst the number was Lars 

 Olsson, of the family of Bjornram or bear- paw a cele- 

 brated warrior, who had served under the Stures, and 

 was well known in those parts. He arrived at Mora 

 soon after the turn of the year; and when addressing the 

 people, he corroborated to the letter all that the knight had 

 told them as to the atrocities of Christian. He said, more- 

 over, that it was the Tyrant's intention to double the taxes, 

 to erect a gallows in every separate district, and to amputate 

 each man's hand and foot, so as to render him powerless 

 for the future ; with several similar stories, either true or 

 false. He regretted they had not assisted Gustavus, and 

 blamed them for allowing him to depart as they had done. 

 " Good men," said he, " unless you and the whole of the 

 Swedish nation are to be ground to the dust, ruined, and 

 extirpated, have him back again, for he is the only man 

 amongst us, who has sense and capacity enough successfully 

 to make head against the Tyrant." 



On hearing this, the men of Mora were altogether 

 beside themselves. Rage and abhorrence of Christian filled 

 their hearts, and their only thoughts were of war and bloody 

 revenge. They now bitterly lamented their conduct towards 



