It was
necessary
for him, so to speak, to
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Abelous - Gustavus Adolphus - Hero of the Reformation
handle.
net/2027/loc.
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 17
ants were declared the only legitimate
heirs to the throne of Sweden.
Charles had already once refused the
place of his nephew, and in obeying new
solicitations and yielding to the force of
circumstances, he thought only to obey
the voice of his conscience. He signified,
to the deputies of the nation, that if a son
of Sigismond should embrace the prin-
ciples of the Reformation, he should inherit
the crown, nor did he forget this generous
reservation in his will. When we com-
pare the delicacy of this conduct with that
of Sigismond, trampling under foot all his
promises, it is impossible not to recognize
in the King of Poland a pupil of the
Jesuits, and in Charles a disciple of a re-
ligion that appeals above all things to the
conscience.
After the war with the Polish invaders,
Charles had to defend his power on the
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? 18 GusTAvus Adolphus.
continent; Finland, stirred up by the in-
trigues of Sigismond, submitted only after
a bloody struggle.
Gustavus Adolphus accompanied his
father on this last expedition, although he
was yet scarcely seven years of age. The
vessel on which they were returning was
frozen fast in the ice, and the child was
obliged to continue the journey on foot
with his father in the midst of the rigors
of a Kussian winter. The robustness of
his constitution, however, withstood these
hardships, and his health suffered no
injury.
There is an anecdote related of him
which shows that, even in childhood, his
soul was as intrepid as his body was
hardy. He was rambling in the iSelds
near Stockholm, when the notion suddenly
struck him to run to a thicket of woods
which was quite distant from those who
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 19
had him in care. They tried to detain
him by appealing to his sense of fear, and
told him that, in the woods, there were a
great many large and fearful serpents.
" That's nothing," he replied ; " only give
me a stick that I may kill them. "
He was fond of watching all military
operations, and thus revealed, from earli-
est childhood, his love for the vocation
of war. While reviewing a Swedish fleet
with his father at Calmar, an officer asked
the young Gustavus which of all the ships
he liked the best. " The Black Chevalier,"
said he. " Why do you give it the prefer-
ence? " said the officer. "Because it car-
ries the greatest number of cannon," was
the reply, without a moment's hesitation.
Still another anecdote is related, which
proves a natui^al generosity of heart, not
less remarkable than his hardihood and
courage. One day, a farmer brought a
2
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? 20 GusTAvus Adolphus.
valuable little pony to the young prince
and begged him to accept it as a gift from
him. "I will take the pony," said Gus-
tavus, " but you must let me pay you for
it; it is worth a good sum, and I know
your resources can illy afford so expensive
a gift. "
While speaking, he drew out his purse,
full of ducats, and emptied the contents
into the hands of the peasant, who stood
as if stupefied at such an evidence of
benevolence and largeness of soul in a
mere child.
But Gustavus's precocity of intellect
was, above all, surprising. Before he had
attained the age of sixteen he had learned
six languages. He was equally master of
Swedish, Latin, German, Dutch, French,
and Italian. He also spoke a little Polish
and Russian. But his father did not limit
himself to the cultivation of his intellect
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 21
alone ; he also gave much attention to the
education of his heart. He inspired in
him habits of industry, and encouraged
him to practice all the virtues which work
together to make a man of a noble and
Christian character. He gave him a com-
plete religious instruction, and endeavored
to render him firm in his faith. He sought
less to make him comprehend the prin-
ciples of the Keformation, than he did to
make him love them. He desired, above
all things, that religion should be, to his
son, an aifair of the heart rather than of
the head. In a word, Charles IX. spared
no pains in making his son worthy and
capable of reigning over his beloved
Sweden.
The letter which this wise and good
monarch gave his son, with his last adieu
and with his last counsels, is still extant.
'' Above all," said he to him, "fear God. . . .
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? 22 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Houor thy father and thy mother. Love
deeply and sincerely your brothers and
sisters. Esteem the faithful servants of
your father, and reward each one accord-
ing to his merits. Be humane toward
your subjects. Punish the wicked, love
the good. Trust every one, but not with-
out caution. Observe the law without
respect of person. Deprive no one of
privileges if they are well-founded and not
contrary to the general good. "
We find, in these simple and austere
maxims, the foundation of that kind of
education which fashions the noblest and
most resolute characters; those men of
granite steadfastness who have ever been
admired, but whose sublime type is being
daily more and more effaced by the grow-
ing effeminacy of our age.
The mother of Gustavus Adolphus con-
tributed also to the best development of
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? GusTAYUs Adolphus. 23
the numerous gifts with which Providence
had endowed her son. She seconded
heartily all her husband's wise efforts
to this end, and tried to suppress all ex-
cessive indulgences to which the tender-
ness of her mother-love often prompted
her. Somewhat stern, and perhaps a little
haughty, she suffered no violation of rules
in her household, and prescribed daily
tasks, even to her lady attendants. Her
virtuous walk was an example to all, and,
thanks to her, the court was without dan-
gers and snares for her sons. She had a
decided preference for her second son,
Charles Philip; so much so that her par-
tiality might have estranged a little her
eldest son and made divisions in the fami-
ly; but Gustavus was too good a son to
make complaints of a good mother and
too loving a brother to be jealous of his
brothers.
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? 24 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Charles thought nothing more desirable,
to complete the education of his son, than
to early accustom him to the management
of business aJffairs and to give him a prac-
tice in real life, a thing which books never
yet have been able to teach. From the
age of ten, he took him with him to be
present at the conclaves of the counselors
of the throne, and into all public assem-
blies. He even allowed him to hold con-
verse in his presence with foreign officials,
who were present from time to time in
these assemblies. It gratified him to hear
the young prince talking of battles, sieges,
and military organization like an old gen-
eral, and asking questions with the ardor
of a child whose curiosity is never satisfied
nor wearied.
At the age of fourteen, the king sent
Gustavus with his mother into the northern
part of Sweden, in order that he might
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? GusTAYUs Adolphus. 25
learn to know and be known by his future
subjects. He advised him to listen to all
who might solicit his support, to aid all
according to his means, and, above all, to
send none away without consolation for
their trials and grievances. The journey
was a complete success. At fifteen he de-
sired to lead an army against the Russians,
but it was not thought advisable on ac-
count of his youth, and so the campaign
was made without him.
In 1611, however, when Denmark de-
clared herself against Sweden, Charles
gave to Gustavus the command of a body
of troops. He set out immediately for
the deliverance of Calmar, which was
then besieged by the Danes. From the
commencement to the end of this war, he
displayed the most eminent qualities of
generalship, and admirably directed all
movements. He so inspired the people
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? 26 GusTAYus Adolphus.
witli confidence, that the king left him at
the head of the whole army, while he was
absent attending a diet elsewhere.
But Charles was only fairly on his jour-
ney when he fell seriously ill, and he felt
assured that he had come to the close of
his career. Many gathered about him and
were lamenting sorely over the loss that
Sweden must sustain in giving up lier
king, and especially that so muck that
was already begun must be left unfinished.
The old king impressively laid his hand
upon the head of his son, who had hast-
ened thither to receive kis last words, and
said, ''^ llle facieV'^ -- He will do it. He
died, October 10, 1611, at the age of
sixty-one.
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? CHAPTEE II.
EEIG]^ OF GUSTAYUS ADOLPHUS.
His valor -- His domestic virtues -- His piety.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS was only
seventeen years old when lie suc-
ceeded his father, Charles IX. , to the
throne. The time of his majority was
shortened seven years. His wondei^fiil pre-
cocity and maturity rendered him worthy
to be this exception of history. His ability
had been proved in the war which Sweden
was sustaining against Denmark. He car-
ried on the struggle with success, and the
king of Denmark renounced all claims to
the Swedish throne.
Scarcely was this question settled when
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? 28 GusTAvus Adolphus.
he was called into Russia to sustain the
party which had offered the crown to his
brother. Charles Philip's competitor was
Uladislas, son of Sigismond, king of Po-
land, so lately dethroned in Sweden. In
order to terminate these dissensions the
Russians renounced both princes, and
chose a ruler from among themselves.
Gustavus consented to make peace, and
by thus yielding the claim, obtained an
addition of territory which the newly
chosen sovereign ceded to him. "This
short war," says an historian, " was an ex-
cellent school for the young king. He
fought under the brave Count Jacques de
la Gardie, whose valor so struck the Rus-
sians with admiration that they gave his
name a place in their calendar. "
After having perfected his naturally rare
military talents by experience, Gustavus
Adolphus, seconded by his brave and re-
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 29
nowned generals, soon outwitted the eter-
nal enemy of Ms race, Sigismond, who had
used all his power to overthrow him, and
had even seized one of his continental
provinces. Gustavus soon forced him to
withdraw from it, and he also took several
Prussian cities which had favored the at-
tempts of Sigismond.
His power, threatened on all sides, was
thus assured by a succession of victories;
and the liberal spirit of the Swedes, whose
devotion to their king shrank before no
sacrifice, joined to a wise administration,
soon replenished the public treasury, which
had been drained by so many wars.
It has been well remarked, that no king
ever took into his hands the reins of gov-
ernment under more unfavorable circum-
stances; and we may add, that never
were difficulties more swiftly surmounted.
It was necessary for him, so to speak, to
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? 30 GusTAvus Adolphus.
conquer his inheritance, and to purchase
his right to the throne with his blood.
He never drew the sword in a spirit of
conquest, nor for the mere love of war;
the interest of his country was his only
motive of action; he made war only that
he might bring peace. He sternly dis-
countenanced every act of vengeance; he
gave the example of courage in battle, and
of generosity and magnanimity after tri-
umph and victory. He was full of solici-
tude for his soldiers, but he tolerated on
their part no license, and insisted on a strict
cultivation of etiquette and religion in
camp. Regular worship was held there --
morning and evening, the entire army bent
the knee before God and reverently im-
plored his aid and his favor. The king
himself was every-where; giving encour-
agement and counsel here, lifting with a
helping hand there, marching ahead in
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 31
the midst of bloody contest, and handling
the pickax in the trenches. While main-
taining discipline among his soldiers he
suppressed the bastinado as a punishment,
and thus showed himself even more jealous
of the dignity of humanity than do several
civilized nations of to-day. He v^as also
as prudent as brave, always surrounding
himself with the wisest counselors, and
consulting each of his States before enter-
ing upon any public enterprise.
His energy and power of endurance
were almost incredible. When sick or
wounded he was never heard to complain,
nor was he ever seen taking care of him-
self. During the Russian campaign he
was attacked by an intermittent fever,
but, far from keeping his bed, he amused
himself by fencing with one of his of-
ficers, and gave himself up to the sport
with such ardor that he broke out in a
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? 32 GusTAvus Adolphus.
profuse perspiration, and thus conquered
the fever.
Several times during his career he was
saved from death, almost as by miracle.
During the Livonian campaign with the
Poles, a shot swept the place he had occu-
pied the moment after he had left it. On
another occasion several fell around him
under a shower of balls, so close that the
blood of their wounds spurted upon his
clothes, and a few moments later a shot
pierced his tent and passed just above his
head. At Dantzic he gave orders to seven
small boats to seize a redoubt, and, in
order to be more sure of the result, he di-
rected one of the embarkations himself.
While thus employed he received a shot
in his stomach. The wound was quite
severe, but he wrote home the same day:
"It was a warm engagement, and I was
also wounded; but I thank God that my
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? GUSTAVUS Al>OLPHUS.
life and health are not in danger, and trust,
that, after a few days, I shall be able to
resume the command. "
Three months later, in Prussia, he was
again severely wounded in a battle with
the Duke of Brandenbui^g, an ally of his
rival, the King of Poland.
The day after the accident he again
wrote a letter to his people, in which we
are at a loss to know which most to ad-
mire, his courage or his resignation. ^
" We presented ourselves before the ene-
my," said he, "mounted and on foot, and
we played so well our artillery that we
thought we had put them to flight. But
God permitted it otherwise. Just arrived
at the spot where we expected and hoped
to rout them entirely, a ball struck me on
the shoulder, near the neck. It was this
alone that prevented us from finishing the
battle. Nevertheless, I thank God that in
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? 34 GusTAvus Adolphus.
the midst of my misfortune he permits me
to hope for the speedy recovery of my
health and strength.
Near the end of the same war against
Poland and Prussia, Gustavus ran still an-
other risk of losing his life. An Austrian
army, composed of eight thousand infantry
and two thousand cavalry, came up to the
aid of Poland. Gustavus Adolphus de-
manded of Wallenstein, Duke of Fried-
land, who had sent the army, what motive
he had in mingling himself in his affairs.
Wallenstein replied arrogantly, "My mas-
ter, the Emperor, has too many troops, and
is obliged to send a few of them to his
friends. "
In order to combat this new adversary
the Swedish king had need of re-enforce-
ments, and, while waiting, he desired to
take refuge behind the ramparts of Marien-
burg, one of the cities he had taken from
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 35
Prussia. But one of his generals allowed
himself to be drawn into an engagement
with the Imperialists and exposed his
whole corps to comjDlete destruction. Al-
ready the Swedish battalions began to
fall back before the forces of Wallenstein,
when Gustavus Adolphus, warned of the
threatened defeat, rushed with all haste to
the rescue. Drawn into the general tu-
mult, and, so to speak, lost in it, he was
on the point of being taken by one of the
enemy's cavalry, whose saber brushed his
head and occasioned the loss of his hat.
Scarcely escaped from this danger, he near-
ly fell into the hands of another of the
cavalry, who even seized him by the arm.
All would soon have been over with Gus-
tavus Adolphus had he not been seen by
a Swedish dragoon, who flew to his de-
fense, and delivered him from death by
giving death to the Austrian.
3
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? S6 GusTAVus Adolphus.
Providence evidently protected the life
of the King of Sweden, and reserved him
for yet greater purposes. And the king
always recognized, and was always grate-
ful for this Divine protection. He con-
fided in it without reserve. In the midst
of bloody battles, as at home, he felt him-
self as under the eye of God, and ever
renewedly placed himself in his hands.
'' God," said he often, " has given me the
crown, not that I should fear or remain in
repose, but that I may consecrate my life
to his glory and to the good of my sub-
jects. " In fact, the glory of God seemed
to be the continual aim of all the king's
movements. His faith shone out in all his
words. The cause of the Gospel was his
own cause, and its triumph was his most
ardent wish.
Master of Prussia as far as Dantzic, his
first care was to write to the authorities of
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? Gustavus found Studying the Bible,
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 39
all the conquered cities, to deliver up to
the Protestants all their places of worship
of which they had been deprived. He
recommended to the Pastors to preach
faithfully the Word of God, to administer
the Lord's Supper with care, and to awak-
en every-where, as much as possible, true
Christian life.
He could not tolerate profanity, nor
light and disrespectful jesting of any kind
concerning religion. He was often found
alone, reading his Bible. At one time he
said: "I seek to fortify myself against
perverse flatterers by meditating on the
Sacred Word. A person in my position
owes only to God an account of his actions,
and it is precisely this independence of
position which occasions a multitude of
temptations, against which we are never
sufficiently on our guard. "
His private and family life was as beau-
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? 40 GusTAvus Adolphus.
tiful as was his public career. Mild and
loving toward all his relatives, he was, to
his mother especially, the kindest and most
respectful of sons; nor did power change
at all his sentiments in this regard. Long
after coming to the throne he begged his
mother to still remain with him, and to
love him as she ever had done.
Eiga had held out in a siege to the last
extremity, and had caused great losses in
the Swedish army. The city being finally
taken, the inhabitants could only expect
severe terms and heavy chastisement ; but
Gustavus Adolphus, here as elsewhere,
displayed a wonderful Christian magna-
nimity. He treated the conquered with
a mildness that equally astonished both
friends and enemies.
After the siege of Riga, Gustavus's broth-
er, Charles Philip, fell very sick. He was
so tenderly cared for, and so surrounded
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 41
by his brother's watchful kindness, that
the young Duke wrote to his sister Cath-
arine : " The converse of the king is so in-
teresting, and his society so agreeable, that
the time passes without my being able to
think of my sufferings. " The death of this
prince was a great grief to the heart of the
king. In a letter written on this occasion
the following touching and appreciative
passage is found :
"His heart was never cast down by
misfortunes and reverses. In spite of his
youth, he loved his country too well to
remain at rest in his house when Poland
attacked Sweden. He constantly sought
to excite to courage the young nobility.
O, my country ! what hast thou not lost
in him ! "
Charles Philip had just attained his
twenty-fii'st year, and aw^akened many brill-
iant hopes. The royal family of Sweden,
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? 42 GusTAvus Adolphus.
which, a few years before, numbered three
members, was now reduced to a single
one.
Gustavus Adolphus married the beauti-
ful Marie Eleonore, of the house of Bran-
denburg. Never was there a royal union
of purer love, nor one that took place
under more favorable auspices. It had
been long and lovingly anticipated by
both princess and king. The gift of the
heart had really preceded that of the
hand.
His religion was important above all
other matters, and he did not neglect it
even during his very brief sojourn at Ber-
lin, whither he went to demand the con-
sent of the mother of the princess. He
went into the sanctuary to implore God's
blessing on his choice, and paid so close
attention to the sermon that he noted
down all the principal points.
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 43
His marriage was celebrated with mucli
pomp, Nov. 28, 1620, in his palace at
Stockholm.
Their domestic happiness was untroub-
led until the sorrow of a dead-born child
fell over them, and changed a day that
would have been one of rejoicing into one
of mourning. This was a great grief to
the king, but he recognized it as the will
of his heavenly Father, and as a chastise-
ment for him. He wrote to his brother-in-
law, the Duke of Brandenburg :
"I must tell you the sorrow that has
come to my house. God has punished me
in giving me a dead child. "
But he did not in anywise rebel against
Providence when another similar sorrow
fell to his lot, and made him fear that he
should have no inheritor to the throne.
? GusTAvus Adolphus. 17
ants were declared the only legitimate
heirs to the throne of Sweden.
Charles had already once refused the
place of his nephew, and in obeying new
solicitations and yielding to the force of
circumstances, he thought only to obey
the voice of his conscience. He signified,
to the deputies of the nation, that if a son
of Sigismond should embrace the prin-
ciples of the Reformation, he should inherit
the crown, nor did he forget this generous
reservation in his will. When we com-
pare the delicacy of this conduct with that
of Sigismond, trampling under foot all his
promises, it is impossible not to recognize
in the King of Poland a pupil of the
Jesuits, and in Charles a disciple of a re-
ligion that appeals above all things to the
conscience.
After the war with the Polish invaders,
Charles had to defend his power on the
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? 18 GusTAvus Adolphus.
continent; Finland, stirred up by the in-
trigues of Sigismond, submitted only after
a bloody struggle.
Gustavus Adolphus accompanied his
father on this last expedition, although he
was yet scarcely seven years of age. The
vessel on which they were returning was
frozen fast in the ice, and the child was
obliged to continue the journey on foot
with his father in the midst of the rigors
of a Kussian winter. The robustness of
his constitution, however, withstood these
hardships, and his health suffered no
injury.
There is an anecdote related of him
which shows that, even in childhood, his
soul was as intrepid as his body was
hardy. He was rambling in the iSelds
near Stockholm, when the notion suddenly
struck him to run to a thicket of woods
which was quite distant from those who
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 19
had him in care. They tried to detain
him by appealing to his sense of fear, and
told him that, in the woods, there were a
great many large and fearful serpents.
" That's nothing," he replied ; " only give
me a stick that I may kill them. "
He was fond of watching all military
operations, and thus revealed, from earli-
est childhood, his love for the vocation
of war. While reviewing a Swedish fleet
with his father at Calmar, an officer asked
the young Gustavus which of all the ships
he liked the best. " The Black Chevalier,"
said he. " Why do you give it the prefer-
ence? " said the officer. "Because it car-
ries the greatest number of cannon," was
the reply, without a moment's hesitation.
Still another anecdote is related, which
proves a natui^al generosity of heart, not
less remarkable than his hardihood and
courage. One day, a farmer brought a
2
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? 20 GusTAvus Adolphus.
valuable little pony to the young prince
and begged him to accept it as a gift from
him. "I will take the pony," said Gus-
tavus, " but you must let me pay you for
it; it is worth a good sum, and I know
your resources can illy afford so expensive
a gift. "
While speaking, he drew out his purse,
full of ducats, and emptied the contents
into the hands of the peasant, who stood
as if stupefied at such an evidence of
benevolence and largeness of soul in a
mere child.
But Gustavus's precocity of intellect
was, above all, surprising. Before he had
attained the age of sixteen he had learned
six languages. He was equally master of
Swedish, Latin, German, Dutch, French,
and Italian. He also spoke a little Polish
and Russian. But his father did not limit
himself to the cultivation of his intellect
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 21
alone ; he also gave much attention to the
education of his heart. He inspired in
him habits of industry, and encouraged
him to practice all the virtues which work
together to make a man of a noble and
Christian character. He gave him a com-
plete religious instruction, and endeavored
to render him firm in his faith. He sought
less to make him comprehend the prin-
ciples of the Keformation, than he did to
make him love them. He desired, above
all things, that religion should be, to his
son, an aifair of the heart rather than of
the head. In a word, Charles IX. spared
no pains in making his son worthy and
capable of reigning over his beloved
Sweden.
The letter which this wise and good
monarch gave his son, with his last adieu
and with his last counsels, is still extant.
'' Above all," said he to him, "fear God. . . .
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? 22 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Houor thy father and thy mother. Love
deeply and sincerely your brothers and
sisters. Esteem the faithful servants of
your father, and reward each one accord-
ing to his merits. Be humane toward
your subjects. Punish the wicked, love
the good. Trust every one, but not with-
out caution. Observe the law without
respect of person. Deprive no one of
privileges if they are well-founded and not
contrary to the general good. "
We find, in these simple and austere
maxims, the foundation of that kind of
education which fashions the noblest and
most resolute characters; those men of
granite steadfastness who have ever been
admired, but whose sublime type is being
daily more and more effaced by the grow-
ing effeminacy of our age.
The mother of Gustavus Adolphus con-
tributed also to the best development of
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? GusTAYUs Adolphus. 23
the numerous gifts with which Providence
had endowed her son. She seconded
heartily all her husband's wise efforts
to this end, and tried to suppress all ex-
cessive indulgences to which the tender-
ness of her mother-love often prompted
her. Somewhat stern, and perhaps a little
haughty, she suffered no violation of rules
in her household, and prescribed daily
tasks, even to her lady attendants. Her
virtuous walk was an example to all, and,
thanks to her, the court was without dan-
gers and snares for her sons. She had a
decided preference for her second son,
Charles Philip; so much so that her par-
tiality might have estranged a little her
eldest son and made divisions in the fami-
ly; but Gustavus was too good a son to
make complaints of a good mother and
too loving a brother to be jealous of his
brothers.
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? 24 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Charles thought nothing more desirable,
to complete the education of his son, than
to early accustom him to the management
of business aJffairs and to give him a prac-
tice in real life, a thing which books never
yet have been able to teach. From the
age of ten, he took him with him to be
present at the conclaves of the counselors
of the throne, and into all public assem-
blies. He even allowed him to hold con-
verse in his presence with foreign officials,
who were present from time to time in
these assemblies. It gratified him to hear
the young prince talking of battles, sieges,
and military organization like an old gen-
eral, and asking questions with the ardor
of a child whose curiosity is never satisfied
nor wearied.
At the age of fourteen, the king sent
Gustavus with his mother into the northern
part of Sweden, in order that he might
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? GusTAYUs Adolphus. 25
learn to know and be known by his future
subjects. He advised him to listen to all
who might solicit his support, to aid all
according to his means, and, above all, to
send none away without consolation for
their trials and grievances. The journey
was a complete success. At fifteen he de-
sired to lead an army against the Russians,
but it was not thought advisable on ac-
count of his youth, and so the campaign
was made without him.
In 1611, however, when Denmark de-
clared herself against Sweden, Charles
gave to Gustavus the command of a body
of troops. He set out immediately for
the deliverance of Calmar, which was
then besieged by the Danes. From the
commencement to the end of this war, he
displayed the most eminent qualities of
generalship, and admirably directed all
movements. He so inspired the people
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? 26 GusTAYus Adolphus.
witli confidence, that the king left him at
the head of the whole army, while he was
absent attending a diet elsewhere.
But Charles was only fairly on his jour-
ney when he fell seriously ill, and he felt
assured that he had come to the close of
his career. Many gathered about him and
were lamenting sorely over the loss that
Sweden must sustain in giving up lier
king, and especially that so muck that
was already begun must be left unfinished.
The old king impressively laid his hand
upon the head of his son, who had hast-
ened thither to receive kis last words, and
said, ''^ llle facieV'^ -- He will do it. He
died, October 10, 1611, at the age of
sixty-one.
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? CHAPTEE II.
EEIG]^ OF GUSTAYUS ADOLPHUS.
His valor -- His domestic virtues -- His piety.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS was only
seventeen years old when lie suc-
ceeded his father, Charles IX. , to the
throne. The time of his majority was
shortened seven years. His wondei^fiil pre-
cocity and maturity rendered him worthy
to be this exception of history. His ability
had been proved in the war which Sweden
was sustaining against Denmark. He car-
ried on the struggle with success, and the
king of Denmark renounced all claims to
the Swedish throne.
Scarcely was this question settled when
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? 28 GusTAvus Adolphus.
he was called into Russia to sustain the
party which had offered the crown to his
brother. Charles Philip's competitor was
Uladislas, son of Sigismond, king of Po-
land, so lately dethroned in Sweden. In
order to terminate these dissensions the
Russians renounced both princes, and
chose a ruler from among themselves.
Gustavus consented to make peace, and
by thus yielding the claim, obtained an
addition of territory which the newly
chosen sovereign ceded to him. "This
short war," says an historian, " was an ex-
cellent school for the young king. He
fought under the brave Count Jacques de
la Gardie, whose valor so struck the Rus-
sians with admiration that they gave his
name a place in their calendar. "
After having perfected his naturally rare
military talents by experience, Gustavus
Adolphus, seconded by his brave and re-
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 29
nowned generals, soon outwitted the eter-
nal enemy of Ms race, Sigismond, who had
used all his power to overthrow him, and
had even seized one of his continental
provinces. Gustavus soon forced him to
withdraw from it, and he also took several
Prussian cities which had favored the at-
tempts of Sigismond.
His power, threatened on all sides, was
thus assured by a succession of victories;
and the liberal spirit of the Swedes, whose
devotion to their king shrank before no
sacrifice, joined to a wise administration,
soon replenished the public treasury, which
had been drained by so many wars.
It has been well remarked, that no king
ever took into his hands the reins of gov-
ernment under more unfavorable circum-
stances; and we may add, that never
were difficulties more swiftly surmounted.
It was necessary for him, so to speak, to
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? 30 GusTAvus Adolphus.
conquer his inheritance, and to purchase
his right to the throne with his blood.
He never drew the sword in a spirit of
conquest, nor for the mere love of war;
the interest of his country was his only
motive of action; he made war only that
he might bring peace. He sternly dis-
countenanced every act of vengeance; he
gave the example of courage in battle, and
of generosity and magnanimity after tri-
umph and victory. He was full of solici-
tude for his soldiers, but he tolerated on
their part no license, and insisted on a strict
cultivation of etiquette and religion in
camp. Regular worship was held there --
morning and evening, the entire army bent
the knee before God and reverently im-
plored his aid and his favor. The king
himself was every-where; giving encour-
agement and counsel here, lifting with a
helping hand there, marching ahead in
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 31
the midst of bloody contest, and handling
the pickax in the trenches. While main-
taining discipline among his soldiers he
suppressed the bastinado as a punishment,
and thus showed himself even more jealous
of the dignity of humanity than do several
civilized nations of to-day. He v^as also
as prudent as brave, always surrounding
himself with the wisest counselors, and
consulting each of his States before enter-
ing upon any public enterprise.
His energy and power of endurance
were almost incredible. When sick or
wounded he was never heard to complain,
nor was he ever seen taking care of him-
self. During the Russian campaign he
was attacked by an intermittent fever,
but, far from keeping his bed, he amused
himself by fencing with one of his of-
ficers, and gave himself up to the sport
with such ardor that he broke out in a
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? 32 GusTAvus Adolphus.
profuse perspiration, and thus conquered
the fever.
Several times during his career he was
saved from death, almost as by miracle.
During the Livonian campaign with the
Poles, a shot swept the place he had occu-
pied the moment after he had left it. On
another occasion several fell around him
under a shower of balls, so close that the
blood of their wounds spurted upon his
clothes, and a few moments later a shot
pierced his tent and passed just above his
head. At Dantzic he gave orders to seven
small boats to seize a redoubt, and, in
order to be more sure of the result, he di-
rected one of the embarkations himself.
While thus employed he received a shot
in his stomach. The wound was quite
severe, but he wrote home the same day:
"It was a warm engagement, and I was
also wounded; but I thank God that my
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? GUSTAVUS Al>OLPHUS.
life and health are not in danger, and trust,
that, after a few days, I shall be able to
resume the command. "
Three months later, in Prussia, he was
again severely wounded in a battle with
the Duke of Brandenbui^g, an ally of his
rival, the King of Poland.
The day after the accident he again
wrote a letter to his people, in which we
are at a loss to know which most to ad-
mire, his courage or his resignation. ^
" We presented ourselves before the ene-
my," said he, "mounted and on foot, and
we played so well our artillery that we
thought we had put them to flight. But
God permitted it otherwise. Just arrived
at the spot where we expected and hoped
to rout them entirely, a ball struck me on
the shoulder, near the neck. It was this
alone that prevented us from finishing the
battle. Nevertheless, I thank God that in
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? 34 GusTAvus Adolphus.
the midst of my misfortune he permits me
to hope for the speedy recovery of my
health and strength.
Near the end of the same war against
Poland and Prussia, Gustavus ran still an-
other risk of losing his life. An Austrian
army, composed of eight thousand infantry
and two thousand cavalry, came up to the
aid of Poland. Gustavus Adolphus de-
manded of Wallenstein, Duke of Fried-
land, who had sent the army, what motive
he had in mingling himself in his affairs.
Wallenstein replied arrogantly, "My mas-
ter, the Emperor, has too many troops, and
is obliged to send a few of them to his
friends. "
In order to combat this new adversary
the Swedish king had need of re-enforce-
ments, and, while waiting, he desired to
take refuge behind the ramparts of Marien-
burg, one of the cities he had taken from
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 35
Prussia. But one of his generals allowed
himself to be drawn into an engagement
with the Imperialists and exposed his
whole corps to comjDlete destruction. Al-
ready the Swedish battalions began to
fall back before the forces of Wallenstein,
when Gustavus Adolphus, warned of the
threatened defeat, rushed with all haste to
the rescue. Drawn into the general tu-
mult, and, so to speak, lost in it, he was
on the point of being taken by one of the
enemy's cavalry, whose saber brushed his
head and occasioned the loss of his hat.
Scarcely escaped from this danger, he near-
ly fell into the hands of another of the
cavalry, who even seized him by the arm.
All would soon have been over with Gus-
tavus Adolphus had he not been seen by
a Swedish dragoon, who flew to his de-
fense, and delivered him from death by
giving death to the Austrian.
3
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? S6 GusTAVus Adolphus.
Providence evidently protected the life
of the King of Sweden, and reserved him
for yet greater purposes. And the king
always recognized, and was always grate-
ful for this Divine protection. He con-
fided in it without reserve. In the midst
of bloody battles, as at home, he felt him-
self as under the eye of God, and ever
renewedly placed himself in his hands.
'' God," said he often, " has given me the
crown, not that I should fear or remain in
repose, but that I may consecrate my life
to his glory and to the good of my sub-
jects. " In fact, the glory of God seemed
to be the continual aim of all the king's
movements. His faith shone out in all his
words. The cause of the Gospel was his
own cause, and its triumph was his most
ardent wish.
Master of Prussia as far as Dantzic, his
first care was to write to the authorities of
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? Gustavus found Studying the Bible,
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 39
all the conquered cities, to deliver up to
the Protestants all their places of worship
of which they had been deprived. He
recommended to the Pastors to preach
faithfully the Word of God, to administer
the Lord's Supper with care, and to awak-
en every-where, as much as possible, true
Christian life.
He could not tolerate profanity, nor
light and disrespectful jesting of any kind
concerning religion. He was often found
alone, reading his Bible. At one time he
said: "I seek to fortify myself against
perverse flatterers by meditating on the
Sacred Word. A person in my position
owes only to God an account of his actions,
and it is precisely this independence of
position which occasions a multitude of
temptations, against which we are never
sufficiently on our guard. "
His private and family life was as beau-
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? 40 GusTAvus Adolphus.
tiful as was his public career. Mild and
loving toward all his relatives, he was, to
his mother especially, the kindest and most
respectful of sons; nor did power change
at all his sentiments in this regard. Long
after coming to the throne he begged his
mother to still remain with him, and to
love him as she ever had done.
Eiga had held out in a siege to the last
extremity, and had caused great losses in
the Swedish army. The city being finally
taken, the inhabitants could only expect
severe terms and heavy chastisement ; but
Gustavus Adolphus, here as elsewhere,
displayed a wonderful Christian magna-
nimity. He treated the conquered with
a mildness that equally astonished both
friends and enemies.
After the siege of Riga, Gustavus's broth-
er, Charles Philip, fell very sick. He was
so tenderly cared for, and so surrounded
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 41
by his brother's watchful kindness, that
the young Duke wrote to his sister Cath-
arine : " The converse of the king is so in-
teresting, and his society so agreeable, that
the time passes without my being able to
think of my sufferings. " The death of this
prince was a great grief to the heart of the
king. In a letter written on this occasion
the following touching and appreciative
passage is found :
"His heart was never cast down by
misfortunes and reverses. In spite of his
youth, he loved his country too well to
remain at rest in his house when Poland
attacked Sweden. He constantly sought
to excite to courage the young nobility.
O, my country ! what hast thou not lost
in him ! "
Charles Philip had just attained his
twenty-fii'st year, and aw^akened many brill-
iant hopes. The royal family of Sweden,
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? 42 GusTAvus Adolphus.
which, a few years before, numbered three
members, was now reduced to a single
one.
Gustavus Adolphus married the beauti-
ful Marie Eleonore, of the house of Bran-
denburg. Never was there a royal union
of purer love, nor one that took place
under more favorable auspices. It had
been long and lovingly anticipated by
both princess and king. The gift of the
heart had really preceded that of the
hand.
His religion was important above all
other matters, and he did not neglect it
even during his very brief sojourn at Ber-
lin, whither he went to demand the con-
sent of the mother of the princess. He
went into the sanctuary to implore God's
blessing on his choice, and paid so close
attention to the sermon that he noted
down all the principal points.
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 43
His marriage was celebrated with mucli
pomp, Nov. 28, 1620, in his palace at
Stockholm.
Their domestic happiness was untroub-
led until the sorrow of a dead-born child
fell over them, and changed a day that
would have been one of rejoicing into one
of mourning. This was a great grief to
the king, but he recognized it as the will
of his heavenly Father, and as a chastise-
ment for him. He wrote to his brother-in-
law, the Duke of Brandenburg :
"I must tell you the sorrow that has
come to my house. God has punished me
in giving me a dead child. "
But he did not in anywise rebel against
Providence when another similar sorrow
fell to his lot, and made him fear that he
should have no inheritor to the throne.
