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144
His death.
Peter Brahe’s
history of the swedes.
testimony
regarding him.
[1544—CC.
affairs. The three following he passed chiefly in
silence, and as it seemed, with no great pain ; he
was often seen to raise his hands as in prayer.
Having received the sacrament, made confession of
his faith, and sworn to his son to adhere firmly to
it; he beckoned for writing materials, and
inscribed these words, "Once confessed, so persist, or
a hundred times repeated,"—but his trembling hand
had not power to finish the sentence. The
confessor continued his exhortations, till, as life was
flying, Steno Ericson Lejonhufvud interrupted him
by saying, " All that you talk is in vain, for our
lord heareth 110 more." Thereupon the priest bent
down to the ear of the dying man and said, " If
thou believe in Jesus Christ, and hear my voice,
give us some sign thereof." To the amazement
of all, the king answered with a loud voice," Yes !"
This was his last breath, at eight of the clock in the
morning, the 29th of September, 1560.
Gustavus in his best days is thus depicted by his
sister’s son, Peter Brahe 3. " His stature was that
of a man of middle height, something more than
six feet4. He had a round head, fair hair, a
comely, large, long beard, quick eyes, small straight
nose, a well-shaped mouth, ruddy lips, blooming
cheeks, his body of a reddish brown, so goodly that
not a spot was to be found on him whereupon a
needle’s point could be set, strong arms, a full
person, neatly shaped hands and feet; in a word, so
well-formed and justly proportioned, as a skilful
limner at his best might paint a man. He took
pleasure in wearing stout raiment, proper for a
man and a king, and however his clothes were cut,
they fitted him perfectly well. His complexion
was choleric sanguine ; he was of a cheerful, gay,
and jovial turn, untroubled and free from scorn ;
and how many guests soever were found in his
halls, he knew how to fit himself to each in
converse and discourse as their place required. He
kept an honourable and royal court, as well of
native as foreign lords and gentlemen, and a
decorously ordered drawing-room 5. Daily in the
afternoon an hour was appointed, when all the
nobles behoved to come to the ball-room. There
was the mistress of the householdfi with the
ladies, and the king’s musicians played to them.
Every second or third day the king rode out with
his lords and ladies, either to the chase or to take
the air, and in pleasure (then yet an innocent word)
to pass away the time. Every week he had a
fencing-school free to all comers, and kept the
young nobles at practice as well in this art as in
every other knightly exercise, wherein he himself
took great contentment. And whoso in this
excelled the others, was requited with an honourable
present, whether it were a gold ring or a pearl
garland, or to lead the dance with some young lady
of the court. To hear music the king took great
pleasure, as well with men’s voices, as with sweet
and delightsome instruments ; and he had not only
good judgment to give an opinion thereanent, but
lie was himself an artist both to sing and to play.
Among all instruments he held the lute most dear,
and there was no evening when he was alone that
he did not solace himself with it. Although he
was not so deeply versed in bookish studies and the
like, for that in early youth he was taken from
them to court-service, yet his judgment was by
nature so sharp-sighted, upon the handiwork of
artists of all kinds, images and paintings, portraits,
landscapes, buildings, also of the natures of birds,
beasts, trees, and roots, that herein he excelled
those who had made such things their study. Set
he once eyes upon a man fairly, then would he have
assurance of knowing him well again, after ten or
twenty years’ time, and he could judge of his nature
and character by his aspect. He had a
super-naturally good memory; what he had heard once
or twice he never forgot; where he had once
passed by, he never needed again to inquire of the
way ; and he knew not only the names of the
villages, but also those of the peasants, if he had
stayed there in his youth. Much good luck he had
in his days before other men, not only at cards or
dice, when he sat down to play, which happened
not often, but also in victories and successes in his
warlike enterprises, with tillage and breeding of
cattle, finding of treasure in the earth, mines, and
fisheries of all sorts. His royal castles and manors
overflowed with plenteousness. He had likewise
the fear of God before his eyes, serving him with
gladness, both at morn and even-tide ; and though
lie rejoiced in the society of fair and engaging
dames, yet was he so chaste that he was never
brought into scandal for any, nor was it ever said
that children were born to him out of wedlock, but
he kept himself true to his nuptial vow. In the
sum ; God had endowed him above his fellows with
great ability, high understanding, ay,d many princely
virtues, so that he was well worthy to bear the
kingly sceptre and the crown. For it was not only
that he was sagacious and versatile ; he was also
manly and virtuous, in judgment sharp-sighted and
fair, and in many matters tender of heart."
Such was his portraiture, drawn in the bloom of
life. With years came seriousness ; and in a form
more worthy of honour than his, age has been rarely
seen. We have described him by his actions and
the testimony of his contemporaries. Nothing
remains to be added, unless to say that in our
generation he would have excited wonder still* more by
his virtues than his failings. In both he belongs
to another race than the present ; but his life was
for many races and ages.
3 In his chronicle, under the year 1532.
4 "Three ells;" of two feet. The Swedish foot is nearly
one-third of an inch shorter than the English; Gustavus
therefore was probably about 5 feet 11 inches. T.
5 Fruntimmer, ladies’ chamber.
6 Ilofmasterinnan.
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