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1592.]
Statutes of
Calmar. JOHN AND CHARLES.
Future government of
Sweden and Poland. 175
rejection of the proffered crown, to which Sigis-
mund willingly agreed’. John himself subse-
quently complained that the council had employed
the agency of monks and priests to overcome his
reluctance. Erie Sparrd’s return from Poland at
length fully determined his resolves. This noble-
man’s co-operation decided the matter, in Poland by
his promise of Esthonia, in Sweden by his repre-
sentations that nothing had been promised. He is
likewise the author of the " Statutes of Calmar
anent the government of both kingdoms 2," which
on Sigisniund’s departure were laid before the
kings for their subscription, and on the 7th
September, 1587, were signed.
This was in truth a new Union of Calmar, under
changed circumstances, but not less favourable to
the grandees. The spirit of the old northern nobi-
lity of princes breaks forth again, and not in the
most circumspect phrase. Here it is hi id down
that to the nobility of Sweden belongs high re-
verence and honour, seeing that from of old they
have possessed the chief rank after kings and
princes, of whom they are mostly descended, like
as such leaders too have sprung from them ;
—a re-
miniscence doubtless intended as a reply to the
reproaches of the king’s kindred, that John had
married beneath his dignity ;
—wherefore it was to
be understood, that many kinds of court-service
might be below the rank of nobility, as for instance
being employed as guards, lackeys, and the like,
which should be interdicted to a Swedish noble-
man, even if he offered himself thereto. The object
of the Calmar statutes is declared to be the defence
of the religion and freedom of the realm (in another
sense, certainly’, from that which they carried in
Charles’ blazon) under a Catholic sovereign, reign-
ing likewise in Poland. In respect to the former,
J(dm’s liturgy is made the rule, with the ulterior
provisions which should be settled at a future
assembly of the Swedish church. Sigismund was
not allowed to effect any change therein, nor ever
to come to Sweden with more than ten Catholic
clergymen ; yet the nuns of Vadstena might have
their own Catholic priest, and this convent, in
common with the others erected by John, was to
be maintained. In other points the ordinary terms
of unions ap[)ear ; peace and alliance (conjointly
against Russia both for offence and defence) be-
tween the two kingdoms, law and liberty unimjiaired
in each, and government by natives only. This,
after Sigismund should have mounted the Swedish
throne, was to be conducted in his absence, and
under him wlien he was present, which was to be
at least every third year, by
" certain of the chief
men," to the number of seven ;
and it was to be
changed every second or third year. (3ne of these
duke Charles might name, yet without precedence
or other place than that which th(.*person selected
had by birth the right of occupying among the
others. The duke’s rights otherwise remained as
they had been lately determined by the ordinance
of Vadstena, and the king confirms to him as well
as to the counts and free-barons, in consideration
1
Ipsemet princeps Sigismundus a Polonica totus abhorruit
profectione, parentique factus aliquoties supplex, illam de-
jirecari conatur. Messeiiius, vii. 84.
2 Statuta Calmariensia de regimine utriusque regni. The
Latin original the author has not seen. Charles entitles it,
" a form of government, which the Lord Eric Sparre had
of their taking an oath of fidelity, their hereditary
fiefs. The great offices of the realm, as steward,
marshal, chancellor, and admiral, as also chiefs of
provinces or lieutenants, were to be filled uj) by
the king from li.sts proj)osed by the council. The
public treasures, jewels, artillery, military stores,
were not to be removed out of the country, and as
little any portion of the revenue, excepting what
might be required for the marringe festivities of
the sovereign and liis children, according to the
Land’s Law. No new tax could be imposed in the
king’s absence. Upon war, peace, and alliances the
estates of Sweden were to be heard, and without
their approval no injunction or prohibition issued
in Poland was to be valid. No Swede could be con-
demned except in Sweden, and conformably to the
Swedish law, and after the matter had been tried
before his peers. From Livonia an appeal was to lie
to the Swedish council. Of the conquered provinces
no jiart was to be ceded, nor any portion of the terri-
tory of the kingdom, and all were placed only under
Swedish rule and authority. Revolt in one kingdom
might be quieted by aid from the other, with reim-
bursement of costs. Sigismund was to be crowned
in Upsala by a Swedish archbishop, professing the
religion of Sweden, not by any Papist. His eldest
son succeeded in Sweden according to hereditary
right, in Poland when he should be elected ; the
second son was to have a duchy in Sweden, yet not
all Finland, nor Lifland ;
for other sons the Poles
might provide, as for the king’s daughters born
in Poland. If king John should have children by
his second marriage, Sigismund was to confirm those
advantages which their father should settle upon
them by will. Such are the princijial contents of
those articles; we may add, that the king is also
bound to watch over the inirity of the Swedish
language. In documents which concern both king-
doms the Latin was to be employed ;
wherefore the
king is also bound to cause to be educated in clas-
sical studies, at his own cost, some noble youths of
the kingdom, and others who are to be appointed to
chanceries and high offices of the church. It is
declared that all the foregoing had been accorded,
subscribed, and sealed by John, Sigismund, and
Charles, with the ])rincipal nobles of Sweden ;
the
signatures of the two first-named only are found.
In liow far Charles was aware of this form of go-
vernment will soon be seen. The council writes to
Sigismund in Poland, February the 8th, 1588, and
exhorts him to maintain irrefragably what he had
promised and sworn in " the latest constitution
"
which had been arranged between both kings.
This was the " Sevenmen’s Government, after
the example of the electors of Germany," which
the great Gustavus Adolphus mentions, as devised
by certain lords of the council,
" who would have
been right well content," he says,
" if the king had
been a spear, and thrust through the body of the
duke, whereby they might have been quit of both ;"
adding,
" these fellows too were they, who coun-
selled king John to educate his son for both king-
doms (tliat wasjin the Catholic religion), which made
drawn up;" (Speech to tlie Council after John’s death, Wcr-
wing, 1, 107,) and adds, "our brother and lord the king,
who had imagined to himself the erection of a new monarchy,
so soon as lie could procure for his son the kingdom of Poland
along with Sweden, assented to all the plans tending towards
this object." Ibid.
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