Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Reformation of the Church in Sweden
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
78
they must bow to the ordinances of God, even as their
humblest subjects. The combined interests of Church
and state had more or less predisposed Gustav Vasa for
the Evangelical Reformation from the very beginning
of his reign, and later this tendency developed and
ambition on his part to become the sole ruler of both
Church and state. This is clearly apparent from his
letter to the people of the province of Uppland,
assembled at a provincial fair in 1539. The king wrote:
"Let every one of you look after your horses, fields,
meadows, wives, children, and cattle, and refrain from
setting before us a goal for our government or religion;
for it behooves us, in behalf of God and justice and for
purely natural reasons, as a Christian king on this
earth to dictate rules and decrees for you and for all
our subjects; and it is meet that you, if you would
escape our wrath and severe punishment, remain
obedient to our royal commands, both in worldly things
and in religious matters."
The politico-ecclesiastical policies of the king were
furthered and shaped to a degree by two Germans, who
soon after their arrival gained the confidence of Gustav.
One of these was Conrad von Pyhy, alias
Peuting-er, who arrived in 1538. This adventurer was made
chancellor to the king the same year, and in that
capacity he sought to organize the Church of Sweden after
German and English models. The second adviser was
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
