the rest were
precipitated into flight. Eriksson followed them a short distance, and
then retired; but meantime Olsson entered the city from another quarter,
and got possession of the enemy's cannon, ball, and powder. This he
carried to Gustavus, who had taken up his position on a ridge to the
north of the town. When now the garrison saw that they were worsted,
they set fire to the town and then retired to the castle. At this many
patriots rushed back into the burning town, burst open the shops and
wine-vaults, and parted their booty among them. As soon as the Danes saw
what was going on, their courage once more rose, and they fell upon the
plundering patriots, already half drunk with wine. Gustavus therefore
sent a detachment under Olsson into the town to drive the Danish
soldiers back. They met in the public square, and a long and bloody
battle followed; but at last the remnant of the Danish soldiers fled
and took refuge in the monastery. Here they remained three weeks, and
then escaped by boat to Stockholm. Gustavus, after the fight was over,
entered the town and destroyed every wine-cask in the place. Though the
town had fallen, the Castle of Vesteras still held out. Experience,
however, had made clear that it could not be reduced except by siege. He
therefore pitched his camp on the west side of the castle, and
despatched the main body of his forces to other parts.[60]

First of all, he ordered Eriksson and Olsson to attack Upsala. They
therefore proceeded with a body of infantry to a forest some twelve
miles from the city, and pitched their camp. As soon as the canons, with
the burgomaster and Council, heard that the city was to be attacked,
they sent a letter to the patriots urging them to postpone the onset
till after the 18th of May, Saint Erik's day, that they might celebrate
the festival. But their messenger brought back answer that as Saint
Erik's day was a Swedish festival, the patriots would enter the town
before that day and attend to the festival themselves. However, the
archbishop's steward, who held command of the town, felt no anxiety; and
out of bravado gave a sumptuous feast one evening on the esplanade. The
festivities were protracted with song and dance till after midnight; and
scarce had the sound of revelry died away, when the patriots, warned of
the midnight orgies, burst upon the town, beat down the guard, and held
possession of the streets before any of the carousers knew they were at
hand. S