Dalarne and other places
is largely due to this man and several of the Norwegian brothers. We
have therefore appointed our subject Nils Andreae to be prior of
Vesteras, trusting that he will prove a friend to Sweden, by expelling
the foreigners and preventing all such conspiracies in future. We beg
you also ... to punish all offenders among your brotherhood, that we be
not forced to punish them ourselves."[137]

Later in the same year Gustavus asserted his claim with even more
distinctness to the monastery of Gripsholm. That monastery, it will be
remembered, was on the estate at one time belonging to the monarch's
father. It therefore was a special object of his greed. At a meeting of
the Cabinet he laid his case before them, and offered to abide by their
decree. There was, of course, no question what their decree would be.
The monastery was adjudged the property of the king, and all the inmates
were instructed to withdraw. This judgment naturally caused an outcry in
certain quarters. So Gustavus addressed the monks of Gripsholm with
unctious promises, and under the mask of friendship obtained from them a
written statement that they were satisfied of the justice of his claim.
This document, a copy of which was filed among the royal papers, bears
singular testimony to the meanness of the king. "Our title to Gripsholm
Monastery," the wretched victims wrote, "has been disputed, and, the
matter being laid before the Cabinet, they have determined that
Gustavus, as heir of the founder, is entitled to the premises. He has
offered us another monastery in place of this, but we feared lest that
too might some day prove to be the property of other heirs, and have
requested permission to disband and retire each of us according to his
own caprice. It has now been agreed that Gustavus shall provide us with
the money and clothing which we need, and in return that he shall be
entitled to the monastery together with all the property that we have
acquired." At the close of this affecting document the writers expressed
their gratitude to the monarch for his generosity. Armed with this
evidence of his good intentions, Gustavus addressed the Dalesmen with a
view to calm their wrath. "You are aware," he wrote with confidence,
"that the elder Sten Sture, who was a brother of our father's mother,
founded Gripsholm Monastery with property that would have descended by
law to our father, and that Sten Sture induced our father to append his
signat