from among his courtiers twelve to whom he granted the degree
of knighthood. Here again, as on the day of his election, he displayed
the sentiments that inspired his whole reign. No longer do we find among
the monarch's chosen counsellors the names of men illustrious in the
Church and Chapter. It was from the ranks of the lower classes that the
persons whom he was to knight were chosen, and from this time forward
the knights to all intents and purposes composed his Cabinet. No
stronger argument can be offered to show the utter humiliation of the
Church.[175]

The act of coronation was followed by a period of mirth. A rich repast
was offered by the king, at which the representatives of all the classes
were invited to be present. A new coin, also, bearing the full-length
figure of Gustavus, with his sword and sceptre, and wearing on his head
a crown, was issued and distributed gratuitously among the people. On
the following days the ceremony was prolonged by tilt and tourney. With
all the gallantry of a warmer climate two gladiators entered the lists
to combat for the hand of one of Sweden's high-born ladies. The
chronicler has immortalized the combatants, but the fair lady's name, by
reason of a blemish in the manuscript, is gone forever. From beginning
to end the scene was one which no eyewitness ever could forget. Years
later, it stirred the spirit of the author whose zeal has given us the
leading features of our narrative. It is a fitting picture with which to
close this tale.[176]

[Illustration]

The Swedish Revolution now was at an end, and the great achievements of
Gustavus Vasa had been done. Though not yet thirty-two, the youthful
monarch had already secured a place among the foremost leaders of the
world. We have watched the Swedish nation rise from insignificance,
through a series of remarkable developments, till its grandeur cast a
lengthened shadow across the face of northern Europe. In some regards
this revolution stands pre-eminent above all others known in history.
Few political upheavals have been more sudden, and few, if any, have
been more complete. Seven years was all Gustavus needed to annihilate
the ancient constitution, and fashion another structure of an absolutely
new design. The Cabinet, at one time the autocrat of Sweden, was now a
mere puppet in the monarch's hand. Under the guise of leader of the
people, Gustavus had crushed the magnates, with all their old
magnificence and power, beneath