Straegnetz, fourteen miles from Gripiliolm. is a fmall town on
the banks of the Maeler. That lake never appears a large ex-
panfe of water, but is divided into numerous bays or inlets, which
feem like ib many detached lakes. Its furface is interfperfed with
rocky iflands, and its perpendicular banks are covered to the
water’s edge with hanging groves ; but the eye is tired with the
tedious uniformity of the firs and pines, which form almoft the
only trees that fringe its banks, or overfpread its iflands.
The cathedral, a large red brick building, with a fquare tower
roofed with copper, contains the fepulchres of the adminiflrator
Steno Sture the elder, and of Charles the Ninth.
The fepulchre of Steno Sture is a farcophagus of marble, ornamented
with a fword, helmet, and buckler.
His body was formerly buried in the monaflery of Griplholm:
when that monaftery was abolifhed, at the introduction of the pro-
teflant religion, it was removed to the pariih church of Kerm-
bo, and in 1577 conveyed in Rate to this cathedral, by order of
Charles the Ninth, then duke of Sudermanland.
Time had mouldered his tomb, and his remains were not
diftinguifhed by any memorial, until the fepulchre which now
covers his afhes was ereCled by the prefent king. His majefty
confidered it as a national reproach, that no tomb or infcription
ihould be ereCted in honour of a man, who, in the capacity of
adminiflrator, directed the helm of flate during thirty turbulent
years, and fupported the rights of his countrymen againft the repeated
invafions of the Danes; who gave to his country equal
laws ;
laws j and, no lefs eminent for his protection of letters, founded
the univerfity of Upfala.
The tomb of Charles the Ninth ftands near the altar, on it is
the equeflrian figure of the king in complete amour, the fame
which he is faid to have worn in his life-time.
Although the tranfcendent merits of Charles the Ninth are
eclipfed by the fuperior qualities of his father and fon, yet, even
as the fon of Guflavus Vafa, and father of Guflavus Adolphus,
he feems to fhine no lefs with native than with reflected luflre.
Compelled from neceffity to take up arms in conjunction with
John, and to aflifl in depoiing Eric the Fourteenth, yet he behaved
to his unfortunate brother with humanity and deference,
oppofed and condemned his affafli nation, and openly remonflrated
againft the indignity offered to his remains.
The life of Charles the Ninth was almoft a continued
ftruggle againft civil commotions and foreign invafions; yet
amidft thofe foreign and domeftic troubles his whole adminiftra-
tion was refpeCted at home and abroad. He had long been the
real, while Sigifmond, who chiefly refided in Poland, was the
nominal, fovereign ; until the unanimous voice of the nation de-
pofed the weak and bigotted Sigifmond, and raifed Charles to
the throne of Sweden; a meafure fo well conducted as not to appear
effeCled by his own private intrigues, but rather the refult of
national affeCtion and national neceffity.
Charles, in his conduCt as king, fully anfwered the fanguine
expectations of his people. He was enterprifing, yet cautious in
V ol., III. R war,