at Old Upsala. Stephen, a native ¡of East Gothland, -was raised to the
dignity o f Archbishop in the year 11-64, ;and was the first Archbishop
that Sweden -had possessed. Talca, who was consecrated in ¿287,
transferred bis residence to New Upsala, in consequence o f the destruction
of the old cathedral by fire, in the year 1246. The present
cathedral was built in the 13 th .century, under the direction .of Stephen
Bonneville, a Trench architect, and was designed after the model o f
the church of Notre Dame, at Paris.
The inside of the cathedral is striking; like all other Swedish churches
Which I have seen, it was very clean and kept in excellent order; a
double row o f fourteen fluted pillars runs from one .end to the other;
the organ is the largest in Sweden : the altar is very magnificently decorated.
Above it there is an image of our Saviour on the cross, and
two Scripture pieces, one on each side. Bound the inside are various
cemeteries, some of them magnificent. The one to whidh I was naturally
led in the first place, from my previous knowledge o f ¡his history,
and my high admiration of his heroism and exalted character, was
that o f Gustavos Yasa, the deliverer o f has country and founder of
the dynasty which still continues to occupy the throne: a dynasty
remarkable for containing a greater number o f princes o f ability than
any other dynasty in Europe. Bust the splendid qualities which they
possessed (if we except Gustavus Yasa and Charles XL,’) served only
to injure their country, by exhausting its resources .and plunging it
into greater misfortunes than it would otherwise have been exposed to.
Perhaps the greatest misfortune to a country is to possess a prince o f
abilities according to the common acceptation o f the word, because it
almost uniformly leads him to pursue a line o f conduct that is inconsistent
with the true interests o f his country.
The monument o f 'Gustavus Vasa stands in a private chapél, and is
an oblong monument of marble, with pyramids at each angle. His
figure is represented in marble between the figures of his two first wives,
who were buried in the same tomb. This monument is a good deal
injured by a fire, which formerly laid waste the cathedral of Upsala.
One of the pyramids has fallen down, and the statues themselves are
mutilated, particularly those; o f his queens; Upon- the tomb is engraved;
a. genealogical table; tracing his pedigree to the ancient princes
of the north. Such a pedigree was not worth transcribing, and was.
quite unnecessary to enhance the merit of Gustavus Yasa, who was one
o f the greatest and best kings’ that ever filled a throne.. ,
Near the altar stands a silver coffin containing the bones o f Erie X IY.
the eldest, son of Gustavus Vasa; who was esteemed a saint. The unfortunate
history o f this prince has been related in a former chapter of
this work..
Another monument, is that of JohnlHl the second son of Gustavus
Vasa, who deposed; his brother;, and afterwards poisoned him,, and succeeded
him as Ring o f Sweden. He was aprince of the most winning
affability of manners; and possessed uncommon skill in languages, and
a very great stock o f erudition. But he; seems to have been a: prince;
destitute o f fixed principles, incapable of steadiness, and chiefly directed
by the opinions o f his wives. During his father’s, life-time he
was; a zealous Lutheran; but marrying a Roman Catholic lady, he became
as keen a; partizan of Catholicism, and attempted1 to introduce
it again into Sweden at the hazard o f a civil war. He was commanded
by the Pope to fast one day every week as; a penance for his brothers
murder; a penance which it is said he constantly performed all his; life
long with the utmost punctuality. His; first wife dying, he married a
Lutheran lady. This: change soon cooled his zeal: foE the Roman Catholic
religion, and he became at last quite indifferent about religion
altogether. His unvVise conduct deprived him o f the whole o f his
popularity, and the greatest part o f his; power. He left a feeble sceptre
to his son Sigismond, Ring wf Poland, which was soon wrested from,
hi» grasp by Charles DC, the fourth son of Gustavus Vasa, and father
o f Gustavus Adolphus'.
There is; a splendid monument o f Catherine Jaghellbn, Princess of
Poland, and wife o f John HI. raised by her uxorious husband. She
was a woman, o f great beauty ; but being1 a Roman Catholic, and
stirring' up her husband to restore, that religion in Sweden,, she proved
injurious to the country over which her husband reigned,
x 2