II.

Extract from the Swedo-Gothic Bishops' Chronicle, of Andreas dai Rhyzelius, D.D., Bishop of Linköping.-Linköping, 1752.

Doctor Petrus Magni, [the last Bishop of Westeras of the Romish communion] born of honourable lineage, at Rybro, parish of Tillburga, Westennania. His father, Mans Jonson, captain of the castle of Westeras, was crucified by the tyrannical command of King Christiern. The son, Petrus, had studied long, first at home in his own country, and then abroad in Germany, France, and Italy, whereby he made himself worthy to become a Doctor; but he had previously, on June 6, 1499, been ordained, at Wadsterna, Monk and Rector of the School, as also Chaplain to the Bishop of Linköping, Henrici Tiddemann, for the year 1504. He was sent from the above cloister to Rome on important affairs, and was in the mean time advanced to the situation of Procurator, or Manager, in the House of Santa Brigita, at Rome, in which all pilgrims from the kingdom of Sweden and Gothland were lodged and maintained. The zeal and diligence he manifested for that house pleasantly appear, by reading a lengthened letter which, on October 6, 1512, he wrote from thence to the Bishops and Counsellors of this kingdom (Sweden). Which letter Counsellor Andreas von Steineman has inserted in his remarks on Bishop Petri Swarti's History of Bishops. From this time Doctor Petrus Magni continued in Rome; possessed considerable acquaintance and favour at the court of the Pope; and inasmuch as he was a learned man, knowing many languages, he served the Pope as a chancellor (notary). Wherefore it was not difficult for him to become a Bishop; which took place thus. On the Sunday that Peter Summanvader was by the Chapter deposed, the King asked the members who they knew of and desired to have in the stead of the deposed; when the King named this Doctor Petrus Magni, who was then in Rome. The King's proposal was supported by the consent of all. The Pope was therefore written to on the subject. As soon as the letter arrived, the choice was confirmed by the Pope, and the elected, by the Pope's command there in Rome, ordained Bishop, by a Cardinal. Some suppose that the Bishop was at the same time, likewise by papal command, made Doctor: yet be this as it may. But it is certainly said, and very credible, that the cautious King Gustaf Emkein, who had already in his thoughts the reformation of religion, did for this cause desire to have the Bishop ordained in Rome, that he might have a canonically-consecrated Bishop in the kingdom who could ordain others; and that the papistical should not, after our Church had separated from them, be able to charge us with not having successionem apostolicam, or not being canonical, or not having properly-ordained Priests. That the King had this in his mind may be inferred, and the inference is strengthened by what afterwards took place; for the King caused this Bishop, Peter Manson, who had been consecrated at Rome, not only, on the 5th of January, 1525, to ordain and consecrate three Bishops, viz. M. Magnum Haralde to Skara, M. Magnum Sommar to Stragnas, and M. Martinum Skyke to Abo, but also, in the year

1531, the Sunday before Festum Michaelis, in the Grey Friars' Cloister at Stockholm, M. Laurentium Petri Nericeum as Archbishop, to which office he had just before been regularly elected. It is not to be wondered at, if this Bishop was in his mind papistical, who not only from his childhood was nursed up in the popish faith, but also lived so many years in Rome, imbibed the principles and tenets of the papal Church, and heard all the calumnies and railings against Luther and his adherents in doctrine, whilst even here in this kingdom, there was no lack of such as urged him to oppose the reformation undertaken; as the Bishop of Linköping, Dr. Hans Braske, who requested him, while yet in Rome, that he would counsel the Pope to send some inquisitors, potent and vigorous men, who might prevent the contemplated change in religion. Notwithstanding all these things, the Bishop Petrus, who immediately on his arrival, took the charge and government of his diocese, was very cautious that he might not by violence openly, neither by fraud and craft privately set himself against the reformation of religion, but signed the Westeras Recess, in 1527, and likewise the Abo Statute, in the year 1529; also when, in the year 1530, some in his diocese showed themselves impatient and turbulent, because of the change in religion, he did, by a circular letter, exhort them to quietness and a more mature consideration of the

matter.

He is considered, however, to have remained unchanged, as regards the Popish faith and doctrine, till he was removed by death at a somewhat great age, in the year 1534, the Sunday next before Whitsuntide.

III.

Extract from the History of the former Bishops of the Diocese of Westeras, by Petri Andreas Magnus, Bishop of Westeras, [the second Bishop of that Diocese subsequent to the Reformation.]-Stockholm.

Doctor Per Manson (Petrus Magni) had studied long in Sweden, travelled subsequently abroad (to escape the tyranny of King Christiern) to Germany, Italy and France, and resided a long time in Rome; was also there the manager of St. Brita's Hospital for many years; served also the Pope Leo X. in many respects in his Chancellery in issuing of letters, for he was a learned man, wherefore the Pope found occasion to advance and confirm him as Bishop of Westeras, after he had from thence received a regular call thereto. This Bishop was descended from an honourable and free-born lineage, being born in Rybro, parish Tillburga. His father was called Mans Janson, and was captain in the Castle of Westeras, when he at a great age, though innocent, was crucified by the tyrant, King Christiern. This Bishop, along with the other Bishops in Sweden, especially Hans Braske, in Linköping, Harald Manson, in Skara, and Archbishop Johannes Magnus, opposed very violently King Gustaf Emkein's Reformation in Religion, and the Marriage of the Priests, as also other useful matters, which King Gustaf Emkein and such as held with him sought to introduce: so that if he had not died, as took place in

1534, he would either have been deposed from his office and honour, or necessitated to fly from the kingdom, with the above named Bishops and other Prelates 3.

IV.

A Copy of a Letter written by Gustavus I. King of Sweden, to the Bishop of Rome, Adrian VI.

GUSTAVUS I. REX SUECIA,

ADRIANO VI. PONTIFICI MAXIMO.

[Litteræ Gustavi Regis Sueciæ ad Pontificem, quibus rogat Episcopos confirmari, a Capitulis Ecclesiarum Regni electos vel postulatos. 1523. (Ex Archivo Castri S. Angeli, Ann. IV. cap. II. no. 17.)]

Intus devote pedum oscula beatorum.

Beatissime Pater,-Vacaverunt dui[a] Ecclesiæ Cathedrales in terris nostris: tandem Præpositi et Capitula earum supplicaverunt Clementiæ nostræ quod pro eis, quos rite et canonice elegerant, literas nostras ad Sanctitatem vestram dare vellemus, et eo citius solatio Pastorum et Episcoporum gaudere possent. Elegerant Prælati et Canonici Upsalenses post resignationem Domini Gustavi Archiepiscopi Upsalensis Reverendum Patrem D. Johannem Gothum Sanctitatis vestræ Commissarium, et Canonicum ejusdem Ecclesiæ Upsalensis in eorum Archiepiscopum. Elegerant Canonici Scarenses post mortem Vincentii Episcopi Scarensis Magistrum Burge Magnum Haralli Archidiaconum in Episcopum Scarensem. Similiter Strangenenses post mortem D. Matthæi Episcopi elegerant Præpositum D. Magnum Sommar in Episcopum Strangenensem. Prælati etiam et Canonici Aroscienses post mortem D. Ottonis Episcopi eorum, postulaverunt in eorum Episcopum, Religiosum Patrem Dominum nostrum Petrum Magni, qui jam est Provisor Domus Sanctæ Brigidæ in Urbe Româ; et quamvis Episcopus Aboensis Arvidius superiori anno mortuus est, non tamen adhuc processit Capitulum Aboense ad electionem novi Pastoris et Episcopi, propterea quod ipsa Ecclesia Aboensis occupata fuerat per inimicos, a quibus eam nuper cum toto Ducatu Finlandiæ eripuimus, et Coronæ adjecimus. Grati sunt nobis et populo nobis subjecto omnes præfati Electi Episcopi quos Sanctitati vestræ confirmandos offerimus, supplicantes quod Sanctitas vestra attento periculo quod in his malis temporibus Religioni ex vacantibus Ecclesiis accedere possit; quantocius confirmet, atque gratiori de solutione debitorum Cameræ Apostolicæ cum eis agere dignetur; ex quo illæ Ecclesiæ jam pauperrimæ sunt, et omnibus rebus penitus spoliatæ : et ultra hoc præfati Electi

3 In the above it is said that Peter Manson was confirmed Bishop of Westeras by Leo X. This is not correct. Leo X died in 1521. His successor was Adrian VI., who died September 14, 1523, the very day on which the letter of King Gustavus is dated. Peter Manson's confirmation to the episcopate, therefore, must have been by Clement VII., who succeeded Adrian, and continued Bishop of Rome till 1534, the year of Peter Manson's death.

singulos Episcopales census contra inimicos Ecclesiastica Libertatis jam expenderunt, et adhuc quotidie expendunt: quâ liberalitate Sancta Sedes Apostolica ex nobis et regnis nostris majora beneficia consequetur ; nosque in majus obsequium Sanctitati vestræ adstringet, quam diu et felicissime valere optamus.

Ex Civitate nostra regia Stockholmensis, A. D. 1523, 14 die Septembris, sub nostro sigillo *.

GUSTAVUS, Dei Gratia Suecorum et Gothorum Rex.

De Mandato Serenissimi Domini Regis,

L. ANDRIA Secretarius subscripsi.

The Swedish Episcopate consists of fourteen members: Upsal, Archbishop; Linköping, Skara, Strægnæs, Westeras, Wexio, Abo, Lund, Borgo, Gottemburg, Calmar, Carlstad, Hernæsund and Gothland, Bishops.

The Danish Bishoprics are eight in number, Seeland; Laaland; Fünen ; Ribe; Aerhuus; Viborg; Als; Aalborg. Those in Norway five, Christiana; Christiansand; Bergen; Trondheim; Nordland: and one (Rejkiavick) in Iceland, where formerly there were two, Skalholt, and Holum, which were combined in 1797.

Two of these, Abo and Borgo, are now under the dominion of Russia. For the information here contained, I am indebted partly to the Rev. W. Palmer, author of the Origines Liturgicæ, and partly to the Rev. J. W. Warter, Vicar of Tarring.

4 Petrus Magni was not, properly speaking, the successor of Bishop Otto, as is stated in the King's letter. After Otto's death, in 1522, the choice fell on Petrus Jacobi, called Summanvader; but he was, in consequence of his rebellious proceedings, deposed shortly after his ordination, and subsequently executed. This is the reason why the King does not mention him; for in the beginning of his reign he gave many proofs of his unwillingness to break with the Pope and his adherents.

CHAPTER IX.

On the Episcopacy of the Moravians..

Or a kindred subject to the foregoing inquiry into the genuineness of the episcopacy of Sweden, is one entered into subsequently with regard to the Moravians, the omission of whose name in the answer to Question 20, was made the subject of remark by some. This inquiry concerning the Moravians first appeared in the British Magazine of 1836, and was reprinted with additions, as follows, as a single tract last year, in the Leeds' Christian Miscellany.

The claim of any body of Christians to be considered a true branch of the Church of Christ, must at all times be a matter of deep interest to those who desire to see all who are called by the name of Christ, “continuing in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the (consequently acceptable) breaking of bread and in prayers."-Acts ii. 42. When, therefore, among the numerous bodies which are in a state of separation from the apostolical Church in England, one is found which claims, equally with that Church, the possession of the apostolic commission, it cannot be wondered at, that when that claim is brought forward, as in one or two cases it lately has been, it should excite the attention of the members of the Church, and lead them to inquire into the nature of it. And as the desire of all must be to see the wounds in Christ's body healed, rather than torn more widely open, it would be with a wish to find that claim established, that the inquiry would be made. For so would there be more reasonable hope, that, in God's good time, the division would cease.

It was with these feelings and this desire that the writer of these remarks commenced his inquiry (the result of which is now submitted to the reader) into the claims of the Moravians (so called) to be considered an Episcopal, i. e. an apostolic branch of the Church of Christ. Into the state of religion among them, either as it was or as it is, he has no intention to enter; the former he is unwilling, the latter he is unqualified, to discuss. He proposes, therefore, to limit the inquiry to the grounds on which they rest their claim