KING. You mean that I have transgressed—that I have gone too far? Speak up! But do it like a servant of the Lord, and not like a conceited schoolmaster.... Have I gone too far?
OLAVUS. That is not the way to put the question. The proper way is to ask whether the others have any right on their side.
KING. Go ahead and ask!
OLAVUS. Dacke is the mouthpiece of warranted dissatisfaction. Being the brother-in-law of Christian II, the Emperor is the guardian of his children, and they have inherited a claim to the Swedish throne, as the constitution cannot be cancelled by a rebellion.[4] Bishop Magnus Haraldsson is the spokesman of all the illegally exiled bishops.
KING. Illegally, you say?
OLAVUS. [Raising his voice] Yes, because the law of Sweden does not drive any man away on account of his faith.
KING. Take care!
OLAVUS. Too late now!—The dissatisfaction of the peasants is warranted, because the Riksdag at Vesterås authorised the King to seize only the property of bishops and convents. When he took what belonged to parish churches and private persons, he became guilty of a crime.
KING. You are a daring man!
OLAVUS. Nothing compared with what I used to be!—As far as Herman Israel is concerned, he called recently on the King to offer a treaty of friendship, and it was stupid of the King to reject it.