[196] Ranke, vol. i. p. 487.
[197] Ranke, Hist. of the Popes, vol. ii. p. 141.
[198] John, before his ascension to the throne, had been confined in strict captivity by his brother Eric. His wife, a Polish princess, the last descendant of the Jagellonica family, and an adherent of the Church of Rome, shared his imprisonment; the sad and gloomy hours of which were rendered less painful by the frequent visits of a Roman Catholic priest, who shewed them the greatest sympathy. It seems that this made some impression upon John, and rendered him favourable towards the Papists.
[199] Crét. vol. ii. p. 195.
[200] Ranke informs us that John, troubled by remorse for his brother’s assassination, was very anxious to receive absolution;—as if the word of a man could quiet the gnawings of conscience, that unsparing avenger of crime!
[201] Crét. vol. i. p. 449.
[202] Ibid.
[203] This fact is reported by all the Jesuit historians. We, however, have too good an opinion of the Waldenses not to suspect that the Jesuits, in order to deceive and impose upon the populace, had mixed among some few apostates a number of Roman Catholics who were willing to appear converted heretics.
[204] See also Crét. vol. iv. pp. 200, 201.
[205] Crét. vol iv. pp. 221, 222.