Otho Crumpein, one of the most celebrated generals of the North, was employed by Christiern in his war with Steen Sture, and gained many signal victories over the Danes; and afterwards, by his master's orders, invested Stockholm. He was at length removed to Denmark by the tyrant, who was jealous of his talents.
191.
Ernestus.
Ernestus and Harfagar are fictitious characters. Puffendorff, however, reports that Steen Sture was killed by the treachery of one of his confidential friends.—The hint of the vision, l. 281-311, is taken from Lucan.
335.
Brask's proud genius.
Brask, Bishop of Lincoping, was secretly a partisan of Christiern's, and escaped the massacre of Stockholm by an artful contrivance. When the order for Trolle's arrest was signed by the Senate and Bishops, at the instigation of Steen Sture, he added his name to the rest, but secretly slipped under the seal a note, declaring his dissent: of this he informed Christiern, when under the edge of the axe. On Gustavus's insurrection, he at first remained neutral: afterwards, being besieged in his castle by Gustavus, he came over to him. But his invincible obstinacy and factious disposition were a great obstacle to Gustavus in the introduction of Lutheranism into his kingdom.
336.
Bernheim.
Bernheim is a fictitious character.