Chapter I: Preface

In giving this sketch of the life of Gustavus Adolphus, no attempt has been made to present a complete life of the great king.

It is a history difficult for young people to understand, and for that reason only the leading events of a most eventful life have been presented.

It was first written for a lecture and entertainment, after the manner of my other entertainments on Church epochs, to be illustrated by stereopticon views, with three dramatic interludes—the first representing the joy of the Swedish people on Gustavus coming to the throne; the second showing Gustavus taking leave of his Parliament and friends as he is about to embark on the Thirty Years' War; the third, an act called "The Women who Loved Him." The evening was to open and close with church processionals in the native peasant costumes of Sweden and other Protestant countries of Europe.

It has been deemed best to present the story in book form, which will differ somewhat from the original lecture and dramatic representations, for the reason that pictures do away with the necessity for many words.

With the earnest prayer that this history may stir other heroic souls to stand for God in life's difficult places this sketch is submitted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Family of Gustavus Vasa 7

CHAPTER II.

Childhood and Youth of Gustavus Adolphus 12

CHAPTER III.

Gustavus as a Man 17

CHAPTER IV.

Gustavus and His Kingdom 21

CHAPTER V.

The Character of the King and His Times 28

CHAPTER VI.

The Thirty Years' War 36

CHAPTER VII.

The Thirty Years' War—Continued 44

CHAPTER VIII.

Conditions in Sweden 53

CHAPTER IX.

Gustavus in Germany 61

CHAPTER X.

Gustavus in Germany—Continued 84

CHAPTER XI.

Gustavus in Germany—Concluded 98

CHAPTER XII.

End of a Valuable Life 115

CHAPTER XIII.

Later History of the Thirty Years' War 132

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS II.