Pope Pius IV

Finally, John had him poisoned, February 1577, in the forty-fourth years of his age.

Contrary to his agreement with his brother, Charles of Sudermanland, John received homage as sole king, John III, and his son Sigismund was acknowledged as his heir and successor in 1569.

Like Eric at the beginning of his reign, he sought to lean upon the nobles, whose authority over the peasants he considerably enlarged, giving the higher nobility complete jurisdiction over their subjects.

As the Russians were threatening war, John concluded at Stettin in 1570 a peace with the Danes, which imposed considerable money burdens on Sweden.

But he did not possess the required strength of character to take so important a step.

With his philosophic skepticism, he let things have their course and allied himself to the party which seemed for the moment to offer him the greatest advantages.

Then Paul's successor, Pius IV, fulfilled at last the wish of all devout Catholics by reassembling the Council of Trent.

In fifteen sixty-three, the year of the final closing of the Council of Trent, the Polish diet renewed its request for an impartial Polish national synod and the primate, the Archbishop of Gnesen, Uchański, a favorer of the Reformation, was inclined to concede that demand.

Finally John had him poisoned, February 1577, in the 44th year of his age.

Contrary to his agreement with his brother, Charles of Sudermanland, John received homage as sole king, John III, and his son Sigismund was acknowledged as his heir and successor in 1569.

Like Eric at the beginning of his reign, he sought to lean upon the nobles, whose authority over the peasants he considerably enlarged, giving the higher nobility complete jurisdiction over their subjects.

As the Russians were threatening war, John concluded at Stettin in 1570 a peace with the Danes, which imposed considerable money burdens on Sweden.

But he did not possess the required strength of character to take so important a step.

With his philosophic skepticism, he let things have their course and allied himself to the party which seemed for the moment to offer him the greatest advantages.

Then Paul's successor, Pius IV, fulfilled at last the wish of all devout Catholics by reassembling the Council of Trent.

In 1563, the year of the final closing of the Council of Trent, the Polish diet renewed its request for an impartial Polish national synod, and the primate, the Archbishop of Gneisen, Uchanski, a favorer of the Reformation, was inclined to concede that demand.

It is unnecessary for me to mention here with what heavenly prudence, judgment, and sweetness she fulfilled all the duties of Prioress.

The reformation of the order dates from the year 1563, when the Constitutions were drawn up by the saint and approved by Pope Pius IV in 1565.

To understand more clearly the nature of the reform introduced by the saint with so much labor and difficulty, it is necessary to mention that, in the year 1205, some say 1209, Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had been a religious of Mount Carmel, gave to the Carmelites, who then lived on that holy mountain, a rule taken from another which had been given to the same order by John, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

This rule was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV in the year 1248 and was called the Primitive Rule.

Finally John had him poisoned, February 1577, in the forty-fourth years of his age.

Contrary to his agreement with his brother, Charles of Sudermanland, John received homage as sole king, John III, and his son Sigismund was acknowledged as his heir and successor in 1569.

Like Eric at the beginning of his reign, he sought to lean upon the nobles, whose authority over the peasants he considerably enlarged, giving the higher nobility complete jurisdiction over their subjects.

As the Russians were threatening war, John concluded at Stettin in 1570 a peace with the Danes, which imposed considerable money burdens on Sweden.

But he did not possess the required strength of character to take so important a step.

With his philosophic skepticism, he let things have their course and allied himself to the party which seemed for the moment to offer him the greatest advantages.

Then Paul's successor, Pius IV, fulfilled at last the wish of all devout Catholics by reassembling the Council of Trent.

In 1563, the year of the final closing of the Council of Trent, the Polish diet renewed its request for an impartial Polish national synod, and the primate, the Archbishop of Gneisen, Uchański, a favorer of the reformation, was inclined to concede that demand.