Description of Stockholm.--Christina Gyllenstjerna.--Hemming Gad.--Christiern II.--Gustaf Trolle.--Dissension between Sten Sture and Gustaf Trolle.--Siege of Stäket.--First Expedition of Christiern II. against Sweden.--Trial of the Archbishop.--Arcimboldo.--Second Expedition of Christiern II. against Sweden.--Capture of Gustavus Vasa.--Resignation of the Archbishop.--Hostilities of Christiern II.--Farewell of Arcimboldo. The old town of Stockholm was beyond all doubt the most picturesque capital in Europe. Perched on an isle of rock at the eastern extremity of Lake Mälar, it stood forth like a sentinel guarding the entrance to the heart of Sweden. Around its base on north and south dashed the foaming waters of the Mälar, seeking their outlet through a narrow winding channel to the Baltic. Across this channel on the south, and connected with the city by a bridge, the towering cliffs of Södermalm gazed calmly down upon the busy traffic of the city's streets; and far away beyond the channel on the north stretched an undulating plain, dotted with little patches of green shrubbery and forest. On the west the city commanded a wide view over an enchanting lake studded with darkly wooded isles, above whose trees peeped here and there some grim turret or lofty spire. Finally, in the east, the burgher standing on the city's walls could trace for several miles the current of a silver stream, glittering in the sunlight, and twisting in and out among the islands along the coast until at last it lost itself in the mighty waters of the Baltic.