Exeter, Nov. 4. 1851.
_Consecration of Bishops in Sweden_ (Vol. iv., p. 345.).--E. H. A. asks
whether any record exists of the consecration of Bethvid, Bishop of
_Strengnas_ in the time of Gustavus I., King of Sweden? I cannot reply
from this place with the certainty I might be able to do, if I had
access to my books and papers. But I may venture to state, that the
"consecration" (if by that term be meant the canonical and apostolical
ordination) of Bethvidus Sermonis, in common with that of all the
Lutheran Bishops of Sweden, is involved in much doubt and obscurity; the
fact being, that they all derive their orders from _Petrus Magni_,
Bishop of Westeras, who _is said_ to have been "consecrated" bishop of
that see at Rome by a cardinal in A.D. 1524, the then Pontiff having
acceded to the request of Gustavus Vasa to this effect. It is, however,
uncertain whether Petrus Magni ever received proper episcopal
consecration, although it appears probable he did. I endeavoured at one
time to ascertain the fact by reference to Rome; but though promised by
my correspondent (a British Romanist resident there) that he would
procure the examination of the Roll of Bishops in communion with the
Holy See, and consecrated by Papal license, for the purpose of
discovering whether Bishop Petrus Magni's name occurred therein or not,
I never heard more of the subject. I could not help judging, that this
silence on the part of my correspondent (to whom I was personally
unknown), after his having replied immediately and most civilly to my
first communication, was very eloquent and significant. But still the
doubt remains uncleared, as to whether the Swedish episcopacy possess or
not, _as they maintain they do_, the blessing of an apostolical and
canonical succession.