After turning down the offer of becoming professor at Uppsala University, Angermannus was forced to become vicar in the remote city Öregrund.

In his preachings he spoke sharply against papism and liturgy until eventually John sent some men to arrest him and he was taken to the prison in Åbo, Finland.

With some help he managed to escape, and got on a boat back to Stockholm to the king's brother Duke Charles with whom he thought himself secure.

For these reasons the chapter of Uppsala elected him archbishop in 1593, although neither the Duke Charles nor the present king Sigismund were in favor of it.

His intent was to purge the country from everything which did not answer to the Lutheran doctrine, including everything from old Catholic and Pagan customs to sex outside of marriage; it also caused the first wave of witch trials in Sweden, though they did not lead to any death sentences.