shall endeavour by a Friendly Mediation or by opposing all necessary means against force that these Countries Dominions and Territories with all the Rights Royalties Soveraign and absolute Dominion or Soveraignty thereof may remain whole and safe to him And for the greater security of all and singular the Premises VVe have subscribed this Instrument of Guaranty with Our own hand and have caused Our Great Seal of England to be affixed thereunto Given at Our Palace of Westminster the 23. day of February in the year one Thousand six Hundred Sixty five and in the Eighteen year of Our Reign Charles R. SOME LETTERS OF THE KING OF Great Britain THE King of Denmark AND THE DUKE OF Holstein Gottorp The King of Great Britains Letter to His Majesty the King of Denmark concerning a Mediation in the differences between His Majesty and the Duke of Holstein Gottorp CHarles the Second By the Grace of God King of Great Britain c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Christian the Fifth by the same Grace of Denmark Norway Goths and Vandals King Duke of Sleswick c. Greeting VVe were extreamly troubled to hear of the Differences lately arisen between your Majesty and Our good Cousin the Duke of Holstein for the nearness and tie of Blood and common Interests between you and therefore out of the Affection VVe bear to both your Families and the good and advantage of the same VVe did almost a Year ago offer our Mediation and good Offices between you and VVe had long since charged Our Minister residing at your Court to do it more solemnly if your Majesties Envoy residing with Us had not induced and desired Us as in favour of himself that all VVe should resolve to do therein might be done through his hands which We the rather consented to then because he charged himself seriously to represent to your Majesty the offers VVe made of Our Offices and Mediation But your Majesty having not hitherto sent Us any direct Answer thereunto and your said Envoy having only by the by insinuated to Us that your Majesty rather desisired that since this Affair seemed to be purely Domestick and concerned only the private Interests of two Princes of the same Blood it might be left to be determined among your selves VVe hoped not to have found your Majesty in this mind which VVe perceive by your Envoys discourse you are of However VVe cannot but out of the desire VVe have to reconcile two Princes that are of a Blood so nearly Related to Us and for other considerations which induce Us to concern Our Selves with a more special care in this matter than perhaps VVe should otherwise repeat again in the most solemn manner the first Offer of Our Mediation and good Offices not doubting but that your Majesty after having seriously reflected upon the thing will think fit to admit of Our good Offices and Mediation which you may be confident VVe shall always apply on all occasions which may concern your Majesty in such manner as you have reason to expect from the mutual Friendship between Us of which VVe shall always give your Majesty those Proofs and Arguments which you can desire c. July 2. 1677. The King of Denmark's Answer to his Majesty the King of Great Britain CHristian the Fifth By the Grace of God King of Denmark c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles the II. by the same Grace King of Great Britain c. Greeting By your Majesties Letters of the 10th of July last past VVe have understood more at large what Reasons induced you to offer Us your Mediation and good Offices for composing the Differences arising between Us and Our Cousin and Kinsman Christian Albert Duke of Holstein This Offer of your Majesties has been the more pleasing to Us because VVe do not doubt at all but it proceeds from a sincere and Brotherly affection towards Us and We put so great a trust in your Friendship that if there were place for any Mediation in these Differences VVe would as readily accept of your Interposition for the composing of them as VVe have accepted of the same in the present Negotiation for an Universal Peace which We have constantly endeavour'd should remain solely in your Majesty But the Disputes and Controversies complained of by the Duke of Gottorp to your Majesty being grounded upon no other foundation than his endeavours to lay aside all the Alliances and Treaties which have subsisted for many Ages betwixt Our Royal Predecessors and his and especially that which he Voluntarily made with Us at Rendsbourgh and approved several times after and so to free himself from all those ties by which he is bound to Us as a Vassal of Our Kingdom of Denmark and Our Dukedoms of Sleswick and Holstein are united together hoping after the Example of his Father who in the last unhappy VVar supported by the Arms of the King of Sweden his Son-in-Law and by the favour and unjust Authority of the English Usurper Cromwell without any respect of his obligations to Our Kingdom under colour of some frivolous and groundless pretensions extorted most unjust and almost intolerable conditions from Our Lord and Father of blessed and glorious Memory to accomplish and perfect his pernicious designs and unjust attempts in these troublesome times as well by the help of his Neighbours Armes as your Majesties Authority The Truth hereof appears also by this that though VVe have divers times proposed to his Dilection to restore him unto the former condition of his Ancestors if he would keep to the aforesaid Treaties and fulfil their Tenor he does not cease nevertheless to complain of Force and to sollicite the help and succours of other Princes and States to finish those unjust Enterprises he has proposed to himself From whence your Majesty according to your singular Prudence will easily judge whether VVe can without the greatest prejudice to Our Rights recede from the ancient Treaties and those which have been made between Us and the Duke of Gottorp upon which the safety of Our Kingdoms and Dominions in great measure depends or suffer them to be disputed and thereby expose Our Selves to new and everlasting Differences and Quarrels especially since it is expresly covenanted by the said Treaties that if any disputes shall hereafter arise they shall not be composed by the Mediation of other Princes but by other friendly and amicable means For these and other Reasons which we have ordered Our Envoy Extraordinary Resident at your Majesties Court to represent more amply to your Majesty We do not doubt in the least but your Majesty will not only think it wholly unjust that We should consent to such prejudicial Treaties and so contrary to the aforesaid Conventions and Domestick agreements but also that by vertue of the Alliances VVe have with your Majesty by which each of Us is obliged to promote the good of the other and to keep all dangers from him your Majesty will compel the
in all the calamities attending a VVar by which though the House of Gottorp hath suffered infinite Damages and Violations in its Rights yet were they never extinguished nor lest to the sole pleasure and determination of the King of Denmark as Supreme Prince But not to take the matter too high and to come nearer to our Subject let the beginning and end of the late VVar between the Danes and Swedes be diligently considered for from thence springs all the mischief Carolus Gustavus King of Sweden making VVar against Poland and having raised up many powerful Enemies who seemed to have reduced his Army to great streights Frederick the III. King of Denmark of happy Memory taking that opportunity declared VVar against the Swedes making great preparations both of Men and Arms as thinking he should never have a more favourable opportunity to recover his Losses and humble the Swedes And the King of Sweden being by Marriage with the Daughter of Frederick Duke of Gottorpe of happy Memory become nearly allied to that House the said Duke Frederick obtained a Promise from his Son-in-Law that he would hearken to a Peace which he undertook to mediate with the King of Denmark The Duke therefore wrote several Letters with his own hand to the King of Denmark to perswade him to Peace and not only profer'd his own assistance to conclude it but earnestly recommended the promoting of it to the Ambassador of the most Christian King Yet so far was the King of Denmark from taking this Office in good part that he never thought fit to give the Duke any Answer herein But the event of this unnecessary War was that the King of Denmark instead of reasonable conditions of Peace which the Duke of Gottorp might have obtained for him having spent his Forces was obliged at last to admit of such as a Conqueror would impose upon him And whilst this Treaty was a concluding by which Schonen and the neighbouring Provinces were yielded up to the Swedes the King of Sweden thought himself obliged to take care of the House of Gottorp which having sustained great damages in this War he thought ought likewise to receive all just Satisfaction Amongst other things it was agreed that the House of Gottorp should hold and enjoy the Dukedom of Sleswick hereafter not as formerly from the Crown of Denmark but independently and absolutely without subjection to any other Power To this the King of Denmark seemed at first very unwilling to consent but when the States of that Kingdom offered him the same Right over that part of the Dutchy of Sleswick which was his and thereby gave him occasion to aspire to the Monarchy of the whole Kingdom he approved thereof both for himself and the Duke of Gottorp Not long after the King having compassed his design and obtained the Monarchy of the Kingdom of Denmark from that time governed all things by his sole will and pleasure exercising an independent Authority and absolute Dominion over the Persons and Estates of his Subjects Thus the Danish Commonwealth being changed and all things having put on a new Face the King endeavoured all he could so to order the affairs of the Kingdom as might best establish his Authority enable him to repulse his Enemies and recover his Losses And nothing seeming more to oppose his designs then the Dukedom of Sleswick and Holstein eminent in Riches abounding with Valiant men and unaccustomed to such kind of Dominion which would adhere to the Duke of Gottorp who had Souldiers and a well-fortified Town there and that probably Holstein might demand help from the Emperor and Empire the Danes begun to have an ill Eye upon the Duke and his Fort of Tuningen suspecting his League with the Swedes and Journey to that King which they endeavoured many ways to traduce insomuch that their envy against the House of Gottorp and their Designs to break the Treaty made at Roschild appeared â—ain enough though they endeavoured to cover their designs by writing several Letters pretending all friendship and sincerity at the same time 〈◊〉 to put them in practise These Designs of Denmark being now grown so ripe that nothing but an opportunity seemed wanting it quickly offered it self For the King of France having made War upon the Vnited Netherlands and they having eased themselves of the burthen thereof upon Germany the Elector of Brandenburg joyned himself together with others with the Confederates in opposition to the most Christian King and afterwards concluded a Peace with him by the Mediation of the King of Sweden upon most advantageous Terms who having interposed his Guarantee to the King of France and the Elector soon after taking up Arms contrary thereunto the Emperor Elector of Brandenburg and others fearing lest the Swedes should make good their Guarantee by force of Armes drew the King of Denmark to their side for a diversion to the Swedes No sooner had the King of Denmark got this opportunity but he Muster'd his Army in Juitland and presently after put them into Quarters yet so as the Enemies of the Swedes at the Court had an opportunity still to perswade that King to a War against them which the Swedes endeavoured to divert by sending a splendid Embassy to Copenhaguen but without success being able to obtain only a short delay of that Expedition In this conjuncture of Affairs the King of Denmark had fully resolved upon a War against the Swedes but suspecting that the House of Gottorp to which he had shewed so much ill-will would not neglect their own Defence whereby his Designs might miscarry He thought in the first place by depriving it of all its Riches Arms Forts and Force to ruin it wholly and in order thereunto the King made several exorbitant Demands and moveing frequently with his Army seemed to Threaten open Violence afterwards in the Assembly of the States of the Province he challenged to himself the major part of the Revenues which had always been equally divided between him and the Duke of Gottorp leaving a very small proportion to the Duke But his Highness having signified by his Ambassadors to the Kings Commissioners that he would oppose this Demand as contrary to the Antient Customs the Assembly was dissolved without doing any thing and Adjourned to another time these Controversies encreasing daily more and more But the most remarkable was that about the Succession to the County of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst which being long debated was at last left to the Imperial Tribunal for a final decision the most Serene Dukes of Holstein-Ploen being Plaintiff against the King of Denmark and Dukes of Gottorp whilst these two last withstood joyntly the Dukes of Ploen according as they had agreed between them the business remained undetermined but the Duke of Holstein-Ploen going another way to work found means to transact with the King separately and so that obstacle being removed sentence was given in the Emperours Court against the Duke of Gottorp This Transaction was carried so secretly that
Trumpets sounding and having caused the Dukes Armes upon the great Guns to be defaced sent them with all the Ammunition partly to Rendsbourgh and partly to Copenhaguen and exacting also Contributions to the value of many Millions of Gold and a prodigious quantity of Corn Chariots and Horses wasting all the Dukes Villages and Towns with Quartering his Souldiers in them and causing them continually to pass and repass to and fro This his Majesty does to this day not having remitted a penny of Taxes and Impositions for the Dukes Subjects thus expressed though many times desired to it by the Dukes Letters and his Ambassadors and using the Duke at the same rate not permitting his Subjects and Servants to pay him any thing of his Revenue that both Prince and Subjects might at last perish by Famine and the many other Calamities they are forced to endure The King nevertheless being extreamly vexed that the Duke had chosen his abode in a City so Famous and Populous from whence the whole Story of the Barbarity exercised against him and the breach of so many reiterated Engagements might be spread over all the world employed all sorts of Persuasions and Cunning to get his Highness back and have him again in his Clutches and at his disposal but his Highness warned by his former Usage having learnt to distrust would not be prevailed upon His Majesty for all that remitted nothing of his Prosecution against the Duke and both by Letters and Envoys demanded especially with great earnestness that the Duke in compliance with the late Treaty if it may be so called at Rendsbourgh would solemnly receive from the King the Investiture of the Dukedome of Sleswick threatning for default thereof to Confiscate the same On the other hand the Duke sent him word that the Transactions at Rendsbourgh were so unjust that he thought his Promise less engaged thereby than the Danish Reputation Yet for fear of exposing his Subjects to greater Cruelties and to comply with the Times and the advice of those who thought that in Civility to the King the Duke would do well to send some Gentlemen to know his Majesties pleasure and upon what conditions he was resolved to grant that Fief for it is certain that it had been held formerly upon different conditions the Duke thereupon sent his Ambassadors to Copenhaguen to desire the King that he would be pleased first to remedy some of the chiefest grievances which had Relation to the Fief it self and then declare his pleasure about it The Ambassador during their stay at Copenhaguen had no success and having once mentioned the Grievances were scarce ever after admitted or heard the word Grievances offending the Danes extreamly and the Kings design being without any regard to them to order all things according to his own Pleasure Therefore the Ambassadors being advised by the Queen-Mother to return to their Master and let him know the whole business and the eminent danger a delay would cast him into and to return with new Instructions from him agreeable to the Kings will they parted from Copenhaguen without their Masters knowledge or effecting any thing But the King interpreting this and other things in the worst sence sent a little after three Commissioners to Sleswick the Metropolis of the Dukedome viz. The Earl of Rantzo the Lord Gloxin and the Baron Lenten Assessor of Gluckstad with Orders to Sequester the Dukedome in the Kings Name and absolving the Magistrates and People from their Allegiance to the Duke oblige them to take an Oath of Fidelity to the King and if any refused it to deprive them of all their Offices to bring in all the Dukes Revenues into the Kings Treasury and put a Garrison again in the Castle of Gottorp adding these secret Instructions that if the Duke did not comply with the Kings pleasure within six weeks and accept this Fief upon the Kings terms it should for ever be annexed to the Kingdom of Denmark And that these new Orders of the Kings might be more publick and the better observed the Kings Proclamation to that effect was published and affixed at Sleswick in opposition to which Usurpation the Duke published another together with his solemn Protestation commanding the States of the Dukedome and all his Subjects to continue in their Loyalty and Obedience to his Highness The Narrative of the matter of Fact might very well end here but that many calumnies thrown upon the House of Gottorp must make part of it Therefore that the Truth and the Innocence of the most Serene Duke may appear the better and to take off all subject of cavil from the Danes we will say something about what the Danes pretend to be most offended at that so the Justice of the Dukes Cause may be more evident First of all we shall speak about the Dukedome of Sleswick and shew that the Danes had not always the same right over it but sometimes little or none For when antiently the Venedi had great Wars with the Danes the Diocess of Sleswick being chiefly inâ—ested by their Inroades and Robberies to prevent it the Kings of Denmark erected it into a Lieutenancy to oppose them as formerly the Emperor had erected Denmark into a Marquisate In the beginning of the twelfth Century â—he Vandals having invaded Sleswick and razed the chief City thereof no body would accept of that Lieutenancy till at last Nicholas King of Denmark turn'd it into a Dukedome about the year 1118 and made his Brothers Son first Duke of it who being Murthered by his Subjects was Canoniz'd and call'd St. Canut Now whether this Canut received the Dukedome to hold as a Fief of Denmark is not only questioned but rather denied by the great Historian Jo. Adolphus Cypraeus in his Annals of Sleswick lib. 1. cap. 21. 'T is true it cannot be disputed but that the Kings of Denmark grant the same to be held as a Fief from them but the terms upon which have been different and the Kings sometimes reserved nothing to themselves but the Solemnity of the Investiture For Waldemar the Third with the Advice of the States of the Kingdom gave to Gerhard Earl of Holstein his Vnkle for him and his lawful Heirs the Dukedome of South-Juitland cum Dominio utili directo and all things belonging to it and all the Vassals in the Diocess of Sleswick to be enjoyed for ever by him and his quietly and peaceably and to be held as a Fief with the Armes of it Renouncing for him his Heirs and Successors all the Right that ever they had in the same Two years after King Christopher made over the Island of Femeren with the Propriety of it to John the III. Earl of Holstein and all his Heirs as well Male as Female to be held likewise as a Fief which Donation was confirmed by Waldemar the IIII. his Son And Christopher the II. being restored to his Throne Waldemar the III. who had Resigned it had the Hereditary Dukedome of Sleswick conferred upon him
the Duke of as if he should have provoked them justly to what they have done For those break the Peace who first commit Violences and not those that repel them and much less those that only endeavour to defend themselves saith Thucydides wherewith agrees the common opinion of the Learned in the Law who say That to make a Defence lawful it is not necessary to expect or receive the first blow Therefore what is objected to Chosroâ— in Procopius may be applyed here Those break the Peace who in time of Peace or League are first found to endeavour to surprize others and not thâ—se that are first in Arms. Now if any one will impartially consider all Transactions since the Peace of Roschild it can never be made out that the House of Gottorp has conspired against the King of Denmark but on the contrary that the King hath laid snares for the Duke from time to time and at last surpriz'd him at Rendsbourgh as hath been before said 7. If we consider well the means taken by the Danes to gratifie their desire of Revenge though they have covered their intentions with many fair words we shall find them very false and unjust For the Duke of Gottorp and his Ministers having been drawn to Rendsbourgh upon the hopes given and so many times confirmed of a fair composure of things and several protestations of friendship and kindness were presently after shut up and detained in Prison where they were forced to most unjust conditions there was quite another thing intended than what was acted and any man may easily see by what trick they were betrayed and trepanned Therefore whatever was concluded there is void in Law and the Danes have done nothing either in forcing the House of Gottorp to agree to these unjust conditions or extorting fit and just ones from it Neither have they hereby confirmed their old Right nor got a new one They have only taken Papers and Parchments from the Duke but not the Right they lookt for and in truth there has been only a Play Acted at Rendsbourgh but it was a Tragedy For if we weigh this by the Law of Nations which is chiefly of Force between free Princes and People the Convention at Rendsbourgh is absolutely null and void nothing being more contrary to Faith and Justice than such tricks as these and Princes being more strictly bound not to depart from it than any private person especially since the Articles with the House of Gottorp of 1658 were agreed upon and signed with such Ceremony and in such manner as equal them to an Oath and that by them not the King but the injur'd Duke is to be entirely restored It was a saying of the Antients That amongst good men all proceedings ought to be sincere Now Princes ought not only to be counted good but the best of men and the more punctual and sincere they are in their Treaties with others the greater will their Reputation be 8. This Transaction was likewise no small breach of the Law of Nations The King had desired the Duke after they had Feasted together friendly and kindly at Dennewerk to come and see him at Rendsbourgh and the Chancellor of the Kingdom having repeated this desire of the Kings the Duke sent word he would do himself the Honour to come and wait upon his Majesty His Highness was received with the shooting of Guns and all other demonstrations of kindness and respect that he might believe himself welcome But when he was detained a Prisoner with Guards to watch him and that those who ought to have been used like Guests and well entertained were not permitted to go away nay not so much as to stir out the Law of Nations was eminently broken and sufficient occasion given for Reparation Many wonder that the Duke would trust his Person and his Ministers with the King and that in a very strong Town But they will cease wondering when they know all the repeated protestations of true Friendship made by the King and his Ministers so that the Duke who has a generous and great Soul was afraid to be thought mistrustful or give a suspition of it esteeming with Livy that to trust was the way to be trusted Thus of old perish'd Dio who knowing that Calippus had laid ambushes for him was ashamed to use precaution against a Friend and one whose Guest he then was saith Plutarch 9. And here we must not omit the Violences used towards the Duke of Gottorp and his Ministers and the Troubles they were put to If a man puts another in Prison or Custody to extort from him all what is done by it is null say the Civilians Vid. Paulus I ctus Lib. 22. ff quod met caus gest Nay he that shuts any one in his house to get a Promise or Obligation from him does force him to it V. L. 1. Sent. Tit. 7. Sect. 8. Therefore in the Commonwealth of Rome by the Julian Law he was guilty of publick Violence who had shut up a man with an ill design restrained him or got an Obligation from him by force the Law declaring all such void l. 5. pr. ff ad l. Jul. de vi publicâ As force imposes a necessity upon the mind and is commonly accompanied with fear because of the imminent danger that unsetles the Soul lib. 1. quod met caus So the Duke of Gottorp a Friend a near Relation a Guest a Brother c. being come to visit his Friend Relation Brother c. endured not only many hard violent injuries and unjust things as well as all his Servants but was terrified daily with new threats and apprehensions of great Evils by which his Mind and his Body were brought so low that his grief cast him into a dangerous distemper Some of the Danes have endeavoured to conceal the disguise nay deny too what passed at Rendsbourgh and perhaps are yet unwilling to confess the truth not because they can stiffle what hath been done in the view of so many people then at Rendsbourgh but to suppress all they could the remembrance of this Infamous Story For we do not doubt but that there are many good men among the Danes who abhor the Counsel of that man who was then the great man with the King and never kept within bounds But however the Danes may be thought of by impartial judges of these things for his inexcusable proceeding they can neither reap any advantage thereby nor cause any damage to the House of Gottorp or render its condition worse For though by the Principles of Philosophy whosoever has promised any thing by force or fear seems to be bound to it in strictness of Law Yet since the Ancients have been of opinion that summum jus is sometimes injurious and that the Law of Nature abhors an unjust force or constraint no Prince ought to be bound by this summum jus when accompanied with force but rather restored to what has been forced from him which the following words of Grotius
against another Prince that is Soveraign as well as he and his Equal the injur'd Prince or any for him may perform the Office of Pretor use all means to procure a full and ample Reparation of his damages If the Duke of Gottorp is not strong enough to do it himself all Christian Princes and Commonwealths must make this cause theirs and employ all their Power to restore him For Wars may be undertook not only for Friends and Allies but for men as such if they are barbarously injured Grot. lib. 3. de I. B. P. c. 25. n. 1. seq And who is more injur'd than he who by a Cousin of the same Family his near Ally and Brother against his Faith so many times sworn is so ill used as to be deprived of all his Authority and Dignity Therefore since other Princes are not a little concerned when the condition of any Prince is brought so low contrary to all Justice and when perhaps his entire ruin is endeavoured especially if these base Counsels proceed from Ministers who in their actions and speeches have no regard to the great Asserter of Faith and consequently less to Faith it self the foundation of Justice and the tie of all human Societies all Princes and States ought first of all to take care that Faith be kept inviolable and Treaties and Contracts between them be not violated lest this tie of Friendship and Society being broke the world should fall into confusion by their câ—nnivence before the time decreed by Divine Providence And those Princes and States are chiefly obliged to take care of this Restitution who have guaranted the Treaties between the King of Denmark and the House of Gottorp and have signed the Instruments of Peace between Sweden and Germany and that of Roschild and Oliva engaging for the performance of them in such terms and expressions that if they were meant as they are set down which is not at all to be doubted no man but will believe they intend to perform their Promises And to induce them thereunto without any delay let the great danger of this example and the greatness of the Injuries be considered and that it is also the earnest request of the Duke of Gottorp who is every day more and more oppressed with new Injuries And since amongst these Princes that are Securities the good will of the most Serene and Potent King of Great Britain towards the House of Gottorp appears above the rest his Majesty having not only engaged himself with other Princes and States for the preservation of the Peace at Roschild and the Treaty of Copenhaguen made between the King of Denmark and the House of Gottorp soon after that at Roschild but having also passed his word and Guaranty for the Soveraignty yielded by the King and Kingdom of Denmark to the House of Gottorp and most especially his Majesty being now the Mediator of all publick Differences Give us leave most Potent King to let all the World know this great affection of your Majestie 's towards the House of Gottorp and to put you in mind of your special Engagement to our Duke for the Soveraignty of Sleswick which you can as easily make good as you were pleased to engage for it that you may be known for as great a Defender of the Civil as of the Christian Faith and in judging the Differences between the King of Denmark and the House of Gottorp or disposing all things to a Peace make use of that Equity and Moderation which may prove a Remedy to the Injur'd a Defence to the Oppressed and a Reward of Eternal Glory to your Majesty and the Noble People of England THE ARTICLES Of the TREATY at Rendsbourgh KNow all Men to whom these Presents shall come That whereas for the common Security and Safety several Treaties of Union and Conjunction have been heretofore made between the Kingdom of Denmark and the Dukedoms of Sleswick and Holstein which have been renewed augmented and changed according to the Exigence of times and that the most Serene and Potent Prince and Lord Christian the V. King of Denmark and Norway Goths and Vandals Duke of Sleswick and Holstein Stormar and Dithmars Earl of Oldenbourgh and Delmenhorst and the most Reverend and Serene Prince and Lord the Lord Christian Albert Heir of Norway Coadjutor of the Bishoprick of Lubeck Duke of Sleswick and Holstein Stormar and Dithmars Earl of Oldenbourgh and Delmenhorst judging it very necessary in these dangerous and troublesome times that such Treaties of Union be renewed after the Example of their Ancestors and be accommodated to the present condition and State of their Kingdoms and Dominions And his said Majesty having appointed on his part Here the Names of the Kings Commissioners were inserted and the said Duke on his part Here the Names of the Dukes Commissioners were inserted and the said Commissioners having accordingly met together have agreed upon the following Articles I. As his Royal Majesty and his most Serene Highness do Govern joyntly the Dukedom of Sleswick and Holstein and the Countries incorporated therein so they shall both endeavour according to the Contents of the former Treaties of Union unanimously to direct all their Counsels for the safety and augmentation of the said Dukedoms and to preserve them from all damage danger and detriment II. Therefore as often as necessity shall require it or any danger seems to threaten these Dukedoms they shall both do all they can by united Counsels and Forces to prevent it and if the thing comes to a War let no Truce be made nor Peace contracted before the danger be removed from both their Heads and satisfaction be made to both by the Enemy and the publick security provided for III. And as therefore his Royal Majesty by this takes entirely upon him the Guaranty and Defence both of the most Serene Duke and the part he has in the Dukedoms so his said most Serene Highness promises again that as often as his Royal Majesty shall be necessitated to draw Forces from his Kingdomes for the defence of these Dukedoms and the Countries incorporated therein or shall be in War against any Forrein Prince whosoever he be none excepted though his Majesty thinks it already his due by the Union he shall not only give him free passage through his Land and all his Towns but liberty to List and Muster Souldiers assigning them quarters and places to Encamp and helping the King with all his Power IIII. Because also during these troublesome times his Royal Majesty could not forbear by an unavoidable necessity to ask leave for his further security to put Garrisons of his own into the Forts of Gottorp and Tonningen and the Fortress of Stapelholme which his most Serene Highness has granted upon this certain hope that these troubles being over and the Peace made all things should be entirely given back and restored as they were And his most Serene Highness having made certain Leagues in which there are some things which give
no small jealousies to his Royal Majesty that he may hereafter be more secure of the intentions of his most Serene Highness and all occasion of mistrust be wholly taken away it is agreed and covenanted on both sides that it shall not be lawful hereafter for his most Serene Highness to make any Alliances with Forrein Princes and States without a previous communication with his Majesty and his consent obtained nor make use of any of those already made to the prejudice and detriment of his Royal Majesty V. And that the Forts and Strong-holds that are necessary for the Defence of these Dukedoms and Countries therein incorporated may be provided and furnished with all necessaries according to the Exigencies of times and the threatning dangers with least trouble to the States of the Provinces both Parties have agreed that hereafter the Contributions shall be brought into a common Treasury and shall not be imployed to any other use than this now mentioned VI. But because the Contributions that have been paid till now have been so far from keeping the Souldiers which are appointed for the Defence of these Dukedoms that his Majesty has been necessitated to add considerable sums out of his own Revenue and his most Serene Highness having put into his Coffers the best part of the Contributions he has received and employed the same to other uses for which his Majesty pretends a satisfaction to be made to him Therefore in lieu of a compensation and that all things as much as is possible may be re-establisht in the same state and restored according to the Rule of the antient Division which Hereditarily has been granted to each House His most Serene Highness quits wholly and for ever to his Royal Majesty the Territory of Swabstadt with half of the Chapter of Sleswick and of the Cathedral Church which together with the said Territory of Swabstadt was heretofore yielded to his most Serene Highness by his Sacred Royal Majesty of glorious Memory with all the Appurtenances Revenues Profits Domains Prerogatives and Royalties as his most Serene Highness had the same yielded to him and has quietly possessed till now VII As to the Controversies about the limits and other things relating to the Territories of Ripen and Tundern the discussion whereof remains in suspence till now they shall be decided by Equity and according to the Opinions of the Royal Commissioners who were present at the last Assembly held for that purpose and if hereafter any differences or disputes should arise either between his Majesty himself and his most Serene Highness or their subjects which cannot be determined by them they shall be composed amicably and according to the Articles of Union VIII And nothing being intended on both sides by the renewing of this Union and Treaty but to re-establish a perpetual and most necessary good understanding between the Royal and Ducal Families and to keep the same inviolable for ever and the novelties and changes which have happened in process of time having given not a little occasion of mistrust it is at last agreed and Covenanted that to reduce all things to their former condition as soon as may be his most Serene Highness and his Successors shall renounce fully and for ever their Soveraignty over the Dukedom of Sleswick and it's appurtenances together with the Island of Femaria which they obtained by the Peace of Roschild and the Treaty of Copenhaguen in the same manner as if they had never obtained or been in possession of the said Soveraignty and shall be obliged no less than heretofore within a year and a day as often as the case either by the death of the Lord or of the Vassal shall happen to demand and receive in due manner as heretofore hath been used from the Kings of Denmark the Investiture of the said Dukedom of Sleswick and it's Appurtenances together with the Island of Femaria and to perform all things according to the form prescribed by the Act of Renuntiation to be made by his most Serene Highness for which end his most Serene Highness has also obliged himself to deliver up again and consign into the hands of his Royal Majesty the Instrument he received from his late Sacred Majesty of glorious Memory and from these Senators of the Kingdom then in being which is hereby made void and rendred null Lastly this Union and Transaction shall remain entire and firm as the Basis and foundation of an everlasting Friendship and Alliance between both Houses and as a strong obligation by which his Royal Majesty and his most Serene Highness are joyned together and shall be inviolably observed by both parties and their Successors neither shall any of them do any thing contrary hereunto or suffer the same to be done and besides all that is not here altered shall by vertue of the antient Treaties remain in full force For the greater assurance of the performance of these Presents these Articles of Union and Agreement have been by Us as well his Majesties as his Highnesses Commissioners deputed for this affair signed and Sealed at Rendsbourg the 10. of July 1675. Out of the Articles of Vnion made 1533. Neither Party shall enter into a War without the Counsel and consent of the other And the same is confirmed by the other Treaties of Vnion Out of the Transaction at Othenwaldt 1579. If his Majesty for the defence of his Provinces and Subjects or the Conservation of his Dignity is necessitated to take up Arms so that the business cannot be determined by way of Justice or a fair Composure the most Serene Duke of Gottorp if the War hath been undertaken and ended by his advice and with his full consent after a previous deliberation shall be obliged to send the Succours agreed upon Out of the Concordats of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Dukedom of Sleswick Holstein 1593. Neither of the Parties shall make War without the Advice and consent of the other but if it happen that the King and Kingdom of Denmark and the Dukes of Sleswick and Holstein consent to refer their Controversies to the Cognizance and Decision of a Judicial Court and nevertheless either of them be attacked by force of Arms the other Party shall send such â—roops to his Assistance as by the following Articles are agreed upon Out of the Vnion renewed in the Year 1624. The Party whose Counsel and help is imployed may and ought to make use of this Right to profer his Mediation to the Parties entring into War for the composing their differences without coming to Arms and to this end must invite and joyn with him other Neutral Princes and States and if there be time and no danger will arise by delay let him propose all just and equitable conditions not derogating from the Dignity of the Princes engaged nor prejudicial to the cause and try what success that may have before they come to an open Rupture Out of the Inventory 4 Jul. 1675. made when the Fort of Tonningen
and all its Ammunition was delivered up This written Inventory with all the things set down therein were delivered and really received by me under-writen Lieutenant-General of the most Serene King of Denmark and Norway after the performance of the Surrender of the Fort of Tonningen and I do engage my Faith that all shall be fully restored according to the promise of his most Serene Royal Majesty and as it ought to be and to that end have subscribed this with my own hand Charles Arenstorff Out of the Instrument of Peace at Roschild 12. May 1658. As to the pretended satisfaction for the damages received by the last War the most Serene Duke of Gottorp the most excellent Mediators judging it fit condescends out of friendship and affection to remit all his pretensions thereunto for all the Vassalage remitted to him that the Amty between his most Serene Royal Majesty and the Duke and also the Kingdom of Denmark the Dukedoms and the Subjects of both Princes may remain firm and entire and that the good correspondence which ought to be between Allies Brothers and Neighbours may be preserved Out of the League between Sweden and Gottorp made May 24. 1661. And as there is no other cause for the making of this Alliance than to keep the Peace between the Princes of the North inviolate and render the security of the House of Gottorp established thereby more entire and the most Serene Duke of Gottorp not obliging himself in any thing to the King and Kingdom of Sweden but what relates to this Peace and Security and the preservation of the Friendship and Amity between them so no other Leagues whether already made or which shall be hereafter made shall prejudice either of the Parties nor be a hindrance to this Treaty or take place against it Besides the most Serene Duke that he may remove all suspition of his proceedings desires that the extension or interpretation of this League may no ways reach his Imperial Majesty or the Empire or any other Kings Electors and Princes if they do not injure the Duke contrary to the Peace of the North and he also reserves to himself the liberty to keep and improve by the best ways he shall think fit that good correspondence with the King of Denmark which may and ought to be between Neighbours and may be most advantageous to his Family Provinces and Subjects without derogating from the Peace of the North. Out of the Peace of Roschild made the 26 Feb. 1658. Art 22. His most Serene Majesty of Denmark shall be obliged to satisfie Prince Frederick Duke of Sleswick and Holstein-Gottorp according to Equity which satisfaction shall be treated of by his Royal Majesties and his Highnesses Commissioners yet so as that this Treaty be finished before the second of May. Out of the Instrument of Peace between the most Serene King of Denmark and the Duke at Copenhaguen 12 of May 1658. Art 6. And so in the Name of God the Grievances and Demands exhibited are either absolutely or provisionally taken off to the satisfaction of the interessed and the King and Prince do promise bona side and in words without equivocation that they will keep this Treaty and not recede from it under any pretence whatsoever whatever it may be and observe these Articles as faithfully as those of the Peace at Roschild employing all their cares to transmit and propagate this Friendship now renewed perfect and entire to their Posterity We Frederick III. King of Denmark and Norway c. declare by these Presents that we have after mature deliberation upon all that has been proposed by the Lords Mediators either by word of Mouth or in Writing concerning the Treaty and Conclusion of a Peace consented and by vertue of these Presents do consent to the same as far as they agree with the Acts passed by the three States for the establishing a Peace between Us and the King of Sweden Copenhaguen August 23. V. S. 1659. Another Declaration of his most Serene Royal Majesty upon the business of the Peace to be made with the King and Kingdom of Sweden presented to the Lords Mediators Plenipotentiaries at Copenhaguen We Frederick III. by the Grace of God King of Denmark and Norway Duke of Sleswick and Holstein c. To all and every one whom it doth or may any way concern Be it known that as we have among other things as well by our Declaration of the 14 24 August shewed our great propensity to a Peace to the Lords Mediators of the three States as by another of the 25 4 August Sept. delivered by Our Order into the Hands of the same Mediators by which we declare that after a due consideration of the Propositions of their Excellencies made as well by word of Mouth as in Writing the 18 28 of the same Month for a happy Issue of this present Peace We do consent to them all as far as they are agreeable with the resolutions past by the three States the 11 21 of May the 14 24 of July and 25 4 July August about the Peace to be made between Us and the King and Kingdom of Sweden so we do hereby testifie and confirm that VVe adhere still to the same Declaration and to give a greater proof of our said Inclination for Peace and to take away all sort of suspition of the contrary VVe declare by these Presents that VVe desire nothing more than that the Commissioners of both Parties without any delay of time may meet at the place before appointed for the Treaty of Peace and by the Mediation of the Ambassadors of the three States make a happy conclusion of the same without any further delay And VVe relying entirely upon the Integrity and Equity of the said Lords do also hereby declare That if it shall be thought fit to add or change any thing in the Treaty at Roschild we remit and leave it all to their discretion and care In greater trust and certainty whereof we have to these Presents set Our Royal Hand and Seal at Our Court at Copenhaguen the 19. of March 1660. Frederick III. Out of the Instrument of Peace at Roschild renewed in the Year 1660. Art 27 28. VVhereas it was agreed by the 22th Article of the Treaty at Roschild that his Royal Majesty of Denmark should be obliged to give an equitable satisfaction to the most High Prince the Duke of Sleswick and Holstein-Gottorp and his said Majesties and his said Highnesses Commissioners after several Conferences held at Copenhaguen the 12 22 of May 1658 having at last come to a final Agreement and Conclusion it is hereby stipulated that all those Treaties and Transactions shall be exactly observed and fulfilled faithfully on both sides Moreover if there has happened any thing in this or the precedent VVars which may any way create animosities and jealousies between his most Serene Royal Majesty and Kingdom of Denmark and his most Serene Highness the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp or any thing between
his most Serene Royal Majesty and his most Serene Highness their Ministers Servants or Subjects which may be taken any other ways than in good part It shall all as well for the sake of the mutual Consanguinity and especially of her most Serene Royal Majesty the Queen of Sweden as for the perpetuating the friendship between both Houses from this day forward be forgotten and be no more remembred to the prejudice of any one but by vertue of this Transaction be wholly extinguished And his most Serene Royal Majesty of Denmark will also when Denmark shall be evacuated not only withdraw his Army and Forces out of his Highnesses Country and Places but likewise do his utmost endeavour to oblige his Allies to send away and draw their Troops without any delay or â—ergiversation out of the Lands Towns and Forts of his Highness which they have possessed themselves of Out of the Treaty of Peace at Oliva Art 22. The Duke of Holstein-Gottorp by the consent of the Parties stipulating shall be included in this Peace Art 26. The same is repeated Art 31. It importing very much to the establishment of this Peace that it be made to reach all parties in Difference and that the safety of Trade between all the Parties engaged in the VVar be provided for and therefore though the Controversies that are depending between the most Serene King and Kingdom of Sweden and the most Serene King of Denmark cannot be well determined here but are now under discussion at Copenhaguen and in a fair way of Composure it is nevertheless Enacted that the Kingdoms and Countries of the most Serene King of Denmark and Norway included in the Danish Peace shall be comprehended in this Treaty so that all which has been agreed and concluded between the said Kings of Sweden and Denmark shall be part of this Peace as if the particulars were specifyed and set down in this Instrument yet so as not to derogate from any thing of the Treaty already concluded or which shall be concluded in Denmark between both Kings and Kingdoms 35. To the end that this Peace may be rendred more firm permanent and secure and remain inviolable on every side the said Parties as well Principal as Allies now Treating do promise besides that they will and intend to keep this Transaction and Peace inviolably with all its Articles Contents and Clauses and that it may not be violated hereafter they oblige themselves to a mutual Guaranty and reciprocal defence on all parts promising by these as firmly as it may be that if it happen that any Party be attacked by another or others either by Sea or Land against the Contents of this Treaty the Aggressor shall ipso facto be accounted by all the rest as the Breaker of this Peace losing all the benefit thereof and the rest of the Parties now Treating shall be obliged to assist the Party injured with their Forces and Arms within two Months at the furthest after thereunto desired by the injur'd Party and prosecute the VVar against the Aggressor until a Peace can be made to the satisfaction of all But if it happen that one Party shall receive any grievous injury by the other or some by others without force of Arms it shall not be lawful to the Injur'd to have presently recourse to Arms but endeavours shall be used to compose such kind of Controversies amicably and in a friendly manner Out of the Transactions at Gluckstadt Octob. 12. 1667. And first that a Friendly kind and filial affection may be restored between his most Serene Royal Majesty and the Duke of Gottorp all those things which have been acted directly or indirectly against the Union and and all those Treaties that concern the Kingdom of Denmark the Dukedoms of Sleswick and Holstein and all the Princes belonging to the same shall on both sides be absolutely forgotten and are abolisht for ever and the said Union except as to what has been in 1658 and 1660 otherwise determined by the aforesaid Treaties of Roschild and Copenhaguen shall subsist in its full force in Peace and VVar any pretence or interpretation whatsoever notwithstanding and shall be constantly observed And neither Party shall molest or oppose the other for any cause whatsoever contrary to the same At the end of this Transaction these words are set down VVe do Attest and Certifie that we have approved the foregoing Transaction and all and every the Articles and Clauses of the same and accordingly do approve agree and confirm it promising for Us Our Heirs and Successors upon Our Royal Faith that We shall not directly nor indirectly act or suffer any thing to be acted against the same and that we shall firmly adhere thereunto Given under Our Hand and Signet Frederick We CHARLES by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland KING Defender of the Faith c. Make known and certifie That whereas the most Serene Prince Frederick the III. by the same Grace of Denmark and Norway Goths and Vandals King Duke of Sleswick Hâ—lstein Stormar and Dithmars Earl in Oldenbourgh and Delmenhorst having wholly and fully freed and absolved the most High Prince the Lord Frederick Heir of Norway Duke of Sleswick and Holstein c. and his lawful Heirs Males from a certain Feudal Homage and Vassalage for the Dukedom of Sleswick and having yielded up to him and his Descendents Males the Dukedom of Sleswick with the Supreme and absolute Dominion thereof commonly called the Soveraignty and all its Rights and Appurtenances as appears more fully by the Treaty or Instrument And whereas the most High Prince the Lord Christian Albert Elected Bishop of Lubeck Heir of Norway Duke of Sleswick Holstein Stormar Dithmars Earl in Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst Our Cousin having desired Us by the Illustrious Sir John Leyenberg Knight Resident in Our Court for the most Potent King of Sweden that interposing our Authority We would confirm and ratifie by way of Guaranty the said Treaty or Covenant concluded at Copenhaguen with all and every one of its Clauses as it is set down word for word in the German Exemplar which We have received from the said Resident of the most Serene King of Sweden upon his Faith We therefore as well to gratifie the demand and desire of the most Serene King of Sweden as to shew the affection VVe bear and will always bear to the aforesaid Duke Christian Albert nearly joyned to Us both in Friendship and Blood have thought fit to constitute Our Selves as Guarantee and a Security for the observation of this Treaty or Convention concluded at Copenhaguen the 12 May 1658 as by these in the best most ample and secure form We do constitute Our Selves Guarantee and a Security for the same Promising upon Our Royal Faith that We will maintain the Duke Christian Albert his Heirs and Successors in the said and all other and singular their Rights and if any thing be attempted against his Highness his Heirs and Successors VVe
A Manifesto OR An Account of the State of the present Differences between the most Serene and Potent KING OF DENMARK and NORWAY CHRISTIAN the V. And the most Serene DUKE of SLESWICK AND HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP CHRISTIAN ALBERT Together with some Letters of the KING of Great Britain the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp concerning a Mediation in these Differences which the KING of Great Britain most Generously offer'd and the King of Denmark refused and slighted As also some other Letters of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lunenbourgh the Emperor c. Whereby the Calumnies of a certain Danish Minister are plainly Detected Printed in the Year 1677. A Praemonition to the Reader BEcause some Danish Ministers have publish'd Books full of lying Stories in the Courts of Princes and forg'd many Calumnies to the prejudice of the most Serene Duke of Holstein-Gottorp lest the Reader should doubt of the Truth of what is contain'd in this Manifesto we have added at the end hereof the Authentick Papers of several Treaties and Agreements which do clearly justifie every thing that is herein asserted An Account of the State of the present Differences between the most Serene and Potent King of Denmark and Norway Christian the V. And the most Serene Duke of Sleswick and Holstein-Gottorp Christian Albert. THE Differences between Christian the V. the most Serene and Potent King of Denmark and Norway and Christian Albert the most Serene Duke of Sleswick and Holstein-Gottorp wherein the Treaty made at Rendsburg on the X. day of July 1675. is to be in the first place fairly considered being the subject of this present discourse We hope we may with his Sacred Majesties leave Publish by command from the said Duke and in his name what-ever we can with truth alledge either as to the matter of Fact or Law in behalf of the most Serene House of Gottorp submitting it to the just Censure of the whole World And we are perswaded that these our endeavours can offend no person who loving true Piety follows the precepts of Christianity which allows of no War to be lawful but when it is just and necessary and especially betwixt such as profess the same Religion and are so nearly related in blood In the examination of the merits of this Cause we shall strictly observe this Rule To alledge nothing that is false and likewise neither omit nor disguise any truth to the prejudice of so just a Cause since the Justice of any cause cannot appear but by truth and faithfulness without which Justice is but imperfect And that Christian Princes and their most illustrious and excellent Ministers and Ambassadors who perhaps may at this time be employed in adjusting the Publick differences at N 〈…〉 eguen Ratisbone or elsewhere together with other great Men lovers of Justice may not be tyred with a prolix discourse We shall propose thed state of the case in a few words and then proceed to the Accusations wherewith the House of Gottorp is charged which we do not question but to answer so fully that all unprejudic'd persons may clearly judge of the matter of Fact upon which the said Accusations are for the most part grounded These Aspersions being wip'd off we shall add the Laws and Constitutions in vertue whereof the Duke of Gottorp ought notwithstanding the Treaty to which he was forced at Rendsburg to be entirely restored It is manifest to all that know any thing of our affairs that the most Serene House of Gottorp possessing several Provinces bordering upon Denmark which they have hitherto governed jointly with the Kings of Denmark pursuant to a Treaty between them That King has no reason to fear any thing from the House of Gottorp if he will but suffer it to enjoy it 's own Rights quietly VVhereas on the contrary the House of Gottorp lyes exposed to the Invasion of the Danes whenever they shall have a mind to lay hold of any fair opportunity and abuse their Power contrary to Justice and the Publick Faith For although heretofore the Earls of Holstein have had grievous Wars with the Kings of Denmark yet the state of Holstein and the neighbouring Provinces being much altered from what it was the Danes can have no reason to suspect the House of Gottorp and much less fear any harm from it except what they may bring upon themselves by provoking it by frequent Injuries and Assaults to it 's own Defence Since the Crown of Denmark is come to the Family of Oldenburg and that these Provinces have been more than once divided between these Kings of Denmark and the Dukes of Sleswick and Holstein the Power of the said Kings has been much encreased by the said Divisions and by their Successions to the Crown of Norway however it will appear that the Royalties of the House of Gottorp have not been therefore in the least diminished The Dukedomes of Sleswick and Holstein have been both so divided and the first held at least for many years from the Kingdom of Denmark as the other alwayes from the Empire The whole Dukedome of Sleswick is a part of Juitland reaching from the borders of Holstein to the Bridge of Coldingen one part of it being possessed by the House of Holstein-Gottorp and the other by the Kings of Denmark as Dukes of Sleswick Amongst the several Conditions from time to time agreed upon the following have been more than once confirmed viz. That the King of Denmark should not engage in any War unless for his own defence or the maintenance of his Dignity and then not till after having communicated the same to the said Dukes and that if thereupon a War should be agreed upon that then the Dukes of Sleswick of whom the King of Denmark is one should send to the said Kings assistance a certain number of Horse and Foot maintaining them at their own expences the King contributing proportionably for his part of the Dukedome and promising to defend both their Vassals Chytr lib. 24. Sat. p. 719. And we find that upon the said Kings not regarding this Agreement but making War of their own heads the Dukes of Gottorp have not been obliged to send the assistance stipulated though it has been demanded from them There have been almost perpetual VVars between the Danes and Swedes which in former Ages have had different successes but in this last Age been more favourable to the Swedes especially since the success of their Arms in Germany Hence it is come to pass that the Danes exasperated by the remembrance of the Losses they had sustained by their Provinces and Places which they had lost in hopes of better success and by the Instigation of evil Counsellors pouring oyle upon the Fire have taken all opportunities of making VVar against the Swedes without acquainting the Dukes of Gottorp much less consulting with them about it but with so ill success that they have been still punisht with greater Losses having likewise thereby involved the Provinces and Subjects of the said Duke
the Fief of it and his being in a League with the King of Sweden an Enemy to the Empire might probably cause him to be dispossest of the Dukedome of Holstein and the King to be invested therein Moreover that the King was fully resolved That neither the Duke nor any of his Ministers should be set at Liberty uniil he had seized all the Dukes strong-holds and that he would even confine his Highnâ—ss apart from all his Ministers and Servants and proceed to the Execution hereof by force of Arms. For as we have before mentioned they had already Body of Horse and Foot in Sleswick which blocked up the Castle of Gottorp where the Reverend Bishop of Lubeck Brother to the most Serene Duke then was and had also invested Tonningen and Holme and that nothing might retard the Surrender of Tonningen an Order was drawn by the Kings command for the Duke to Sign and send to the Person that commanded for him there The Duke seeing himself betrayed and without any help deprived of his Liberty and fallen into a very dangerous distemper fearing greater Evils might be intended against him and his Ministers which was not obscurely given him to understand suffered at length the Surrender of all his Forts and Forces to be extorted from him and though he only desired from the King that the Castle of Gottorp the place of his Residence might be free from a Garrison he could not obtain it nor so much as that the King would annex to that fatal Surrender a Promise to secure him by Reversal Letters of the Restitution of his Forts and what belonged to them But though this was promised by the Chancellor of the Kingdom in the hearing of the King and his Brother who never contradicted it yet his Majesty refused to oblige himself to it in Writing the Chancellor answering again for his Master that a Kings promise by word of Mouth was more to be valued than any other Security And when the Castle of Tonningen with all his Magazins and Ammunition was shortly after delivered up to Charles Arenstorf for the King he added these words to the foot of the Inventory which was signed by him That all things should be restored fully and faithfully according to the Kings Promise The Danes being Masters of the Castles of Gottorp and all the other Forts the Duke was carried to Gottorp on the 6. of Jâ—ly from one Prison to another For the Danes had not only seized the Passages Gates and Fortifications of that place but ordered a Company to watch night and day near his Highnesses Chamber to let him know that he was still their Prisoner The Prince being thus in their Power the Princess his Wife whom he had not been able by all his kind Letters to get out of Copenhaguen where her Mother had invited her before all these Troubles and kept her was at last restored to him perhaps for fear lest she might prevail upon the King her Brothers mind and avert those great Violences designed against her Husband and Children VVho would not have thought the King fully satisfied with this but it proved otherwise For the Earl of Alefield Governor of Holstein having sent for the President Kielmannus dictated to hâ—m eight Articles of great Importance and bid him acquaint the Duke with them by Bucâ—wald the Vice-President Kielman and Cramer and get him to declare his opinion about them detaining the said President Kielman still at Rendsbourgh This being done and they returned to Rendsbourgh did according to their Instructions declare his Highnesses mind upon every Head delivering also his Letters to the King and the Chancellor and intreating them to have some regard at least to Justice and Equity But all was in vain for the Chancellor and the Governor having sent for the Dukes Deputies and read to them these Eight Articles of their own Penning demanded with great Threats that the Duke should sign them without any Alteration or Limitation adding that if the Duke refused to obey the Kings will both Dukedomes and all belonging to them being now in the hands of his Majesty he could easily force a disarmed and forsaken Prince to do what his Majesty had a mind to and then it would be too late to Repent The Duke sensible of this new Violence and of his being kept a Prisoner by the Danes in his own Castle and House yielded at last to Force and with great reluctancy subscribed to these severe conditions as thinking it in vain to hope for any more reasonable and with his Brother the Bishop of Lubeck renounced their Supreme and Independent Right over the Dukedome of Sleswick which was extorted from them by meer Violence and Necessity At last the Duke being impatient to be kept always a Prisoner in his own House and to be forced every day to consent to what the Danes would exact and being informed that the City of Sleswick though unfortified was yet full of Danish Souldiers begun to be more jealous of the designs of the Danes and seared either yet a closer Imprisonment or to be conveyed God knows where The most Serene Queen Dowager of Denmark was now come to Augustberg and had sent for her Daughter the Dukes Wife who had acquainted the Duke her Husband with her intended Journey in obedience to her Mother praying him to accompany her But the Duke remembring that when the King went to Holstein just before these troubles the Dutchess his Wife had been sent for to Copenhaguen upon which all these mischiefs had befallen the House of Gottorp apprehended new Evils to him and his from this second Journey and thought of his escape Therefore to lay hold on the occasion his Highness caused some Horses to be made ready took a few of his Servants with him commanded that his Dogs should follow pretending his intention was to accompany his Dutchess part of the way and then recreate himself with Hunting but having gone a few hours with her taking his leave of her he rid away as fast as his Horse could carry him to Kilonium Being there as he was resolving to leave his tired Horses and prosecute his Journey in a common Coach word was brought him that the Danish Troopers were riding not only about Sleswick but every-where as far as Hambourgh and guarded all the ways not staying therefore to Dine he was scarce gone out of Town but he was met with two Danish Troopers who taking hold of the Reins of the Horses to stop the Coach the Duke telling them he was a certain Nobleman escaped to Eutin where he heard that both the Kielmans were carried away Prisoners to Copenhaguen From Eutin he came to Hambourgh indeed but as a Banisht Person and one forc'd to leave his Country and Subjects exposed to the will and pleasure of the Danes For the King afterwards contrary to the Engagement the 11. of March 1676. demolisht the strong Town of To 〈…〉 ngen and the Castle of Holme to the ground the Drums beating and the
John Meurs an excellent Writer of the Danish History relates of Margaret the prudent and careful Queen of Denmark that she made a Peace with Gerhard Duke of Sleswick and those of Holstein Covenanting That the sole Jurisdiction over Sleswick and Holstein should remain to their Dukes and Earls and that for the future she should not meddle in the Affairs thereof nor they in those of Denmark lib. 5. Contin Hist Dan. p. 9â— But Gerhard being Dead Margaret and her Husband Eric demanded the Guardianship of his Children and under that pretence seizing upon many Castles and Places of the Dukedome at last endeavoured to get the whole and reunite it to the Crown of Denmark which being perceived by Gerhards Sons and other Princes and that she demanded of them first absolutely to resign that Dukedome to the King and Kingdom of Denmark before they should receive the Investiture of it occasioned a sharp War for Thirty years At last when the Dukedom came to Adolph the last Duke of the House of Schawenburg and that by his Interest Christian the first Son to Theodorick Earl of Oldenburgh and Hedewig Adolphus's Sister had been Elected King of Denmark He promised by a solemn Deed to his Vnckle and the States of the Province of Sleswick that he would never unite or incorporate the Dukedom of Sleswick to the Kingdom of Denmark and that they should Swear Allegiance to him as Duke of Sleswick and not as King of Denmark And Adolph dying Ten years after without Children Christian succeeded him and from that time the Fief of the Dukedome of Sleswick was not solemnly granted by the Kings of Denmark to any Body that I know says the Learned David Chytraeus lib. 24. Saxon. Hist p. 717. seq for above 120 years after There have been besides other disputes about this Dukedome as That this Fief should be exempted from the performance of all Services That the Succession should come to Women as well as Men by which it appears that it was not always granted or held upon the same conditions and that there is little Reason to envy the House of Gottorp for having at its own great charges and cost obtained for that Dukedome an Independent Authority and thereby taken away all occasions of discord between them and the Danes For after this Independent Soveraignty was granted though they might have justly demanded other satisfactions to be made them the Duke preferred a Peace which they had justly sought by the alteration of this Dukedome and which was confirmed by the consent of the King and States of Denmark as most advantageous both to the King and the House of Gottorp to all the Monies they might expect And as all other humane things or goods may by commerce pass from one hand to another so there is no doubt but the Right of an Independent and Supreme Power may likewise be transmitted and alienated Therefore if a proportioned satisfaction be demanded to a great loss sustained it may be given not only in paying so much mony or delivering up so many Towns and Provinces but by quitting and transferring the Right of Supreme Power by those who have a right to Alienate so that a Person who before he had due satisfaction made him had but a Dependent Power may receive and retain it Supreme and Absolute This being confirmed by a late instance of the Elector of Brandenburg who not many years ago obtained Prussia in this manner To say that the most Serene Dukes of Gottorp have fortified Tonningen levied Forces entred into a League with the Swedes and made a Journey to Stockholme is but a frivolous Accusation For what should hinder the Duke of Gottorp or by what Law is he prohibited to fortifie a Town or raise a Fort and Building one in the Dukedome of Holstein he only does what all the Princes and States of the Empire think they may do and do every day And if he would do the same in his Dukedome of Sleswick we know no Law or Treaty by which he is prohibited to do it Frederick Duke of Gottorp having to his own cost found that he was exposed to all sorts of injuries and damages when-ever the Enemies of the Kings of Denmark were by War or otherwise drawn into his Territories and that he was secure no-where towards the latter and of the year 1644. during the War began to fortifie Tonningen which was not opposed by the King of Denmark as there was no just reason to do it But about the year 1660. that King laid Siege to the place to force the Duke to abolish and annul the Treaty made at Roschild for the benefit of the House of Gottorp whence you may well judge with how little sincerity the Danes intended to keep this Treaty which they had so solemnly agreed and bound themselves to But the Duke refusing to hearken to so unreasonable a demand endured the Siege stoutly till after some time a Peace was concluded without the least mention that these Fortifications ought not to have been raised or promise of demolishing them For as this Fort was built only for the security and defence of the House of Gottorp that the Dukes might have a Place to retire to in times of danger so they never raised more Forces than were necessary for the defence of the Place And if the Duke had intended to invade Denmark he must have provided much greater Forces and taken other Measures That the Duke has entred into a League with the King of Sweden is not denied but it is only such an one as may enable him to resist an unjust Force and defend himself If the Danes do accuse him of making any other Leagues to the Ruin of Germany or Denmark his Highness denies it absolutely and desires no credit may be given them in a thing for which they can bring no evidence But if they alleadge that the Conditions by which the Duke has sought to secure his own House from their Oppressions are Hostile and against them they plainly shew that they have a mind to wrong those they ought rather to Protect and not provoke to a just Defence which in the end may prove dangerous to Denmark it self That Objection of the Dukes journey into Sweden is much of the same nature For although his Highness would not be diverted by the Councils and demands of the King of Denmark tending to nothing but a War from going to see the King and Queen Mother his near Relations and take their advice yet this Journey was never undertaken to enter into new Alliances those Princes being entred into one long before but in respect and deference to the most Serene Queen his Sister who had promised to come and see him Nay if the Danes who are generally very clear-sighted in the affairs of the House of Gottorp did not interpret all that which the House of Gottorp does in the worst sence they could have satisfied themselves easily that that Journey was never intended against their
many have believed it But it being impossible to begin such a thing much more to perfect it without the knowledge and consent of the King of Great Britain and the Danish Envoy at London having complained hereof his Majesty desired him very prudently to prove it which he not having hitherto been able to do all good men are satisfied of the Vanity of the Fable Afterwards another Story has been raised and spread in the Court of the Emperor and other Princes having been presented in writing by the Danes to the Deputies of the Circle of the Lower Saxony at Brunswick that the Dukes Deputies being excluded from that Assembly and the deliberations thereof it might serve as a President to help them to perfect their yet worse Designs It is also charged upon the Duke that he has taken measures with the Duke of Mecklenbourgh to contrive how they should with their own Forces or those of the Swedes or others retake Wismar and Gluckstadt from the Danes They endeavour to prove this Story by I know not what discourse of a certain Frenchman called De Luis who was carried away Prisoner to Copenhaguen and by some Letters they found about him VVe shall not now dispute what the Duke of Gottorp so unjustly oppressed by the Danes may lawfully do against them and why he should not use all means for his own Defence Neither is it necessary we should plead anothers Cause since it may be presumed that no man will desert himself But we solemnly affirm here with all sincerity in the Name and by the Command of the Duke of Gottorp that he never thought upon any such thing nor exchanged a word with the Duke of Mecklenbourg about it as that Duke has himself asserted to the Duke of Gottorp's Minister sent to him expresly promising to declare the same publickly and that he never gave any Orders to this De Luis nor trusted him with any Letters The Danes themselves when they think of it insult over the Duke of Gottorp and say they wonder extreamly he will not submit to the Danish Dominion that is so easie seeing himself destitute of all help and no Prince willing to raise an Army in his behalf And yet at other times they make him so formidable and so full of pernicious designs against the Empire the Kingdome of Denmark and the Confederates that they would have him declared an Enemy of the Empire excluded from all publick Assemblies and having almost entirely ruined him themselves to be quite oppressed by others This is indeed a great Malice and Hatred sit for none but men full of Gall who are not ashamed to obtrude such Lies upon their King and the whole Christian world that they may take away from the Duke all means of helping himself and so stain his Innocence with calumnies that so good a Prince might be thought not to deserve any pitty and much less the help of Justice against such manifest Injuries the greatness and splendor of whose Family is such that there is scarce any great Family in Germany to whom he is not Allied and Related In a word since the discourses or Letters of this De Luis that are spread abroad and pretended to be intercepted do not at all concern the Duke we desire no Faith may be given to these Stories of the Danes till they shew the Truth of them to the World which undoubtedly they can never do The falsehood of these Stories and Inventions thus plainly appearing it remains we should give the Reasons why the Duke ought in any impartial judgment to be entirely restored to all his Rights which the Danes have so contrary to all Justice Usurped His Highness obtained three points chiefly by the Treaty of Roschild viz. The Soveraignty or Supreme Power over the Dukedome of Sleswick without any dependence from the King or Crown of Denmark the Territory of Schwabstadt and the Cathedral Church of Sleswick with its Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and some other things And because the King of Denmark had at that time entred into an unnecessary War against the Swedes not only without consulting the Duke of Gottorp but contrary to his Opinion and notwithstanding his dissuading the said King from the same and had brought great Calamities upon the Provinces and Subjects of the Duke by drawing the Swedes Imperialists Brandenburgers Polanders and Tartars into them the King of Sweden would have procured a proportionable satisfaction to his Father-in-Law and his Highness might justly have admitted of it but was contented for all the damages he had sustained with the remission of the Vassalage of the Dukedome of Sleswick and the yielding up of the Soveraignty thereof to him without demanding any thing more for his satisfaction This occasion of the Controversies and Wars between them being cut off and both Princes having solemnly Sworn to keep this Peace it seemed as if none more firm and secure could have been wished for but the Danes continually tormented since the Peace at Roschild by the remembrance of their having yielded up this Soveraignty have so far indulged their desire of Revenge that they have studied nothing more than how to regain this Dukedome and its Soveraign Right and wholly supplant the House of Gottorp which is fully proved by what we have said already and the most severe conditions of Rendsbourgh and the means used to force the Duke and his Ministers to consent to them which being necessary to be known by those that would judge aright of these Differences we shall before we have done give the world some account leaving it to their just censure And though the Danes have obtruded these conditions upon the Duke of Gottorp and have extorted from him the Authentick Instrument of the Peace of Roschild yet hereby they have done nothing but shown their own insincerity and the dis-ingenuity of their Proceedings and rendred themselves obliged upon many accounts to make the Duke amends for their violating of his Rights and to restore him entirely to the same which if they refuse to do they deserve to be forced thereunto by all Princes who have any consideration for Faith Justice and Conscience And this we shall endeavour thus to demonstrate 1. VVhatsoever was given yielded and promised to the Duke of Gottorp by the King and Kingdom of Denmark at the ending of the last War 1658 was yielded deliberately With their Will and Consent and it was particularly provided that neither of the Parties under what pretence soever should ever recede from the Articles agreed upon and that they should be kept inviolable Neither can the Danes object here that they did not consent to these things freely and frankly but only as forced by the Arms of Sweden for having freely and voluntarily attacked the Swedes they were free certainly also to consent to what satisfaction and compensation the Swedes would insist upon and the Swedes having justly extended what they demanded to the benefit of the House of Gottorp which had sustained so many losses by
the War the Danes have no reason to complain of them for it the Swedes having then a just right by the Law of Nations to require yet more from Denmark And here this Rule of the Civil Law must take place Whatsoever damage a man suffers through his own de 〈…〉 is to be accounted no damage 2. Not only 〈…〉 nd the States of the Kingdome of Denâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 with the Duke of Gottorp have Sworn each of 〈…〉 eep those Articles inviolate but the King of Great Britain the Most Christian King and the States of the Vnited-Provinces by whose care the Peace of Roschild was procured have also approved the same as Guarantees and thence it is manifest that whosoever of the Parties shall violate this Treaty or refuse to be obliged by the same doth not only offend against God and his Conscience but also the Law of Nations and particularly provokes the Arms of those Princes who are engaged solemnly in the Guaranty of the Treaty 3. The Danes have consented to this Agreement twice already first by a general Approbation in the 22 Article of the Peace of Roschild made the 26 of Feb. 1658 and then more specially by the Agreement made at Copenhaguen the 12 of May the same year A little after the War between the Swedes and the Danes being renewed of a sudden the Danes besieged Tonningen and the Duke with all his Court residing in it to make him renounce the Articles above-mentioned and renounce his Soveraignty in the Dukedome of Sleswick The Danes indeed complained at that time that the Swedes had retaken Arms against them but whether justly or unjustly is not our business now to dispute For what has the Duke of Gottorp to do with it The King of Sweden his Son-in-Law did not give him the least notice that he intended to pass into Denmark and renew the War there neither was his Highness charged of having committed any offence against the King of Denmark But suppose this second War of the Swedes was unjust as the Danes alledge must therefore the Innocent and the Guilty be treated alike what the Duke enjoyed was as a just satisfaction the Justice whereof he never did any thing against Therefore when there was an end put to this War by the Peace of 1660 the Swedes indeed remitted again into the hands of the King of Denmark some things that had been granted them by the Treaty of Roschild But all that had been yielded or promised to the House of Gottorp remained as before without the least diminution The Most Christian King the King of Great Britain and the States General of the Vnited Provinces thinking it just to leave it so the Danes for the third time now approving that Treaty and agreeing besides with the Duke of Gottorp to pass a general Amnesty for all Injuries and other matters committed before that time as appears by the 27 and 28 Articles of that Treaty 4. Besides when the Treaty of Peace was concluded between the Swedes and the Poles with their Allies the Emperor and Elector of Brandenbourgh at Oliva 1660 the King of Denmark and the Duke of Gottorp were not only included therein But the Treaty between them the Swedes and the Duke made at Roschild and renewed afterwards 1660 was also included in it as if it had been transcribed word for word the Danes ratisying what the Kings of Sweden and Poland and the Emperour and Elector of Brandenbourg had stipulated to that purpose and so now the fourth time solemnly approved the Agreements between themselves and the House of Gottorp And to the intent that this Peace might be strictly kept by all Parties not only the Danes and Poles with their Confederates promise one another a mutual Guaranty but the King of France also entred into the same agreeing amongst other things That if any Prince thought himself grieved by any other way than force of Armes he should not Revenge it by way of Arms but complain to the several Princes who were Parties in this Treaty desiring them to procure him a present and sufficient satisfaction Vid. Artic. 22. 26. 31. 35. of that Treaty I would fain have the Danes tell us what Injuries the House of Gottorp has done them either by way of Arms or otherwise If they cannot tell nor prove any the Duke of Gottorp has reason to expect to be restored to all his Rights by the Princes that have engaged their Faith in this Treaty and that the Danes should be used as breakers of the Peace If the Danes will make these trivial objections which have been already answered pass for Injuries and especially the League made with Sweden by the Duke of Gottorp for his own defence I am afraid they will find few expert Ministers of their mind It has always and ever will be lawful to make such Leagues Nay if the Danes will but remember their own Designs and examine their Conscience they must needs own themselves the Authors or occasion of this League For such Principles must never be neglected nor the Power of any ever be raised to such a greatness or it must not be left in any ones power to do hurt who has a mind to do it that afterwards you may not be in a condition to dispute your right upon equal terms Saith Polyb. lib. 1. 5. The dissenting minds of Princes having been in all Ages happily reconciled by Marriage and their Animosities thereby laid down and sometimes totally extinguisht the Duke of Gottorp thought fit to use this Remedy and having humbly demanded and obtained as a Pledge of sincere Friendship between both Princes the Daughter of Frederick King of Denmark of happy Memory for his Wife and several Articles being at the same time agreed upon by the King and the Duke as well relating to the Dowry as other things the King then again ratified all that had been so many times agreed between them concerning this Dukedome So that the King now for the fifth time gave his consent to it in the year 1667 most freely and without the least appearance of constraint by War or otherwise 6. The Danes without the least provocation or new injury all former matters being by an Amnesty in the Treaty abolished on both sides but out of a desire of Revenge and hope of regaining their losses have first broken this Peace and Agreement made and concluded between the King and States of Denmark and the House of Gottorp so often Sworn to and approved by both partly by committing Violences upon old abolish'd pretences and which by several Conventions have been before adjusted and partly by doing things either directly against the tenor of the Articles or the necessary consequences of them for whatever is acted contrary to Friendship breaks the Peace which subsists by nothing else And what other men are obliged to by Friendship alone Princes are further tied to by their Promises and Treaties And therefore we hope it will find little credit what the Danes falsly accuse
aforesaid Duke to a better and more exact observance and execution of the Ancient Treaties and all others to the performance whereof he has bound himself and seriously dissuade him from his usual pernicious designs against Us. The many proofs VVe have of your Justice and your experienced commendable Constancy and Faithfulness in keeping your Treaties makes Us promise Our Selves this from your Majesties friendship being also resolved never to suffer any thing to be wanting in Us that may prove for the advantage of your Majesty and your Subjects and perswade you of Our sincere affection towards you By which your Majesty c. Given at Our Court at Landscroon the 4th of August 1677. The Duke of Holsteins Letter to his Majesty the King of Great Britain in Answer to the King of Denmarks Most Serene and Potent Prince c. HAving had a view of the Letters written to your most Serene Majesty by the King of Denmark the 4th of August of this present Year We find by them that his Majesty of Denmark does indeed commend your Majesties offers of Mediation for composing Our Controversies but in reality shews an aversion thereunto and declines it as unnecessary endeavouring to demonstrate the same by colouring his Actions with the specious pretence of ancient and late Treaties and accusing Our Lord and Father and Us with a great many things These Letters being full of such complaints VVe cannot but defend Our Innocence and free Our Honour from such accusations by letting your most Serene Majesty understand Our Reasons why the differences between Us and the King of Denmark ought not to be excluded out of the Negotiations for an Universal Peace not indeed can be debated any-where else without great danger and prejudice to Us. VVe have been so observing of the ancient Treaties and Alliances that for several Ages the Dukes of Gottorp have lived under the Authority and at the Devotion of the Kings of Denmark But VVe are not by any Treaties to be oppressed by those who are obliged by Vertue of Our Alliances to defend Us nor are VVe to submit Our Selves to a voluntary Slavery but are rather by the said Treaties freed from so sad a Yoke Let the Kings of Denmark but consider how they could make VVars upon VVars and involve the Dukes of Gottorp's Territories so often in the Calamities attending VVar not only without consulting the Dukes but against their will and earnest dissuasions from the same without breach to the ancient Treatâ—es and Alliances from which VVe are sure it cannot be proved that Our Ancestors ever receded rashly or unjustly As to the Articles of Rendsbourgh VVe confess that VVe do not think Our Selves further oblig'd to them then either the goodness or equity of the cause or of the way of proceeding will oblige Us. We came as Friends and Guests to Rendsbourgh inticed with great hopes and ample Protestations that all things should be sincerely and fairly transacted and determined But We were against the Laws of Nations and Friendship Treated like Enemies detained Prisoners guarded with Souldiers and at last sent from one Prison to another every-where besieged and through fear and threatnings compelled unjustly to most unreasonable conditions which the very way of proceeding argues to be null Therefore VVe are so far from consenting to them freely and voluntarily that VVe have never so much as freely ratified them For those things that are done by force and through fear may be sometimes made valid by a subsequent free consent yet no consent is to be esteemed such except the person who is said to have consented freely be first set at full liberty when on the contrary fear once caused in any transaction is supposed to continue still and VVe were the more disturbed thereby because VVe were by the King deprived of all good Counsels Our Principal Ministers being violently carried away Prisoners to Copenhaguen and the rest frighted from Us by this unheard-of Example The Soveraignty of the Dukedom of Sleswick purchased with a very good Title and at a dear rate was yielded up to Our House by Frederick the Third King of Denmark by his own free and often repeated consent and has been quietly possessed by Us for above Sixteen years neither is it any matter that it was obtained partly by the fortunate Successes of the Arms of Sweden since it is undoubtedly true that VVars may be made not only for Oâ—r own good but for the good of others and that the King of Sweden was then justly provoked to take up Arms against the Danes and that if the King of Denmark has suffered any force it being but just he cannot pretend to any Right of Restitution VVe cannot like wise conceal that by this and the foregoing Wars made by the Kings of Denmark VVe have contracted many great Debts and Our Subjects are so exhausted by Contributions that part of them have been forced to quit the Country and the rest are glad if they can get the coarsest sort of Bread to eat Now when VVe quitted by the last Treaty all Our pretensions of satisfaction from the King of Denmark in consideration of the Soveraignty which was yielded up to Us what have we got I pray that any one should envy Us for It is the King of Denmark only is the gainer who by that opportunity got the Soveraignty of that part of the Dukedom of Sleswick which is his and thereby soon after an occasion of getting the Monarchy of the whole Kingdom Therefore since that Our Lord and Father was by so many Solemn and publick Treaties absolutely freed from the tie of Vassalage and Homage it cannot certainly be imputed to him that he had without any regard of his Alliance to the Kingdom of Denmark extorted the Soveraignty of the said Dukedome unless the King will slight all the Treaties of Peace and Conventions that have been made upon that occasion and by his Example incite the Kings of Spain and Poland nay his own Subjects to repossess themselves of their lost Provinces and Ancient Rights and Authorities as soon as they shall have an occasion and power to do it We do with all gratitude acknowledge your Majesties favour that besides the general Guaranty of all the conditions of the Peace at Roschild you have been pleased to oblige your Self to a special one for the Preservation and Assertion of this Soveraignty It is without any ground the King of Denmark pretends that VVe obtained the Soveraignty by the favour of Cromwell only For besides that the good Offices and Mediations of other Kings and States intervened in this Affair and the conclusion thereof VVe do not well conceive how the King of Denmark can show which of the Usurpers Acts your Majesty is pleased to hold â—or good and which not For it will not consist with reason of State and the publick good that they should be all annulled Nay if the King of Denmark will be pleased to look into the circumstances of this matter he
will find that the English Ambassador who Resided at that time at Copenhaguen was unknown to the King of Sweden brought to his Majesty by the Danish Commissioners and by them Sollicited to employ his utmost endeavour for a Peace It appears from hence that all Our Complaints of the great Injuries We have sustained by the Danes are just and that We never designed any thing to the Kings prejudice but that what may perhaps have displeased his Majesty was solely intended for the defence of Our House and Dominions which is every way lawful and therefore VVe are most unjustly reproached of intending and having such pernitious Designs since we have only sought for a lawful Defence against an unusual Domination and Oppression VVhich things being thus as your most Serene Majesty may be more particularly informed by a deduction we have lately caused to be Printed of this whole Affair or by Our Envoy Extraordinary Residing in London we hope nothing will appear more reasonable than that we should be admitted into the Treaty for an universal Peace and that your most Serene Majesties Mediation should not be rejected by the King of Denmark especially since he seems willing to admit of the good Offices of other Princes of the Empire Neither will their Objection as if the matters between the King and us were purely Domestick be any ways material seeing it is known by all the world that a Peace confirmed by so many Protestations was broken and no regard had of any Domestick considerations and therefore your Majesties Mediation is declined for no other reason but that which makes Criminals fly from their Tryals For your Majesty will by what follows see how improper a Jury of Sixteen men as they call it is to decide this Domestick business In the year 1533 a Treaty was made between the Kingdom of Denmark and the Dukedom and between the Princes and States of both which usually bears the name of the Vnion and among other things a certain form of Judicature was agreed upon according to which all the Controversie that should arise between the two Princes or between them and the States ought to be determined viz. That the differences between them should be left to the Arbitration of Sixteen Counsellors to be in equal number named by both Parties And though by the Articles of this Treaty a very ample power seems to be given to these Judges of examining and deciding all sorts of causes yet we do not remember that ever disputes of Moment and about the Dukedom of Sleswick were brought to them but they have always been left to the Mediation of Forrein Princes For there is not only not a word in this Treaty by which it may appear that these Princes have renounced all other Judgments and Arbitrations but the express words of it as well as the usage and custom which is the best interpreter of Laws and Treaties have confined the Power of this Tribunal of Sixteen men to affairs of lesser importance That is to say when the complaint concerns any Lands or private Subjects Therefore not long after the Vnion made several Transactions have been about the Fief of the Dukedome of Sleswick first at Coldinga 1547 and then by the Interposition of the Elector of Saxony of Vlrick Duke of Mecklenbourgh and William Landgrave of Hesse at Odensea 1557 though nothing was then agreed on but at last 1579 in the same place it was expresly provided by a solemn Convention That if there should happen any dispute about the Succession to the Dukedom of Sleswick which was not decided by this Transaction the Dukes of Sleswick should either themselves or by the help of other Princes and Friends endeavour to compose the same or that it might be determined by a Judicial Sentence Here is no mention of this Judgment by Sixteen men but rather all Controversies that may arise about the Dukedome of Sleswick are in express words exempted without any contradiction from the States And therefore the question about the Soveraignty is so much the less to be referred to their determination because in that Age wherein the Vnion was made such a thing was not so much as thought of and therefore its Articles cannot extend to affairs of this nature and which are wholly above the condition of Subjects And though we can without prejudice to Our cause allow that sometimes feudal differences about the Dutchy of Sleswick have been left to this sort of Arbitration which it seems may be done by the consent of both Princes yet there has happened so great a change in the Danish affairs and Ours that we cannot be forced to consent thereunto against Our will and the like Controversies can no longer be debated there at least without great inconvenience because such Constitutions remain only in force so long as the state of publick Affairs is the same and unalter'd which being entirely changed as well in Denmark as in these Duckedomes and all the Power of the States of Denmark being devolved unto the King and in his hand and there being no such thing now as Senators of the Kingdom who had great Authority when the Vnion was made it is not reasonable his Majesty should sit as Judge in his own cause and that a matter of so great moment should be submitted to the decision of those who for fear of the Kings Power or to gain his favour may be so much byassed that Our loss may be irreparable And therefore seeing that amongst free people and Princes it has been always allowed to refuse to stand to the Arbitration of a Judge justly suspected and that this present conjuncture of Affairs as well as the Transaction at Odensea shows Us another way VVe earnestly desire your most Serene Majesty will endeavour to prevail with the King of Denmark that Our Differences may be Treated of at Nimeguen that so We may find some Remedy abroad for those vast Damages and Injuries VVe have sustained and received which VVe cannot hope for at home For as the Peace at Roschild was made by the Interposition of several Kings and States so it is of publick concern that it should be restored and confirmed by the like means All who think themselves injur'd contrary to the Treaties of Westphalia Roschild and Copenhaguen have liberty to come to Nimeguen And why should VVe who are oppressed contrary to all these Treaties be hindred from it At Nimeguen a general Peace is Treated of why should our cause then not be admitted there who have without all reason suffered most grievous injuries from the Danes and been almost undone by them We suppose the Objection is not considerable that none are to be admitted there but those who have joined their Arms to either of the Parties now in War For if those who were in a condition to resist Arms by Arms and return Force by Force are admitted with how much more reason ought VVe to be received who being deprived of all Our Arms and other helps