War The English as is already mentioned had about the latter end of the last year sent a Fleet towards Denmark but that being by reason of Tempests and the unpassableness of the Seas full of sholes of Ice unable to advance was obliged to return The Winter being past General Montague was sent thither with a second no less useful for service being very well fitted for War and well manned with betwixt nine or ten thousand men but no Land forces then glorious for ostentation The English Fleet was got ready with that expedition that it put to Sea a Fortnight or three Weeks before the Dutch which bred no little jealousie in them seeing their Rivals ready before them and that with such powerful Forces however Mr. Downing then Resident at the Hague had assured them Apr. 6. that the English Fleet which was gone towards the Sound had no Orders to use any kind of hostility against their Shipping but only to endeavour the procuring of a Pacification betwixt the two Crowns And it proved so though the States were hardly induced to believe it And yet they will not now making a vertue of necessity seem to wish it otherwise so that their preparations moved flower at least in appearance whilest they gave out that they did not need to make hast being Denmark was secured in the Neutrality of that present power General Montague having Rendevouzed in Sould Bay March 27. 1659. weighed the twenty seventh of March and arrived in the Sound at an Anchor between the Island of Ween and Cronenburg Castle April 6. Apr. 6. And And by agreement between the King of Sweden and the English Admiral neither flag was stirred but born aloft and the three Flag-ships as they passed by the Castle saluted it where the King and Queen were in person with 21 19 and 17 Guns Every other Ship gave only a Volley of small shot which were answered Flags and all only with two Guns each according to the Custom of Sweden The Instructions given to General Montague I have thought proper to insert here being they will give great light to the following passages of that Summers action WHereas upon consideration had of the state of Affairs in the Eastern parts and particularly of the War faln out betwixt the two Kings of Sweden and Denmark which hath greatly disturbed the Navigation and Commerce of this and other Neighbouring States and distracted the Affairs of the greatest part of Europe We thought it necessary to use Our best endevours for composing the said War and thereby to remove the manifold Evils and Inconveniences which depend thereupon And to that purpose gave directions to Sir Philip Meadow Our Envoy Extraordinary with the King of Sweden to offer Our friendly Mediation to both those Kings and to contribute his utmost diligence for setling a Peace between them Giving him such further Instructions as We found necessary for that occasion a Copy whereof they bearing Date the ninth of December last is herewith delivered unto you And whereas since that time there hath been a Treaty made and concluded on betwixt Us and the King of France a Copy whereof is also herewith delivered you touching the said Affairs which both States finding to be of so great importance to their respective Countries and Dominions and the Interest thereof They judge that it concerned Them in a joynt way and by joynt Counsels to apply the most effectual remedies that could be thought of for composing the said War And therefore did agree by the said Treaty to offer their joynt Mediation to those two Kings for procuring of a Peace betwixt Them as also their Garranty for securing thereof in case it should be accomplished With a mind also to accommodate the differences betwixt the King of Sweden on the one side and the King of Poland and the Elector of Brandenburg on the other And for the better effecting of the mutual intentions of these two States It was further concluded by the said Treaty that all endeavours should be used for disposing the States General of the United Provinces to co-operate with England and France in this good Work And accordingly as well We as the King of France have given Instructions to Our respective Publick Ministers both at the Hague and with the said Kings of Sweden and Denmark to prosecute and promote the aforesaid good Intention which We hope will have the issue that is desired and that such a Peace will be setled in those parts where so great and powerful Armies both by Land and Sea are engaged as will be for the security of the common Interest and in particular of this Commonwealth And having on these grounds sent a Fleet towards those parts the last Winter which in respect of the season of the year was not able to perfect the intended Voyage We have now judged it necessary upon the same Grounds and to the same ends as are before expressed to send a Fleet under your Conduct and Command into the Sound and Baltick Sea You are therefore on the receipt of these Our Instructions and of the other papers herewith delivered to repair to Our Fleet prepared for this Expedition a List whereof is hereunto annexed and upon your coming aboard you shall by Gods blessing and assistance with your first Opportunity of Wind and Weather set sail for the parts aforesaid and having come thither shall follow and pursue the Instructions following viz. 1 You shall immediatly upon your arrival in the Sound send to Sir Philip Meadow as also to our Envoy with the King of Denmark if he be there residing and receive from them a true and perfect account of the state of the affairs of the several Princes engaged as aforesaid and what effect our Mediation hath had and whether it be probable that a Treaty and Peace will ensue on the Terms wherein you shall find affairs to stand at your arrival 2 You shall either by your self or by the hand of Sir Philip Meadow as you shall find it most convenient let both the Kings of Sweden and Denmark know that you have brought the Fleet into these parts by Our command as a common friend to both and with desires to procure a Peace betwixt them And that for the same purpose you are ready to contribute all that lies in you to remove those difficulties that lye in the way of Peace and secure Agreement betwixt them We judging it to be their own Interest as well as that of their Neighbours and Allies that the present War between them should be put to a speedy end And that We cannot understand how the same can be continued without extream danger as well to themselves as to the present Interests of their Allyes 3 If a Treaty be begun between them before your arrival you shall do what you can to bring the said Treaty to a Peace without delay But if it be found that either no Treaty is begun or that the difference is such upon the
in number and strength to the Avantguard was brought up by Peeter Floriz Vice-Admiral of North Holland The Land Militia consisting of thirty eight Companies of Foot under the Command of Collonel Pichler an old souldier were as also their chief Officers carried in Fluyts but manned and armed as the other with Cannon for war except some few Companies and commanded men which were dispersed and mingled with the Sea-men in the several Vessels of the Fleet. Count Wrangel High-Admiral of Sweden who had hitherto lain with his Fleet consisting of two and forty men of War whereof twelve or thirteen were of vast greatness under Cronenburg seeing Opdam's order and motion resolved to meet him in his passing the Streights He had divided his Navy into four Squadrons the first being led by Henry Gerdson a Dutch Zealander who having served long in the Swedish Fleet would not now quit it Wrangel himself followed him with the second Vice-Admiral Bielkenstern with the third and the Rear was closed by Gustavus Wrangel a Kinsman of the Admirals King Charles had levied Sea-men about Lubeck and Wismar and had many English intermingled with the rest Many also of his old and best Souldiers both Foot and Horse were brought on board he being resolved to omit nothing that lay within the compass of his power for promoting of his Conquests at least conserving the glory of his Arms by Sea as well as by Land Things being thus ordered on both sides they met and fought with equal hopes and courage The Dutch born as it were in the Sea and expert in that Element disdained to see the honour they had acquired by their skill in Navigation disputed by an unknowing Enemy whilest the Swedes were transported with desire to shew themselves men at Sea as well as they had done by Land especially being their King was a Spectator and an exact observer as well of the brave as more degenerous actions of his Souldiers It was betwixt eight and nine in the morning when the Dutch Fleet was advanced mid-way betwixt the two Castles They from Cronenburg saluted them with a brace of Guns being the Swedes Signal but with loose powder but the Datch not answering they let fly with sharp from both Fortresses but did no great harm by reason of the distance only one Bullet fell into Peter Floriz his Ship out of Elzenburg Castle which slew three of his men De Witte who led the Avanguard approaching the Schonen shore let flye a Broad side at the Bridge which extends it self into the Sea so that they at the Battery there fearing the like greeting from the other Vessels quitted their Guns and fled into the Town The Vice-Admiral being past the Bridge directed his Course fully upon Wrangel who advanced towards him and however shot at by the Swedes Ships of their first Squadron did not answer them nor Wrangel himself who gave him a broad side till he was come near him He then discharged a whole volley of Cannon at him and being repayed in kind returned him his thanks in the same coin The first Squadrons being past the main Battles began to approach and now the two Admirals being within reach Wrangel thunders upon his Adversary with his great and small shot Opdam did the same but with more success for Wrangel's Ship lost her Rudder in the encounter which necessitated her to retire out of the Battle and go to Anchor under the Castle of Cronenburg By this time the Fleets were mingled and the fight grew hot on all sides especially where the chief Officers were for whilest each endeavoured to succour his own all were engaged which rendred the Combat terrible and the more being the place they contended in was so narrow The contest betwixt Bielkenstern and De Witte was very hot and might have been disputed longer if the Swede being helped by one of his own Ships called the Wismar had not attacked him in his front and side neither did he overcome him till he had slain him and sunk his Vessel which his unadvised running upon the ground did much contribute to Opdam having oppressed Wrangel was shot at at a distance by all the Ships that approached him but laid on board by two the Morning-star and the Pellican These lying on his Lar-board side fought lustily and extreamly perplexed the Defendants with hand Granadoes which they threw amongst them out of the Round-top of their Main-masts A third Vessel lying a stern of him battered him sorely behind and powred small shot into his Cabbin but there was no body there for the Admiral though then extreamly tormented with the Gout had caused himself to be carried in a Chair and placed before the door of the Hut or Captains Cabbin on top of the upper Decks that he might as well see as be seen of all men and give those directions that the present occasion required He sustained the violence of the Enemies attacks for some time singly and alone but Van Nes one of his Captains coming to his aid the two Ships that had laid him on Board were mastered the one being sunk by the said Van Nes and the other taken by himself and mann'd by his Lieutenant but sunk also afterwards upon mistake by one of his own men of War Opdam's Ship had in the heat of the Fight faln foul of the Sands as de Witte 's had unhappily done before if he had not prevented it by chopping to an Anchor which saved him for the Ship tacking about by that means she cut and recovered the deep again In the mean time she was extreamly battered her sails were all torn her rigging broken and her sides so pierced with Bullets that she had five foot water in Hold. But nothing seemed more dreadful than an accidental fire which took in the Poop which would have proved fatal if it had not been suddenly quenched Opdam had more than half his men slain and wounded and his brave Capt. Egbert Meus had received some slight hurts which rather heated than hindered him to do all the functions of a worthy Commander For all this the Admiral did not quit the fight until left alone betwixt the two Fleets so that he then followed his own towards Coppenhagen whilâ—st the Swedes assembled theirs under Cronenburg The Dutch lost in this Fight about eight hundred men amongst whom were the two Vice Admirals de Witte and Peter Floriz the last having been slain by an accidental Bullet at a distance and five Captains Only de Witte 's ship called the Brederode their Admiral in the English War was lost having been stranded and sunk as we have already mentioned The Swedes had indeed taken Captain Brunsfield's Ship having slain him and well nigh all his men but they quitted it again it being on fire which threatned its sudden ruine but that being quenched by the remaining Dutch who were left in it being but 14 in number the Vessel was brought by them to the rest of the Fleet. The loss on the Swedes
beaten out of it again with loss he himself having been likewise hurt in the arm But Wrangel's fortune was better though his Victory more difficult March 19. 1659. He came with his Fleet to Langland Head where he designed to land but the calm retarding his endeavours gave the Danes time to hasten thither from all parts of the Island so that they did not only repel the Enemy but took one of their Long-boats with fifty men in it this disaster did not at all discourage the Swedes They resolve to venture again but the place was not good to land in being Moorish They therefore sent all their passage Boats and most of their Souldiers by night it being dark to search out a more convenient descent In the mean time the Fleet continued its station and sending out their Cock-boats kept the Enemy in perpetual Allarms making shew of landing the better to conceal their intended design which lucked so well that the party they had sent out gained the shore three miles off before the Danes had notice of it and having immediatly cast up a Breast-work to secure their entry landed all their men without any considerable opposition for those that hastened to the danger came too late and in such disorder that they were easily broken and routed The remaining Danes retired into Traneker Castle one of the Kings Houses which was surrendred at mercy as likewise the whole Island without further resistance The Prisoners were many at least three hundred Souldiers and above a thousand Country fellows which were in Arms for defence of their Country but forced to yield to the strongest the ordinary fate of Islanders when a powerful Enemy is suffered to land Langland being thus mastered Wrangel sets sail for Alsen where landing his men he took the Castle of Norburg by storm but having assaulted Sunderburg thrice in vain quitted the Island again and content with his former Victory and pillaging the Coasts of Holstein in his way returned with his Prisoners and Prey to Funen The loss of Langland did much trouble the Danes and oblige them to hasten out their Fleet with all possible speed The milder Spring had dissolved those sholes of Ice that had besieged the Haven and the Sea was now grown Navigable when Vice-Admiral Held was sent to observe the Enemy with sixteen of those Ships which were ready He met with six Swedish men of War betwixt Langland and Laland which he charged March 30. The Fight was hot and sharp but the Swedes being over-powred were forced to flye having lost one of their best Ships with fifty Guns which Held took and another which ran on ground to save it self But the Danes did not long continue Masters at Sea for being too weak to oppose the Swedish Fleet which came afterwards into the Belt they were forced to save themselves in the Bay of Flensburg This news being brought to Coppenhagen Bielke and Opdam the Dane and Dutch Admirals hasten with the rest of the Fleet to relieve their friends Being past the Island of Falster they discovered not far from Femeren seventeen Swedish men of War who having left Held to his liberty thought to save themselves through the Belt but the Wind proving contrary they were forced to prepare for fight April 28. The odds was indeed great the Danish-Dutch being much stronger and in probability of an absolute Victory if they had not let it escape out of their hands by over-much precaution and circumspection Bielke as the Kings Admiral led the Van and bearing up with the Enemy with a flown Sheet came to a Tack for fear that lest advancing too much he might loose that Wind which he had so favourable and which filled the Enemies eys with the smoak of his Cannon He kept therefore to Windward plying them with broad sides as he past Opdam following in the wake of the Danes did the same not absurdly fancying that when they had tired the Enemy their Victory provided they had had the Wind inclosed in Bottles would be no less assured than easie But it fell out otherwise for during this Gun-fight the Danish Admirals Main top-sail came by the Board which rendred his Ships motion less active so that his men for fear of falling into the Enemies hands called to Opdam to save them which he did but before they had brought a new Sail to the Yard the Wind grew more favourable for the Swedes for it turned from East North East to South East by which means and by the stiffness of the Gale they having gained the Weather-gage retired without any considerable loss to Wismar The disadvantage in this Naval skirmish was not great on either side Bielkenstern who commanded the Swedes was lightly hurt and but very few of his men slain which he had revenged with the conquest of the Danish Admiral if he had not been prevented by Opdam King Charles seeing no way of conquering Coppenhagen but by the Conquest of the remaining Isles for they were the Granaries and Store-houses of the City resolved to attempt them To this end he embarks himself in person and being come with four men of War betwixt Warberg and Nypcopping two Towns of Zeland and Falster April 20. made shew of attacking a Fort raised by the Inhabitants for the defence of the latter In the mean time he sent out a Long-boat with some of his Guards under the Command of a Lieutenant Colonel to coast and view the Shore for the entry near the aforesaid Fort was too difficult by reason of the shallowness of the Water thereabouts The Lieutenant Colonel fell accidentally upon a Boat passing from Laland to Falster which he took and in it the Danish Admiral Lindenowe and several Letters designed for Coppenhagen containing the true state of the Militia of the two Islands The Prize being brought to the King he upon stricter examination commanded the Fort to be battered but seeing it was but to little purpose by reason of the distance and difficulty to land he removed to Coldberg where the Streight is narrowest and deep so that bringing his Ships near the Shore he forced the numerous Defendants by his continual thundring of great and small shot upon them to quit their station and make place for his men to land which they quickly did The Country men threw down their Arms and hid themselves in the Wood whilest the Souldiery being closer pursued was overtaken at Nycopping and three hundred of them who could not get soon enough over the passage forced to submit to the Enemies mercy Falster being thus subdued the King in pursuit of his Victory resolves to Attack Laland the fruitfullest of all the Danish Islands He therefor returns to Coldberg again with six men of War and several Carriage Boats and coming up close to the shore for it is very deep there began to play upon the Enemies Works The noise of the Cannon brought the Islanders together to the number of near five thousand but all could not
shall be in Amity with those Confederates or either of them 8 That all the Ports Rivers Roads Harbours and Countryes of Sweden shall be free and open for the English Ships and men to come into reside in and go forth of from time to time as there shall be occasion without any molestation and shall be assisted and furnished with provisions and other necessaries at the same rates that the People â—nd Subjects of the King of Sweden are â— That all reasonable endeavours shall be used by these Confederates â—o withdraw the Elector of Brandenburg and all other Princes â—â—d States from any conjunction with the House of Austria and to Unite them against the said House â— That the said Fleet set out by His Highness as aforesaid shall be continued forth for the purposes aforesaid for so long time as the present season of the year shall permit with respect to the safety of the Fleet and no longer â—he English Admiral was bound up not to admit of any alteraâ—â—â— in the Treaty and the King of Sweden how great soever his â—eed of Englands help was yet immoveably persisted in refusing to sign the Treaty upon these Points First that he could not admit the English the Priviledges in Sweden that all Swedes have because he alledged some sort of Ships were built there in a form particular to be useful in his Wars and for lading Salt also in consideration whereof they had special immunities But he offered to make them equall with the rest of the Nation 2 That he could not exclude their Enemies out of the Baltick Sea For it was not possible for the English alone to suffice for the Commerce of it and if they could yet it was giving them to much advantage in Trade upon his own people and all the bordering Nations upon the Baltick Sea to make them Monopolizers thereof Whilest these things are in discoursing in the Sound the change of Government happened in England and the English Fleet thereby taken off from the prosecution of its first design was made to wait the new directions of the Power then in possession whose Interest differing from the former seemed to espouse that of Holland by undervaluing the Swedes to their very great prejudice But however affairs went in Denmark the struglings at the Hague were no less remarkable which ended at length in a League betwixt the three States to wit England France and the United Provinces Whereby they resolved to perswade or enforce the warring Kings and that against their wills or without consulting with them to a Reconciliation and Peace The Articles of this Convention wherein its Authours shewed they no less minded their own than their Neighbours interest were in all nine The first was May 22 11. 1659. that a Peace should be made betwixt the two Kings upon the foundation of the Rotschild Treaty 2 That the second Article of the said Treaty by which all Forreign hostile Fleets were prohibited to pass the Sound should be wholly exploded and left out or so couched that no Vessels or shipping whatsoever belonging to any of the three States should be comprehended in that restriction but that on the contrary they should be permitted to pass the said Streight at pleasure without any let or interruption 3 That the English Fleet should not joyn it self to either of the two Kings Fleets nor affist nor offend either of them for the space of three whole Weeks counting from the day that notice hereof was given to the Commander in chief of the said Fleet And likewise that the Dutch Fleet which was to be sent for Denmark should observe the same and not joyn with Opdams Fleet who was also to act nothing in prejudice of the Swedes for the said three Months time and that the Fleet to be sent thither should not go to Coppenhagen nor enter the Baltick Sea either by the Sound or by either of the two Belts 4 That the said three States should withdraw all manner of ayd and succours from that King who should refuse equitable terms of Peace and continue so to do until he had declared the contrary 5 That the three States should stand bound for ever for the executing and keeping of the made peace 6 That all Ships whatsoever belonging to the Subjects of the three States as also their Merchandise and lading should be free and exempted in the Sound and both the Belts from any new Impositions or Tolls 7 That England and France should undertake to remove all diffidences and mis-understandings arisen betwixt the King of Sweden and the States General and cause the Treaty of Elbing with its elucidations to be ratified 8 That the three States should use their utmost endeavours to compose the War with Poland as also the difference betwixt the Elector of Brandenburg and the Swedes 9 Lastly that the Articles of this Treaty should be ratified and duly observed by the three States And thus this Treaty notwithstanding the main opposition of the Emperor the Danes and the Brandenburgers Ministers was agreed upon by the three States But being those of England and France did refuse to sign it at present under pretence of waiting further and more plenary Orders from their Principals the States General dispatched an Express to the King of Denmark assuring him that their Fleet. notwithstanding the arrival of Forreign Fleets in the Sound April 29. should follow with the forty Companies designed for his assistance with all possible speed and that they would omit nothing whereby they might remove that oppression that his Kingdom did at present groan under There was no industry omitted for the hastening out of the Dutch Fleet all forreign Commerce and traffick by Sea being forbidden and wholly prohibited until the same were furnished with Marriners This unusual Embargo did extreamly trouble the Merchants especially the green-Green-land Farers for the season to fish for Whales drew nigh and the loss would be as well great as irrecoverable if it were neglected Seeing therefore that Seamen came but slowly in as unwilling to engage in a War where nothing was to be expected but blows and that they would not be prest as inconsistent with the freedom they pretend they were forced to hire them at excessive rates the price heightening even to forty Guilders a man every moneth At last though with much ado they levied twelve hundred Seamen which were dispersed amongst the Navy which by this time was ready consisting of forty brave Ships of War And now their Land-forces being likewise embarked May 10 3â— they set sail towards Denmark The Danish Agents which resided in Holland had hired several Fluyts and Galliots to carry provisions to Coppenhagen and to transport the Confederate Armies out of Jutland into the Islands but wanting both monies and credit they were stayed behind to the prejudice and dis-reputation of them who were concerned Michael de Ruyter Vice-Admiral of Amsterdam had the present Command of this Fleet for Opdam was absent and
men in the Town and the Works on the side next the Sea were open which was true But the Swedes having notice of this Design before hand had filled the place with armed men King Charles was come thither also in person and all things were in a readiness to receive these new guests Killegrew knowing nothing of these preparations was advanced within a League and a half of the Town with intention to fail up close to it but a sudden calm preventing him he was forced to expect the day which discovered the Enemies countenance and numbers and posture so that finding that instead of surprizing them he should be inevitably lost himself he commanded his men four hundred whereof had been put into Boats with design to land back to the Fleet which was no sooner done but the Enemies bodies of Horse which had lurked in the Wood appeared as also the danger they had infallibly run into if the Wind had continned blowing an hour longer The Danes had at the same time surprised Udstead a Town in Schonen which Killegrew having notice of had Orders likewise to hasten thither to their Succour which he did but they had dislodged before he could get to them for the place was not very tenable and the Enemy made head on all sides against them Having therefore met them by the way they returned all together to Coppenhagen with a purpose to land the Auxiliaries which had thus long languished on Shipboard but they were much surprised to see the Citizens refuse them entry who fearing peradventure such numerous ayds told them plainly they were strong enough to defend themselves This refusal did much cool the Dutch kindness towards them who not examining whether their diffidence were just or not took it ill to be denied any thing from them who owed them for all they enjoyed Besides the Land souldiers were hereby subjected to sicknesses as being out of their Element and obliged by this stay to consume those Provisions which were only designed for the Seamen Neither were the Danes content to defend themselves only they designed also the recovery of Cronenburg which had probably been effected if not discovered by a miracle The men of Elzineur were the contrivers of this Plot who having gained some of the Garison thought the Victory secure Seven or eight hundred men worked daily at the New Fortifications and the Countrey was summoned to carry Wood and Fuel for the Provision of the Castle The design was to arm those Car-men who were nigh fourscore strong with short Swords and Pistols who were ordered to overturn a Waggon or two in the very entry of the Castle and thereupon to call their Companions to their aid as if it had been done by accident Being come together they were to fall immediatly upon the Guard at the Gate whilest the Townsmen who were ready in their Houses should hasten to their assistance and the aforesaid Workmen be invited with their Spades and Mattocks instead of other arms to their liberty and to the spoil The plot being thus laid the Contrivers and chief Actors in it who had given the Court intelligence of it were mainly encouraged by promises thence and the glory of Delivering their Country to dare any thing which they had infallibly put in execution if they had not been strangely discovered The man that carried their Letters to Coppenhagen and brought them their Orders and directions thence had passed several times with a little Boat as if he had gone a fishing along the shore betwixt the Town and City He had often slipped by the men of War undiscerned which was no hard matter considering the distance they lay from the shore the largeness of the Sea and the favour of the night It happened that in going by he saw the Admirals Long-boat put off which frightened him into a fancy that it was after him and fearing to be taken he threw his Packet of Letters with a Stone tied at them into the Sea and made away with all the hast he could But when he saw that the Swede had taken another Course as not minding him he then began to condemn his vain fear and precipitation however glad that his Letters which the Sea had swallowed were not faln into the Enemies hands But he was deceived for the string that tied the Packet to the stone being slipt or broke the Letters floated and were carried by the Tide which in the Streights of Denmark N. 6. as also the whole Baltick Sea waits upon the Wind to Lanskrown where being taken up by a Souldier that accidentally walked upon the shore they were brought to the Governour and so the whole design discovered and prevented by the punishment of such of its Contrivers that did not save themselves by a timely retreat The Plot to surprise Malmuyen one of the Chief Towns of Schonen was no less odly discovered than this of Cronenburg the Messengers that were employed by the Conspirators used to hide their Letters in a Wood in a hole covered with Earth and Sods where they also found their Answers so that the business was come to some ripeness when an unhappy Fox ranging that way and smelling at that new Earth scarp'd it up in search of somewhat to prey upon This being observed by an accidental Passenger who curious to see what the industrious beast was doing found the Letters which contained and detected the whole progress of the conjuration I cannot tell how truly I have related the particulars of these Conspiracies though they were thus told me by several persons of credit but being I dare not affirm them in all their particulars though they are most true in the general as the rest of this Relation for undoubted certainties the Reader may take the same liberty in believing what he pleases as I did in writing of them The King of Denmark having at length obtained permission to employ the Dutch Auxiliaries thought fit to undertake somewhat of consequence before Winter Having therefore got together all the small Vessels and Ships of burthen which the City could afford de Ruyter was by consent of the States Embassadours sent with all his Fleet towards Holsteyn with Order to embark the Land-Army that was there and carry it according to such directions as he had or should receive Whilest he was on his way thiether accompanied with the prayers and wishes of the Citizens for his good success Admiral Opdam who had kept the Sea the whole Summer came to Coppenhagen Octob. 26. bringing with him a great number of Vessels loaden with Fuel and other Provisions His stay there was not long so that having taken his leave of the King who regaled him with a Present of three thousand pounds and three hundred pounds yearly for his son in consideration of his eminent services and of the City which he had saved he passed the Sound the second time discharging his Cannon at the Castles as he sailed by Nov. 4. and after twelve Moneths
their holds But the Winter being advanced and the Ice having rendered the ways and fields passable they skirmished attacked and made sallies upon each other with various success and fortune In November the Danish Horse fell upon a Guard of the Swedes betwixt the Town and their Camp which they surprised killing and taking above sixty of them The Month following thirty stout fellowes of the Garrison slipt out in a Boat and by favour of the night landed near the Paper mills a Dutch mile from the City they hid themselves in a Wood all the following day but the darkness being come they went to Fredericksburg a pleasant and sumptuous House of the Kings and breaking open the Stables took away eight and twenty good horses belonging to the King of Sweden and mounting them got safe with them for all the Enemies pursuit to Coppenhagen the lucky temerity of a Lieutenant being one of the afore-mentioned Fugitives was no less remarkable who stealing out of the Town by night passed all the Enemies stations undiscovered and coming to Rotschild surprised the Guards there and brought some twenty Horse with him back into the Town these small successes did much heighten the besieged who as it is usual in such encounters began to contemn the Enemy and hope for greater advantages which they attempted though not with the like facility as we shall see hereafter During these doings in Denmark it will not be from the purpose to observe what happened elsewhere in order to them King Charles was not ignorant how many difficulties and what great obstacles the Netherlanders had opposed to his proceedings how violently they had acted against him and what further resistance he might expect from them unless they were diverted He had therefore dispatched Monsieur Coyet his Embassadour extraordinary to the States General some moneths since to endeavour to remove those jealousies which obliged this wary Nation to interest themselves in the transactions of their Neighbours Whilest Coyet was hastening for Holland in a Zeland States man of War he had like to have been shipwrackt upon the dangerous shores of Anhout for his Vessel being thrown upon a ridge of Sand by the violence of the tempest stuck there immoveable save its fearful rocking by the reciprocation of those Waves which threatned its ruine every moment Coyet saved himself in a Merchant ship which accidentally passed that way and many of the Seamen having tied a number of empty Casks together with ropes changed one danger for another But the Captain being resolved to perish with his ship did yet what he could to save both He threw all his heaviest Cannon and luggage over-boord and so lightened his Vessel that the Wind turning Northwards it was lift up with the Waters and so got off its unhappy station and returned contrary to the expectation of all men back to Elzineur And certainly so brave a man as this Captain whose name is Adrian Bankert a Zealander deserves to be mentioned in our Relation especially having signalized himself once before by saving his Ship It happened that having the out-watch before the Haven of Coppenhagen his Cables being cut in peeces by the Ice he was carried away with the stream and sholes as far as the little Island of Ween and so near the shore that he stuck fast in the Sands The Swedes eager of the prey which they thought assured sent two men of War and several armed Boats to seize upon him but finding more resistance than they had imagined they raised a Battery on Land and so attacked him on all sides at once but Bankert defended himself so well that he sunk the Enemies fire-ship battered their Battery on shore and treated the rest so rudely that they were forced to retire and suffer him to get off which he did in safety Coyet notwithstanding his former danger went aboard the same Ship again which being repaired he set sail and arrived in Holland in November following The Danish and Brandenburgish Ministers did all they could to hinder his Reception and Audience not forgetting to put the States in mind of the injuries and affronts which the King of Sweden had so lately done to their Embassadours in Denmark But all they could do Nov. 25. could not unmask the States so far as to oblige them to declare open War against Sweden though they otherwise incommodated it by all the means they could imagine a publick rupture had not been advisable being the English Fleet there and the English and French nearer home were reasonably to be apprehended besides they thought it below their accustomary prudence only to crack the Shell whilest their Allies went away with the Kernel all the Conquests they could hope for in those parts being but a liberty of Commerce which they were surer of in the dismembring of the Sound than in a plenary restauration of Denmark to its pristine greatness which had formerly so much perplexed and troubled their Navigation Besides all this there was anotheer weighty reason why Coyet should be admitted which was to render their Neutrality faster and their interposing less suspect being therefore received with the usual Ceremonies and admitted to Audience he laid before them the ancient Leagues and Confederations betwixt the two Nations and how religiously they had been observed on the Swedes part which the present King Charles Custave had not only sacredly kept hitherto but had also obliged himself by the late Treaty at Ething which contained most advantagious conditions for the Dutch to do so for the future He could not therefore but wonder to see that the same was not ratified by them which the credit of some men who preferred their own passion and lucre before the good of their Countrey and hitherto hindered and how ever he had consented to an enlarging and explaining of the said Treaty to their own desire yet it took no effect for the States had for all these amicable Concessions sent their Fleet to Dansick to thwart his Designes in Poland and instead of assisting of him against the invading Danes with those supplies which they were obliged to by their Leagues with him and his Predecessours they did not scruple to favour the King of Denmark in his unjust endeavours against him Nay they had so far contemned and rejected his friendship who had suffered near a hundred of their Merchant-men which he had in his power in the Sound to pass untouched or molested that they had after the manner of professed Enemies sent a Fleet of War to assault and oppress him He did therefore seriously complain of this ill-treating and violation of friendship especially being he had omitted nothing on his part for the conservation of a good understanding betwixt them and that they on the contrary had flown into open acts of violence and hostility without so much as trying the wayes of Peace For all this the King had sent him to declare his most secret intentions to them to explain those things which their Deputies in