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1632.]
The estates promise
support.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS^ GERMAN WAR. Discussion of the plan
of operations.
257
tlie town only to refer to lier fidelity as an ally ’.
The burgliers of Stralsund sent their wives and
children to Sweden •*,
and defended themselves with
heroism. Tlie town was a member of the Hanseatic
league, whose once great, but now slackened power,
was for the last time invoked in the affairs of Stral-
sund. Gustavus Adolphus, whose penetrating glance
nothing escaped, sought in vain to recall the league to
new life, in order himself to appear in Germany as
the protector of the Hanse Towns ^. He had al-
ready resolved, if need were, to come himself from
Prussia to the aid of Stralsund ’
;
and when Den-
mark’s participation in the defence of the town ob-
viated this necessity ^, he sent the chancellor to
confirm the newly made compact, and another
Swedish auxiliary force under colonels Leslie and
Nicholas Brahe. This also remained there after
the raising of the siege, and Gustavus Adolphus
had already firm footing in Germany.
By the year 1G28, then, we may regard the king’s
participation in the German war as fixed. Al-
ready in December, 1627, when the coimcillors of
state were assembled in Stockholm, he requested
that they would name a commission from all the
four estates to discuss with him some secret affairs.
This commission, on the 12th January, 1628, de-
clares :
" Inasmuch as his majesty hath signified
to us into what a dangerous condition our brethren
in religion have fallen in Germany, and how the
emperor and the Popish league have oppressed and
subdued one prince and one town after the other ;
how they have unjustly occupied all the princi-
palities bordering on the Baltic, and, finally, not
spared Denmark, our nearest neighbour ; so that
if God avert not such danger we have nought else
to expect for this realm than the uttermost ruin, or
a tedious and burdensome war;—therefore we pro-
mise, on our own side and that of our colleagues,
that we will act and deal towards your majesty and
our country as befits upright men, and for this just
cause will spare neither life nor property." What
a distant prospect this struggle opened no one per-
ceived better than the king.
" It has gone so far,"
he writes to Axel Oxenstierna, April 1, 1628, "that
all wars which are waged in Europe are inter-
mingled and become one ^." He knew his vocation
to engage in this great strife, but was not yet
agreed with himself as to the manner. Two things
were to be considered; the war with Poland, and
his relations with Denmark.
Ere Stralsund’s danger called him to aid, he pur-
7
"Stralsund," writes Salvius to the chancellor from the
camp at Ossa, Sept. 1, 1628, "has finally requested only
patronage and nominal clientship. I have, under his ma-
jesty’s pleasure, obliquely proposed real subjection ; but as
both one and the other appear suspicious to thera, it is held
best to leave the matter in suspense until the spring. Here-
upon the whole business turns, that his majesty should with
a royal army come and occupy Rugen ; then would the town
do real homage to the king." Reg.
8 Three hundred of these were drowned on their return.
Neubur, 1. c. i. 125.
* " It seems to us that they (the Stralsunders) in this
convention at Lubeck will employ every effort to persuade
the other Hanse towns to enter into a league with his
majesty, and request his majesty to be the head and patron
of the society." Letter of Salvius above quoted.
’ " We have again weighed the business of Stralsund, and
resolved, if the town require our relief, to repair thither with
nine regiments of Swedish troops, where after the raising of
the siege we may determine at convenience whether any
posed from Poland to fall upon the League and the
emperor in fiank.
" Poland is cotivenient thereto,"
he says in the letter to Oxenstierna above quoted ;
" it is a wide, fertile, and open country, feeble and
powerless to hinder us; inimical, although it offers
treaty; papistical and driven by the Pope; remote,
so that the Imperialists would find it not easy to
disperse an army, which might be formed there
with time and srood counsel." As to the means to bo
used he was in no perplexity.
" It is a land filled
with towns and villages, which are wholly open," he
says;
"
I think, consequently, that an army could
be collected there in the fashion of Wallenstein,
which might be opposed to his; a method of which,
in any case, we must think in the long run." Words
which like a ray of light seem projected into the
future, remarkable for this time and for this war !
Stralsund’s danger attracted his keen vision to a
nearer point; and from this hour the only question
between the king and Oxenstierna was, whether
the war should be carried on defensively in Ger-
many and offensively in Prussia, or conversely.
The chancellor was of the forraier opinion, the king
of the latter; and his reasons are again highly
worthy of note.
" I apprehend your view," he
writes on March 5tl), 1629,
" that we should con-
tinue an offensive war in Prussia, and defend our-
selves against Wallenstein solely by the garrison
and fleet of Stralsund, as also destroy with the
fleet Wallenstein’s ships in the havens. To this
your opinion I cannot assent. For as I discern
from all your letters, Prussia is now so exhausted,
that if any army should be assembled there, it
would need no other enemy than hunger. More-
over, an offensive war in Prussia cannot easily be
carried on without my presence, and this season
will not apparently permit me to remove far from
the Baltic and the fleet. Wherefore I determine,
that in the coming year we must wage a defensive
war in Prussia, for which I hope that means will
be found, if the collectors of customs in Pillau do
their duty *. Further, with regard to the opinion
in your letter, that we can wage a defensive war
better in Germany, and as our forefathers broke
the Russian domination in Livonia by the town of
Reval, we also might do the same against the em-
peror by means of Stralsund, this is indeed a clear
example; but the circumstances are entirely differ-
ent. For the Russian had not oiae boat with which
he might have injured us at sea, and not one man
greater armament shall be prepared, or after provision made
for the defence of the town and haven, we shall go with the
rest of the troops to Sweden or Prussia for the winter. Here
we find it good to be so strong that we may divide our army,
and go to work with one portion defensively, with the other
offensively." The king to the Council of State, Dirschau,
June 30, 1628. Reg.
2 " Had it been necessary, we purposed coming to help
Stralsund with a royal succour; but as it hath appeared to
your lovingness that no further succour is needful, wj have
bent our attention on the Polacks." Gustavus Adolphus to
the king of Denmark, Aug. 19, 1628. Compare the Instruc-
tions for Oxenstierna’s Embassy.
3 Scand. Memoirs, i. 151.
^ In a previous letter to the chancellor, Dec. 2G, 1C28, the
king intimates that necessity does not allow of his sparing
that part of Prussia belonging to Brandenburg.
" We have
used the principality already for the sustenance of our
cavalry, and hold it to be indifferent if we should use it
further." Reg. Of the customs of Pregel the king says in
1629, that they had yielded 500,000 rix-dollars.
S
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