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2fi0
Deliberations in the
council. Negotiation
HISTORY OF THE SWEDES.
for peace at Dantzic.
Intrigues of Richelieu. [IC28-
1C29, we may regard the participation of Sweden
in the German war as decided. Meanwhile Gus-
tavus Adolpluis had it at heart personally to con-
vmce his council, and the short written notes of
his consultations with the senate at Upsala, Oc-
tober 27th and November 3rd, 1029,
" in how far
the war should be carried on offensively or de-
fensively’," are among the most remarkable records
of its history. Axel Oxenstierna was absent in
Prussia; his opinions upon its policy we already
know. These liowever did not now want an advo-
cate. John Skytte’, at other times Oxenstierna’s
political opponent, defended them in the council.
In the notes referred to we find reasons stated for
and against the war, almost in a syllogistic form,
and oftener in Latin than Swedish, ascribed to tiie
king. These afford in a few words many rays of
light on the interests of Sweden, Germany, Eu-
rope, and Christendom, which attest the genius
whence they proceeded, and also the hopes of the
conqueror. We behold Gustavus Adolphus on tlie
verge of a great future—the ncarmost clear, the
more remote dark—himself attracted perhaps more
by the undefined than the closest aims—with the
presentiment both of victory and death—without
arrogance, but so fearless, that an internal joy and
confidence, which even apprehensions of the most
disastrous issue cannot shake in the least, every-
where shine forth. To the reproach of Skytte’,
that he was staking his monarchy in the game, lie
answered :
" All monarchies have passed from one
family to another ; a monarchy consists not in the
persons, but in the laws*." He foresaw the long-
someness of the war ". When the council, by
their vote of the 3rd November, conjointly em-
braced the king’s view, he concluded in the follow-
ing words :
" I exhort you, that ye so labour in
the matter, that either ye or your children may
see a happy issue thereof, which may God grant !
For myself, I look henceforth for no more repose
save that of eternity."
His assurance of victory shows itself also in two
other circumstances. Denmark, after its peace,
had, together with Brandenburg, offered its me-
diation between the king and the emperor ;
Dantzic
was fixed upon as the place of negotiation ’. An im-
perial envoy arrived, but with powers which denied
Gustavus Adolphus the title of king. The Swedish
plenipotentiaries temporized. Gustavus Adolphus
gave in his written demands by Oxenstierna ^.
7 Palmsk. MSS. t. 37, p. 1985. seq.
s Contra offensivum dom. Skyttius. Ratio a nostra mon-
archia.—The emperor Is strong ; all, the Dane and others,
lean upon hira.—Esset contra Deuni et conscientiam tentare
subversionem tnonarchiae. Respondet rex : omnes monar-
chias transivisse de una familia in aliam —non consistit in
personis, sed in legibus, monarchia.—To another objection of
Skytte: Si rex erit victor, non se adjungent Gerniani ; sin
viclus, Si; subtrahent, the reply was: Si rex victor, illi praeda
erunt.
’ From on board the fleet he wrote to Oxenstiern, June 2,
1630 :
—" It appeareth to me that this whole war will be long
drawn out, and rather be ended by the delay and weariness
of it, than by impulse of force." Reg. The prediction, that
it would be terminated only by the fatigue of the combat-
ants, came true.
’ •’
At all events we have begun to spin the web of negoti-
ation with the Imperialists. Tlie Innijerialists will treat with
us, and are already agreed upon the place, namely, Dantzic,
in the beginning of May. Set down your thoughts touching
the same on paper, since it seems to be in one point of great
The king’s own view of the negotiation is expi’essed
by tlie commission of the Swedish estates in their
declaration thereupon :
" Because the adversary’s
intent is unsafe, and the issue uncertain, we
therefore hold it most advisable that his majesty
should follow after straightway in arms, and pursue
the treaty under helm ^." That the king never-
theless laid so great stress upon this overture,
seems to have been occasioned chiefly by a wish to
give the greatest publicity to the conditions on
which alone he declared that he could lay down
his arms ;
and these, albeit the war had now
brought the German empire to the feet of the
Kaisar, comprised in the main heads nothing less
than the restoration of all northei-n Protestant
Germany to its former condition. There was thus,
in truth, some ground for that exclamation of the
imperial commissary. Baron Dolma :
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