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1645.]
Peace of Prague.
Negotiations with Denmark CHRISTINA. THE REGENCY. and Poland. The Swedish
ministry inclined to peace.
303
that the Swedes should content themselves with
free egress from Germany. So great was the des-
pondency, that almost all the Protestant states (of
Sweden’s German allies all except Hesse) acceded
to this universally disapproved peace, which pro-
tracted the war for thirteen years longer. This
is the last and most deplorable period of the great
struggle. What yet impended, what Gustavus
Adolphus before his death predicted, and thought
it
gain not to live to see ", was so adverse, that the
Swedish, government, and even Oxenstierna, sought
for peace sincerely, if it were obtainable on other
conditions than dishonour. We shall see that only
this choice was left them.
The first intelligence of the disaster at Nord-
lingen was received in Sweden without despon-
dency.
" We doubt not of your wonted courage,"
write the ministry to the chancellor,
" and hope
that the cause is not to be despaired of, although
it be hard, and fallen into embarrassment*." The
results which speedily unfolded themselves ap-
peared to frustrate this hope, and the peaceable
inclinations which the government constantly che-
rished after the king’s death, gained new strength
by new perils. The truce with Poland was draw-
ing near its term, and it was feared that Denmark
might likewise break the peace ^. The danger
from this side was sought to be averted by grant-
ing the see of Bremen to the second son of Chris-
tian IV., duke Frederic, already named coadjutor
of the deceased archbishop ^. With Poland negoti-
ations for peace were opened, which count Peter
Brahe managed on the Swedish side. But these
were conducted imder arms. Kin^ Uladislaus
seemed to wish for war. Jacob de la Gardie car-
ried over to Prussia 20,000 men from Sweden
in June, 1635. "
But," the ministry write to the
chancellor *,
" if we obtain no prosperous issue
with the treat}’, the war will fall grievously upon
us in the long run; since the poverty of the country
every where is so great from the scarcity and
the dear times, which have now lasted for some
years over the whole kingdom, that the people
could pay their taxes neither this nor the former
year, and the crown has besides suffered great loss
through the bursting in of water in the copper-
mines ;
all which hath plunged us into so great
want of means, that we know not how we shall
maintain the ordinary economy of the state, much
less furnish any considerable sum, especially in
money, for the prosecution of the war. The mint
is at a stand-still, and there is very little money in
the arrival of the king of Sweden on the soil of the empire,"
—it is said in the Saxon preliminaries of peace at Pima,
Nov. 13, 1634. Chemnitz, ii. 602. The peace was concluded
at Prague, May 20 (O. S.), 1635.
* "
King Gustavus Adolphus shortly before his death con-
fessed with deep sighs that he wished for nothing else than
that God might call him hence, since he saw war imminent
with his friends for their great faithlessness, which would
afflict him the more that the world would not guess the true
cause of such a war." Axel Oxenstierna in the council,
1644. Palmsk. MSS.
1
To the high-chancellor, Oct. 2, 1634. Reg.
s "If the Pole begins aught, he for certain draws the
Jute with him." The ministry to the chancellor, June 12,
1634. Reg.
’ " We have not been able to avoid according Bremen
through the lord John Skytte to the son of the king of Den-
mark, and declaring ourselves not disinclmed to admit him
to neutrality, with the cession of Verden. Yet we have re-
the kingdom. Credit is so scanty that we could not
without great trouble and difficulty raise on mort-
gage the trivial sums which we transmitted with
the army to Prussia. On the customs we can
obtain no advance. Konigsberg and Dantzic have
declared themselves Polish, so that at these places
no exchange can be efiected. The people in the
government of Wiborg and Ingermanland liave
fied by thousands across the frontier to the Rus-
sians, on account of the levies and the dearth,
which has lasted four years. Therefore have we
extreme need of peace, and we wish it both in
Poland and Germany." Under such circumstances
the conduct of the German states made all the
deeper impression.
" You know," the ministry
write to the legate Steno Bielke ^,
" that we have
now enough to do with our own war against Po-
land, and have nothing else but loss and ingrati-
tude to expect from the German war. Therefore
you may well think what heart we have to spend
more upon it. We also see fully that howsoever
long it is drawn out we must yet in the end gratify
Brandenburg (with Pomerania), and have ah’eady
given orders to the high-chancellor to capitulate
thereupon with the elector." They indeed suc-
ceeded, mainly by French mediation (commis-
sioners from England, Holland, and Brandenburg
were present for the same object), in renewing the
truce with Pbland for twenty-six years, at Stums-
dorf, on the 2d September, 1635, although agamst
the will of the chancellor, and at the sacrifice of the
conquests of Gustavus Adolphus in Prussia^ ; but
their disinclination to the German war was not
thereby diminished. " What we have said of the
peace," write the ministry to the chancellor after
the conclusion of the Pohsh truce ^, "you ought
not so to understand, as if we had means enough
left to continue the war in Germany since we have
peace with the Poles ;
but we are so determined
upon peace, that we, in the desire and hope of the
same, have dropped every thought of procuring
means for the war. When the greatest part of the
sinews are cut away by the longsome war, with
what force can the body move ? This ye may
ponder, and proportion your counsels accord-
ingly."
Oxenstierna found himself in the most difficult
position. At home he was charged with setting
himself to thwart the peace ^. At the same time
Richelieu reproaches him with having lost all
spirit for the prosecution of the war ^
; although
ferred the matter to you and the evangelical estates." The
ministry to the chancellor, March 22, 1635. Reg. Mean-
while the secretary Grubbe had already, on the 18th March,
received a commission to congratulate duke Frederic on his
accession to the government of Bremen, and deliver the rati-
fication of the treaty concluded by Skytte in Denmark. Reg.
4
July 18, 1635. Reg.
5
Aprils, 1635. Reg.
6 The ministry make their excuses in the letter to the
chancellor of Sept. 12, 1635, for having resolved to ratify,
"
although we gave no warrant to conclude so short a truce
for concession of advantages so great." Reg.
7 Oct. 12, 1636. Reg.
8 "We lament that some have shamelessly dared to fill
the world with lies of many excellent conditions of peace
which you are said to have rejected. The best remedy is,
that you should pubhcly bring to light both the ingratitude
practised to us, and your moderation and reasonableness."
The ministry to the chancellor, Nov. 15, 1635. Reg.
9 Memoires de Richelieu, viii. 352. ix. 5.
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