Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XVIII. Christina's Minority. The Guardians. A.D. 1633—1645
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
308
Alliance with France
renewed. HISTORY OF THE SWEDES. OxeiisUerna’s home
administration. [1033-
tact in this war, but no inner coherency. For this
I’eason the ratification of the renewed Frencli alli-
ance met with so long a postponement at Stock-
holm s. Oxenstierna demanded that France should
openly declare war against the emperor, as it had
ali-eady done in 1635 against Spain *. The decla-
ration of war against the emperor was first made
in 1C38; on the 6th March of the same year the
new alliance with France was at length concluded;
in the first instance for three years, but the term
was afterwards prolonged. On this subject Oxen-
stierna writes to Salvius, July 24, 1040 :
" In the
alliance it is settled, that we should penetrate
through Germany into the imperial hereditary do-
mains; ourselves through Saxony, France through
Upper Germany from the Rhine. That never was
done on the side of France ;
so that the whole
imperial power has been turned against us ^."
Since the summer of 1636, the chancellor had
been in Sweden, nor did he ever again return to
Germany, although such was his oi’iginal purpose.
Baner’s hands were left free in the war, and to him
was likewise connnitted the government of Pome-
rania, after the death of the legate Steno Bielke ^.
" No other than general instructions can be given,"
writes the chancellor to the general ;
" the state
affairs that concern this kingdom depend on the war
in Germany, and its good or bad success ’." On the
other hand, we see after the chancellor’s departure,
the so-called councillors of war appointed to the
armies. The first known to me, who was installed
under this title, was field-marshal Kniphausen in
Westphalia in 1635 *. In the year 1637, it is in-
timated that such a functionary should also be sent
to Baner himself ^
;
and in 1641, the secretary of
state, Laurence Grubbe, was actually deputed to
him, yet with a suggestion,
" to accommodate liim-
5 ’ ’
We have, especially after the peace of Prague, tried every
way for peace, and even let slip advantages, in order to pre-
sent no hindrance to any treaty of peace. But the enemy was
not in earnest, wherefore we must resolve for a continuance
of the French alliance, and sive up all particular treaties for
a universal treaty, with France and all our confederates.
The king of Denmark a year and a half ago offered his me-
diation, but hath since kept silence, till he saw us standing
on the point of ratification with France, when he again re-
newed it. There is, as you yourself providently judge in
your communications, nothing better to be done, than to
take arms in hand as best may be." Oxenstierna to Baner,
March, 10, 1638. Reg. "In Germany theenemy was in earnest
with none of the treaties of peace; he sought merely to mis-
lead us into difficulties, t\\l some casus humanus might occur,
and thus he, after the house of Austria, might sooner or later
attain his intention." Memorial to Baner, Dec. 8, 163S. Reg,
In these treaties with which the imperial court amused
Sweden, after the Swedish arms had recovered the ascen-
dancy, various parties allowed themselves to be employed as
mediators, as Adolphus Frederic duke of Mecklenburg,
Francis Albert duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, ’William duke of
Weimar. Respecting these Oxenstierna writes to Baner,
July 8, 1640 ;
" Ye do well to answer duke William of Wei-
mar courteously, but otherwise to give no great heed to his
proposals. We know him well ; he is neither a trusty friend
nor a dangerous foe, and enjoys no regard from the enemy,
by whom he yet may be used for frivolities of all sorts." Reg.
1 Richelieu’s compact of alliance with the United Nether-
lands, included likewise a treaty for the partition of the Spa-
nish Netherlands, Bougeant, 1. c. 232.
5 Instruction for Salvius (who in Hamburg conducted
these negotiation.s) touching the renovation of the French
alliance. Reg.
" The war which Sweden is waging is di-
rected on Germany, and the house of Austria ; France regards
self to the field-marshal as he best could ’." These
councillors of war, or of assistance, as they were
also styled, had properly a political, administrative,
and economical destination, but stood in immediate
correspondence with the government, and were not
without military influence.
The presence of the chancellor, from his energy
and activity, makes an epoch at home not less re-
markable than Baner’s generalship in Germany. A
commission of estates met him at Stockholm, and
received his account of the war and the treaties.
Pre-existing divisions in the council restrained him
from submitting any new propositions to the com-
mission. His speech in the senate is remarkable :
"He for his part dissuaded, it is stated, any
communications being made to the estates before
it should be determined in the senate what was
reasonable and practicable; since to ask counsel of
those who understand not the matter is fruitless
and unreliable ;
first must we have it concluded
here, and so see to it, that we may win the applause
of the estates, as his late majesty ever did 2." "We
have time after time deliberated upon the matters
which our brother reminds us to be needful for the
war," interposed Jacob de la Gardie; "if we should
continue the war, a levy must at length be set on
foot, by which to get men; we have taken the sub-
ject into consideration, whether the estates should
not be convoked at a future day." The chancellor
rejoined, "that a hundred levies were holden, and
no diet convened; yet he held it not unadvisable to
send out divers persons into the provinces to speak
with the people, and at the same time to issue the
warrant of levy." The chancellor employed a new
political instrument in an extraordinary mode, that
kind of diet of official persons, or yearly convention
of the principal functionaries, prescribed by the
mostly Spain, Italy, and Flanders." Ibid. Further, the position
of the two crowns in reference to religion was unlike. The
ratification of the alliance of Sweden with the United Ne-
therlands, which was likewise renewed, took place July 3,
1641. Reg.
s " Steno Bielke must come home from Pomerania. You
may be both general and governor-general." Oxenstierna to
Baner, March 10, 1638. Reg. To Steno Bielke the chancellor
writes at the same time,
" to send over another thither who
might conduct the civil administration, and have nothing
to do with military affairs, hath difficulties attendant." Reg.
7 To J. Baner, Jan. 10, 1639. Reg.
8 Oxenstierna to Baner, Stralsund, Nov. 9, 1636. Corre-
spondence of the general-in-chief, Charles Gustave Wrangel,
in the library of Sko Cloister. Kniphausen fell January 1,
1636, at Hasselune in Westphalia. His troops avenged his
death by a victory, which cost the enemy 1000 killed, and four
pieces of cannon.
’ " We are minded on the first opportunity to send a Swe-
dish commissioner of rank to the army, to watch over the
interests of the country." Oxenstierna to Baner, June 4,
1637. Reg.
1
Grubbe’s Instructions, April 29, 1641. Reg. He did not
arrive before Baner’s death. Old Herman Wrangel writes
on this matter to his son, Charles Gustave, who, after Ba-
ner’s decease, and before Torstenson’s arrival, was the prin-
cipal Swedish general in the army, in his letters the dis-
content of the military with these civil authorities clearly
breaks out: " With Grubbe thou must manage cautiously,"
he writes, "for he is a fox, and, as I know well, bears no
good mind to thee." Stockholm, Aug. 10, 1641. Correspond-
ence of Charles Gustave Wrapgel.
2 Protocol of council, July 15, 1636. Adlersparre’s Collec-
tions, iv. 98. Quod multi faciunt, multi negligunt, was a
proverb of the chancellor.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
