Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XII. Reign of Charles XI, 1660–1697 - B. Personal Rule of Charles XI, 1672–1697
<< 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.
200 A History of Sweden
The rough sea incapacitated the recruits so that, for
instance, on one ship of 200 men only 11 were fit for
service. The ships were mainly left to drift. To meet
an enemy with a fleet that could not manage itself ’was
not to be thought of, so there was nothing to do but
to return to Stockholm.
The inexperienced youth who was to direct the king-
dom realized that his guardians had neglected their
duties, but as yet he did not know the full extent of
the evil. He hastened to the naval storehouse and
discovered the old rotten cordage used for naval
equipment. He turned to the admiralty and asked
the officials why they had managed the fleet so poorly.
They replied that funds were lacking. Then he re-
paired to the treasury department. The accounts were
examined and it was found that the report of the ad-
miralty was all too true. Upon further inquiry he
found that the revenues for the coming year were al-
ready spent. His head was in a whirl. There seemed
to be no one that he could depend on. He decided to
take charge of all himself. He asked no advice. He
gave orders. The youth had become a man.
During the winter, the king devoted himself to fit-
ting out the fleet, which put to sea in the spring of
1676 in good order, but under a land commander and
with a crew called by the Danes "only farm hands
dipped in water." The Swedish admiral sought a battle.
Followed by the Danish fleet he sailed with a strong
wind toward the southern point of (Hand, where he
decided to give battle, and gave orders to face about.
But in his eagerness he forgot that the admiral’s ship
had the lower gun ports open to be ready to give a
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
