Memoirs of Denmark, containing the life and reign of the late K. of Denmark, Norway, &c., Christian V together with an exact account of the rise and progress of those differences now on foot betwixt the two houses of Denmark and Holstein Gottorp ... taken from authentick letters and records / by J.C., Med. D., Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Member of the College of Physicians.

THE CONCLUSION.

JUst as I was upon Concluding this Treatise, the following Propositions, made by the two contending Parties, to the Ministers Medi∣ators, Assembled at Pinnenbergh, came to my Hands, which, as they may serve towards the Clucidation of what has been said upon the several Heads now in Contest betwixt them, so, I thought it absolutely Requisite to afford them a Place here.

His Majesty's of Denmark and Norway, &c. Propositions made to the Ministers Mediators, on the 24th of August, O. S. 1696, at Pinnenbergh.

(1) That the Ʋnions and Hereditary Contracts, as likewise the Communion founded upon the former, may be explain'd, and put into a due Light, Pursuant to their true Intent and Meaning.

(2) That, what concerns the dispute about the Jus Armorum, such as Creating of Fortifi∣cations, and making of Levies, with all other Matters relating to the Common Defence of these Dukedoms; it may continue in the same manner as has been practised before, according to Antient Custom; and what ever has been done in this point on the Duke's side, contrary to the Ʋnions, Family-Contracts, and the Com∣munion, shall for the future, be redress'd and and quite Abolish'd.

(3) That the Joint-Defence of those Duke∣doms shall be resettled upon the antient Foot, and to prevent all further Jealousie upon that Account for the future, the Taxes Levied as well upon the Prelates and Nobility as the Ci∣ties, and all the Subjects in General to be brought into one Joint-Treasury, as it was before the Agreement made in the Year 1663, betwixt both Houses, which (being done with mutual Consent, and only for a certain time, ought to be quite annull'd for the future.

(4) His Majesty of Denmark desires, that the last Will and Testament of the late Duke Christian Albert may be Communicated to him.

(5) All remaining Grievances to be compo∣sed within a limited time, by an Amicable Trans∣action, and in Case some Differences remain, the same to be decided according to the true intent of the Compacts of Ʋnion.

The Propositions made by order from His Highness the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, upon the Propositions delivered by the Danish Mini∣sters, the 24th of August 1696, to the Mini∣sters Mediators, at Pinnenbergh, the 14th of September O. S. 1606.

(1) His Highness is willing to renew the so much desired Ʋnion, but upon no other Con∣dition than was stipulated in the Trcaties of Gluckstadt and Altena; provided also, that his other Grievances may be Redress'd, and the King renew the same on his side. What con∣cerns the joint Dominion over the Nobility and Prelates (for the same ought not to be extended over the rest) mentioned and introduced in the Her editary Divisions and Family-Contracts, the some ought to be look'd upon no otherwise than

Family-Agreements, but not as fundamental and unalterable Laws, never to be dissolved or an∣null'd; The contrary of which appears from what has been declared in the Northern Treaties, that of Gluckstadt; and by His Majesty's own Concession, wherewith His Highness is willing to rest satisfied.

(2.) In case there should be an imminent Occasion of an extraordinary Provision to be made for the defence of these Dukedoms; His Majesty and His Highness as Joint Lords there∣of, will, according to antient Custom, enter up∣on Consultations and agree upon this Point; But as to what concerns the Rights or entring into Alliances, to erect Fortifications and make∣ing Levies, this is put beyond all dispute by the Treaty of Altena, which grants to His High∣ness, among other Regal Rights, those before-mentioned without any Restriction, Limitation, or previous Communication; in which sense it was not only taken and signed by the Mediators, but also by the Princes, who were Guarantees of the said Treatyl; His Highness is not in the least sensible, that on his part there has been done any thing against that Ʋnion, which is so earnestly desired to be renewed, no more than against the Hereditary Division and Communion; His Highness being willing to be only secured in the quiet possession of them.

(3.) His Highness has made it his utmost Care to provide for the defence of the Country, for which purpose he has taken some foreign Troops into his Service, and has made consi∣derable Levies, and put his Fortifications in a posture of defence, having expended upon this Account not only what Taxes have been levied,

but also considerable Summs arising from his own Demeasnes; But what is alledg'd concerning the abolishing of a Treaty made in the Year 1663, and that it would tend to the removing of all farther Jealousies and Misunderstandings, if the Taxes raised, as well from the Balliages, Lands and Cities, as the Nobility and Prelates were brought into one common Treasury; His Highness is of quite another Sentiment; He looks upon it as a thing depending meerly on the pleasure of Soveraigns, which way Taxes are to be raised, to wit: from their own Subjects, so that neither party receives any prejudice by it. The due observance of the Treaties of the North and Gluckstadt, and of what since has been declared by His Majesty, would prove a more effectual means to prevent all farther Jealousy and differences.

(4.) What concerns the Communication of the Last Will and Testament of His Highnesses Father the late Duke Christian Albert, His High∣ness perswades himself, that the Reasons alledg∣ed to His Majesty, and since published, will be so prevailing, as to induce him not to insist any farther upon this point.

(5.) After His Highness has been redress'd concerning the beforementioned Grievances and Propositions, by the Intercession of the Princes Mediators, he is willing that the re∣maining Differences may be referr'd to an ami∣cable Composition; and in case that should take no effect by a legal Procedure, pursuant to the Intent of the Treaty of Altena, which does not mention the least of the Decision of such Dif∣ferences as may arise betwixt both Houses, as they are Dukes of those Dukedoms, to be done

by the Judgment of the Court of Unions.

Many more Observations might be made up∣on those Propositions, but as most of them have a near relation to what has been said be∣fore; so we will only alledge here in a few words, what the Danes reply to the Allegation of the Treaty of Gluckstadt, so often mention∣ed in the Duke's Propositions:

They say that this Treaty (containing the Preliminaries of the Marriage-Contract betwixt the Daughter of King Frederick III. and the late Duke) several Transgressions made on that Duke's side, were thereby buried in eternal Oblivion, without insisting upon every particu∣lar, which ought not to be drawn into Con∣sequence to the Prejudice of His Danish Maje∣sty; it being especially provided for in the said Treaty, that all the Antient Ʋnions should re∣main in their full force and vigour.