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.

CHAP. III. The Occasion and Causes of the Differences betwixt Denmark and the House of Hol∣stein Gottorp.

THE Precautions taken by the Ance∣stors of those two Houses, to Unite them both in Point of Interest and Government, did at last prove too Weak to subsist without a remarkable Inter∣ruption; For, after Christina Queen of Swe∣den had abdicated that Kingdom, Charles Gustave her Cousin, Prince Palatine of Deuxe∣ponts succeeded her; a Man of whom it must be confess'd, that he was Endowed with all Qua∣lifications, becoming a King; but withal of an unmeasurable Ambition,* 1.1 and whose Designs were as great as ever any of the greatest Hero's of Antiquity: To confirm which, I cannot pass by in silence, what Monsieur Terlon, who was Ambassadour of the French King to both the Northern Crowns, about that time, says in his Memoirs concerning Charles Gustave King of Sweden, who speaking one day of Denmark and Norway in his presence, said: As soon as I have Conquer'd them, all the other Princes and States will be glad to be quiet, and not trouble themselves to Restore the King of Denmark; and whilst they are busie to out-vie one another by Traffick, I will find a way, what with the Alliances already made, and

some others, to unite those Conquests with, and E∣stablish my self so well in Sweden, as to make all the Neighbouring Countries, nay even those at a great distance, dread Ʋs. He used often to say, and so would the Earl of Slippenbach, continues Monsieur Terlon: When I once have made My self Master of the North, I will go with a very Potent Army and Fleet, like a second Alaric, to I∣taly, to force Rome to submit its Neck once more under the Yoak of the Goths. And to speak the Truth, if we reflect upon the Great Enter∣prizes of this King, his Actions were altoge∣ther sutiable to the Character given him by this Ambassadour; that he was as active in the Ca∣binet Council, as he was in the Camp.

Among other Projects which were contriv'd to compass his Great Designs,* 1.2 one of the most refined Pieces of Policy, was his Marriage with Hedwig Eleonore, the Daughter of Fredereick Duke of Holstein Gottorp; For, being sensible that without the Conquest of Denmark, he could not promise himself any Considerable Success against the Empire, he did not question, but by this Alliance to draw that Duke into his Party; by which Means he might facilitate his Conquest on that side, and bereave the King of Denmark, in some measure, of the Communica∣tion with the Princes of the Empire; or, at least to put such a Thorn in his Foot, by the Neighbourhood of this Duke, as would disena∣ble him to stir, whilst he was putting his De∣sign in execution against Poland.

For,* 1.3 no sooner had he secur'd himself on that side, but he began to make Preparations for the Enterprize against the Poles, upon a very weak Pretence; and notwithstanding they sent an

Ambassadour to his Court, who offered all the Satisfaction that reasonably could be desired, and that in very submissive Terms; he, not long after entred that Kingdom with his Army, where he carried All before him: These incre∣dible Progresses, but especially his Conquests in Prussia, opened the Eyes of All the Princes of Europe, who now began plainly to see, that his Aim was no less than to be Master of the Whole Baltick. Frederick III. King of Denmark, and the Elector of Brandenburgh, being most nearly concern'd, by reason of the Neighbourhood of their Territories, the first upon the Continent of Sweden, the second in Pomerania and Prus∣sia, to stop the Carrier of his Victories, entred into an Alliance for that purpose, being underhand back'd by the Emperour and Hollanders: Pursuant to which, King Frede∣rick III. who had all the Reason to fear, that the Storm would fall upon him next, began the Fray, by entring the Dukedom of Bremen.

King Charles Gustave,* 1.4 finding himself attack'd so near home, thought it more for his Purpose to suspend the Execution of his Designs in Poland, than to run the Hazard of losing his Conquests in Germany; for which Reason, having left some Forces in Prussia, under the Command of his Brother, John Adolph, he march'd with all the rest towards the River Elbe, leaving the Brave Ragotzi, Prince of Transylvania, to the Mercy of the Poles. King Frederick III. did flatter himself, that the Union of their Families might be more prevailing with the Duke of Hol∣stein, than his Affinity with Sweden; and that therefore the Swedish Troops, tired with the Fatigues of many Engagements and a long

March, would not be in a Condition to act for a considerable time, in a Place, where few or no Magazines were erected for their Subsistance; But he found to his Cost, that there had been a secret Correspondence betwixt those two Prin∣ces against his Interest for a considerable time before; For, in lieu of opposing their Passage, he provided them with all Necessaries, which enabled them afterwards to push their Conquests into the very heart of Denmark.

The Ministers of Holstein Gottorp, did excuse the Duke's not opposing their Passage, by the Ne∣cessity he lay under at that time of preserving an exact Neutrality betwixt two Enemies more Potent than himself,* 1.5 to preserve his Country from an imminent Devastation; but the before mentioned Monsieur Terlon,* 1.6 seems to have un∣folded this Riddle, when he says: The Duke of Holstein, besides his near Affinity to the King, (Charles Gustave) was in a strict Alliance with Sweden; and it was he, that expresly sent his own Secretary, the Sieur Pauli, to his Son-in-Law in Poland, to give him an Account of what was transacting in Denmark. And in another Passage, speaking of the Brandenburghers having taken Gottorp, he adds these Words: The Duke of Hol∣stein now found to his Cost,* 1.7 that the War he was engaged in, barely on the Account of his Daughter being Married to the Swedish King, would prove the Ruine of his Country. Which makes him also affirm for a positive Truth, that, when he saw the said Duke Frederick at the time of the se∣cond Rupture betwixt Denmark and Sweden, the Duke told him with Tears in his Eyes, that he now foresaw what was likely to befall him, to his unspeakable Grief; and truly not without great

Reason, adds Terlon; for this War would inevitably break, past all Reparation, that Ʋnion with Den∣mark, which it had been his true Interest to preserve; as on the other side, it was the Interest of the Da∣nish King to keep a good Correspondence with the Duke of Holstein. Certain it is, that in this War, where he was only made use of, as a Tool and a Pretence, his Country was likely to suffer more in one Campaign, than could be repair'd in se∣veral Years after the Peace was made. Besides, that the Danes Answer to this, that the Neighbour∣hood of the Danish Troops would soon have de∣livered the Duke of that Fear, at a time, when the Swedish Army was not in a Condition to make head against them, they alledge several unde∣niable Instances of the manifest Breach of this pretended Neutrality, some of which we shall have occasion to speak of anon.

It would be both too tedious, and beyond our present Purpose to enter upon the Particulars of this War, the only Matter of Moment, worth our taking Notice of, being, that it end∣ed with the Peace of Roshilt,* 1.8 in which these fol∣lowing Articles were inserted in favour of the Duke of Holstein, viz.

That all past Things should be buried in Oblivion.

That Satisfaction should be given to the Duke con∣cerning his Pretensions, according as should be judg∣ed equitable, and that within a certain limited time. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Duke sent his Commissioners to Copenhagen, who in their Ma∣ster's Name made these following Demands:

• 1. That the Duke should be discharged from his Vassalage:
• 2. That the King should surrender to him the Balliage (they call it Ampt) of Swabstede, and some other Possessions;

• 3. That he should put into the Duke's hand the strong Fortress of Rensburgh (being the on∣ly Bulwark of Denmark on that Side.)
• 4. That the Joint Administration of the Re∣gency in both Dukedoms should be abolish'd:
• 5. That the K. of Denmark should pay all the Damages the Duke had sustained in the War; and give sufficient Caution for the future:
• 6. That he should pay several hundred thou∣sand Crowns besides, on the account of some old Pretensions; besides several other Demands of the same Nature.

The Danes, who look'd upon these Conditi∣ons as too exorbitant, refusing to hearken to those Propositions; the K. of Sweden, whose In∣terest it was, by encouraging the Duke in his Demands, to link him the more firm to his Par∣ty, and render the Breach betwixt Denmark and Holstein irreparable, did refuse to withdraw his Troops out of the Territories of the K. of Den∣mark, before the Duke had receiv'd Satisfaction; Nay, the Duke's Commissioners did not stick to tell the Danish Ministers in plain Terms, that they had Orders in their Pockets, directed to the Swedish Generals, to re-commence the War, if they refused any longer to comply with those Conditions; so, that the Danes, to rid their hands from such unwelcome Guests, saw them∣selves under an absolute Necessity of granting to the Duke of Holstein the desired Soveraignty (without prejudice,* 1.9 however, to the antient Ʋnion) the Balliage of Swabstede, and the Re∣venues of the Chapter of Sleswick; besides some other Matters of less Consequence.

It is known to all the World, that not∣withstanding all those Concessions on the Da∣nish Side, the King of Sweden found means to renew the War in the same Year, at a time, when K. Frederick III. thought himself secure from all danger, by the late concluded Peace, which he had bought so dearly from the Swedes,* 1.10 with the Loss of no less than all his Provinces, situate on the other side of the Pas∣sage of the Sound. And it was at this juncture, that Duke Frederick of Holstein gave new Mat∣ters of Complaint to the Danes, in acting contrary to that Neutrality he had before made the Foundation-stone of his late Trans∣actions; there are, besides others, two remark∣able Instances given of it, which, as they are Notorious beyond Contradiction in those Parts, so, by reason of several remarkable Circum∣stances, which attended the first, deserve a place in these Memoirs.

It is therefore to be observed, that after King Charles Gustave had taken a Resolution to finish the Conquest of Denmark by the taking of the Ci∣ty of Copenhagen, he feared, not without rea∣son, that the Allies of Denmark might March to its Relief, before he could be Master of a Place, which in all likelihood would defend its self to the last Extremity; As he had ta∣ken all the imaginable Precautions to prevent the coming of any Succours by Sea, by send∣ing a good Fleet into the Sound, and Barrica∣ding that Passage with strong Chains, so the only Means to secure himself against any At∣tempts of the Danish Allies by Land, was to make himself Master of the strong Fortress of Rensburgh, situate upon the River Eyder, on the

Confines of Holstein and Sleswick, but to com∣pass it, was a Point not as much as to be aim'd at by the Swedes, at a time, when they had not a sufficient Force thereabouts to Besiege it in form, and if they had had, they would have met with a Brave Refistance from a Faith∣ful and Valiant Governour and Garrison.

The only Way then left them being to try their Fortune by another Way, the Duke of Holstein was prevailed upon to send some of his Ministers thither to endeavour to perswade hem by a voluntary Surrender.

Accordingly several Persons being deputed by the Duke, and amongst them the Father of the Governour of the Place (being then in the Duke's Service) they desired a Conference with the Governour and Magistrates of the City, without mentioning the least what Errand they came about; so being admitted into the City, they in a very pathetick Harangue, represented unto them the dangerous Condition the Kingdom of Denmark was in at that time; which having moved the Duke to take Compassion of them, had sent his Deputation to exhort them to pre∣vent their impending Ruine by a timely Surren∣der to him, which if done, he would provide for their Security, by putting a sufficient Gar∣rison in the place, not questioning, but that he would obtain a Neutrality for them from his Son-in-Law, the King of Sweden. The Magistrates thank'd the Duke for his Care; but withal, told the Deputies, that,* 1.11 pursuant to the Alle∣giance due from them as good Subjects to His Danish Majesty, they were oblig'd and resolv'd to defend the Place to the utmost Extremity: But the Governour being a Gentleman of that

Country, and a Person of Great Honour and Bravery, looking steadfastly all the while upon his Father, who at that time acted the Part of an Orator, told him, not without a great deal of Passion: Dear Father, I could scarce have been perswaded to believe that I should ever hear such a Proposition come from your Mouth, to me; Believe me, you may at this time be glad, you are my Fa∣ther; for, without that, I should never have had Pa∣tience enough, to have heard you so long, but would have sent you away immediately to the Dungeon, to make you sensible what Punishment such an Inso∣lence as this, deserves. The Father, whether moved by his Son's Generosity, or his own In∣clination, is uncertain; but he gave him this immediate Reply: My Son, What I have said hitherto, I have done, as being a Servant of the Duke; but what I am going to tell thee now, Take from me as thy Father, That if thou shouldst shew the least Inclination to surrender this Fortress, I would be the first that should call thee to thy face, a Traytor to thy Prince, and unworthy to be call'd my Son. So that by the faithfulness of the Ma∣gistrates, and the Governour's Bravery, this Commission came to nothing.

Another Instance of the Duke's Partiality, and his secret Correspondency with Sweden, whilst Denmark was struggling for its Preserva∣tion, is alledg'd by the Danes, in the following manner:* 1.12 It feems there was about that time a Swedish Regiment entred the Country of Eyder∣stede, in which lies the Fortress of Tonningen, belonging to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp; some of the Danish Auxiliaries having got Notice of it, directed their March thither with a sufficient Body, to beat up their Quarters; but the Swedes

not thinking themselves strong enough to stand the Brunt, retreated under the Cannon of Ton∣ningen. Here they lay sheltred for some time, till the Allies being reinforced with fresh Troops, were preparing to attack them there; upon which, the Garrison of the Fortress receiv'd them within their Gates.

The Danes exclaimed against this Action, as a manifest Breach of the Neutrality, but were forced to rest satisfied with this framed Excuse, That the Duke had bought the said Regiment from the King of Sweden; the contrary of which appear'd not long after, from a Letter of the Duke's own hand, written to his Secretary Pauli, then residing with the King of Sweden, dated at Tonningen, the 12th of February, 1660, in which he ordered him expresly to repesent to the Swedish King:* 1.13 That he was put to a great Nonplus how to keep the said Regiment any longer where it was; and that he would be glad to know how he should dispose of it so, as it might tend most of His Majesty's Advantage: That he intended to have sent it by Sea into the Dukedom of Bremen, but that in so doing he must make a manifest Breach of the Neutrality; That therefore he desired the King's Leave to disband them; but, that notwithstanding all this, he might rest assured, that he would keep them in the Swedish Service to the last Extremity. It is to be observ'd, that just before this Letter was intercepted, Duke Frederick of Holstein Got∣torp happen'd to die, whilst his Son Christian Albert, who succeeded him, was in Person in the Swedish Camp before Copenhagen; He had not before been a Spectator together with the King of Sweden, of the Naval Combat betwixt the Dutch and Swedish Fleets, from the Windows of

the Castle of Cronenburgh, the first of which, being sent to the Relief of Copenhagen, fought their Way thro' the Swedish Fleet, Forts and Chains, with such Bravery as startled their Ene∣mies, who from that time on, lost their hopes of the Conquest of Denmark; whereupon the young Duke took Shipping immediately after, to Tonningen, to take Possession of the Regency of the Dukedoms.

To be short, after the raising of the Siege of Copenhagen, the defeat of the Swedes in the Isle of Fuhnen,* 1.14 and the Death of their Brave King, a Peace was again concluded in the Year 1660, betwixt the two Northern Crowns, by vertue of which, the Duke of Holstein Gottorp was confirm'd in his Sovereignty, but with this ex∣press Reserve: That the antient Ʋnions, Joynt-Administration of the Government, the former Covenants betwixt those two Families; and in Gene∣ral, all the antient Customs relating to those Duke∣doms, should remain in full force, and to be in∣violable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambiti n of Charles Gustave King of Sweden.
• * 1.2

  His Mar∣riage with the Duke of Holstein's Daughter.
• * 1.3

  His Wars in Poland.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 betwixt ••••••••ark and ••••eden.
• * 1.5

  Reasons of the Duke of Hostein
• * 1.6

  1 Tom. Mem
• * 1.7

  2 Tom. Me••r
• * 1.8

  Peace of Roshilt.
• * 1.9

  The Sove∣raignty gran∣ted the Duke of Holstein.
• * 1.10

  Second War betwixt Den∣mark and Sweden.
• * 1.11

  Faithfulness of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nour 〈…〉〈…〉 of R••••••∣burgh.
• * 1.12

  Partiality of the Duke of Holstein.
• * 1.13

  Is dis••••ver∣ed by an in∣tercept••. Let∣ter.
• * 1.14

  Peace of Co∣penhagen.