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. V. An Account of the Rupture betwixt Chri∣stian V. King of Denmark, and Chri∣stian Albert, Duke of Holstein Gottorp.

IN the mean while King Frederick III. hap∣pening to die, his eldest Son and Successor, Christian V. being willing at his first Accession to the Throne, to keep a good Correspondence with the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, left no stone unturn'd to compose the beforementioned Dif∣ferences, with the Duke of Holstein Ploen, con∣cerning the Succession of Oldenburgh. For which purpose, he renew'd the Conferences (after he had refused the Offers of the Duke of Holstein Ploen, who would have made a separate Agree∣ment with him) representing to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp's Ministers, how dangerous and inconsistent it was with their common Interest to exasperate the Imperial Court, who took part with the Duke of Holstein Ploen; but those were so puffed up with the Swedish Alliance, and with the Assistance they expected from thence, that, when it was urg'd on the Danish side, that some Regard ought to be had to the Imperial Authority, whose unquestionable Right it was to determine those Differences, the said Coun∣tries being Fiefs of the Empire; the Ministers of Holstein Gottorp did not stick to tell them in plain Terms: The best Remedy against the Empe∣rour's Authority, is the Sword.

The King of Denmark then being convinced that the Duke had no inclination to satisfie the just Demands of the Duke of Holstein Ploen, and fearing, not without great reason, that those differences might one time or other Embroil him with the Emperour, resolved to put an end to them by an Amicable Composition. For which rea∣son, after having made his remonstrations to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp in Person, whilst he was at Copenhagen in the Year 1671, and, afterwards to his Ministers, that in Case they stood it out any longer, he should be obliged to take his own Measures,* 1.1 he effectually brought the Mat∣ter to a happy Issue on his side, to the Entire Satisfaction of the Duke of Holstein Ploen.

Things continued thus without any remark∣able Alterations till the Year 1672. when the Duke of Holstein Guttorp got himself to be included in the Alliance made betwixt England, France and Sweden; whereupon he not only Augmented his Forces, but also procured an order from the Crown of Sweden, directed to their Generals in Germany, that upon the first Summons from the Duke, they should with all the Forces they could bring toge∣ther, March and Act according to the Duke's di∣rection.

But this was not all, for,* 1.2 in the Year 1674. he renewed the Alliance made with Sweden in the Year 1661. and went in Person to Stock∣holm, being accompanied Chiesly by those of his Ministers, who were sufficiently known to be against the Interest of Denmark, the Effects of which appear'd soon after; For, the Duke of Holstein Ploen having obtained a definitive Sen∣tence in the Imperial Court against the said Duke of Gottorp, he had Engaged the Swedish

Court in his Quarrel, who sent their Letters to the Government of those Countries, to op∣pose the Execution of the Emperours Judgment against the Duke; all which being done at a time, when the Swedes were in open Alliance with the Enemies of the Emperour and Empire, gave the King of Denmark sufficient reason to guess what good he might expect from him, in Case he should assist the Emperour, as he was obliged to do, both as a Member of the Empire, and as an Aliy.

It was not long after that the Swedes made an irruption into the Elector of Brandenburgh's Territories;* 1.3 This Prince was Marched with his whole Force to the Rhine, to make Head a∣gainst the French, and kept the strong Fortress of Brisac, so closely block't up, that in all like∣lihood it could not have held out till the end of the Campaign; The French, who knew the Importance of this Place, to Preserve at once this Fortress, and rid themselves of so formi∣dable an Enemy upon the Rhine, urged the Swedes; but especially some of the Grandees of the Kingdom, who had the Chief Management of Affairs during the Minority of their King Charles XI. to make the Crown of France some Amends for the large Subsidies they had re∣ceived by vertue of the Alliance made betwixt them; Whereupon the Swedes entred the Bran∣denburgh Territories with a Considerable Army, not questioning but by so powerful a Diversion, he would be obliged to leave his Prey upon the Rhine, to look after his Affairs nearer Home.

The Allies in the mean while were continu∣ally Soliciting the King of Denmark to Suc∣cour the Elector of Brandenburgh, who suffered

for the common Cause, and the Kings Inclina∣tion were altogether suitable to their desires, but being Sensible that if he made the least Motion he must leave his Country exposed to the Mercy of an Enemy, who had his strong Holds in the Heart of his Country; some of the Allies did urge the King to begin with the Duke, and to endeavour to rid his Hands of a Domestick Enemy.

But the King, who was unwilling to come to those Extremities,* 1.4 took a Journey to Ren∣sburgh (near which he had appointed the Ren∣dezvous of his Troops) with an Intention to try, whether by an Interview with the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, a sincere Amity might not be restored among them; The Duke Arriving at Rensburgh, the 25th of June, in the Year 1675, was receiv'd with the discharge of all the Can∣non from the Ramparts of this strong Fortress, and all other demonstrations of Joy, usual upon such Occasions. The next day being the 26th of June, an Express arriv'd with the News of the defeat of the Swedes near Fehr-Berlin, when the King, laying hold of this Opportunity, re∣presented to the Duke, that he being oblig'd to march with all his Forces against the Enemies of the Empire, he could not blame him, if, considering what Intelligence he had concerning the Duke's near Engagements with Sweden, he desired him to give him such Security, as might free him from all the suspicion of danger; and that for the rest, he would be ready to contri∣bute all what in him lay towards the Composing the remaining Differences betwixt them. The Duke having desired some time to Consider of the Matter, the Gates of Rensburgh were kept shut

up, for fear the Duke should dispatch his Mes∣sengers to his Governours and the Swedish Ge∣nerals, to prevent the Design of the Danes, which was to make themselves Masters of his Strongholds by Force, in case he should persist in his Refusal to surrender them into the King's hands till the Conclusion of a Peace; which the Duke, after a deliberation of eight and forty Hours, agreed to, and sent his Order to the Commander in Chief of Tonningen,* 1.5 to surrender the said Fortress into His Majesty's hands, which was done accordingly.

This Action was exclaimed against by those who were no Friends to the Crown of Den∣mark, as a Breach of the Royal Word, a Vio∣lation of the Laws of Hospitality, and an Act, which being forced from the Duke, could not be obligatory on his side. Some have added several other Circumstances of his being con∣fined a Prisoner to his Appartment; of his being ill used,* 1.6 and put in fear of his Life; and several other Circumstances relating to the Treaty, concluded afterwards betwixt the King and Duke: To this the Danes answer, That the King's Intention was not in the least to put any force upon the Duke at his coming to Rensburgh,* 1.7 but that much about the same time, they receiv'd the News of the Defeat of the Swedes; Letters were sent to His Danish Majesty from one of the Allied Princes, in which was enclosed the Copy of an Order, sent expresly before their Defeat near Fehr Berlin, to the Swe∣dish General Wrangel, containing in Substance, That at the Solicitation of the Duke of Hol∣stein Gottorp, they had thought fit for him to march with a good Body of Troops forthwith

into Holstein, in order to prevent the King of Denmark to join with the Elector of Branden∣burgh; unto which was added, that there was a shrewd Suspicion of the City of Hamborough's being included in the Alliance betwixt Sweden and the Duke; the Truth of the first Assertion appears from the Apology of the Count de la Gearde, the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden; and, as to what relates to the City of Ham∣borough; I remember very well, that being at that time in those Parts, there were some Let∣ters, said to have been found among the Papers of the Baron Kielman, Chief Minister of the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, and residing for a con∣siderable time before the said City, intimating, that a Promise of such an Alliance had been made by the Sieur Garmers, one of the Syndies of Hamborough; upon which application being made to the Senate from His Danish Majesty, they gave for Answer, that no such thing had been done by their Orders or Consent, which made Garmers to retire immediately out of the Territories of this Commonwealth, for fear, as it was supposed, of being called to an Account for so unaccountable an Undertak∣ing.

These were the Motives, say the Danes, which obliged their King to secure the Possession of the Duke's Strongholds to himself, at a Juncture, when there was no small Prospect of Repairing the Losses they had sustain'd in the late War with Sweden; but they constantly deny, that the Duke was under any Confinement, the Gates of Rensburgh having been kept shut up, with no other Intention, than to take away from the Duke the opportunity of preventing His Ma∣jesty's

designs, by sending his Messengers to their Enemies, till his final Resolution were known. They positively Aver, and appeal to the Testimonies of many then present, That the King offered to see the differences concerning the Countries of Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst, composed, to his Honour; and that the other Matters, especially concerning the Taxes, should be transacted by their both sides Ministers, pro∣vided the Duke would secure to him the Posses∣sion of his Fortresses till the end of the War; and that the King told the Duke in express Terms, that he should have Liberty to go where and when he pleas'd, if he was resolved not to comply with his desire; but, that in such a Case, he must not blame him, if he sent his Troops immediately into his Territories, and took such other Measures as he should find most conducing to his Safety, at this juncture, when he was ready to assist his Allies against the com∣mon Enemy: So that his Complyance may ra∣ther be ascribed to the Consideration of his In∣terest at this time than any other Cause. The King invited him at the same time to dine with him, and to go abroad with him after Dinner, which the Duke refused to accept of, being ex∣treamly Melancholy; which was Chiefly attri∣buted to the ill News they had lately received of the Overthrow of the Swedes. Within two days after, the King and his only Brother, Prince George, gave him a Visit, protesting that what had past, was done with no other Intention than for their Joint-Security's sake, and that he ws so far from desiring his Ruine, that he should be ready for the future to do him all the good Of∣fices he was capable of. The Duke with a great

deal of seeming satisfaction return'd him Thanks, calling God to witness, that he was very glad it was in his Power to oblige his Majesty; and that for the future he would adhere inviolably to his Interest; they din'd the same day toge∣ther,* 1.8 and the next Morning the Duke left Rensburgh under the discharge of the Cannon, and return'd to his Residence at Gottorp.

After his departure the Ministers of Gottorp, who were left behind by particular Order from their Master, to regulate the remaining Differences, had frequent Meetings with those of Denmark, who, in one of their first Con∣ferences, protested in the King's Name, that they were not met there to constrain the Duke to any thing that was against his Will; unto which the Ministers of Gottorp reply'd, that they did take it so, and, that what they did, was done without Compulsion.

Thus, after many Conferences, a Treaty was concluded betwixt the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein Gottorp, on the 10th day of July, 1675. In which, besides some o∣ther Matters of less moment,* 1.9 the Duke resign'd the Soveraignty he had obtained by the Peace of Roshilt; so, that all things were thereby set∣led upon the antient Foundation of the Union prescribed by their Ancestors. The Duke hav∣ing afterwards re-call'd his Ministers from Rens∣burgh, after mature deliberation, not only rati∣fied the said Treaty, but also sent back to the King the Patent granted him by King Frederick III. by which he was declared independent from the Crown of Denmark;* 1.10 he likewise writ a form of Resignation with his own hand, by which he renounced all the Advantages he had obtained

by the Northern Peace, and engag'd the Bishop of Lubeck, his Brother, to do the same.

As an overplus, he sent some time after the King was return'd to Copenhagen, a Letter writ∣ten with his own hand, in which he testified his great Satisfaction in being reconciled to his Majesty, by which means he hoped the antient good Correspondence and mutual Confidence be∣twixt their Families would be restor'd; to effect which, he would be ready to contribute what∣ever should be in his Power to do.

If all this, say the Danes, is not sufficient to contradict what is alledg'd by some, concerning the Hardship put upon the Duke at the Treaty of Rensburgh, why may not the Peace of Roshilt with the same Right be look'd upon as a Trans∣action, wherein Force had the greatest share, to wit: when King Frederick III. being enclosed within his Capital City, by the Encouragement at least, if not Assistance of Duke Frederick of Holstein Gottorp, was put to an absolute Necessity of either losing all, or of redeeming some part of his Kingdoms, with the Soveraignty granted to that Duke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Differences betwixt Den∣mark and Holstein Ploen, com∣posed.
• * 1.2

  The Duke of Holstein Gottorp re∣news his Al∣liance with Sweden.
• * 1.3

  The Swedes Irruption in∣to Branden∣burgh.
• * 1.4

  The Inter∣view betwixt the King of Denmark and Duke of Holstein.
• * 1.5

  Tonningen Surrendred to the Danes.
• * 1.6

  The account of Denmark 1692.
• * 1.7

  What the Danes alledge on their side.
• * 1.8

  Duke of Holstein leaves Rens∣burg.
• * 1.9

  Treaty of Rensburgh.
• * 1.10

  The Duke•••• Ratification•• and Resignati∣on of the Sove∣raignty.