But if you have any respect to Leagues, certainly you have more Ancient ones
with Sweden, and whereof the obligation in Justice may not seem to be extinct;
Nay, and those which you have made with the Danes, do not indeed oblige you
to seek occasions against Sweden, or to endeavour to take from it that which it
hath justly acquired; that I may not say, you have already performed more then
what you were obliged to do by the tenor of that League, if there was any; nor
will it perhaps be so easie to do that which some, through too much confidence of
themselves, or contempt of us, do perswade themselves to be able to effect,
namely, to extort from the most serene King of Sweden, the places which he
hath taken from his Enemy. In which undertaking, certainly Fortune cannot
be so favourable to the Danes, as to hinder that Denmark should not be utterly
wasted: for that will be a work, not of some moneths, but of some years; and
Sweden hath as yet such Forces, that by the help of God it will be able strenuously
to defend it self, and the Provinces which it hath most justly acquired. The
Swedes have yet both men and Couragious spirits to whom it will not seem so
terrible to die for their King and native Countrey, as that they should not rejoyce
to fall revenged of their Enemies, though overwhelmed with multitudes,
Nor hath the power of Almighty God so far yet left the government of humane
Affairs, that any can promise to himself a certain Victory by his own strength.
Oft[unr]times God hath appeared for a few, and when he would save men, the combined
Troops of Enemies on all sides insulting over them; have conspired in vain to
their destruction. As for Friends and Confederate, although they have hitherto
seemed to proceed to our relief somewhat slowly, whiles one of them hath had enough
to do hitherto with his own Adversary, and the other have been hindred to
look abroad (as they would have done) upon Foreign affairs, by reason of their
Domestick troubles; yet they will not so far forget tis, as not to offer themselves at
last so to us, as they might wish us to do to them, in case they should be in the
like difficulties. And what if some body, whiles you prodigally spend your
strength in the North, taking hold of the occasion, should give you work at home,
to make you forget to meddle with matters of other men abroad.
But although (Illustrious and Potent Lords) you should certainly know that
Sweden must fall under this burden, and should be constrained by reason of the
violence of so many enemies to quit that which it hath justly acquired; yet it was
never thought adviseable by prudent men to compel him by injuries to take up a
perpetual hatred against you, whom you may make use of (if you please) as a
faithful Friend. Generous spirits, as they are easily moved to pardon those offences
which may seem to arise from a case of necessity, or some in prudence; so
they hardly lay aside the remembrance of unjust oppressions, and transmit even
unto their Posterity the sense of their grief: the following day brings many
things about, which this day you feared not, and oft times we have need of
the help of him, for whose destruction we have conspired with the greatest part
of Europe. To posse by this, That the common Cause of Protestants, by reason
of this War, where of not my King but the Dane is the Author, is in extreme danger;
for that which hitherto they have wished for, who indeavor the ruine of
Protestants, they now indeed seem to have ob[unr]ned, viz. That some of the
Protestants should be joyned to their faction, the rest being most fiercely set together
by the ears, or made enemies to one another, whose dissentions they
would so long foment, till themselves have spent all their strength one against
the other. Finally, That I may contract all in a few words, They who chiefly
stir you up to prosecute the War, are not such as can help you with their men
and money, but flutter you only for this cause, that as your cost and danger
they may satisfie their passion and hutred. You shall be at the cost, but if any