The most Heavenly and Christian SPEECH OF The Magnanimous and Victorious King of SWEDEN, Carolus Gustavus Adolphus on his DEATHBED. IN His Royal Palace of Gottenburg on the 10th. of February last, three days before his most untimely and much lamented death. TOGETHER With his last Advice and Counsel to his Nobles, the Lords of his Privy Council, and the chief Commanders of War for concluding a Peace with the King of Denmark on the Conditions of Honour and Safety, or otherwise for the prosecuting the War with greater Vigour  
Faithfully translated out of High-Dutch.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Vere, at the sign of the Angel without Newgate. 1660.   

The last words of the King of Sweden, on his Deathbed, in his royal palace at Gottenburg, before the Lords of his privy Council, on Friday the 10. of February. There being present, monsieur Trelon, Ambassador of France, Sir George Ayscough, a●● many other honourable personages.  
THe Spirits of his Majesty of Sweden, which, like a how continually bended, found no relaxation, did in the midst of the month of January, bring a fever on his body, which first confined him to his Chamber, and afterwards to his bed; his late losses, but especially that at Fuenen, kept his mind in a perpetual agitation, and his courage to overcome all difficulties, did so prevail upon him, that it brought with it the violence of a disease, by denying him the benefit of sleep; his disease which was but a tame Ague at the first, did by degrees become so predominant, that his Doctors of Physic, (the most learned on that side of Europe) began to despair of his recovery.  
It pleased God that at that time he had called together at Gottenburg, a council of the most apparent of all his Nobility of Sweadland. Provission was there made for carrying on the War with more vigour, against the Emperor, the King of Denmark, and the Marquis of Brandenburg, there potent Enemies, who had attaqued him in Prussia, Pomerania, and in the Frontiers of Swedland, and given him a memorial overthrow in the Island of Fuenen. Queen Marry of England, whose reign was as short, as this King of Swedlands, was oftentime heard to speak in the fits of her deepest Melancholy, that when she was dissected being dead, they should find Calis engraven in her heart, I forbear to make any address of Application, but certain it is, that at this Council the Lords of Swedland, following the disposition, and constitution of their King did resolve, th●t every third man in the Kingdom of Sweden, should put on Arms for the defence and propagation of their Country's Liberties It was resolved that several Regiments both of horse and foot, should be form out of Lapland, Gothland, and Vandals, which on the beginning of the Spring, should like a Tempest come Thundering in, into the desolate Dominions of Powerland, and Prussia, and having reduced those places, should carry the war into the heart of the Empire.  
This was agreeable unto all, and there was no other discourse heard of from Gottenburg, until you come to Stockhalme. In the mean time it pleased God, that the health of the King was every day weaker than other, although he wanted for no encouragements. His Commanders were every day to attend him with their Resolutions; his Physicians with their Cordials, and his Divines with their counsels, but sleep being a stranger to his body, his body began to be a stranger, and to abandon the acquaintance of his soul. It is a wonderful thing to consider in how close a twist of respondency that sleep and health are united, although that one of them is the Emblem of death, and the other of Immortality.  
On Friday Feburary the tenth, his Majesty of Sweden, by the strength of his weakness perceiving the weakness of his strength, and finding nothing perfect in himself, but his Uprightness and his Memory, he commanded that his Councilors, and Lords of Sweden, should be called before him, who accordingly having made their appearance, he did raise himself a little from his bed, and with a countenance more cheerful than ordinary, he expressed himself unto them in these words, My Lords, my faithful Councelours, and Dear Allies.  
Many years are not yet passed, since by the gift of my renowned kinswoman Queen Christina, the crown of Sweadland, hath been devolved on me, it hath been my endeavour to follow the example of my famous Predecessors, which was to enlarge as much as to defend their Dominions; With what success I made war first in Bremen, and afterwards in Poland, I believe there is no part in the world is ignorant. By the combinations, and secret practices of some Enemies nearer home, I was called from thence into Denmark, where havin both the King himself and his Kingdom at my mercy, I granted him peace, and contented with the glory of the Conquest, I remitted to him the fruition of his Kingdoms. But he to require so great a favour entered presently into a league with the Hollander, and the Emperor to the apparent prejudice of the Crown of Sweden,; This caused me presently to return with my forces to Denmark, being much encouraged in it by the late Protector of England, had I not been interrupted in my proceed, by the Fleet of Holland, I had undoubtedly put a good period to that war, and made both the Emperor and the King of Denm●rk, to feel the effects of my power; I shall here make no mention of my Cousin, the Marquis of Brandenburg, of whom I expected better things, neither too heavily will I say the misfortune in Pomerania, to the neglect of my Brother Prince Adolphus, yet I must needs say, that I am confident the affairs there had been carried more to my honour, and advantage, if he had executed the instructions which I gave him.  
That which leaveth the greatest impression of grief upon my soul, is the loss sustained at Fuenen, and the imprisonment of many of my eminent Commanders now at Gluck●tadt, but I hope (my Lord Ambassador) that the moneys promised from your Master the King of France, will be either a speedy ransom for them, or an assistance unto you to force open the gates of Gluckstadt, for their deliverance.  
My desire is, that my most dear Lady the Queen, may be Regent after me, during the minority of my Son, to whom I do beseech God to be a father. I leave unto you the management of all affairs, both spiritual and civil, conjuring you to be zealous unto God, dutiful to your Queen, and faithful to one another.  
I must commend unto your greatest care, the peace with the King of Denmark, of which already some overtures have been made, but I would have it to be such a peace as may be most advantageous to you, without the least blemish or tincture of dishonour. And because we have already found him so uncertain, I would advise you to keep Elsenour, and Cronenburg, as Caution Towns for the performance of his promises.  
As for the late renowned Queen of Sweden now at Rome, I have something to speak in relation to her, and her Dowry in great danger, by the ruin of Pomerania, but— Here his spirits fainting away, he sunk down on his bed, but he was immediately recovered by some excellent hot waters, that were administered to him, while his Lords and Councilours that stood round about him, did drink hot watess as well as himself, but it was from the abundance of the tears that did flow from their eyes.  
The King after a little pause, having again raised himself, with a serious eye did look upon them all, and observing rain within door, and none without, he seemed to be much discontented at it, and thus again proceeded in his discourse.  
I have hitherto spoken to you as a King, I shall now speak to you as a Christian; Death is only terrible to the wicked, and it is not so much the fear of Death, as the sense of hell that is so terrible to them, the apprehension of the torment of the one swallows up the terror of the other. Did ever any man on the rack afflict himself, because his Mistress slighted him? did ever man that attained unto vast possessions, and was condemned to die for bloodshed and Extortion, call for the particulars of his purchase upon the Gallows? The apprehension and horror of being damned (I do not say) will cure all other sadness, but certainly it will swallow it up, But I who by the merits of my Redeemer, who by the grace of the Lord Jesus, do believe I shall be saved, I do desire you to consider with me, how great is my joy? how infinite my advantage is by this Exchange? How unspeakable is the glory, and how excellent is the recompense for all the hard Marches, and the sufferings in this world?  
My Lords! Take the counsel with you of your dying Prince, let us prepare ourselves against changes, always expecting them, that so we be not surprised when they come; Oh death how bitter art thou to a man who hath promised to himself ease and fullness, by his large possessions, and to enjoy it for many years! it was a sad Arrest, that his soul was surprised the first night.  
Consider with me, that afflictions are often the occasion of great spiritual advantages; We must not look upon them, as they sit heavy upon us, but as they serve unto God's ends, and the purpose of his eternal providence; When a Prince fights justly, but unsuccessully; Can he but see the reason for which God did so order it, he would find it unreasonable, nay ill, to have it otherwise. If a man could have opened but one of the pages of the Divine counsel, and observed the event of joseph's being sold to the Merchants of Amaleck, he might with much reason have dried up the young man's tears; God esteemeth it one of his glories, to bring good out of evil; And therefore it is but reason that we should leave unto God the Government of his own world, as he himself pleaseth, and that we should patiently wait till the change cometh, and not envy the happiness, and prosperity of our enemies, fret not thyself (saith that kingly Prophet) because of him who prospereth in his ways, because of him who bringeth wicked devices to pass for evil doers at the last, shall be rooted out, but those that weight upon the Lord shall stand like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken  
The Last great trial is Death, for which should we grieve, it would be of all griefs the most unreasonable; For why should we grieve at that which is so absolutely unavoidable? It is not so much to be cared for how long we live, as how well we live, for that life is not best which is the longest, but that which is most virtuous, and honourable: The shortening of our days, is an evil, wholly depending upon opinion, let us still be ready for death, and it cannot come too soon, for let us die young or old, we have still an immortal soul, and do lay down our bodies only for a time, as that which was the instrument of our cares and troubles, and the scene of sickness, and disease; Let us not then (my Lords) fear that which riddeth us of all these infirmities, for by fearing it, we shall never the sooner avoid it, but make it more miserable. To die is natural and necessary, but to die poorly and basely, is that alone which can make a man miserable. No man can be a slave, but he who feareth pain, or who feareth to die, to such a man nothing but peaceable times can denote his inclinations, or his duty, he dependeth only on external things for his felicity, and therefore is no longer well, then during the pleasure of his Enemy, a Thief or a Tyrant.  
But blessed is he who willingly resigneth his soul into the hand of God which gave it, as into the hands of a blessed Creator, and Redeemer: O blessed Jesus thou didst die for me; grant that with joy I may submit to thy Summons, for thou art as well my Advocate as my Judge, and camest into the world to save sinners; I acknowledge O Lord I am a great sinner, but thy mercies are infinite. O God of mercy, and Father of all comfort, look upon the sadness, and the sorrows of thy servant; my sins lie heavy upon me, and press me sore, by reason of thy hot displeasure. My affflictions seem to be without comfort, because they are the punishments of my sins; My sins have caused my sorrow, yet my sorrow doth not cure my sins; and unless thou, O Lord, for thy own sake, and merely because thou art good, art pleased to pity me, I shall be left forlorn, and as much without remedy as without comfort, Lord therefore pity me; I deny myself, and wholly depend on thee, and on the blood and merits of my redeemer: Let thy grace refresh my spirit, thy comforts support me, and thy mercies pardon me, for thou art g●od and gracious, and I throw myself upon thy mercies. Suffer me not to let go my hold, and do thou with me, as seemeth good in thine own eyes. Thou art in finitely more merciful than I can be miserable; O Lord make me the object of thy mercies as well in my death, as in my life; And if even in this hour shall be pleased to remove me from this vale of misery, when my poor soul shall go out of the prison of this body, may it be received by Angels, and preserved from the horror and surprisal of evil spirits, and be laid up in the bosom of our Lord, until the day of thy second coming, when it shall be reunited to the body, which is now to be laid in the dust, yet I doubt not but shall be raised up in joy, to live for ever, and behold the face of God, in the glories of our Lord Jesus, who is my Hope, my resurrection, and life, my blessed, and ever glorious Redeemer, to whom with the father, and the holy Spirit, be rendered all honour, and glory, now and for evermore.  
Having spoke these words, his Lords and privy Counselours (who stood round about his bed) were transported with as much admiration, as they were before with grief, and taking at that time, their leave of him, they left him with two of his Chaplains, who never ceased to confirm him in his holy and heavenly confidence, and to administer those spiritual Consolations to him which were suitable to the Master of so great a war-fare, who having conquered himself as well as his Enemies, stooped his anointed head, as low as death, and in the flourish of his years, wisely exchanged a sea of troubles in this world, for the heaven of eternal rest, and a temporal Crown for a crown of Immortality.  
The End.   

His EPITAPH.  

Who lies within this fatal Ring,  
The honour of the growing Spring,  
And Virtue that doth man advance,  
Who yet this Marble underneath,  
(in the despite of death's mischance)  
Doth valour to the Swedish breath.