His MAJESTY THE King of sweden LETTER TO THE STATE'S GENERAL OF THE UNITED PROVINCES.  
Printed Anno Domini 1675.   

His Majesty the King of Sweden's Letter to the State's General of the United Provinces.  
WE CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Sweden, etc. To the High and Mighty Lords, the State's General of the United Province.  
High and Mighty, how great have been the Friendships, and how considerable the Alliances, which have always past between Our Kingdom and the United Provinces, no person can be ignorant of, that shall have reflected upon the memorable Monuments of their preservation; For the Faith, by which they are maintained, is most plain and unsuspected to all men, and the signal constancy is equally known, by which they have continued so long unmoved. The transmission of this Faith, together with the Inheritance of Our Kingdom, We have taken so to heart, that we are resolved, as well to discharge ourselves in point of affection to our Friends and Allies, as to follow the footsteps of our Predecessors in other Actions of Honour and Glory. Wherefore we have always taken especial care, not only to stand firm to that ancient Tie, but also to make it yet stricter, by the addition of New Obligations; which being evident to all that shall consider, how readily we ourselves have either given the occasion of strengthening our Leagues by a still closer Union, or accepted of it, when it presented itself; we make no question, but when you yourselves shall reflect upon the many Advantages in these conjuncture of affairs, which we have neglected, together with the tedious troubles and difficulties, which we have willingly undergone, in order to the welfare of you, our good Friends and Allies; You will find no place to doubt of our fidelity towards you: while we had these things under consideration, and were contriving, how we might join Counsels with you, both for the restoring of a General Peace, and for the securing of it, when restored, and even promising to ourselves with great joy, the hopes of seeing that Peace speedily effected, and your Affairs by the blessing of Almighty God happily composed: We were surprised to understand, that instead of the friendly inclinations, which we expected from you, you were even at that time upon consultations of War, and come already to a resolution of Levying of Forces, and employing them against Us; and that only for this reason, that, since the Elector of Brandenburg, contrary to the hopes he had given us, by a Treaty lately concluded with us, (whose only Scope is the quiet of the Empire) and not regarding of that Instrument of Peace, in the Guarranty whereof we are likewise concerned; and so not adjusting his proportion of Forces, by Rates, with the other Members of the Empire, in order to a Common defence, but by sending a distinct and form Army, hath taken such violent Counsels, as are neither agreeable to the procuring of the pretended Peace, nor indeed safe to us, in regard that they increase those evils the Empire hath so long laboured under, and endanger those Interests, which we have a just right unto, by Virtue of the Treaty of Westphalia; we upon the consideration aforesaid, have been necessiated not to omit or neglect any of those things, which we are obliged to by the Guarranty of the said Treaty of Westphalia, or by the consideration of our proper security. And this is a matter of such a quality, as, whether we consider our good affections towards you, or our own indefagitable endeavours, for the procuring of a Public Peace, we cannot yet but be exceedingly moved at; little expecting, that we, who have so firmly adhered to the ancient friendship between Our Kingdom, and Your State, and ever preserved it inviolably, and in preference to all other considerations whatsoever: We, who have been ever ready to oblige your Commonwealth with all offices of kindness; and ever professed to do whatsoever might conduce to the strengthening of our mutual Alliance, should come at last to be treated by you, not as Confederates, but as Enemies: In which matter, whether you have requited us well or ill, We Appeal to your own Justice. Nor can the pains, which we have impartially taken, for the restoring of Peace to the World, and to You, seem to merit at your hands, that any such Counsels should find place with you, as may endanger either our Security, or the diminution of our Honour and Safety. That passage of yours is indeed praiseworthy, where you profess your care of your Alliances and Confederates; But while you persuade others by your own Example, that mutual Faith is not to be broken; you must also needs determine it to be unjust, that others should therefore Arm against us, because we neither can, nor will be wanting to our Confederate, or to the Treaty, to which we are Sworn. Nor is indeed our Treaty with the most Serene and most Potent King of France, so qualified, as that it may be called a New one, or such as owes its right and force to the present Commotions only, but stands upon such foundations, as are much antecedent in time and date to the War, in which you are now involved, and requires the same care from us, upon occasion even of the present state of Affairs, which had been as much our concern, although the War had not happened between the Most Christian King, and you; which hath thus unhappily brought so many Princes and States of Europe into mutual effusion of blood. And truly if the Obligations of Oaths in Treaties, may pass for any security to the Allies, it is to be hoped, you will esteem yourselves engaged, so to understand the cause of your other Confederates, that at the same time you take care, it be not to our prejudice, since we, who have merited nothing of this nature from you, are likewise in Alliance with you, and have Treaties between us ancient, and frequently renewed: Neither are we so transported with a blind desire of War, as to design the destruction of your Confederate, but only intent upon a timely obviating and preventing the dangers we are exposed to, by his Preparations, so far as is necessary for our own Safety. But if you pursue other Counsels, it will be in effect, not so much to stand to your Treaty, or undertake the defence of your Confederate, as to countenance his dangerous proceed against us, which so much as to suspect in you, will not consist with the unfeigned and sincere affection, we have ever paid you. And as the matter in question between Us, and the Elector of Branderburgh, is wholly remote from what concerns your State, regarding only the quiet of Germany, and looking wholly that way, to wit, that the Treaty of Westphalia be not totaly trampled upon, and its Articles vilified and despised; So that we must appear, to have rather desired the Peace of the Empire, than defended it; So neither can our Arming give You any just cause of offence, since the pure necessity of looking to Ourselves hath obliged Us to this Preparation. For, there is no War intened upon You, which even then for Your Safety sake We declined, when the bad condition of Your Affairs, and the just confidence of Our Success might have invited Us thereunto: Nor besides that can there be any damage or danger apprehended by You, form Our Preparations, which might divert the Assistance of Your Confederates, and that may hasten Your destruction, or obstruct the Recovery of what You have Lost; For it hath pleased the Divine Bounty, so to dispose of You, that standing now upon Your own legs again, the accession of other helps will not be needful, for the recovery or preservation of Your Commonwealth; much less those helps, which must bring danger to the Treaty of Westphalia, (which will be likewise Your own Interest to preserve inviolable) in the subvertion of so many States of the Empire, whose Houses lie buried in the ruins of the War, and in the sighs and tears of so many miserable and perishing persons. In contemplation wherefore of all these things We cannot doubt, but yourselves will determine, that to employ your Arms against Us, cannot be just because not neccessary; and therefore the more unexcusable, since all hopes of Peace being taken away (which began now to appear again) without any present enforcing danger, a door is opened for a new War, whereof no man living can foretell the end. But above all other mischiefs, that will probably ensue upon this War, how dreadful will the consideration be, of those terrible Assaults of the Ott●man Fury, upon that ancient Bulwark of Christendom, the Kingdom of Poland, and the forsaken State of the Christian Interest, while the Christian Princes and Commonwealths are engaged in mutal rage and destruction, than which nothing can be more welcome to Turkish Tyranny, or more conducing to the Imposition of that Yoke upon the Christian Name? But it is now in Your power, to provide for the divisions of Christendom, & the concerns of Your Confederate by a remedy more gentle and safe, then can be found in the continuation of the present Ware, or the addition of a fresh one, which is no other, than your Resolution to persuade him by a Friendly Admonition, not to pursue his present design, but to incline to better Counsels, and by a speedy Peace to out off and remove all impediments, and arising difficulties. And that you may be the better assured of our peaceful intentions, we most solemnly protest unto you, that as it is a matter of great grief unto us, that the Elector of Brandenburg should have too hastily embraced such Counsels, as are neither consistent with the Treaty made with us, not the sincere affection we have always borne unto him, & to the Peace and the care of the promotion thereof, which he pretended to undertake in a common concern with us, so likewise, as soon as the Elector either of his own accord, or by persuasion, and the interposition of your good Offices, shall be moved to retire with his Army, and shall proceed to such Counsels, as shall not obstruct, but saciliate the public quiate; and that we shall perceive a sufficient provision to be made for the Peace of Westphalia, and for our own Safety, which depends upon its true and faithful observance and warranty, that we will then meet him withal the readiness imaginable, in recorning to our former mutual confidence, and will immediately withdraw our Forces out of all such the Elector's Territories, as they have had Orders to march into: we will take care so to act, as that it may be visible to the whole World, that in the employing of our Armies we are not governed by any desires of bringing on one Ware by another, or of assisting such endeavours, to oppose the Peace, and design the oppression of others, much less to intent by, the seizure and possession of any place belonging to the Elector, the Empire, or any other whatsoever; but do purely look to the promotion of Peace, and the defence of our own just Rights and Alliances. We hope also, that this assurance and Faith which we give you, for the truth and fidelity of our Zeal to the Peace, may be sufficient for your reliance and satisfaction, and may produce such effects, as shall let You see Yourselves that there is no just cause for the drawing Your Forces upon Us, but that You will apply Yourselves to such considerations and measures, as may evidence those generous and frequent Protestations of Your good inclinations to Peace, and confirm Our hopes, of finding Your proceed eaqual and proportionable to the good affections, We have for yourselves, and all Your concerns.  
But if it should happen otherwise, which God forbidden, We shall bear Ourselves upon the Justice that is on Our side, being most confident, that Our Cause and good intentions will have together with the Divine Assistance all the Success that can be desired, and the favour and encouragement of all the Lovers of Peace and Justice. In the mean time, We have not receded in the least from the Resolution We have always owned, of living amicably with You, nor shall We be found, to have remitted any thing of the desire We have always entertained of preserving the Public and Common Tranquillity, and of contending with You only by such arguments of Friendship and good will that it may be a question, whether We are more ready, or You more inclined to such endeavours and methods, as may prove effectual for the lengthening and preserving of Our mutual Friendship, and the continuation of it to posterity. All which Our Extraordinary Ambassador and Chancellor of Our Court, the Noble and Right-trusty Edward Ehrensteen, Hereditary Lord of Forsbygard, etc. having Orders to express more at large, We refur ourselves to him, and so concluding these presents, We most hearty recommend You to Almighty God, the Author of Peace, wishing You all happiness and prosperity. Dated, etc. the 5th. of December, 1674.  
Your good Friend and Confederate, CHARLES. H. HOGHUSEN.