MOst Illustrious and most Mightie Emperour , most deare friend , and Cousin : wee have , not without admiration , vnderstood by your Imperiall Mas. letter , sent to vs the 18. of August last past , & delivered to vs in our Campe at Ribnits the 6 , of this month , that your Imp. Ma. doth much wonder , that we have this last sommer passed over with an army into Germany ; and would so turne over the Fault , both of making this warre , as also of the neglect of denouncing it vpon vs . certainly , we did not thinke your Imp. Ma. to have ben so vnmyndfull of matters past , that yow should doubt , which of vs did first offend the other by armes ; and we have all wayes promised our selves more of your Imp. Mas. equanimity , then that he would have that imputed to the one , which is committed by the other . That the Mareshall of your Imp. Mas. army , did the last yeare , without any proclamation of warr , bring ( in greatnes ) a reasonable army , together with the hostile Imperiall enseignes against vs into Prussia ( that we may passe by the long and greevous traine of other hostilities and injuries heaped the one vpon the other ) it is as well knowne to all men , as it is certaine , that we have now sufficiently proved the hostile mynde and invasion of those Imperiall forces , which neither our innocencie , not the most , equitable requests of our Counsell by their message was able to stay or revoke . Wherfore all reasons being well and diligently discussed , we can scarcely see , by what title or right , the cause of this warr can be attributed to vs , or by what colour or pretext of equitie your Imp. Ma. doth require of vs ( not making , but repelling warr ) a denounciation of warr , neglected by yourselff , and doth inthat behalff accuse vs of violating the lawe of Nations ; for as much , as it is manifest , that it is no lesse agreable to the lawe of Nations , that those warrs , which are vndertaken for the repelling of force , are not proclaymed by a Heralde , but by nature it selff : Neither have we nothwithstanding altogether omitted all denunciation ( howbeit in this case noewayes-necessarie on our part ) but we have ben very carefull , and warie , that no man , might by any right complaine , that being deceived by hope of Peace , he suffered hostilitie vnawars ; by two letters , we sent to the Electors of the Roman Empire , as also by signifying to the Generall of your Imp. Ma. army , by the Legate of our Counsell , that vnles the errours alreadie committed by the other side , were in time amended , a necessity should be laid vpon vs , by the iniquity of the neglecters of our most just complaints , by other meanes to provide for our securitie and dignity . Moreover , your Imp. Ma. doth affirme that while he hath governed the raines of the Empire , nothing hath ben done by him , either injuriously , or maliciously against vs , nor that his preparations of watt both by sea and land did tend to any such thing , wherby we and our states needed to feare any daunger . and finally , that all matters controverted betwixt your Imp. Ma. and vs , might be easily set at rest , by other means , and that they were not of such importance , that therfore presently armes were to be taken against the Roman Empire . But , we doe not , on the contrarie , search and inquire so diligently , whether these protestations be not contrary to the deede it selff , all which we confidently leave to be judged of by the world ? Whether your Imp. Ma. had any intention in any kinde to offend vs , we doe not know , as being vnable to dive into the most inward and hidden secrets of your mynd : but , that vnder the shadow and authoritie of the high imperiall name ( and that either by your Imp. Ma. command , or at least , connivence ) many and divers indignities , hostilities , and injuries were done vnto vs , is so cleare , that to attempt to deduce it more at large , were all one , as to pres to adde light to the sunne , neither doe we feare to appeale to your Imp. Mas. owne conscience , either as witnes , or judge in this matter . What we ought likewyse to have promised our selves of your Imp. Mas. preparations of warr , we will not so much declare , as his officers and ministers actions , endeavours , and devyces , not only ambiguous and suspected , but manifest , doe sufficiently vtter and signifie : all which , if they be silent , let Pomer speake , which together with the adjacent Provinces , hath these years bygone bene miserably vexed , exhausted and brought to nought by your Imp. Mas. forces , in malice against vs , and vnder no other colour , then vnder the pretext of warr against Swethen . More over , we doe not deny but the controversies , which were arisen , might have bene decided more commodiously by other means , then by armes , and it were to be wished , that your Imp. Ma. had esteemed as equitably of that supply wherwith we ( with no damage to the Roman Empire , but rather to the benefite therof ) did most justly succour the Citie of Stralsound ; as we did constantly , with a mynd resolutely bent to patience , for the good and tranquillity of common Christianity pardon that hostility , which ( together with many more injuries ) the Duke of Holsatia did exercise against vs , most vnjustly , vnder the very Colours and Enseignes : of your Imp. Ma. for we should hardly doubt , but that then , whatsoever diffidence and discord had arisen betwixt your Imp. Ma. and vs , might easily have bene composed by a friendly transaction , neither should perhaps a necessity have bene laid vpon vs ; to have leavied an army , at so great a charge , and to place our colours vpon the confines of the Roman Empire , to the end we might maturely prevent the imminent evill , least it should spread itself further . But since it hath otherwise semed good to your Imp. Ma. and that your commissioners have , contrary to the statutes of all Nations , refused to admit our ambassage , sent to Lub●c cheefly , to decide the cause and controversie of the Sound , seing also your Imp , Ma. armyes have declared themselves so open enimies to vs , and have exercised all hostilitie against vs , offending vs with all manner of hostile attemps : every lover of equitie , and indifferent arbitratour in this cause , will say , that not we , but rather your Imp. Ma. vilipending other equitable and lawfull means , hath at the first attempted extremities : how beit therfore , that ( being so many wayes vnworthily provoked , and almost dejected from all hope of any frendly composition ) we might , without all note or suspition of any vnjust attempt , rather have bene sollicited for other means thencefoorth , then for proffers of any farther peace : yet nothwithstanding , that we might testifie to all the Christian world our fervent desire , and endeavour for common tranquillity , we would no wise cast of our resolution of peace , but did , by our earnest and frequent calling bring the most Gracious King of Denmarck this last winter so farre , that interposing himselff for peace , we prepared the way for appointing a frendly treatie betwixt our and your Imp. Ma. commissaries at Dantfike then did we also furnish and provide our Chancelour , with the rest adjoyned to him , with full commission to enter into that treatie : and finally , lest the motions of warr should any wise disturbe the deliberations of peace , we suffered our militarie expedition ( not without losse both of time and means ) to be differred for a long time . of this our care and sollicitude for the common quietnes , and tranquillitie of Christian contreyes , this was the trust we gained , that our best deliberations , being shifted of by divers slights and subtilities , did not only evanish without taking any effect ; but that now also your Imp. Ma. doth make no scruple to ascribe the cause to vs , why that busines had no prosperous successe : wheras it had bene more agreable to equitie , rather to have examined the doings of your Imp. Ma. Commissarie , who did with earnest endevour hinder the mediators from visiting our Ambassadors , residing at Dantsike , and from laying the foundation of the future treatie , according to the due and accustomed manner and it had bene altogether more expedient , that your Imp. Ma. should have pondered with your selff , whether this often aforesaid treatie ought so strictly to have bene tyed to the towne of Dantsike that ( that place being , by reason of what happened afterwards , in respect of some seed of variance , which was then sowne betwixt our officers , and the towne of Dantsike made incommodious and suspected to those of our side ) it might not have bene celebrated elswhere , but was to the hurt of the common tranquillitie , for that cause only , to be altogether broken off , because our Deputies ( though for reasons vrgent and pregnant enough ) could not precisely appeare in the said place . All and each of these , being weighed in a just ballance , let any man , who doth sincerely esteeme of matters , judge which of vs hath juster cause to complaine of the other , yea we commit this to be examined and discussed by your Imp. Ma. his owne secret thoughts , in the which we doe fully perswade ourselves , that we arte clearly purged . Now your I. M , does indeed affirme , that yee will maintaine inviolable frendship with vs , and our Kingdome of Swethen , if so be , that we restraine , yea altogether lay downe our armes . but for as much , as the matter is not now any more entire and the daunger hanging over the heads of our States , cannot be said to be imaginarie , but hath often really and effectually showne it selff , and since that we have bene wronged and offended both by sea and land , not in word , but by armes , and other hostile enterprises ; we desire your I. M. to pardon vs , that we can not admit of such caution and provision for our securitie , and that , being beyond words offended , we cannot in this manner be satisfyed , but have determined to maintaine these armes , which we necessarily and justly have put on , vntill such time , as that we have either this way sufficiently provided for our security and dignitie ; or then , the just feare , and reall imminent daunger as also the offences , and injuries really inferred vpon vs , be redrest by sufficient provision , and real satisfaction : and commending the whole matter to the goodnes of God , and to the equitie of the cause , we doe not refuse to abide whatsoever may befall vs , in this our most equitable , and constant resolution , but if in the meane time your I. M. thinke that the ship of the Christian worlde , which hath now this long time bene vehemently tossed by the huge and violent waues of warr , is rather to be brought into the desired and calme haven of peace , then any longer to be committed to the stormy sea of contention and armes , and for this cause , does incline to any farther treatie , your Imp. Ma. shal see , that we shall nowayes be avers from so safe and pious a resolution , and so soone as your Imp. Ma. shall suffer yourselff to be induced so farr , that we may see the Princes and Common wealths of Germany , our respectiue allies , Kinsmen , frends , and most deere neighbours so restored to that former estate , wherin they were , before this German warr did beginne to wax or increase , that our States may thencefoorth be duely secured , and mutuall trust and frendship may againe be renewed betwixt our Kingdome and these people , as also , that by experience we may try and perceave these vnusuall preparations of navies and armes vpon these coasts , partly justly to be suspected of vs , and partly nowayes to be tollerated , in respect of the defence of the Balthik sea , which doth belong to vs , to have ceased , and a due consideration to be had of the injuries inferred vpon vs , as also of the noe smal charges which we have bene forced to bestow for this our defence : verily , no sooner shall any man see these things accomplished on your Imp. Ma. his part , but he shall really and ipso facto find it made manifest by vs , that our greatest desire doth most tend , to keep inviolated frendship with your Imp. Ma. no les , then with the rest of our neighbours , and mutuall trust and confidence being renewed , and all other contention being laid a side ) only to contend with your Imp. Ma. in good will , and all other kind of dueties whatsoever . Mattors standing in this condition , we should also scarcely give occasion to any man justly to complaine , that we did to curiously prye into other mens affairs : for , as we are not accustomed to intermix our selves with other mens matters except other mens affairs be so mingled with ours , that the one doth involve the other ; and as in all this time , that Germany hath bene burning in the flame of warr , we , being contented with the care of our owne Kingdome , did not involve our selves , in the affairs of Germany , vntill such time , as the iniquitie of other men did bring the matter to that pas , that other mens affairs did also concerne vs , so should we also be found to be of the same mynd then , neither should we in any kinde trouble your Imp. Ma. by making the affairs of Germany to be ours . But howsoever the matter fall out , and whether it appoint vs peace or warr , we doe religiously protest that we doe foster no hostilitie in our mynd against the Roman Empire ( wherto your Imp. Ma. would seem to draw and wrest the poynct of the bussines ) and that we are so farr from desyring any thing to be attempted to the prejudice therof , that we have rather determined to keep inviolated and sound frindship with the same , so long as it doth abstain from all manner of hostilitie against vs , and doth not wrest out of vs , though vnwilling , a just retaliation , either by favouring our enimies , or by associating it selff vnto them . Having by all these ingenuously declared our mynd concerning the matter in hand , we frendly recommend your Imp. Ma. to the protection of God . Given at Stralsound the last of October , 1630.