From Jan Rutgers/Hovråd, Agent to Axel Oxenstierna

Axel Oxenstierna's works and letters

Contents

Contents Rutgers is concerned about the fact that eleven letters written from Leipzig and Prague from 30 March to 16 June have been delayed. After 16 June, Rutgers has stopped writing, knowing that there are no couriers from Hamburg until August sometime. Instead he has decided to send a survey of the Bohemian military and political situation with the King's courier. - The state of Bohemia and the incorporated provinces is, in Rutgers' opinion, quite good. They have an army of 30,000 man. However, the soldiers do not get their pay in time and threaten to mutiny. Moreover, the Bohemians feel so secure that they do not fortify the roads, although 15,000 Bavarian and Imperial soldiers have arrived in Upper Austria. The Moravians and Silesians are more concerned and have fortified the road. - As regards the neighbouring countries, Hungary is a very important ally and has promised large-scale military and economic support. Bohemia has already received 200,000 florins, which has enabled her to send 12,000 men to Styria and Carinthia to hold the Emperor off. In the name of Prince Gábor Bethlen, the Hungarian ambassador has urged the Bohemians to conduct the war more energetically and try to bring it to a conclusion. - As for Turkey, an ambassador from the Ottoman Porte has congratulated Frederick V on the Bohemian crown and promised peace and support. In Rutgers' opinion, however, his objective was primarily to acquire information, for the Emperor's ambassador had told the Sultan that the Emperor was still master of Bohemia. Rutgers wonders what will happen to the ambassador now, for when the Polish ambassador had lied to the Sultan denying that the Cossacks had ravaged Moravia and Silesia, he had his eyes poked out, and it is said that 18,000 Turkish soldiers have been sent to Poland. - In Austria, the meeting of the estates at Retz has reached a deadlock, and there is no hope of an agreement with Ferdinand, as is shown by the enclosed copy of their petition and the Emperor's answer. Rutgers believes that Ferdinand will be deposed and that Frederick V will succeed him as Emperor. He encloses a copy of Baron von Tschernembl's treatise, as the author requested, to show the justice of the Austrians' case. - John George of Saxony has not moved, although the Emperor has charged him with the execution of the decree against the Bohemians. - As regards the treaty Gustav II Adolf wants to conclude with Bohemia, Rutgers points out that it should include the dependencies Moravia and Silesia as well, for Bohemia is too far away from Poland and of no help without these. Most important, however, is to decide whether the alliance is to be offensive or defensive, and the extent of the Swedes' involvement. King Frederick is strongly in favour of an alliance with Sweden, but Rutgers doubts that the Bohemians, Moravians and Silesians are willing to cancel their agreements with the Poles. He has noticed that they are indulgent towards Polish acts of aggression. Probably it would be wiser therefore to try to win time by prolonging the armistice with Poland and in the meantime to watch over developments in Bohemia. Rutgers stresses that he requires instructions and suggests that he go to Sweden for consultations. - Rutgers has learnt from Count Palatine John Casimir that AO will go to Germany and hopes to get the opportunity to meet him. He thanks him for having arranged the forwarding of letters. He encloses some treatises and portraits of King Frederick and Queen Elizabeth. He has heard that Gábor Bethlen's coronation as King of Hungary is imminent and that the Emperor's ambassadors to the meeting of the Hungarian estates have returned to Vienna.

Contents

Rutgers is concerned about the fact that eleven letters written from Leipzig and Prague from 30 March to 16 June have been delayed. After 16 June, Rutgers has stopped writing, knowing that there are no couriers from Hamburg until August sometime. Instead he has decided to send a survey of the Bohemian military and political situation with the King's courier. - The state of Bohemia and the incorporated provinces is, in Rutgers' opinion, quite good. They have an army of 30,000 man. However, the soldiers do not get their pay in time and threaten to mutiny. Moreover, the Bohemians feel so secure that they do not fortify the roads, although 15,000 Bavarian and Imperial soldiers have arrived in Upper Austria. The Moravians and Silesians are more concerned and have fortified the road. - As regards the neighbouring countries, Hungary is a very important ally and has promised large-scale military and economic support. Bohemia has already received 200,000 florins, which has enabled her to send 12,000 men to Styria and Carinthia to hold the Emperor off. In the name of Prince Gábor Bethlen, the Hungarian ambassador has urged the Bohemians to conduct the war more energetically and try to bring it to a conclusion. - As for Turkey, an ambassador from the Ottoman Porte has congratulated Frederick V on the Bohemian crown and promised peace and support. In Rutgers' opinion, however, his objective was primarily to acquire information, for the Emperor's ambassador had told the Sultan that the Emperor was still master of Bohemia. Rutgers wonders what will happen to the ambassador now, for when the Polish ambassador had lied to the Sultan denying that the Cossacks had ravaged Moravia and Silesia, he had his eyes poked out, and it is said that 18,000 Turkish soldiers have been sent to Poland. - In Austria, the meeting of the estates at Retz has reached a deadlock, and there is no hope of an agreement with Ferdinand, as is shown by the enclosed copy of their petition and the Emperor's answer. Rutgers believes that Ferdinand will be deposed and that Frederick V will succeed him as Emperor. He encloses a copy of Baron von Tschernembl's treatise, as the author requested, to show the justice of the Austrians' case. - John George of Saxony has not moved, although the Emperor has charged him with the execution of the decree against the Bohemians. - As regards the treaty Gustav II Adolf wants to conclude with Bohemia, Rutgers points out that it should include the dependencies Moravia and Silesia as well, for Bohemia is too far away from Poland and of no help without these. Most important, however, is to decide whether the alliance is to be offensive or defensive, and the extent of the Swedes' involvement. King Frederick is strongly in favour of an alliance with Sweden, but Rutgers doubts that the Bohemians, Moravians and Silesians are willing to cancel their agreements with the Poles. He has noticed that they are indulgent towards Polish acts of aggression. Probably it would be wiser therefore to try to win time by prolonging the armistice with Poland and in the meantime to watch over developments in Bohemia. Rutgers stresses that he requires instructions and suggests that he go to Sweden for consultations. - Rutgers has learnt from Count Palatine John Casimir that AO will go to Germany and hopes to get the opportunity to meet him. He thanks him for having arranged the forwarding of letters. He encloses some treatises and portraits of King Frederick and Queen Elizabeth. He has heard that Gábor Bethlen's coronation as King of Hungary is imminent and that the Emperor's ambassadors to the meeting of the Hungarian estates have returned to Vienna.