Page 81 - A Jacobite Exile

anyone might have foreseen that it would lead to disputes and troubles. In
fact, quarrels continually arose, until, at the Peace of Rosahild, in 1658, the

duchy was adjudged to Denmark.

"Holstein, however, never acquiesced in this, and in 1675 there was war,
when, Holstein being defeated, the Danes imprisoned its duke, Christian
Albertus, until he signed a renunciation of all his rights.

"His troops were disarmed, and all his towns and fortresses garrisoned by

Danish troops. On his release, the duke went to Hamburg, where he
remained till, at the Peace of Fontainebleau, four years later, he was
replaced in possession of his estates and rights of sovereignty.

"But this did not last long. New troubles arose, but Sweden, England, and

Holland interested themselves in favour of the duke, and a peace was
concluded in 1689, by which he was confirmed in the rights given him, ten
years before, with full liberty to raise a certain number of troops, and of

building fortresses, on the condition that he should raise none to the
prejudice of Denmark.

"This was another of those stipulations which inevitably lead to trouble, for
it afforded to Denmark a pretext for continual complaint and interference.

When Frederick the Fourth succeeded his father as Duke of Holstein, in
1694, the quarrel grew so hot that Denmark would have invaded Holstein,

had not the parties to the Treaty of '89 interfered, and brought about a
conference. This lasted all through the year 1696, but the negotiators
appointed to settle the matter were unable to arrive at any conclusion.

"The following year, Charles of Sweden, who had just succeeded his father,

furnished the duke with some troops, to help him to build some forts that
were intended to protect the frontier, in case of invasion by Denmark.
Christian of Denmark at once attacked and captured these forts, and

levelled them to the ground. The duke, being too weak to engage in a war
with his powerful neighbour, did not resent this attack, and the negotiations

were continued as before. In view of the danger of the situation, and the
necessity for a monarch at the head of affairs, the Swedish Diet met, at