Page 82 - A Jacobite Exile

Stockholm, to take part in the funeral of the late king, which was to be
performed on the 24th of November, and to deliberate upon the situation.

"By the will of the late king, Charles was not to ascend the throne until he

reached the age of eighteen, but the diet passed a vote overruling this, and,
as the regency concurred, he was at once crowned, and the alliance with
Holstein was cemented by the marriage, that had been previously arranged

between Charles's eldest sister and the Duke of Holstein, being celebrated
at Stockholm. Charles the Twelfth at once concluded treaties with France,

England, and Holland; while Denmark is reported to have prepared for war
by making a secret alliance with Augustus of Saxony, King of Poland, and
the Czar of Russia. Both these monarchs were doubtless desirous of

extending their dominions, at the cost of Sweden, whose continental
possessions are considerable.

"Augustus is not yet very firmly seated on the throne of Poland. There are
several parties opposed to him, and these united in obtaining, from the diet,

a refusal to pay the Saxon troops Augustus had brought with him. The king,
no doubt, considered that these could be employed for the conquest of

Livonia, and that the addition of so large a territory to Poland would so add
to his popularity, that he would have no further troubles in his kingdom.

"Charles the Twelfth, being in ignorance of this secret agreement, sent an
embassy to Russia, to announce his accession to the throne. The

ambassadors were kept a long time waiting for an audience, as the czar was
bringing a war with the Turks to a conclusion, and did not wish to throw off
the mask until he was free to use his whole force against Sweden. The

ambassadors were, at last, received civilly, but the czar evaded taking the
usual oaths of friendship, and, after long delays, the embassy returned to

Sweden, feeling somewhat disquieted as to the intentions of the czar, but
having no sure knowledge of them.

"The King of Poland was more successful in disguising his leaning towards
Denmark, sending the warmest assurances to Charles, requesting him to act

as mediator in the quarrel between himself and the Duke of Brandenburg,
and signing a treaty of alliance with Sweden. But, while Sweden had no