of France, in his distress, was anxious to gain the aid of so
powerful a coadjutor, and spared neither money nor intrigues
to tempt the king of Sweden, either to become the arbiter of
peace, or to direct his hostilities against the allies. The
ancient connexion of France and Sweden was recalled to his
remembrance; the glory of Gustavus Adolphus was held
forth to dazzle his imagination; and attempts were not
spared to work on the hereditary jealousy which he enter-
tained of the house of Austria. The allies also felt similar
hopes and fears; and the greatest solicitude was evinced by
all parties to penetrate the mysterious designs, and conciliate
the vain-glorious character of the Swedish monarch.

While Charles continued in this commanding attitude,
and while he wrought on the hopes or fears of all parties,
he brought forward various complaints for real or fancied
injuries, from different powers, as well as a series of demands
for the reparation of several infractions in the constitution
of the Germanic empire, of which he considered himself the
guarantee, as heir to the crown and fame of Gustavus
Adolphus.

The first related to the conduct of Denmark in a contested
election for the see of Lubeck. This see being among the
ecclesiastical territories secularised at the Reformation, a
stipulation was introduced in the peace of Westphalia, that
the six next bishops should be chosen from the house of
Holstein Gottorp. The disposition was ratified by the
treaties of Gluckstadt and Travendahl, and sanctioned by a
recess of the diet, as well as by an imperial rescript issued
in 1701. It was, however, secretly opposed by the king of
Denmark, and a double election took place for the coadjutor-
ship or reversion of the see; Christian Augustus, prince of
Holstein, being chosen by one part of the chapter, and Prince
Charles of Denmark by the other. ^* By the recent death of
the bishop, this contest was aggravated into an open rup-
ture. The king of Sweden warmly espoused the cause of
his relation, the Prince of Holstein, whose pretensions he
maintained with his usual arrogance and pertinacity. Ap-
peals were made to the emperor, and to all the powers who

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