Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 48. (2000)
LAVERY, Jason: Emperor Maximilian II. and the Danish-Swedish Struggle for Baltic Hegemony 1563–1576
Jason Lavery which such war operations that damage the Holy Empire and its members and estates, are to be stopped.“52 The emissaries’ discussions with the electors revealed divisions as well as little support for Maximilian’s new approach to the conflict. Elector August for some time had felt that the emperor possessed enough authority to unilaterally forbid trade with Sweden.53 54 Past Swedish actions had proven, argued August, that Sweden would not lay down its arms and negotiate. In response to Maximilian’s consensusbuilding, the elector countered that any further delay in implementing sanctions would render them ineffective.51 The elector of Brandenburg, on the other hand, appreciated Maximilian’s carrot-and-stick approach toward Sweden. However, Joachim reserved a final decision until the matter had been discussed with all of the electors.55 The Rhenish electors for their part asserted that an effective embargo was only possible with the approval of the full Diet.56 By the beginning of October 1565, the Rhenish electors’ stand had greatly influenced Maximilian’s thinking. After the return of Jung, Maximilian reported to the elector of Saxony that the Rhenish electors wanted to wait until the Diet convened before imposing an embargo. According to information received from other areas of the Empire, there was little support for an embargo. ’’Out of all of this,“ stated the emperor, Your Grace as a prudent elector, probably can judge reasonably, that it is not only to us alone dubious, but also, based on the incoming memoranda and warnings, to a great extent to the electors of the Holy Roman Empire and other prominent estates, that it would be neither advisable nor responsible with the Diet before us, to go ahead with publishing the mandate.57 52 Säch. HStA, Geheimes Archiv Loc. 7979 D.B. 8,. fols. 237r—241v, Vienna, 20 July 1565, Maximilian to Erik (copy). „So hat E. L. allß hochverstenndig vemufftiglich zugedencken, das wir nit wurden umbgeen khunden. Sonder nach denen wegen unnd mittein notwendiglich beachten mues- sen, damit dannacht solche beschwerliche kriegs ubung dadurch dem Heiligen Reich unnd desselben angehörigen glidmassen unnd stennden mercklicher schaden zugefuegt, abstellt.“ 53 Säch. HStA, Geheimes Archiv Loc. 7979 D.B. 8., fols. 249’-254\ Marienburg, 28 July 1565, August to Maximilian (draft). 54 HHStA, Reichskanzlei [hereafter: RK], Reichstagsakten [hereafter: RTA] 46, fols. 106' 117V, Wolckenstein 2 August 1565 Zott to Maximilian (rec. Ina 13 August 1565) (or). 55 Ibi dem, fols. 118' — 127v, Chemnitz 17 August 1565 Zott to Maximilian (ndr) (or). 56 Ibidem, fols. 92r-105v, Brühl 4 Sept. 1565 Jung’s report on embassy to ecclesiastical Rhenish electors (copy); fols. 129'-135v, lna 15 Sept. [1565] Jung’s report of discussions with the elector Palatine (copy). 57 Säch. HStA, Geheimes Archiv Loc. 7979 D.B. 8, fols. 395r-398\ Vienna 12 Oct. 1565 Maximilian to August (rec. Torgau 21 Oct. 1565) (or). „Darauß dann D.L. alls der verstenndig curfurst, bei ir selbs vemunfftiglich woll zuermessen, daß unnß nit allain vast bedennckhlich, sonnder auch auff solche einkomme bedennckhen unnd wahmung, des mehrem thaills unnser unnd des Heilli- gen Reiches curfursten, auch annder ansehenlicher stennde, bey vorsteenndem reichstag, nit woll thunlich, noch bej denselben veranntwortlich sein wurde, mit publication vilberurter manndat, auf ditzmall furzuschreitten.“ 210
