9, 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
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