d he offered to
exchange the prisoners for the guns. He requested, further, that Fredrik
command his officers in Norway to yield the refugees. While this answer
was on the road, Fredrik received a note from Norby, to whom Gustavus
had written to say that Fredrik had promised that the guns should be
returned. Fredrik, therefore, wrote Gustavus that these guns were not in
his possession, but if the Danish prisoners were surrendered, he would
try to get them. When this letter came, the monarch was indignant.
Fredrik, it was clear, was playing with him, and hoped to get the
prisoners and give nothing in return. The answer which the monarch made
was this: "We have just received your letter with excuses for the
detention of our guns and ammunition, along with a request for the
surrender of Soren Brun, whom you assert we captured in a time of truce.
Of such a truce we wish to inform you we are ignorant. He was lawfully
taken, inasmuch as he was one of Norby's men.... As to our ammunition
you say that it was captured from you and carried off to Gotland. If so,
it was no fault of ours. We have written frequently about it, but have
met with nothing but delays. If Norby, who you say has sworn allegiance
to you, holds this ammunition in Visby Castle, it is unquestionably in
your power to order that it be returned. So soon as this is done, the
prisoners shall be released." Before this determined letter arrived in
Denmark, Fredrik had modified his plans, for news had come that
Christiern's fleet was on the way to Norway, intending to winter there
and make an incursion into Denmark in the spring. Fredrik, therefore,
despatched a note to Norby telling him to yield the ammunition, and
wrote Gustavus that the guns were ready, and if he would send his
officers to Denmark for them they should be delivered. A few days later
an officer of Fredrik wrote Gustavus that property of Danish subjects
had been seized in Sweden, and begged that the persons wronged be
recompensed. To this Gustavus answered that Swedish subjects had been
treated in the same way in Denmark, and promised to observe the treaty
if the Danes would do so in return. He likewise wrote to Fredrik
thanking him for his action relating to the guns, declaring that he
would send for them as requested, and as soon as they were yielded
would set the prisoners free.[122]

This amicable adjustment of their difficulty was on paper, but much more
shuffling was required before it was reduc