“And as to the neighbourhood of Denmark, her Majesty hath nothing to fear, since she hath given no occasion in anything but of sincere friendship and firm peace.
“In like manner, with all possible care, by her Commissioners, hath composed the differences touching the limits between her and the Great Duke of Muscovy; and although the said Duke hath signified to her Majesty by divers envoys that he would justify the expedition of war newly made by him against the Polanders, with all the reasons thereof, yet since that is a business which can no way involve her Majesty and the Crown of Sweden, there is no cause to fear it; provided their actions be watched, [and] that, by little and little, preparation be made, if there shall be cause to apply some remedies.
“With the King and Crown of Poland is continued the amnesty for twenty-six years, formerly accorded; and although her Majesty wisheth that this amnesty had been converted into a perpetual peace,—and for this end she hath caused pains to be taken twice at Lübeck, by the mediators and her Commissioners, and although they are not yet agreed,—nevertheless her Majesty understands so much on the part of Poland that they are not disaffected to the renewing of the treaties for a longer time, so that her Majesty hath no cause but to promise herself at length a favourable success therein.
“With the Emperor and Roman Empire her Majesty, since the peace executed in Germany, hath continued and maintained good amity and correspondence; and for this end she hath her ambassadors there, who have their places in the present Diet for the principality of Bremen, Verden, and Pomerland, among the other members of the empire who do there maintain and observe the interests of her Majesty; and for the conclusion of the peace of Germany her Majesty hath resolved, by a great embassy, to accept the possession and investiture, from the Emperor, of the conquered countries.
“Also her Majesty hath a good correspondence and friendship with France and Spain by fit means and a good alliance.
“But particularly her Majesty rejoiceth that the perilous war made in the ocean between the powerful Commonwealths of England and the United Provinces (by which we have received very great damage in our trade throughout, as it appeareth) is appeased and ended; and that, since, her Majesty hath made an alliance with the Commonwealth of England for the security of navigation and commerce, so that the faithful subjects of her Majesty may thereby hope to have great advantage and profit.
“In this posture and state of affairs, her Majesty thinks it fit to prosecute her intention, which she hath conceived some years since, and to put the same in execution, that is, to give up the kingdom of Sweden and her sceptre to his Royal Highness, the most high, most illustrious Prince Charles Gustavus, by the grace of God designed hereditary Prince of the kingdom of Sweden, Count Palatine of the Rhine in Bavaria, Prince of Jülich, Cleves, and Bergen; and this is the only business which her Majesty hath to propose to her faithful subjects at this time.
“Her Majesty also hath this gracious confidence in all the Estates here now assembled, that when they shall consider with what dexterity, pains, and travail her Majesty for ten years hath managed the affairs of this kingdom, and with such good fortune that all the counsels and intentions of her Majesty have been followed with such happy success, that the State, with great honour and reputation, hath escaped many difficulties of war, and yet enjoys such quiet, that they cannot judge or conclude that her Majesty would now make any alteration were it not for the good and safety of this nation.
“The Estates, which have been formerly assembled, know very well how earnestly her Majesty pressed that the kingdom and government might be provided of a successor, thereby to avoid and cut off the sudden accidents which happen when a government is uncertain; for which reason the Estates in that point did agree and think good heretofore that his Highness should be chosen and made hereditary Prince and successor to the crown. All this her Majesty did propose and urge till it was brought to the effect which that time produced.
“And to the end that her Majesty, during her life, may have the pleasure to see the happy effect of this design, and that the entire government may be rendered into the hands of his Royal Highness, therefore her Majesty hath resolved to quit the crown and the privileges of it, and to put them into the hands of his Royal Highness.