Sweden's Revenge
There had been many changes in Brandenburg. They feared the Swedes now
as greatly as they had once feared the Emperor's army. The cause of this
will be found in the following statement:
At the beginning of the year 1637 Emperor Ferdinand the Second died, and
his successor, Ferdinand the Third, exhibited a friendly attitude toward
Brandenburg. In March of the same year Bogislav the Fourteenth died
childless, and Brandenburg made preparations to enforce certain rights
in Pomerania which were provided in the treaty. Its most important
cities at the time were beset by Swedish troops. Sweden also asserted
certain claims in the dukedom, which it would not yield until it was
assured of ample indemnity for the great sacrifices it had made in
maintaining the good cause. When George William summoned Stettin to take
the oath of allegiance, the Swedish commander Banner was so infuriated
that he ordered the herald bearing the summons to be hanged. It was only
by the greatest exertions that the Duchess-widow saved the poor man's
life.
This proceeding induced the Elector to agree to the treaty which had
been made between the Emperor and the Elector of Saxony. The Emperor
expressly declared his readiness to support the Elector in his efforts
to obtain a settlement in Pomerania, with all the necessary means.
Shortly thereafter the Brandenburg troops, acting with the Imperialists
under Gallas, invaded Pomerania. At first the Swedes were driven back,
but after they had received reinforcements of fourteen thousand men from
home the fortunes of war changed, and they drove the Brandenburgers and
Imperialists before them. The unfortunate people of Brandenburg suffered
unspeakably at the hands of their former friends who believed that they
had been treacherous, and for that reason became their bitter enemies.
Their former troubles were light in comparison with those growing out of
Sweden's revenge. Although the main army was removed to the south,
Brandenburg continued to suffer from the depredations of small
detachments.