The minds of the contending parties were not yet disposed to conform to the good intentions of the Pope:  and the congress of Cologn did not take place because the Swedes positively refused to send thither Plenipotentiaries[308].

FOOTNOTES: 

[304] Ep. 632. p. 277 & 278.

[305] Ep. 690. p. 284.

[306] Ep. 699. p. 288.

[307] Ep. 709. p. 296.

[308] Ep. 389. p. 865

XI.  Some time after, the Republic of Venice acted in conjunction with the Pope in order to procure peace to Europe.  She made an offer of her mediation to the Swedes[309], and engaged to send an Ambassador to Cologn, who would be less suspected of partiality than the Pope’s Legate.  The Doge, writing on this subject to the Queen of Sweden, in the titles given to her omitted that of most powerful:  this gave great offence to the Swedes[310]; and the Venetian Ambassador being informed of it, came to visit Grotius in order to discuss the point.  He told him that the Republic had followed the ancient ceremonial in the titles given to the Queen; that she gave the King of France only the title of most serene and most christian, and to the King of Spain that of most serene and catholic, without adding most powerful.  Grotius answered, that, without presuming to prescribe to the Senate, he would only observe, that as the Kings of France and England gave the King of Sweden the title of most serene and most powerful, it did not become any other Prince, much less a Republic, to treat him with less distinction.  He added several facts tending to give a high idea of the dignity of the Swedish nation.  The Venetian promised to write about it to his Masters.  The Queen of Sweden[311] declared that she would accept of the mediation of the Venetians provided the Republic gave her the honours that were due to her.  Christina had at length satisfaction[312], and the Venetian Ambassador promised to conform to her intentions.

The name of this Venetian Minister was Corraro.  Grotius had reason to be dissatisfied with him[313]:  he had been to visit him, and the Venetian gave him not the title of Excellency, nor the precedency due to an Ambassador of Sweden.  Grotius determined to cease visiting him for some time.  One thing, however, embarrassed him:  as the Republic of Venice was to be mediator for a general peace it was necessary he should confer with Corraro:  for this reason he wrote to the High Chancellor to know, whether, in consideration of the public good, he ought to dissemble his grounds of complaint against the Venetian Ambassador.  He had not time to receive Oxenstiern’s answer when Corraro came to visit him[314], and gave him satisfaction; he assured him, that if he had given him any offence, it was not from design, but through ignorance and want of attention.  Grotius informed the High Chancellor of this, adding that he accepted of Corraro’s excuses; that he would go to see him, and do all in his power to gain his friendship.  Accordingly he visited him some days after, and no notice was taken of what had passed, the conversation turning wholly on public affairs and the projects of a peace.