Of Peace and Other Demons 187and it now advanced into Silesia, halting near Schweidnitz (S ́widnica),
30 miles south-west of Breslau. The Saxons and their allies had a far
smaller number of men, but instead of attacking them Wallenstein
sent Trcˇka to Arnim with an invitation to meet him to discuss the
possibilities for peace. Arnim accepted, and on 6 June he arrived in
Wallenstein’s camp, accompanied by a colonel from each of the three
Protestant forces, where they met Wallenstein, Gallas and Trcˇka out
in the open, the generalissimo in a litter because of his illness.^15 Lurid
reports soon circulated about what Wallenstein is alleged to have said
in this small and private soldierly gathering, about the machinations
of the Jesuits, about Maximilian of Bavaria, and about his intention to
oblige the emperor to make peace by force if necessary, although these
were probably considerably exaggerated versions of anything he may
actually have said.
As Arnim was to report on the meeting to the electors of Saxony and
Brandenburg, he made a note of his interpretation of its substance and
sent Franz Albrecht to Wallenstein with it the next day to seek con-
firmation. The generalissimo’s opinion was, he wrote, ‘that hostilities
between the two armies should be suspended, and that the forces should
be used in combined strength against anyone who should attempt fur-
ther to disturb the state of the Empire and to impede freedom of reli-
gion. Which I [Arnim] construe as meaning that everything in the Holy
Roman Empire should be restored to its previous condition, in respect
not only of honour, dignity, privileges and immunities, but also and
above all of religion, as it was in the year of 1618.’ Wallenstein’s reply
was careful, and made on his behalf by Trcˇka rather than personally.
He commended Arnim for preparing his memorandum and wished
him well on his journey to the electoral courts. He for his own part
would keep without fail to what he had promised. Thus he did not
specifically endorse the points which Arnim had attributed to him, still
less the inference which he had drawn from them, and indeed shortly
afterwards, in writing to Vienna, Wallenstein denied having agreed
the latter.^16 Doubtless it suited Arnim’s purpose to phrase his summary
in a way which went rather further than the discussions themselves;
doubtless it suited Wallenstein neither to confirm nor to contradict his
interpretation. This is part of the process of negotiation.
Before departing Arnim wrote again to Wallenstein, telling him that
he had shown the memorandum to those of the commanders on his
side who needed to know the position, ‘as I do not want to come under
suspicion all over again’.^17 Here he was referring to the Swedes, who
knew of the initiative through Thurn and were watching the conduct