Charles would not listen to reasons of policy; or believe that his estate was bankrupt, or that his towns could be put in pawn.

Danes, Saxons, Russians, even George I.of England (George-having just bought, of the Danish King, who had got hold of it, a great Hanover bargain, Bremen and Verden, on cheap terms, from the quasi-bankrupt estate of poor Charles),--have to combine against him, and see to put him down.

Among whom Prussia, at length actually attacked by Charles in the Stettin regions, has reluctantly to take the lead in that repressive movement.

On the 28th of April, 1715, Friedrich Wilhelm declares war against Charles; is already on march, with a great force, towards Stettin, to coerce and repress said Charles.
No help for it, so sore as it goes against us: "Why will the very King whom I most respect compel me to be his enemy ?" said Friedrich Wilhelm.
[_ OEuvres de Frederic (Histoire de Brandebourg),_ i.

132; Buchholz, i.
28.] One of Friedrich Wilhelm's originalities is his farewell Order and Instruction, to his three chief Ministers, on this occasion.