so much confounded that not being able to make a positive Reply to the Earl's Defence it turn'd his Brains and he left the Council in that Distraction without taking his Leave of the Queen and without showing the least Civility to the Lords of the Assembly So publick a Justification put the Earl's Enemies into so great a Confusion that their Persecution lay dormant for several Years during which he retir'd with his Family into Pomerania where he had a considerable Estate enjoying the Sweetness and Tranquillity which a Country-Life can afford a Man who is tir'd with the Fatigues of the Court and whereas he fanci'd that the Cause of so long a Silence could only proceed from the King his Brother-in-Law's being convinc'd of his Innocence he advis'd the Countess to go to Copenhagen there to make her Court assiduously and to endeavour to put her self perfectly into the King's Favour again But tho the Earl had written several Letters full of Submission and Respect that unfortunate Lady was no sooner come to the Frontiers of the Kingdom but she was inform'd that her Enemies had sent Forces to the first Village through which she was to pass to secure her However whereas such an Attempt had no Precedent and that the Countess could not imagine that they could treat a Person of her Quality with so much Cruelty she continu'd her Journey whatever her Servants could say to the contrary But as soon as she was got into a little Plain one of her Gentlemen acquainted her that a Company of Foot was coming towards them with great speed Whereupon the Countess no longer doubting but that the Advice she had receiv'd was true order'd her Coach to turn about and she stood in need of the utmost Vigour of her Horses to rejoin the Bridg which separates the Territories of Denmark from those of Holstein where the said Souldiers who came within Musket-shot of her remain'd full of Confusion at their not having been able to execute their Design The Earl being equally surpriz'd and troubled at this new Disgrace writ to the Court again to know the Reason of it but he receiv'd no Answer which made him sensible that it was an Effect of the Cruelty of his Enemies who were resolv'd at any Rate to keep him for ever out of the Kingdom in order to possess his Places and to enjoy the great Estates they had made themselves Masters of Which unworthy Treatment made him resolve to take Arms under Charles King of Sweden whose Protection he had also taken after the Queen's Abdication in hopes thereby to be restor'd to the Possession of part of his Estate It was not without a great deal of Grief he found himself reduc'd to the Necessity of employing his Courage and his Wit against his Prince and Brother-in-Law those two Qualities did long oppose within his Soul the Resolution he had taken and they did not want Reasons to break it but finding no other way for his Restoration he was oblig'd to embrace it Therefore the Earl being forc'd by all manner of Reasons to behave himself thus made use of his Courage and Prudence to satisfy Charles that he did act Sincerely The first Proof he gave him of it was the Reduction of the Isle of Funen which did submit to him in so little time that the News of it came to Copenhagen before they knew that Charles design'd to conquer it Moreover as if Heaven had join'd with the Earl to revenge the Injustices he had receiv'd the Sea freezing to that degree that the Artillery could safely be drawn over it he perswaded the King of Sweden to march against Copenhagen with Three thousand Horse and Six pieces of Ordinance not doubting but the boldness of the Enterprise would cause a strange Consternation And indeed Frederick was so much surpris'd to see an Army before the Gates of his Capital City that his Courage fail'd him and in that Disorder the most effectual way he could think on to prevent the Ruin of his State was to oblige Count Vlfeld's Agents to let him know that in case he could mediate a Peace he would restore him to the Possession of all his Places and Estate Whereas Necessity only had oblig'd him to take Arms against his Country his Friends found him so well dispos'd to forget all the Injuries he had receiv'd that tho he was sensible that nothing but the present State of Affairs oblig'd Frederick to behave himself thus he made so good a Use of the Credit he had acquired with Charles that he oblig'd him to make a Peace which was sign'd at Rosschild By the said Peace the King of Denmark yielded the Province of Schonen to the King of Sweden together with the Fortresses of Gabub Hallen Blechin the Town of Drontem and some others and granted Count Vlfeld and all those who had followed him a General Pardon and restor'd him to the Possession of all his Places Dignities and Estates After which the two Kings embrac'd with great Demonstrations of Friendship Frederick also express'd his good Will to the Earl in such a manner as made every body believe that he did it sincerely and at Night the two Kings supp'd together at Frederixburg one of the King of Denmark's Pleasure-Houses with the Queen and the Chief Officers of the two Armies The following Day the King of Sweden after having conferr'd some Hours with Frederick went for Gottemburg and the Earl remaining with the King of Denmark every body did conclude that he was as much in the King's Favour as ever But whereas Frederick was susceptible to all sorts of Impressions and that the Earl's Enemies did dread the Loss of their Credit by the Restoration of his Authority they cast new Suspicions into the King's Mind which oblig'd the Earl to retire upon the Estate he had in the Province of Schonen The King of Sweden being desirous to show the Earl who was become his Subject the Esteem he had for him gave him the County of Sylburg for him and his Heirs Male for ever But the Earl who was in hopes by this voluntary Retreat to make the King of Denmark sensible of the Injustice of his Persecutors and of the Innocence of his Conduct was strangely mistaken in his Conjectures for he had hardly enjoy'd for some Months the sweetness which a Country Life affords to those who are desirous of it before the King of Sweden being resolv'd to renew the War propos'd to him to take Arms again with such advantagious Conditions that any Man but the Earl would certainly have accepted them Nevertheless he refus'd them generously and made Charles so sensible that having no new Cause to complain of the King his Brother-in-Law he could not serve against him without wounding his Honour that that Great Prince who knew the Merit of the Earl would not oblige him to do it by Force But whereas his admirable Qualifications had rais'd Envy against him among the greatest Lords of Sweden especially in those who
Impositions which excited a mortal hatred in the Commons against them The Nobles were also very much humbled for want of a Head to lead them and to assert their Privileges by which the Kings were kept in awe and the Peasants like Slaves John Nansen first Burguemaster of Copenhaguen a Man of sence very rich and daring and who did absolutely govern the Citizens conceiv'd the generous Design to free the People from Slavery by making the Kingdom Hereditary But whereas the said Design requir'd a great deal of Prudence and of Speed and that he could not manage it alone he discover'd it to John Swaning Bishop of Copenhaguen his Friend who by his Merit and his Eloquence had acquir'd as much Credit over the Clergy as he had over the Third Estate These two Men acting with great Secrecy on their respective sides disposed all things so well that they secur'd the Votes of the Chief of the Clergy and of the Citizens to whom they promis'd Rewards sutable to the Services they should receive from them But whereas they had not a sufficient access to the King they discover'd their Secret to Christopher Gabel a Man whom Fortune had rais'd above the Common and made him Favourite to Frederick who undertook nothing without his Advice Gabel was over joy'd to find so favourable an Occasion to signalize his Zeal towards the King and to be reveng'd of the Imperious Humour of the Nobles who often upbraided him with his Extraction Therefore having confirm'd Nansen and Swaning in their Resolution they held several secret Conferences together about this Affair and whereas the Necessities of the State oblig'd the King shortly to convene the Assembly of the Estates of the Kingdom notwithstanding that according to the antient Custom of the Kingdom the said Assembly was to be held in the Isle of Funen Gabel told the King that for several important Reasons which his Majesty would approve of it was necessary to hold it at Copenhaguen which was resolv'd upon notwithstanding the Resistance of the Nobles The Overture thereof being made Nansen and Swaning repair'd to the Castle where Gabel tarry'd for them As soon as they came into the King's Chamber Gabel told his Majesty that they had a Business of great consequence to impart to him and that in order thereunto it was necessary to give him a secret Audience whereupon every body was order'd to retire and Nansen Swaning and Gabel being by themselves with the King Nansen told his Majesty in few words That the great Authority of the Nobles was the only cause of all the Disorders of the State because the Counsels which depend on many commonly prove useless either by reason of their delays or because they are seldom kept secret Moreover that the Citizens and the Country People being no longer able to maintain all the Expences of the State alone without having the least share in the Administration of Affairs they were resolved for the Common Good to make the Kingdom Hereditary to the end that all the Authority being invested in one Person which is the most perfect Form of Government every Man might hope to be advanc'd by his Majesty according to his Merit The King being extreamly surpris'd at this Proposition told Nansen that he look'd upon it as a thing impossible and that in case they did undertake it it would cost them their Heads without his being able to hinder it That he did not think fit to venture any thing by reason of the fatal Consequences that Affair might be attended with Nansen reply'd boldly That things were brought to that pass that they must either go through or resolve to die that they were certain of the good Will of the Clergy and of the People and that they only beg'd his Majesty's Approbation and would take all the rest upon themselves The King between Fear and Hope having told them that he abandon'd all to their Conduct retir'd into his Closet in expectation of that Revolution which did astonish all Europe and secure two Crowns to his Posterity Nansen and Swaning being perswaded that they should be well rewarded retir'd very well satisfy'd to give Orders for the execution of their Design As they were crossing the Bridg of the Castle to go to the Chancery they met Otho Krag Knight of the Order of the Elephant and Minister of State who observing something extraordinary in their Looks stopt them haughtily saying Whence come you I see that you are caballing but take heed and so shew'd them the blue Tower with his hand as if he design'd to give them to understand that they should be lock'd up there To which Nansen and Swaning barely answer'd we shall see and continu'd their way That very Afternoon the Estates being assembled the King desir'd them to consider of some Means to sustain the extraordinary Expences of the State The Nobles excus'd themselves from contributing towards it alledging their Privileges which freed them from all sorts of Impositions The Clergy also alledging theirs and the Commons declaring that they would no longer pay any Duties unless the others also contributed towards them they broke up so much exasperated against each other that Nansen and Swaning who had promoted these Disputes seeing their Friends very well dispos'd Nansen put the Citizens under Arms and Swaning having assembled the Deputies of the Clergy they prevail'd with these two Estates to offer the King the Hereditary Soveraignty of the Kingdom and without losing time they besieg'd the Nobles in their Houses threatning to destroy them unless they gave their consent thereunto The Nobles being surpriz'd at this bold Proposition which destroy'd their Authority endeavour'd to make some resistance but the Citizens persisting in their Resolution in a manner which made them sensible that they would get nothing by force they desir'd time until the next Day which was granted them The People kept to their Arms all the Night and Nansen shut the Gates of the City and placed Guards in the chief parts thereof so that by break of Day the Nobles were summon'd to give in their Declaration Accordingly Fourteen of the Chief among them gave it in the form desir'd by the two Estates and having sealed it with their Seals Nansen and Swaning with the other Deputies carry'd it to the King who did not expect so favourable an Event But the said Declaration not being thought full enough the Nobles were summon'd in the King's Name to make it more positive The City-Gates remain'd close all the while and finally the Nobles finding that there was no Medium and that unless they did grant the King's desire they would be expos'd to the fury of the People whose hatred they were not ignorant of in that extremity they did consent to grant the King and his Successors the Hereditary Soveraignty of his Kingdoms and the Three Estates having sign'd the Act they went together to present it to Frederic and did submit all their Privileges to him to dispose of them at his pleasure
because he had not deliver'd up his Commission answering That his Letter of Demission which he had obtain'd on honourable Terms at his Request after the Trial of the poisoning business was a sufficient Discharge from any farther obligation or subjection to the King of Denmark so that the case was not what he had been but under whose Soveraignty Jurisdiction and Protection he was when he was carry'd away from Hamburg which is a free Imperial City in which case the King of Denmark was oblig'd to act according to Jus Gentium to the end that the Soveraignty of the Empire and the Jus Superioritatis of the Dutchy of Bremen to which the Chapter of Hamburg does belong might not be violated And that since he found by the King of Denmark's Letter that the greatest and only Crime laid to Doctor Sperling's Charge was his having kept a secret Correspondence above all others with Count Vlfeld he desir'd on that account to have a particular and exact relation of all the particulars of the Crimes imputed to both without which he could not pass a true Judgment on the nature of this dangerous Correspondence laid to Doctor Sperling's Charge He concludes with this considence that the King of Denmark will be pleas'd to suspend all farther Proceedings against the said Doctor and to consider his Majesty's Reasons in both his Letters and to put the Doctor at Liberty again and send him back into that part of the Empire from whence he was taken his Majesty promising upon his Royal Word That in case any one has any thing to urge against the said Doctor and shall propose it in competenti foro he will cause Justice to be administred without any regard to any Person whatever The King of Sweden receiv'd no satisfaction to this Letter of which I have a Copy by me from which I have taken this Abstract Doctor Sperling remain'd still a close Prisoner neither was the matter of Fact of the pretended Crimes alledg'd against him and Count Vlfeld clearly and circumstantially communicated to him that his Majesty might be able to judg of it the Danes dreading the same confusion they had formerly drawn upon themselves when they accus'd the said Count at the Court of Sweden as it is related in the foregoing Treatise which way of proceeding may chance at some time or other to kindle a War between the two Crowns when his Majesty of Sweden who was then a Minor and who is a pious Prince loving Justice and hating Oppression comes to inspect into the said Matter not only because Doctor Sperling as well as Count Vlfeld were under his Protection but also because as I am credibly inform'd a particular Agreement was made between the two Crowns That in case any Nobleman of Denmark has a just Exception to make to the said King's Sentence against him he may appeal to the King of Sweden Doctor Sperling's Children finding no Redress by their Applications in Sweden and in England by reason of the secret Intrigues of the Court of Denmark presented most humble Petitions to Frederick and after his Death to the present King Christian and also made use of the Intercession of several other Persons of Note but nothing could prevail while the late Queen Mother to the present King was alive as probably it might have done for him as well as for the Countess of Vlfeld who was releas'd soon after her Death which affords no small scope of Contemplation which I leave to the ingenious Reader 's Consideration Thus this good and innocent Gentleman was forc'd to end his Days in a Prison after Seventeen Years imprisonment which he bore with great Courage and Patience like a Christian Soldier triumphing over his Enemies when they thought they had vanquish'd him He died in the Eightieth Year of his Age having spent the time of his Confinement as well as his former Days in Study and Contemplation and he told a Friend of his in a Letter That he had receiv'd greater Illuminations in Natural things during his said Confinement than while he liv'd in the World I have also seen a Manuscript of his written in Cyphers which he left to his said Friend which I partly know to be a piece of great moment During all the time of his Imprisonment and many Years after it his eldest Son who is a Doctor in Law and a Man of universal Learning liv'd with his Sisters at Hamburg very handsomly upon the Means that were left them which their Enemies had not been able to reach even beyond what could be expected from Persons under their Circumstances and Affliction having suffer'd so great a Loss and being depriv'd of a Head so capable to improve their Estate till at last some difference occurring between him and the Senate of Hamburg on the account of some words he had utter'd out of zeal to a Client of his abroad in a Cause he had depending before the said Senate which being displeased thereat confin'd and fin'd him which Affront being highly resented by him he resolv'd to secure himself from receiving the like for the future in order whereunto he thought fit to implore the Protection of some Prince able to keep them in awe and not having the same interest or acquaintance in Sweden to which King it seem'd most reasonable he should make his application as being his Father's Soveraign as he had in Denmark where he had been formerly about his Father's Affairs he apply'd himself to that Court where by the means and interest of an old Acquaintance of his a Danish Minister and a great Politician he obtain'd the Commission and Character of Counsellor to this present King of Denmark under which Character he continu'd some Years at Hamburg without any disturbance till at last having made greater interest yet with the said King he resolv'd to live at Copenhaguen where he is also Professor of Greek and of History in which he does excel and has few Equals as well as in Antiquities and in the knowledg of Medals Thus much in relation to Dr. Sperling may suffice at present Thirdly As to the third intended part of this Treatise relating to the imprison'd Countess of Vlfeld I shall acquaint you in few words that soon after the late Queen Mother's Death she was releas'd out of her Prison at Copenhaguen but is still confin'd in the Isle of Laland where she must be contented to live upon a small Revenue instead of the vast Estate that has been violently taken from her and hers This great Heroin Daughter of a great King by a lawful Marriage may justly be admir'd and serve as an Example to the World for her Courage and Constancy amidst the greatest of Afflictions and Persecutions having besides her first barbarous Imprisonment of seventeen Months undergone another at least of twenty four Years continuance at Copenhaguen which may move the Compassion of all good Christians and particularly of Christian Princes to assist her and the Posterity of Dr. Sperling some of which have never engag'd themselves in Denmark The Countess has out-liv'd her greatest Enemies which she could never have done had she not had a Spirit above the common reach and a knowledg superiour to most of her Sex I have spoken with some who have seen her since her being put at liberty who do strangely admire her great Understanding and Contempt of the World Sic Stat virtus repulsae nescia sordidae Intaminatis fulget honoribus Nec sumit aut ponit secures Arbitrio popularis aurae FINIS