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-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
discover the Character of his Noble Soul as well as the Violence of his Passion for the Countess Jealousy which would not be blameable if it did not often mistake Appearances for Realities and Truths having taken possession of the Queen's Heart upon a bare suspicion that the King her Husband was passionately in love with one of her Maids of Honour forc'd that Princess whose Beauty was somewhat lessened by Years to do such extraordinary things in order to preserve a Conquest which she had lawfully won and which she esteem'd above her Life that the King was reduc'd to the dismal Extremity of suing a Divorce In order thereunto he assembled the Senate to propose Means about it lest he might be tax'd with Injustice The Countess Eleonora's Tears whom he lov'd above all his other Children could not prevail with him to alter his Resolution and all those who were at Court forsook that unfortunate Queen to indulge the King's Anger Finally Count Vlfeld prov'd the only Man who contrary to every one's Expectation undertook her Defence he chose rather to venture the loss of his Favour than to possess it at a time when his dear Countess was in Affliction and whereas he had no prospect of Happiness without her after having endeavour'd in vain to appease the King Love prevail'd over Fortune and he had the Assurance to tell the King that he was in hopes to justify the Queen publickly Hannibal who fancy'd that the Count would infallibly ruin himself in taking that Party and who was no less jealous of his Master's Favour than of his Mistress improv'd that Occasion to take his Post and to destroy him in the King's Opinion He omitted no Means to succeed therein and to the End that all the World might know it he also took upon him to acquaint the Senate with the King's Reasons The Day appointed to plead this famous Cause being come the King repair'd to the Senate-House with all the Senators The Queen and all her Children likewise repair'd thither with no body but Count Vlfeld who was to defend them And every body being seated according to their Rank Hannibal stood up and urg'd the King's Reasons with so much Eloquence and Brillant that most of those who heard him suppos'd the Queen absolutely ruin'd But they soon alter'd their Minds for Count Vlfeld whose Noble Air mov'd all those who saw him shew'd with so much Grace and Solidity the Queen's Innocence who had only sinn'd through an Excess of Love which can never be blam'd since Excess alone justifies that Passion that finally the King could not forbear mixing his Tears with the Queen's as well as all the Senators and coming down from his Throne he embrac'd her and restor'd her the same Place she possess'd in his Heart before that Misfortune It is impossible to express the Applauses Count Vlfeld receiv'd for this noble Action nor the Shame Hannibal was cover'd with when coming out of the Senate the Earl drew his Sword to shew that Rival he knew how to use it as well as his Tongue he had not the Courage to encounter him but fled in great Disorder and Confusion Nevertheless as they were the two most considerable Men of the Kingdom the King made them Friends again but notwithstanding the said Reconciliation Hannibal ever since preserv'd a Desire of Revenge against the Earl and never could forgive him that Affront The whole Court went to congratulate the Queen upon her being more in the King's Favour than ever the Earl did not fail to express his Joy to her about it You may easily imagine that she omitted nothing to shew her Gratitude to him for the great Service he had done her and that she us'd him with all the Kindness he had reason to expect But that did not move him comparably to what the Countess said to him after the Queen was gone and the Company had left them out of respect That charming Creature after having repeated all and even the least Circumstances of what had pass'd in the Senate assur'd him that she would never forget it and that in case the King did approve his Sentiments he would soon be sensible that she preferr'd him to all the World As I relate nothing but what is actually true I will not puzzle my self to find out fine Expressions to describe the Earl's Answer I will only tell you that it was as witty as passionate that at his coming away from the Countess he was the happiest of Men and that soon after it he was so fortunate that the King himself propos'd his Marriage with the Countess and that he married her notwithstanding all the Brigues of Hannibal neither will I give you an Account of the Magnificencies which were made to honour the Wedding of those Illustrious Lovers since you may easily imagine that they were not Mean besides that having many things to say I might prove tiresome should I particularize every Circumstance The King who as I have already declar'd lov'd Count Vlfeld passionately being desirous to raise his Fortune to the utmost Degree made him Constable of the Kingdom and soon after it Great Master whose Power being equal to that which the Antient Maires du Palais had under the first Race of the Kings of France made the Earl the Second Person of the Kingdom since he did exert the King's Power in his Absence Therefore as he had nothing more to wish for he found himself the happiest of Men during the Life of King Christian his Father-in-Law He was sent Ambassador Extraordinary into France and Germany where he made himself more considerable by his Merit than by his Quality and at his return to Christian's Court he officiated his Place with so much Sweetness and Modesty that every body bless'd his Government But those were much in the right who have said that in order to maintain a great Fortune a second is requir'd For K. Christian was no sooner dead but the Earl's Enemies or rather the Rivals of his Glory us'd their utmost Endeavour to destroy him But whereas they were sensible that his Fortune was upheld by the Honour he had of being ally'd to the Royal Family tho the Danes had for the space of Two hundred Years and upwards all along rais'd their last King's Eldest Son to the Throne they endeavoured to abolish that laudable Custom and in order thereunto form'd so powerful a Cabal that they had the boldness to maintain in a Council compos'd of the Deputies assembled to make the Election that Prince Frederick could not be elected without causing the absolute Ruin of the Kingdom But Count Vlfeld who was President of the Council being sensible of their Design asserted the Interest of the Prince his Brother-in-Law with so much Courage and Eloquence that the Elector who had propos'd the Exclusion desisted as well as all the rest insomuch that the Earl did not break up the Assembly until the Prince was elected King It is true that in order to appease those
who seem'd to be most dissatisfy'd he ingag'd by virtue of his Office of Great Master he being the Head and Protector of the Nobility that the Prince would preserve all their Privileges and that their Grievances should be redress'd The Election was made on this Condition as it had been done time out of mind In the mean time Count Vlfeld being satisfi'd with his having perform'd his Duty without valuing himself upon it by publishing the same not having acquainted the Prince before nor after the Election with all the Brigues that had been made to exclude him from the Crown his Enemies made use of his Modesty to ruin him for having perswaded the King that he himself had aspir'd to the Crown because some Votes had been given for him and that not being able to obtain his Ends he had in order to make himself the more recommendable caus'd the Election to be made on the Conditions I have mention'd This wrought so powerfully on the King's Mind that he was thereby excluded from his Favour in a Moment without knowing the Reason of it and the said Coldness made so much noise that the Earl's Enemies finding the King dispos'd to believe all their Calumnies had the Malice to seduce a Woman call'd Dina who had an access in the Royal Family to accuse the Count and the Countess his Wife of having made Solicitations to her to poison the King the Queen and all the Royal Family This Monarch giving too much credit to the said Accusation without staying for any farther Informations wrote to the Queen of Sweden to some Princes of the Empire and to the P. of Orange to give them an Account of the said Conspiracy and to desire their Advice how to proceed against those Traitors for so he call'd the Count and the Countess who were in his Power desiring them to rejoice at Heaven's having preserv'd him from that Treason But whereas the Quality of the Persons accus'd oblig'd him to observe some Formalities he allow'd them to make their Defence before the Council lest the World should think he design'd to oppress them It was on this Occasion this Great Man discover'd an undaunted Courage and Firmness of Mind for without discovering the least Trouble in his Countenance he made his Defence with so much Judgment that the said Woman and Captain Walter who had introduc'd her not being able to resist the Force of the Earl's Reasons were fully convicted of Perjury Dina was condemn'd to lose her Head and Walter to a perpetual Exile which was accordingly put in execution The Earl finding by this Proceeding that his Ruin was resolv'd upon and being sensible by the King's Easiness to believe so strange an Accusation against a Person of his Quality that he would be easily dispos'd to give Credit to all the Calumnies of his Enemies he resolv'd to provide for his own Sasety and that of all his Family In order thereunto he resolv'd to retire into Poland hoping to be safe there and having propos'd his Design to the Countess Eleonora that generous Lady would needs follow him notwithstanding all the Reasons he could urge to the contrary which could never prevail over her Affection for him All things being dispos'd for their departure the Countess put on Mens Clothes as well as one of her Women the only One she took along with her and going on board one of their own Ships after having been some Days at Sea they were surpriz'd by so dreadful a Storm that they thought themselves lost But after having suffer'd all the Hardships imaginable for two or three Days time they came to an Anchor in the Road of Dantzick where they landed The Earl being thus safely got on Shore dispatch'd one of his Gentlemen to the Court of Poland to intreat the King to allow him a Retreat in his Kingdom and to protect him against his Enemies He remain'd at Dantzick in expectation of his Return where the Countess Eleonora still keeping on her Mens Clothes in order to divert her Sorrows made some Addresses to a Woman of Quality who did not want Charms and whose Conversation was very agreeable and her Courtship made so strong an Impression on the Lady's Heart that she could no longer live without her Moreover the thing proceeded so far that the Lady's Husband being grown jealous the Countess would certainly have brought her self into Trouble but that the Gentleman whom Count Vlfeld had sent to the Court being return'd with a Refusal they resolv'd to repair to the Queen of Sweden The Countess having acquainted the said Lady therewith she was so strangely mov'd at her departure that after having said the most tender Things to her to oblige her to tarry she was resolv'd to follow her had not the Countess discover'd her Sex to her You may easily guess her Surprize at this unexpected Confession and what different Passions her Soul was agitated with Shame Spite and Rage tormented her by turns and the Countess stood in need of all her Wit to appease this abus'd Woman but in the end her Love being turn'd to Friendship they parted with a thousand Protestations of loving each other to the Grave The Earl whose Courage was undaunted was overjoy'd to see the Countess divert her self thus So that those Illustrious Persons did bear their Disgrace with as much Constancy as they had shown Modesty in their Prosperity The Queen of Sweden who knew their Merit and did pity their Misfortune having assur'd the Earl's Envoy that she would grant them her Protection they repair'd to Stockholm where that great Princess kept her Court at that time She receiv'd them with all the Kindness they could expect from her Generosity particularly the Countess Eleonora who not having quitted her Man's Clothes a Dress in which the Queen often delighted her self She was so much taken with her Air that she omitted nothing to express her Joy to her for being able to assist her After the Earl had paid his first Respects to the Queen he told her that he only begg'd her Protection on this Condition that he would submit to her Justice and that he would answer before her Majesty to whatever Accusations should be made against him She granted his Desires so that they remain'd two Years at Stockholm in quiet but when they thought their Enemies had no longer any thoughts to persecute them the Danish Ambassador receiv'd an Order to accuse the Earl of several Crimes the least of which would have cost him his Head had he committed it but tho the Ambassador deliver'd a Letter to the Queen written and sign'd by the King 's own Hand in which he conjur'd her to punish Count Vlfeld She allow'd him to make his Defence before the Council and having sent him a Copy of the Heads of the Accusation on the Day appointed by her Majesty to plead the Cause the Earl discover'd his Innocence by such convincing Proofs that the Queen and all the Senators were satisfy'd of it and the Ambassador was
were Pensionaries to Frederick they made use of that Occasion to ruin him in the Opinion of Charles And they put so malicious a Gloss upon the Earl's good Intentions that having represented them to him in a different manner from what he had conceiv'd when he approv'd them and no body having made an Answer to justify the Count they rais'd such suspicions against him for having refus'd the great Advantages he had offer'd him that Charles was almost perswaded that he design'd by his Credit to cause those new Conquests not fully settled as yet to revolt in order to regain the King of Denmark's Favour The Earl's Enemies went further yet for having by surprize got an Order from Charles to the Governor of Malmo he secur'd the Earl and all his Family and upon this bare Surmise the County of Sylburg was taken from him again which Charles had given him not long before Moreover they did confiscate three other considerable Estates with all his Goods which were of an inestimable Value and Count Vlfeld falling dangerously ill at the same time some disaffected Historians did publish that he had poison'd himself for Grief and that he was dead or had lock'd himself up in some uninhabited Place But it was nothing but a Continuation of the Malice of his Enemies for he had no reason to put himself to death nor to abridg so noble a Life Charles having allow'd him to make his Defence publickly he receiv'd this new Disgrace without the least astonishment and I can affirm that neither Eleonora nor himself did ever look upon it otherwise than as the least of those they had receiv'd Soon after their being secur'd in their own House the Earl was cited to appear before the Senate of Malmo but not being able to repair thither by reason of his Indisposition the Countess Eleonora undertook his Defence and whereas she had an Eloquence which is not common among those of her Sex and as much Judgment as Wit she made the Senate so sensible of the Malice of their Enemies and of the Earl's Innocence that he was publickly absolv'd of the Crimes which were laid to his Charge and the Senators were so much charm'd with what she had said that they sent her Speech to the King together with their Judgment to be confirm'd A Copy of it is fallen into my Hands which is as followeth The Countess ELEONORA's Speech to the Senate of Malmo Most Illustrious Lords WERE Count Vlfeld my Husband to make his Defence before Judges less famous for their Capacity and Justice or were he guilty of the Crimes he is accus'd of his Health not permitting him to appear to justify himself he would certainly have imploy'd some Orator to answer the Eloquence wherewith his Enemies have endeavour'd to fully his Reputation But whereas he is conscious of no Crime I come here most Illustrious Lords to discover his Innocence to you and to intreat you by a natural and plain Discourse to restore his Liberty My Husband is accus'd of Ingratitude towards the King because he refuses to accept the advantageous Offers that are made to him by that Great Prince to oblige him to take Arms again for his Service and because the Chief of the Nobility of Scandinavia often come to visit him his Enemies pretend that he designs to engage them to a Revolt in favour of the King my Brother in order to put himself into Favour again and on pretence of the pretended Intelligences which they say they hold together to succeed in the said Enterprise of which there are no Proofs he has been seiz'd in his own House Truly most Illustrious Lords were this true I own that Count Vlfeld would be very guilty and that he would deserve a rigorous Punishment But if I can make it appear to you that it is a meer Calumny has he not reason to expect an entire Absolution from your Justice which may discover his Innocence to all the World Yes I am confident of it since I observe it already in your Eyes and the Noble Impatience you discover to do him Justice is a certain proof thereof I am oblig'd in this Place in order to justify my Husband to renew all my Afflictions and to tell you things which without doubt you are but too well acquainted with I mean the greatest Persecution that ever was Be pleased therefore most Illustrious Lords to give me leave to tell you that Count Vlfeld's extraordinary Qualifications having procur'd him the Esteem and Good-Will of the late King Christian my Father at a time when I was marriageable that Great Prince would needs inspire the same Sentiments into me by designing him for my Husband and in order to enable him to support the high Honour to which he rais'd him by his Alliance he made him Great Master of his Kingdom which was the most considerable Dignity next to Royalty Tho the Earl us'd that great Fortune with all the Moderation of a wise Man he could not hinder Envy from raising many Enemies against him that cruel Envy which will not suffer true Merit to live in Prosperity omitted no Means to overthrow our Happiness his most innocent Actions were censur'd and had not the King my Father been perswaded of his Fidelity our Persecutors would have inspir'd the same Suspicions into him which after his Death they have put into the King my Brother's Mind That Prince was no sooner rais'd to the Throne but he gave too much Credit to the invenom'd Speeches of those Barbarians he lost all the Esteem and Affection he had for my Husband and for me without our knowing the Cause of it and upon the bare Deposition of a corrupted Witness he was so fully perswaded that we did design to poison him and all the Royal Family that without considering that we had the Honour to be related to him and that those sort of Crimes require very Circumstantial Proofs he caused us shamefully to be seiz'd and order'd the Senate to proceed against us But Count Vlfeld having prov'd our Innocence and that far from harbouring any such abominable Thought he was partly the Cause of the King 's being Elected having couragiously oppos'd the Brigues which were made to exclude him from the Crown He was publickly absolv'd of that Calumny and the Woman condemn'd to lose her Head which was accordingly executed Nevertheless tho this ought to have open'd the King's Eyes to see that these things were only done with a Design to embroil the Royal Family and to create Disorders in the State instead I say that such a Justification ought to have restor'd us to his Favour it only serv'd to exclude us from it for ever Moreover it prov'd a new Pretence to persecute us all our Cares prov'd vain to shew that we did no-wise resent that Injury and that we were satisfy'd that our Innocence was known This was look'd upon as a piece of Dissimulation our Submissions were rejected as Snares which were laid on purpose to execute our
Revenge in time and we were reduc'd in order to avoid the continual Conspiracies of our Enemies who requir'd our Blood to retire under the Protection of the Queen of Sweden which the Laws of the Country allow'd us to do in hopes that the said Retreat would evidence the Moderation of our Sentiments But most Illustrious Lords this was so far from producing the Effects which we did expect from it that on the contrary it increas'd the boldness of those who desir'd our Ruin and they found such Dispositions in the King's Mind for their Malice to work upon that they oblig'd him to send Orders to his Ambassador at Court to accuse my Husband of several Crimes the very remembrance of which strikes me with Horror but having again clear'd himself of this new Calumny his Innocence only serv'd to make him the more unhappy for his Enemies despairing of his Ruin by the Way of Justice prevail'd with the King to dispose of his Places and to seize upon our Estate This last Misfortune depriving us of Means to subsist oblig'd C. Vlfeld after the Queen's Abdication to engage himself in the Service of the King her Successor in hopes by his Arms to recover part of our Lands He perform'd and it is not without Grief I am forc'd to speak it Actions of Conduct and of Valour which did not a little contribute towards the obtaining of the Victory over his Country-men and to make the King's Arms triumphant He thereby gain'd his Esteem and Good-will And finally I may say that it was by his Means a Peace was made between the two Crowns with so much Advantage for his Majesty I own at the same time that my Husband was rewarded for his Services and that a General Pardon was granted for him and all his Followers with a particular Clause That all his Estate should be restor'd to him which has been perform'd since by the King my Brother The King your Master added to that Act of his Justice a new Favour which was the Gift of the County of Sylburg to my Husband and his Male Issue for ever And soon after that the King gave us leave to retire upon the Estate we have in this Province of Schonen which remain'd to him by the Peace I own that these are Favours which did exceed our Hopes and which show the King's Magnanimity but at the same time I affirm that no body can put us in mind of them to convince us of Ingratitude His Majesty is willing to renew the War and offers my Husband considerable Advantages to take up Arms again against a King to whom he has the Honour of being Brother-in-Law he humbly craves his Majesty would be pleas'd to excuse him because the Articles of the General Pardon have been punctually perform'd Whereupon Count Vlfeld's Enemies make use of the said Refusal to ruin him and make a Capital Crime of a thing which of all things in the World is the most praise-worthy And indeed Illustrious Lords is not the Moderation which my Husband shows on this Occasion worthy of Praise since that notwithstanding the Reasons he has to complain he refuses the Means to resent the Offences he has receiv'd and does not accept Advantages which are so great that they might dazle the most Ambitious and make them attempt any thing to deserve them Necessity only oblig'd my Husband to take Arms in hopes that by the Means of a Peace which ought always to be the principal End of a War he might recover his Estate for the Subsistence of his Family That Peace has been made by his Mediation his Estate has been restor'd to him why then should he be oblig'd to take up Arms again since the main Reason he had to do it subsists no longer Advantages they say are offer'd to him which he refuses and that is a certain Sign he designs to take the King of Denmark's part again and therefore it behoves the King to secure his Person and to use him as an ungrateful Man Ah! most Illustrious Lords can such ill Consequences be drawn from so good a Reason Can a Vertue be accounted a Crime and must my Husband be punish'd before-hand as if he were already convicted No it is impossible without overthrowing all the Rules of Equity and of Justice and I have reason to believe that you will judg more favourably than those who have surpris'd his Majesty in giving him such unjust Suspicions My Husband's Enemies prevail with the King of Denmark to take his Imployments and his Estate from him without having convicted him of any Crime he desires the Restitution of the same for his Subsistance he is refus'd whereupon he joins with the King who is in War against him no body can blame him since it is very natural to seek out Means to preserve one's Estate and Life He mediates a Peace in that we may say he is deserving and that his Country is oblig'd to him Finally by means of this Peace he obtains what he did propose in taking Arms. There is not the least Crime in all this But most Illustrious Lords could any one excuse him at present should he engage a-new under pretence of the Advantages that are offer'd to him Would not that Ambition which alone could induce him to it be blame-worthy and would not his Country which pities his Misfortunes have reason to alter their Wishes for his Welfare and to lose the good Opinion they have of his Vertue Would not the King my Brother have a just Cause to seize our Estate a-new and to turn all the Suspicions he has receiv'd against my Husband into Certainty And finally would not Count Vlfeld make a Breach to his Honour never to be repair'd again I own that he has perhaps reason to believe that a general Pardon has only been granted to him by Force and that the same Hatred is preserv'd against him as before but though he were certain of it that ill Example would not excuse him and the sensibility we naturally have for those of our Blood would upbraid him eternally for having violated it Suppose he had it not could he without Horror contribute towards the absolute Destruction of his Country the Preservation and Glory of which has been so dear to so many great Men that History is full of a thousand Famous Examples which inform us that they have preferr'd it to their own Lives What better Party could Count Vlfeld take on this Occasion than a Retreat and a Country Life Certainly most Illustrious Lords it is impossible for him to chuse another and if I may say so he can form no wishes but for a Peace If his Country and his Blood inspire him with Love on one Side the Favours he has receiv'd from the King and the Kindness he has express'd to him on so many Occasions oblige him to remain in the Condition he is in Count Vlfeld is not ignorant that Benefits being Acts of good Will which create Pleasure and Joy in the Person who
gives as well as in him who receives remain so deeply engraven in the Heart of both that they can never perish he is sensible that this agreeable Commerce of giving and of receiving produces a Kindness which is the stronger by reason that being Voluntary it surpasses that in some Measure which we are oblig'd to have for our Relations Finally he is perswaded that Ingratitude is a Crime so hainous that all Nations have been seiz'd with Horror at the thoughts of making Laws to punish it Not but that it is detested by all Mankind or that by that want of Laws they design'd to approve it but because Benefits can never be sufficiently esteem'd by reason that the Value of them only consists in the Will of him who gives and not in that which is the Object of it That Crime has been condemn'd by a publick Hatred and it has been plac'd among those things which are to be punish'd by Divine Justice How is it likely then that Count Vlfeld having such reasonable Sentiments and such a perfect Knowledg of the King's Favours should form Cabals to make Provinces revolt which esteem themselves too happy to be under his Dominion Can he hinder the Nobility whose Head he was formerly from coming to comfort him in his Disgrace and to pity his Misfortunes Must their Civilities be imputed to him as Crimes and without the least Proof being given of the Correspondence that is suppos'd between the King my Brother and him without any Body's justifying that he has excited any Assemblies or proving that he has given his Majesty any prejudicial Counsels Must he be so unhappy as to lose his Majesty's Favour No Illustrious Lords I cannot believe it since Words though never so fine or agreeable in the Mouth of an Orator are not sufficient to convict my Husband nor to perswade that he is Guilty On the contrary I have reason to hope that you will approve his Design of remaining in his Solitude and of wishing a good Peace between the two Crowns since it is the only thing he can do with Justice in the deplorable Condition to which he is reduc'd Therefore I expect his Justification from you most Illustrious Lords to the End that the same being confirm'd by his Majesty we may be restor'd to our Liberty and to the Injoyment of our Estate as well as put in possession again of the County of Sylburg that all the World may be sensible that that great Prince still esteems Count Vlfeld and that he does not think him unworthy of the Continuation of his Favours The K. of Sweden was at Gottenburgh when he receiv'd the News of C. Vlfeld's Absolution and after having read the Letter which the Senate did write to him and the Countess's Speech whose Wit he admir'd as well as her Affection for her Husband he immediately order'd one of his Secretaries of State to write the Confirmation of it and express'd so much Joy to all his Court for his being found Innocent that those who had devis'd that Calumny remain'd in the highest Consternation But the Artifice which Hannibal Seested made use of to be reveng'd of the Earl and to render the King's Favour ineffectual to him must needs move the Indignation of all the World against him This Barbarian who was become his Brother-in-Law having marry'd one of the Countess Eleonora's Sisters and who notwithstanding their Reconciliation and the Ties of Blood preserv'd in his Heart a mortal Hatred against Count Vlfeld since the Time he drew upon him as I have said before This Hannibal I say who under pretence of a suppos'd Discontent was at the K. of Sweden's Court at that Time to give Frederick an account of his Designs feigning an extream Joy at the Success of the Earl's Affair though he was one of the chief Authors of it intreated Charles with all the earnestness imaginable to put the Letters of Confirmation into his Hands that he might be the first to acquaint Count Vlfeld with this agreeable News The King thinking he was in earnest granted him the Favour he desired but he instead of performing what he had promis'd writ to the Earl that though he had prov'd his Innocence the King was still so incens'd against him that without any one's being able to discover the Cause of it he had resolv'd to remove him from the place where he was kept to put him into some Prison distant from all sort of Correspondence and colouring this Perfidiousness with a study'd Tenderness he conjur'd him to endeavour his Escape by all the Means he could possibly think on to avoid the Storm which threatned him so near and to secure his Family since it was impossible he should not make his Peace since the Senate had absolv'd him The Earl receiving this Letter before his Friends had given him an account of the Truth because Hannibal had sent it by an Express not having the least Suspicion that a Brother-in-Law could be unfaithful to that degree easily gave Credit to it Upon the receipt of this News the Countess and he looking on the Danger to be pressing without expecting any farther confirmation of it only thought how to deceive their Keepers to make their Escape As the thing was pretty difficult upon the Account of the great Number of Soldiers which guarded them this Illustrious Unfortunate Couple having communicated their Design to the Earl's Gentleman of the Horse nam'd Daranda they did consult a long while for some Expedient without being able to find a good One But at last Daranda calling to mind that he had formerly observ'd that the House had a secret Out-let in a by-Street they resolv'd that he should try whether they could make use of it while they did imploy themselves on their side to secure their Papers and their Money All things being dispos'd thus the first thing Daranda did was to hire a Sloop to go out of the Port at any Hour and having discover'd by his Search in the House that going down into the Cellar there was a Door of Communication with another Cellar and from that Cellar into another Place out of which they might set out without being seen by the Guards he immediately acquainted the Earl therewith But whereas there was a Centry at his Door and that the Countess was in a different Apartment from his the Difficulty was to deceive that Centry which chang'd hourly which made the thing almost impossible they not daring to confide in him The End of the First Volume The LIFE of CORNIFIX COUNT of ULFELD Great Master of DENMARK And of the Countess Eleonora his Wife The Second Part. THE Count and his Gentleman of the Horse dexterously loosn'd some of the Boards which made the Partition of his Chamber and having made a sufficient Overture dreading Visits might break his Measures he sent to his Guards to desire them not to admit any Body into his Chamber because he was very much indispos'd Insomuch that being safely got out about Six in
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