consideration of which Force and Violence the Count declares the said Ground to be vain and of no force since it is notoriously evident that no Judge is allow'd to receive or make use in any Cause or Trial of Writings or Declarations extorted from any Person whatever by any Force or Violence Fear or Imprisonment to corroborate or colour any Sentence but such Declarations and Writings are always rejected as of no force at least among Christians Thirdly As to their third Article grounded upon a Reversion as they call it of the Count he declares likewise that it is of no Validity since it was also exacted from him before at least that part of it which they do not mention to conceal their wicked Ends in forcing him to make the said Reversion viz. That the Count should transfer his whole Estate to them consisting of Lands Jewels and Money amounting to a very considerable Sum. Item That the Countess should renounce her just Titles confer'd on her by her Father King Christian of Blessed Memory viz. Of Countess of Sleswick and Holstein Item To renounce whatever was inserted to his advantage in the Treaty of Peace For as to that part which they mention he answers that it has not been prov'd nor ever will that he ever attempted any thing against his Majesty or the Royal Family since the Treaty of Peace concluded between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark in which he was included and a particular Article was inserted relating to his Person and Family his Friends and Servants his Goods Moveables and Immoveables and that the King of Denmark should restore him to the possession of all his Estate and make reparation for all Damages and that both himself and those belonging to him as aforesaid should have leave to live in any part of the Kingdom of Denmark where they should think fit in all security without the least lett hinderance or molestation And the said Treaty was ratifi'd anew and confirm'd by the second and last Peace concluded between the two Crowns so that they had no reason to use him ill for having formerly been forc'd by their Injustices and Violences after five Years patience and solicitation to engage himself against them which was the only thing Count Rantzaw could lay to his charge when he ask'd him the Reasons of his and his Lady's Imprisonment which Question the said Rantzaw accounted a new Crime threatning him with Death in case he did persist in disputing this matter He do's further alledg as an Argument of the nullity of the said Reversion that the Promise made to him in the same had not been perform'd viz. First That all his Papers and Writings which they had seiz'd should be restor'd to him without Exception which was not perform'd but on the contrary after they were releas'd out of their Prison at Bornholm and still carefully guarded by Soldiers and after their having written and sign'd the said Reversion the King caus'd a Trunk full of Letters and Papers of consequence to be taken from him out of which he pick'd all those which were of most consequence to them and their Family which he has never restor'd according to his promise inserted in the said Reversion Secondly The said Reversion did contain that immediately upon the writing and signing of the same they should be put at Liberty but private Orders were given to the Governour to the contrary for they were still kept under a strong guard of Musketeers after it as well as before Moreover after their arrival at Copenhaguen they remain'd under the same Confinement until they had also forc'd them to sign whatever they pleas'd about the alteration of the Date and Place of the said Reversion as also about the Oath of Fealty It is evident that pacta sunt reciproca and that the Covenants being broken on one side in Equity the other is no longer oblig'd He thinks it very preposterous that they could perswade themselves that a private Person as he was could change or alter the least thing contain'd in a publick Treaty of Peace between two Kings Item That he or his Lady could alienate that which Nature had produc'd and order'd viz. The Titles of Counts and Countesses of Sleswick and Holstein belonging to his Lady and her Posterity by her Birth as Daughter to a great King by a lawful Marriage as the Author of the said Treatise declares and the Count relates more at large in this Apology and that hers as well as the King's Father had granted to all his Children of this Marriage the said Titles and Arms as it appears by divers Letters from his Chancery which he caus'd to be written to them on several occasions which Settlements no Monarchs on Earth can reasonably alter or annul The Count insists largely on the force that has been us'd to compel him to sign the said Reversion As 1. The Resolution the Court had taken to put him and his Lady to Death in case of a refusal which Count Rantzaw had formerly openly declar'd unto him and that in a Passion too at a time in which Men commonly speak the truth which design was also clearly enough intimated to him by the Governour 2. The unheard of Cruelties the first Governor had us'd towards them which the Count relates in the same manner as has been declar'd by the Author of the foregoing Treatise but more at large and he reflects particularly upon that Barbarous and Unchristian-like Passage in refusing to send a Minister to the Countess who was dangerously ill to administer the Sacraments to her and to comfort her Which Inhumanity Count Vlfeld complaining of to Count Rantzaw when he was sent to them thinking it proceeded barely from the Governor 's Natural Cruelty he assur'd him that it was done by a particular Order from the Court. He inlarges very much upon the illegality of the said Reversion and concludes at last That no Judges hearing the Character of Christians or of honest Men could justly ground any Sentence upon such forc'd Writings all the Laws of Christianity being repugnant thereunto because it is very easy for those who have the power and force in hand to imprison any Person and afterwards to compel him by Violence Rigour and ill Usage to sign any Writing whatever and to give it the Title of Reversion or any other they think most proper for their purpose He also reflects upon their Baseness and Trick to blind the World by forcing them to change the date and place of the said Reversion when they were brought to Copenhaguen and to acknowledge that they were at Liberty and several other things which they thought fit to insert therein Whereas they were forc'd the first time to write it in their hard Prison at Burnholm and afterwards to write it over again at Copenhaguen being still Pris'ners under a strong Guard in Count Rantzaw's House who often pointing to them us'd to tell him Behold your antient Keepers who are ready to carry you back to Bornholm
them safe or that the fear of being punish'd by the Governor made an impression upon her mind she acquainted him with the Evasion of the Count and Countess The day was half spent and they were already got upwards of four Miles from the place whence they put out to Sea without having met with the least Accident when the Governor who could not imagine how they had made their Escape getting on board a Sloop with some Soldiers made so much haste that the Earl and the Countess were retaken by that Barbarian who had so much Brutality in his first Transport as to give the Earl nay even the Countess several Bastinado's and after having fetter'd them like Slaves he carry'd them back to their Dungeons and immediately dispatch'd an Express to the King of Denmark to acquaint him therewith Soon after this the King sent Count Rantzaw to visit them who was their Capital Enemy and did at that time injoy Count Vlfeld's Place but when he came into his Dungeon he did not know him by reason of the Alteration which the ill treatment he had receiv'd during fifteen Months had occasion'd in him and the ill Clothes which he was cover'd with Insomuch that inquiring of him where Count Vlfeld was whereupon the Earl answering that he was the Person tho he was his Enemy he could not forbear weeping and to appear sensibly concern'd But when this first motion which Horror and Pity had excited in his Soul was over Hatred resuming the place it had held there so long he told Count Vlfeld with an imperious Tone That he came from the King to tell him that he should petition his Majesty to obtain his Liberty and that of the Countess his Wife The Earl having desir'd Pen Ink and Paper in order thereunto which was granted him after he had written the said Petition he deliver'd it to Count Rantzaw but he pretending that it was not submissive enough because he would force Count Vlfeld to write another the draught of which he had brought from Copenhaguen he told him disdainfully giving him the said Draught That the only way to obtain his Liberty was to write thus The Earl observing that they oblig'd him in the said Draught to beg pardon for several Crimes which he had never thought on far from having committed them told Count Rantzaw That he could never resolve to sign it especially because the Countess his Wife was included in it who was only a Prisoner because she lov'd him with too much Tenderness but tho this would have prevail'd with a Generous Mind to desist from such an Unjust Prosecution he persever'd during six Weeks time he tarry'd in Bornholm in the resolution of obliging the Count to sign it by Force or good Will But at last being tir'd with Count Vlfeld's resistance he told him haughtily That unless he sign'd it he should lose his Head as well as the Countess without any Trial. Count Vlfeld who had never known what it was to fear Death would freely have submitted to it rather than to sign had not the Love he had for the Countess withheld him But this great Man finding that his resistance put her Life in danger suffer'd far greater Torments in the Conflict he had within himself than those which are indur'd by Death for his great Courage having forsaken him he remain'd long speechless and it was with a great deal of trouble and grief he ask'd Count Rantzaw at last what Crimes he had committed to be punish'd thus and why they were not brought to their Trial according to the Laws of the Kingdom Count Rantzaw who was no great Politician being surpris'd at this Question made no other Answer to Count Vlfeld but that he ought to remember that he had been ingag'd under the King of Sweden and that notwithstanding the General Pardon he should be punish'd To which he answer'd That it was a Violation of the Law of Nations at which Count Rantzaw flew into such a Passion that after having said many things to him which he durst not have thought at another time he left Count Vlfeld in his Dungeon and went back to Court The only advantage they receiv'd by Count Rantzaw's Visit was that at his return their Governor was chang'd in whose room the King sent Colonel Skroder whose Moderation and good Nature allay'd their Affliction so much that notwithstanding they did still remain in the same Dungeons they did not suffer near so much by it because he took care to visit them and to allow them whatever they stood in need of Some Months being spent thus Skroder receiv'd Orders from Court to put his Prisoners at Liberty provided they would sign a Paper which was sent to him he thinking that this would beâ— very welcome piece of News to the Earl immediately repair'd to him and told him with great Civility That iâ— would be his own fault if he was not soon at Liberty since a Ship was se 〈◊〉 from Copenhaguen for them The Eaâ—â— desiring time to read the Paper which he had brought him and to answer it the Governor withdrew and told him That he did allow him the remainder of the Day to think seriously upon it But whereas the Title of the said Paper was a Reversion the Count was seiz'd with dread and horror at it and indeed it was not without reason since it was indeed the most Cruel Reversion that Fortune could ever cause it did not only oblige him to renounce the Propriety of several Estates to the value of upwards of Three Millions to abandon his Places his Goods his Debts and his best Jewels but that which was more cruel than all this it did oblige the Countess to renounce the Title and Arms of Countess of Sleswick and of Holstein which the late King Christian her Father had given her and finally it made the General Pardon contain'd in the Treaties of Peace void in relation to Count Vlfeld and his Successors The next Day whilst the Earl was reading this strange Reversion the Governor came in without being seen by him who observing that he still remain'd in the same posture said to him Well Sir what are you resolv'd to do To die said the Earl turning briskly about rather than sign a thing which is far more cruel than Death neither indeed can I live much longer considering the ill Treatments I have receiv'd from your Predecessor and I should purchase a Liberty which I cannot enjoy with Honor at too dear a rate But whereas the Countess Eleonora is as much concern'd in this business as my self be pleas'd to carry this Paper to her and to tell her That I find the Conditions of it so harsh and so crue that I will never sign it unless it be considerably softned This honest Gentleman who was very much concern'd at the unjust Sufferings of those Illustrious Persons went strait to the Countess to whom he related the Earl's Resolution After she had examin'd the said Writing very seriously for some
THE LIFE OF Count ULFELD GREAT MASTER of DENMARK And of the Countess Eleonora his Wife Done out of French WITH A Supplement thereunto and to the Account of Denmark formerly published LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCV TO THE Duke of MONT AVSIER Governour to the DAUPHIN My LORD SO many Books have already been dedicated to you and their Authors have so far ingross'd all manner of Thoughts in endeavouring to give us a perfect Idea of your Vertues that I want words to add new Praises to those they have already given you And indeed my Lord where should I find proper words to express the Confidence and Esteem which the greatest and wisest of our Kings has repos'd in and demonstrated towards you in committing the Care of the Dauphin's Education to you This great Choice puts your Merit so far above Praise and Envy that there needs no other Elogy to satisfy Posterity that you are a Man without Defects Therefore my Lord I am perswaded that a respectful Silence will prove more eloquent than all what I could say and that in dedicating my Book to you I shall offer you nothing that is worthy of you If after this sincere Avowsal you will be pleas'd to honour it with your Protection it will be free from the Censure of those Criticks who never like any thing and I will think my self very happy to have found this occasion to let the World know that I am with all the Zeal and all the Respect imaginable My LORD Your most humble and most obedient Servant Rousseau de la Valette TO THE READER THERE are still so many Persons at Court who have known Count Ulfeld and his Retreat into Sweden made so much noise in the World that every body will be pleas'd to hear the History of his Life and to know the motives which induc'd him to make War against his Country But notwithstanding you may find very surprising things in this Story I can assure you that whatever is contain'd in it is certainly true and that I have vritten nothing but what I have found in the Memoirs which were sent to me out of Denmark by unbyass'd knowing Persons without whom I could not have related many singular things which were never written before But whereas the matter I am treating of is considerable enough of it self to be receiv'd kindly by the Publick I will not trouble you with a long Preface provided only you will be pleas'd to excuse my want of Capacity I will think my self sufficiently rewarded for the pains I have taken in writing this History the reading of which is as curious as it may be useful The LIFE of CORNIFIX COUNT of ULFELD Great Master of DENMARK And of the Countess Eleonora his Wife THE Persons whose Lives I undertake to write have shown so much Magnanimity in the different Turns of their Fortune that it is difficult to judg which they are most to be prais'd for the Moderation they have us'd in their Prosperity or the Constancy they have express'd in their Distresses but whatever State we consider them in their Elevation and their Fall are equally Instructive to learn never to rely on the Lustre of a great Favour and to suffer the utmost Rigors of Fortune without betraying the least Weakness Cornifix Count of Vlfeld was the Tenth Son of Count Vlfeld Lord Chancellor of Denmark who in the Reign of King Christian the Fourth made himself as Illustrious by his Merit as he was by his high Birth his Family being one of the First and most Antient of the Kingdom and the only One that was honour'd with the Dignity of Count by Concession from the Emperor Besides the Advantages which Cornifix deriv'd from the Lustre of his Family and from his Father's Favour who rul'd the State Nature prov'd very favourable to him for he was the finest Gentleman of his Time he had a Noble easy Shape and a Majestick Air his Mind was great and capable of all Things his Eloquence was beyond the reach of most Men of his Quality his Judgment was solid he had an undaunted Courage without Ostentation a great deal of Sweetness mix'd with Gravity which procur'd him Respect and Good-Will from all Men he was Faithful and Moderate very Sober Generous and Vigilant In a Word he would have been perfect had he not been Ambitious Before he was ten Years of Age the great Vivacity of his Mind made him commit so many youthful Frolicks that his Father was oblig'd to send him to Paris under the Tuition of a Governour in order if possible to curb him by a Change of Clime but on the contrary his Malice increasing with his Years he became so rebellious towards his Governour that after having endeavour'd in vain for five Years together to alter his Temper he was forc'd at last to acquaint his Father the Chancellor with it who was so angry thereat that he order'd him to forsake him absolutely and to allow him nothing Cornifix finding himself thus at Liberty tho he was but fifteen Years of Age went into Germany where he apply'd himself to the Count of Oldenburgh to whom he had the Honour to be Related and discover'd the Cause of his Disgrace to him As he was incomparably well shap'd and had a great deal of Wit he soon became his Favourite And during the three Years abode he made at his Court he became so accomplish'd that many Husbands became jealous of him But his Martial Temper inspiring him with a desire of War above all other Things Count Oldenburg could not hinder him from ingaging himself in King Christian's Army who was in actual War with some of the Princes of Germany The said Count having given him a magnificent Equipage with Letters of Recommendation to General Fowlk one of the greatest Captains of his Time he took his leave of him with as much Regret as Tenderness No Man ever began the Trade of War better than young Count Vlfeld he always appear'd the first on all Occasions tho never so dangerous and whereas Fortune was resolv'd to be prodigal towards him as it will appear in the Sequel she prov'd so favourable to him that his Reputation was perfectly settled in a short space of Time He went through all Military Degrees and tho he receiv'd no manner of Assistance from Home he always appear'd with so much Splendor and made so great an Expence that he equall'd the Chief Officers of the Army He falling sick of the Plague his Gentleman of the Horse thinking he would never recover sold his Equipage You may easily imagine his Surprize when being cur'd at a time every one expected his Death his said Gentleman of the Horse acquainted him with what he had done he would certainly have punish'd him severely for it had he been strong enough to attempt it But hearing that he had not as yet dispos'd of the best part of his Money he wisely dissembled his Displeasure Insomuch that the said Gentleman who was one of
those Persons who subsist every where and who knew his Master's Humour made up another Equipage again in a short time very little inferior to the First which the Count was so well pleas'd with that he pardon'd him and made use of him as before The War which had now lasted five Years ending in a Peace Count Vlfeld who hated a sedate Life return'd into France and from thence went into Italy where getting acquainted with Seignor Cremoniny a Noble Venetian in the City of Padua he contracted so strict a Friendship with him that in a Year's time he profited so well by his Conversation that he has often own'd since he was indebted to him for the best part of what he knew After having seen all Italy he went back into Germany where he made a pretty long stay and finally the desire of returning into his Native Country growing the most predominant of all his Passions he put himself in the Retinue of an Ambassador who was going for the Court of Denmark only to honour his Embassy And by the Charms of his Person as well as of his Wit he made so great a Progress in the said Ambassador's Favour that he conceal'd nothing from him insomuch that when they came to Copenhagen he was present at all the Conferences he had with the Chancellor his Father That Great Man who thought he had lost one of his Sons in the Person of Cornifix from whom he had never heard any News in ten Years time being taken with his Wit and admiring the Solidity of his Judgment in Affairs of State in an Age in which most Men only mind their Pleasures whether it were by Simpathy of Blood or out of desire to engage Cornifix in King Christian's Court he conceiv'd so great an Esteem for him that after a long Conference he had with the Ambassador in which the Count was not present he could not forbear acquainting him with the Sentiments he had for the Count and to intreat him to let him know how he came to engage himself in his Retinue The Ambassador who lov'd him tenderly told the Chancellor that he was a Danish Gentleman whose Name was not very different from his adding a great deal to the Praises he had already given him But whereas the Chancellor who knew all the Nobility of the Kingdom could find no Family that had any Relation to the Name which the Ambassador told him the Count went by he desir'd him to grant him the Favour to discourse him the next Day in private himself It would be difficult to express the young Count's Joy when he heard the good Opinion his Father had of him and to think what an agreeable Surprize it would prove to him to hear that he was that Son whose ill Nature had oblig'd him to forsake It is much easier to imagine than to describe it and we may easily conceive that it is impossible for two Persons to have a greater Cornifix waiting on the Chancellor the next Day according to his Desire he receiv'd him with all the Civility he could expect from a Man of his Character and after having discours'd of several Things in general the Chancellor asking him what Family he was of with an obliging Concern which confirm'd what the Ambassador had told him he excus'd himself for a long while telling him that perhaps he would not be pleas'd at it and that he was afraid he would lose the good Opinion he had of him when he knew him But whereas this Mystery did only serve to increase the Chancellor's earnestness to know it the Count told him at last that he was that Cornifix the Tenth of his Sons whom he had forsake at his Governour 's Solicitation Thunder does not surprize those who see it fall near them more than this Confession did the Chancellor He held his Eyes fix'd on the Count a long while before he could utter one Word He examin'd all his Features one after another endeavouring to find out some of his own and could hardly perswade himself that a forsaken Child could have made himself so perfect Joy and Shame struggled so much in his Heart that he was quite at a loss but in conclusion Nature made him sensible that he was really his Son a Torrent of Tears gush'd out from his Eyes and Embraces succeeded Civilities As this Adventure was very Extraordinary and as the Chancellor thought himself very happy to have recover'd a Son whose Merit was already known at Court he immediately acquainted King Christian and the Prince his Son therewith who thereupon doubled the Favours they had already express'd towards Cornifix The Ambassador was not displeas'd at this Discovery tho it hinder'd him from enjoying the agreeable Conversation of the Count as before And I may affirm that all those who were Reasonable express'd the Share they took in his Joy Merit undoubtedly can produce much of it self and we have many Examples of Men who have rais'd their Fortune to the highest Degree by it alone Young Count Vlfeld had reason to expect all things from his without being thought presumptuous But yet we must needs acknowledg that the Favour of his Father who govern'd the State did contribute considerably towards his becoming a Favourite to the King and to the Prince who could do nothing without communicating it first to him Nevertheless tho it is natural for young Men to be dazled with Greatness he liv'd with more Modesty than before and being sensible that the Favour of Kings is as dangerous as pleasing he resolv'd to leave the Court to go into Spain His Equipage was ready and his Father approving his Reasons he only tarried for the King 's Leave to go on Board but that great Prince who lov'd him tenderly laid such absolute Commands on him not to go that at last he resolv'd to stay and to use his utmost Endeavours to preserve his Favour Soon after this the King honour'd him with the Place of Lord-Chamberlain which engag'd him still the more particularly near his Person and he discharg'd the said Trust so worthily and shew'd so much Courage in the Naval Wars which the King had against the King of Sweden in which two of his Brothers were kill'd that Christian could not forbear expressing his Satisfaction to all those of his Court for having so accomplish'd a Subject As there were no Degrees at that time among the Danes to distinguish the Nobles from one another the Kingdom of Denmark being then Elective the King's Children were the only Persons who were above the Nobility Among the Rivals of Glory young Cornifix had to deal with Hannibal Séested was one of those who gave him most Emulation He was a very fine Gentleman and had a great deal of Wit so that being both partly of the same Age and equally Ambitious they were commonly opposite in all Things The King after the Queen's Death being fallen in Love with a very beautiful Lady of the Antient Family of Monch call'd Christina who had all the
Qualifications of a Great Princess had she been born one not being able to obtain any Favours from her had married her with all the Formalities requir'd in a Lawful Marriage in the presence of the whole Court and of the Senate with this Clause in the Contract That the Children he should get by that Marriage should not be Princes and should be contented with the Title of Earls of Sleswick and Holstein of which they should have the Name and Arms to distinguish them from other Gentlemen The Reason of which was that the King having Children by his first Marriage and there bring no Principality in the Kingdom had those he might get by the Second been acknowledg'd Princes they would have prov'd too great a Burden to the Common-Wealth because they could not have marry'd with the Nobles of the Country The Countess Eleonora deriv'd her Birth from this Marriage Young Cornifix who till then had been a Stranger to the Power of Love meeting in that Beautiful Lady all he could wish to raise his Fortune to the highest Degree and to become the happiest of Men fell passionately in Love with her at a Time when Hannibal was mov'd with the same Passion Love among Persons of Quality is like a Beacon which is no sooner kindled but it is perceiv'd at a great Distance therefore the Count coming oftner to the Queen's Apartment than he us'd to do it was thought he had an Inclination for the young Countess and whereas the King's Favour and his own Merit gave him a great Advantage over his Rival he soon effac'd those Impressions which Hannibal had made in the young Countesses Mind But whereas she had a Prudence far above those of her Age she did them Justice without seeming to incline more towards the one than the other and had it not been for the natural Jealousy they had of each other they would have had no reason to be jealous of the Favours they receiv'd They were a long while before they could discover in favour of which the Countess would declare her self tho they omitted nothing to shew their Passion for her This made the Count so melancholy and so sad that chancing one Day to be alone with the Countess he look'd on her a considerable while without being able to utter one Word Which she desiring to know the Reason of after he had excus'd himself awhile he declar'd his Passion to her The Countess being surpriz'd blush'd at this Declaration and looking on the Count with a Severity capable to make the boldest of Men tremble he repented his having said too much but however there was no Remedy and the Occasion had seem'd too favourable to him not to say a thing which he could no longer conceal Therefore he threw himself at the Countess's Feet humbly craving her Pardon for his Presumption in words so moving and so tender that the most cruel of Women would have pitied him But this word Love did sound so harsh in the Countess's Ears and she had conceiv'd so frightful an Idea of it that she could not bear it The Count on the contrary said a thousand soft Things to her to perswade her that that Passion could never be banish'd from the World without making it as wild and savage as Desarts since it was the only thing which supported Gallantry and maintain'd Union even among the most Barbarous And he had certainly remov'd that great Aversion had not the Queen come in which oblig'd him to quit that Subject The Count went away between Fear and Hope and whereas it behov'd him to justify Love before the Countess the first time he saw her again having an Opportunity to speak to her after a pretty long Conversation the Countess told him that if he did not exceed the Bounds he had prescrib'd to himself he might hope to be hearken'd to in time so that he went away extreamly satisfy'd Some time after this having been ingag'd in a Combat in which he gave Proofs of his great Valour he had the pleasure to hear the Countess praise him in his Rival's Presence with such Elogies that he no longer doubted but she had some Kindness for him And indeed he richly deserv'd the Praises the Countess gave him having done an Action which would pass for a Fable had not his King been a Witness of it as well as most of the greatest Men of the Kingdom It is most certain that the City of Hamburgh being built upon the King of Denmark's Territories they are oblig'd to pay him Homage for the same and that according as they have encreas'd their Power they have endeavour'd to free themselves so that most of the Kings have been oblig'd to take Arms either to assert their Right or to repel those Rebellions Which oblig'd King Christian one of the bravest Princes that ever reign'd in the North to build the City of Glucstad upon the River Elbe with a Fort capable to oppose the Efforts of that little Common-Wealth and to keep them in Awe that the said Prince having been forc'd to take Arms upon the Account of some Things he demanded of the Hamburgers he being at Glucstad with his Forces they set out a Fleet of several Ships designing to make a Descent to make themselves Masters of that Place which they would have done being superiour in Number had not the extream Valour that generous Prince Count Vlfeld and a French Gentleman who belong'd to him show'd on that Occasion prevented them they never abandoning a Battery of some Pieces of Ordnance which commanded the Port notwithstanding all the Gunners were kill'd or wounded and that the Forces that kept it retir'd into the Town upon the continual Fire from on Board the Ships But those three Heroes chose rather to die than to suffer the taking of the Town or to fly And whereas nothing is impossible to those who are capable of great Resolutions they made so great a Resistance for an Hour together that the Garison of the Town taking Heart again by their Example the Fleet being half disabled was oblig'd to retire with as much Shame as Admiration and none of them were wounded tho the Bullets which were shot at them had cover'd their Faces so thick with Dirt that they were hardly to be known again Therefore this Action justly deserv'd the Praises of the Countess Eleonora and she could not refuse this Justice to the Merit of the Count seeing that immediately upon this Expedition the King had given him the Government of the Isle of Funen to honour his Vertue and that his very Enemies were forc'd to own that he deserv'd the Favour and Kindness of his Master And indeed from that time forward the Countess had a particular Respect for him and receiv'd his Addresses in such a manner as satisfy'd him that she was not insensible But that which made an end of winning her Heart and of ruining Hannibal was another Action perform'd by the Count which being very uncommon especially among Courtiers will
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
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
was very ill he put himself at Night in a small Vessel on the Rhine in order to repair to Brisac where he thought he should be safe But that Infortunate Earl had hardly travel'd ten Leagues before the great Cold penetrated his dying Body which was depriv'd of Natural Heat and thus he ended that Languishing Life which his Enemies had so often endeavour'd to snatch from him by their Injustices without being assisted by his Children and by his antient Servants whom he had sent away in the Morning by different Roads Thus dy'd Cornifix Count of Vlfeld about threescore Years of Age leaving three Sons Successors of his great Vertues of whom the Eldest who turn'd Roman Catholick has apply'd himself to the Queen of Sweden's Service The second is Knight of Maltha and the third lives in England who is one of the most Accomplish'd and most Learned Gentlemen in Europe All those who have known Count Vlfeld grant that he was one of the greatest Men of his Time and that had it not been for his Ambition to make himself King after the Death of Christian his Father-in-law he would have been the happiest Lord of the North But tho some Historians that are ill inform'd or have been brib'd by his Enemies have accus'd him of Treason and of being guilty of all the ill Successes which his Brother-in-Law Frederick has met with in his last Wars I hope the World will judge more equitably since he has done nothing but what the Laws of the Country allow'd him to do And finally let no body accuse me of having made a Panegyrick instead of writing an History I grant that the late King Christian having publickly express'd the small Value he had for Prince Frederick his Son and that the Nobles not being able to accustom themselves to the Imperious Humour of the Princess his Wife of the House of Lunenburg perhaps by reason of their Antipathy with the Germans Count Vlfeld being perswaded by the Countess Eleonora who had had some particular falling out with the Princess her Sister-in-Law had some thoughts of making himself King instead of Prince Frederick and took some measures in order thereunto But besides that that was very excusable in a Man like him some Nobles having propos'd the Exclusion of Prince Erederick Count Vlfeld who was an admirable Politician finding his measures broken and being sensible that he was not powerful enough to maintain a Civil War alone wisely turn'd the Scales and caus'd Prince Frederick to be elected on conditions which made him share his Authority under pretence of preserving the Privileges of the Nobility of which he was the Head by virtue of his Place of Great Master But if Frederick had reason to complain of Count Vlfeld on this Account he also fail'd on his side by giving too much Credit to the Calumny of Dina and of Walter which he should have examin'd better before he undertook to seize Count Vlfeld and the Countess Eleonora since in Prudence and true Policy he ought to have destroy'd them quite or to have dissembled all So that we may affirm that Frederick committed a great fault against his own Interest and that Count Vlfeld show'd by taking the King of Sweden's part that he knew how to resent the Injuries he had receiv'd like a Man of Sence and Courage But whereas the Queen was at the Head of Count Vlfeld's Enemies and that she absolutely govern'd Frederick who was easy and timorous she follow'd the first motions of her Passion In fine the Earl was too Rich and had too many Friends which are Crimes hard to be justify'd And indeed that was the real cause of all his Misfortunes and of those of the Countess Eleonora who is still a Prisoner FINIS A SUPPLEMENT TO Count ULFELD'S LIFE The Preface Courteous Reader THO I was acquainted many Years since with the Truths contain'd in the foregoing curious and useful Treatise especially in what relates to the violent and unjust Persecutions and Calumnies rais'd against those Heroical Persons Count Ulfeld and his Lady mention'd in the same I never put Pen to Paper before to give the World an account thereof and perhaps had not done it now had not the said Treatise accidentally and unexpectedly fallen into my hands by the means of a Person with whom I was privately discoursing about these Tragedies which made me sensible that the World was already better acquainted therewith than I imagin'd Whereupon banishing all Fears and not valuing the hatred which I am sonsible Truth creates against those who are zealous for it who are lovers of Justice and who are concern'd for those who are unjustly oppress'd defam'd and persecuted I thought fit both for the Glory of God and for the instruction of others to put the said Treatise into English it being very scarce in French as also to induce the English Nation by making a due reflection on the Transactions of remote Countries as well as their own to be the more grateful towards God and to bless him for the happiness of living now under a King who is a zealous promoter of Piety and Justice abhorring Oppression and Violence discountenancing Vice and Baseness lest they should provoke God to give them such Rulers as they have already partly experienc'd and such as are mention'd in the foregoing Treatise The Additions I now design to make to the same will consist in these three Heads First An Extract of some of the main Points of Count Ulfeld's Apology against the last Calumnies rais'd against him written in French by himself a little before his Death a Copy whereof is come to my hands Secondly The Relation of the treacherous Proceedings against Doctor Otho Sperling a dear Friend of the said Count Ulfeld Thirdly A short Account of the Countess of Ulfeld's being put out of the Prison of Copenhaguen All which I intreat you to accept as kindly as I offer it to you and to excuse the plainness of my Stile which I look upon to be most sutable to Truth A SUPPLEMENT TO Count ULFELD's LIFE FIRST As to the Count's Apology written in French by himself a little before his Death and sent to a particular Friend of his to be perus'd by him in order to the publishing thereof which doubtless would speedily have been perform'd had it not been deferr'd by his sudden Death mention'd in the foregoing Treatise as well as upon the account of some particular Considerations relating to the imprison'd Countess and Doctor Sperling The main Heads whereof I shall here insert with all the candor and sincerity imaginable and in as few words as possible First He complains of the illegal Proceedings of his Enemies contrary to the usual behaviour of Christians in condemning him upon pretended Accusations without summoning or admitting him to make his defence nay which is worst for their passing a Sentence of Condemnation upon him before his being acquainted with the said Accusation From which he infers as a main argument of his Innocence that
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