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
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
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
if you make the least scruple to write and sign what is requir'd of you All which he does protest before the Eternal God to be true Fourthly As to the fourth Article on which the Judges ground their Sentence alledging that since he had taken an Oath of Fealty to his Majesty and to his Royal Family notwithstanding which he has since conspir'd both against him and his Crown the said Crime made him guilty of High Treason both before God and Men. To this he answers as before That they can prove no such thing against him and that it is a meer fiction in order to ruine him Secondly He alledges the Invalidity of the said Writing as well as of the two former because they were all forc'd from him when he was a close Pris'ner under a strong Guard Count Rantzaw threatning him as aforesaid in case he made any scruple to sign adding and protesting further before God That he sign'd the said Papers absolutely against his Will and without being at liberty which if he had been and free to dispose of himself he would never have sworn Allegiance to Frederick since he had already taken the said Oath to serve the Crown of Sweden from which he could not depart to pay Homage to any other Prince which alone would have been sufficient to hinder him from so doing besides that he had no reason to serve a Prince who had kept and us'd him like a Slave tho he was born Free and of free Parents Moreover that Oaths extorted from any Persons can never be pleasing to nor binding before God but are void of themselves neither Divine nor human Laws allowing Oaths Reversions Bonds or other obligatory Writings procur'd by force and violence from any Persons being under Confinement or forc'd thereunto against their Wills And if at any tiem any Judg be so wicked and has so little Conscience as to receive and admit such Proofs and to ground a Sentence thereupon it is evident that he do's it either out of Passion or Interest He do's acknowledg himself a Subject to the Crown of Sweden and therefore hopes that Crown will protect him as a Vassal and upon the account of the Article inserted in the Treaty of Peace in favour of him which cannot be annihilated by violence and by forcing him to renounce the same in writing especially since these hardships are put upon him as his Enemies pretend in private tho not publickly for his having serv'd the said Crown This is an Abstract of what the Count alledges in his own defence against their unjust and ill-grounded Sentence which he inlarges with many considerable things which perhaps might give the Reader more satisfaction but considering the brevity to which we confine our selves this much may suffice to shew his Innocence and the illegality of the said Sentence Towards the Conclusion he examines and bewails the Hardships and Grievances put upon his dear Lady without being any ways guilty and how ill she was us'd and rewarded in England by a Party whom out of Tenderness and Compassion they had assisted with Money and Jewels in the time of their Distress and Necessity When Count Vifeld was solicitous with Count Rantzaw in his Prison to know the reason why they were robb'd and treated so barbarously desiring to be brought to a publick Trial to be judg'd according to the Laws of the Kingdom he only answer'd with another Question asking him whether he did not remember that he had serv'd the Crown of Sweden in the last Wars To which he gave him an immediate Answer which would have satisfy'd an impartial Man But when he desir'd to know what his Lady had done to be treated with the same rigour and robb'd of all her Jewels Money Goods c. the said Rantzaw being at a loss reply'd in great Passion that in case he did continue to criticize and to dispute thus he would assure them that his business would be soon done threatning him again with Death By which it appears that they could lay nothing to her Charge and that she only suffer'd upon her Husband's account how justly let others judg He proceeds further to satisfy the World how ill he is rewarded for the great Service he did the King in causing him to be elected which Election he relates at large in the same manner as it is mention'd in his Life how he alone stood up for him against a powerful Party and maintain'd that they ought to elect him notwithstanding all the reasons they urg'd for his Exclusion insomuch that he was the chief instrument to raise him to the Throne moreover that he was the first Person that brought him the publick News thereof in the Name of the two Kingdoms and gave him the Titles of King and Majesty as also that he plac'd the Crown upon his Head with the Bishops before the Altar of the Cathedral Church at Copenhaguen He adds that he may freely and safely affirm That had it not been for him Frederick had never been King which he can prove with such manifest Evidence that were the King acquainted therewith he would be amaz'd at what pass'd at his Election and that it wanted but little that another was not elected in his Place Before I make an end of what relates to Count Vlfeld's Person it will be proper to instance one Passage by which it will appear that his Enemies hatred and animosities against him were not extinguish'd even by his Death They sent several Persons in search of his Grave in order to unbury him and to triumph over his Body as they had already done over his Effigies at Copenhaguen But their Emissaries were so narrowly watch'd by the poor Count's Sons that few of them came back to give an account of their Commission insomuch that at last they were discourag'd from sending any more besides that they found it was impossible to find him out for as soon as he died upon the Rhine as the Author of his Life relates the Persons to whom he did commit the care of his Body bury'd him in the nearest landing Place which his Sons being acquainted with they repair'd thither with speed foreseeing their Enemies would send in search of him and desir'd the Bishop of the place to cause him to be remov'd by reason that being a Protestant it was not fit he should lie among Roman Catholicks that place being only appointed for such upon which account this request was granted and they together with their Father's antient and faithful Servants being arm'd remov'd him on Horseback and bury'd him in a place not publickly known and thereby deceiv'd the expectation of their Enemies They also expected to have found their Father's remaining Treasure consisting of Jewels sew'd up in his Buff-Coat but he was rifl'd before their Arrival and they could never receive the least satisfaction about it but were oblig'd to content themselves with the bare Buff-Coat and with the loss of the Jewels as well as of their paternal Estate Some