so much confounded that not being able to make a positive Reply to the Earl's Defence it turn'd his Brains and he left the Council in that Distraction without taking his Leave of the Queen and without showing the least Civility to the Lords of the Assembly So publick a Justification put the Earl's Enemies into so great a Confusion that their Persecution lay dormant for several Years during which he retir'd with his Family into Pomerania where he had a considerable Estate enjoying the Sweetness and Tranquillity which a Country-Life can afford a Man who is tir'd with the Fatigues of the Court and whereas he fanci'd that the Cause of so long a Silence could only proceed from the King his Brother-in-Law's being convinc'd of his Innocence he advis'd the Countess to go to Copenhagen there to make her Court assiduously and to endeavour to put her self perfectly into the King's Favour again But tho the Earl had written several Letters full of Submission and Respect that unfortunate Lady was no sooner come to the Frontiers of the Kingdom but she was inform'd that her Enemies had sent Forces to the first Village through which she was to pass to secure her However whereas such an Attempt had no Precedent and that the Countess could not imagine that they could treat a Person of her Quality with so much Cruelty she continu'd her Journey whatever her Servants could say to the contrary But as soon as she was got into a little Plain one of her Gentlemen acquainted her that a Company of Foot was coming towards them with great speed Whereupon the Countess no longer doubting but that the Advice she had receiv'd was true order'd her Coach to turn about and she stood in need of the utmost Vigour of her Horses to rejoin the Bridg which separates the Territories of Denmark from those of Holstein where the said Souldiers who came within Musket-shot of her remain'd full of Confusion at their not having been able to execute their Design The Earl being equally surpriz'd and troubled at this new Disgrace writ to the Court again to know the Reason of it but he receiv'd no Answer which made him sensible that it was an Effect of the Cruelty of his Enemies who were resolv'd at any Rate to keep him for ever out of the Kingdom in order to possess his Places and to enjoy the great Estates they had made themselves Masters of Which unworthy Treatment made him resolve to take Arms under Charles King of Sweden whose Protection he had also taken after the Queen's Abdication in hopes thereby to be restor'd to the Possession of part of his Estate It was not without a great deal of Grief he found himself reduc'd to the Necessity of employing his Courage and his Wit against his Prince and Brother-in-Law those two Qualities did long oppose within his Soul the Resolution he had taken and they did not want Reasons to break it but finding no other way for his Restoration he was oblig'd to embrace it Therefore the Earl being forc'd by all manner of Reasons to behave himself thus made use of his Courage and Prudence to satisfy Charles that he did act Sincerely The first Proof he gave him of it was the Reduction of the Isle of Funen which did submit to him in so little time that the News of it came to Copenhagen before they knew that Charles design'd to conquer it Moreover as if Heaven had join'd with the Earl to revenge the Injustices he had receiv'd the Sea freezing to that degree that the Artillery could safely be drawn over it he perswaded the King of Sweden to march against Copenhagen with Three thousand Horse and Six pieces of Ordinance not doubting but the boldness of the Enterprise would cause a strange Consternation And indeed Frederick was so much surpris'd to see an Army before the Gates of his Capital City that his Courage fail'd him and in that Disorder the most effectual way he could think on to prevent the Ruin of his State was to oblige Count Vlfeld's Agents to let him know that in case he could mediate a Peace he would restore him to the Possession of all his Places and Estate Whereas Necessity only had oblig'd him to take Arms against his Country his Friends found him so well dispos'd to forget all the Injuries he had receiv'd that tho he was sensible that nothing but the present State of Affairs oblig'd Frederick to behave himself thus he made so good a Use of the Credit he had acquired with Charles that he oblig'd him to make a Peace which was sign'd at Rosschild By the said Peace the King of Denmark yielded the Province of Schonen to the King of Sweden together with the Fortresses of Gabub Hallen Blechin the Town of Drontem and some others and granted Count Vlfeld and all those who had followed him a General Pardon and restor'd him to the Possession of all his Places Dignities and Estates After which the two Kings embrac'd with great Demonstrations of Friendship Frederick also express'd his good Will to the Earl in such a manner as made every body believe that he did it sincerely and at Night the two Kings supp'd together at Frederixburg one of the King of Denmark's Pleasure-Houses with the Queen and the Chief Officers of the two Armies The following Day the King of Sweden after having conferr'd some Hours with Frederick went for Gottemburg and the Earl remaining with the King of Denmark every body did conclude that he was as much in the King's Favour as ever But whereas Frederick was susceptible to all sorts of Impressions and that the Earl's Enemies did dread the Loss of their Credit by the Restoration of his Authority they cast new Suspicions into the King's Mind which oblig'd the Earl to retire upon the Estate he had in the Province of Schonen The King of Sweden being desirous to show the Earl who was become his Subject the Esteem he had for him gave him the County of Sylburg for him and his Heirs Male for ever But the Earl who was in hopes by this voluntary Retreat to make the King of Denmark sensible of the Injustice of his Persecutors and of the Innocence of his Conduct was strangely mistaken in his Conjectures for he had hardly enjoy'd for some Months the sweetness which a Country Life affords to those who are desirous of it before the King of Sweden being resolv'd to renew the War propos'd to him to take Arms again with such advantagious Conditions that any Man but the Earl would certainly have accepted them Nevertheless he refus'd them generously and made Charles so sensible that having no new Cause to complain of the King his Brother-in-Law he could not serve against him without wounding his Honour that that Great Prince who knew the Merit of the Earl would not oblige him to do it by Force But whereas his admirable Qualifications had rais'd Envy against him among the greatest Lords of Sweden especially in those who
Papers were found about him written in Ciphers which one of his Sons thought might be about some Secret he had often told him he would communicate to him before his Death which he fancy'd might be relating to the Philosopher's Stone about the transmutation or rather separation of Metals the rather because he found he had a Furnace in a private Chamber where no Body was admitted and that notwithstanding the vast Sums his Enemies had taken from him he never was in want but provided very handsomly for his Children abroad Secondly As to the second part of this Supplement relating to Doctor Otho Sperling who descended from a good Family at Hamburg fam'd particularly for Men of Parts and extraordinary Learning He marry'd a Lady of the Noble Family of the Schwendys descended from the great General and Statesman Lazarus Schwendy so much celebrated in History especially in that of Hungary in whom it may be said that Mars and the Muses had made a strict alliance he being besides his Martial Accomplishments a person of eminent Learning as it partly appears by his writings as yet extant and particularly by his Epistles ad Camâ—◠〈◊〉 and others This great Vertue and Learning of his Ancestors on both sides Dr. Sperling did endeavour to imitate in which he prov'd very successful and was one of the most learned Men of his Age particularly in Physick and the study of Nature about which he held Correspondencies in several parts Moreover he was a Man of extraordinary Integrity and Vertue of admirable Morals sweet and agreeable in Conversation which Qualities gain'd him the hearts of all vertuous Persons and particularly that of Count Vlfeld whom he became acquainted with in his Travels which were very considerable in several parts and by degrees did contract the strictest Friendship with him that could be expected from two Hearts equally addicted to Vertue and Knowledg The Count was so much taken with his eminent Qualities and great Understanding that he took him for his Companion in several Embassies and particularly into England in King Charles the I's time to whom the said Count brought Ammunition c. on the behalf of the King his Master at which time these two Persons were brought into an eminent danger and had an extraordinary Deliverance being taken and imprison'd by the Parliamentarians who pass'd a Sentence of Death upon them as Friends to their Enemy for which they had prepar'd themselves with great Courage against the next Morning when unexpectedly and by a singular Providence the King's Party attack'd them in the Night took the House in which they were kept Prisoners and rescu'd them This great familiarity and friendship between the Count and Dr. Sperling involv'd the last in the unjust Persecutions of the other being tormented by wicked Men who naturally have an antipathy to Vertue such as Fortune by God's permission raises against his Children to try their Constancy This these two worthy Persons together with the Countess Eleonora did sufficiently experience and therefore the Count's Enemies never fail'd to involve Dr. Sperling in all his Concerns and in all the Calumnies they rais'd against him So that in the first Calumny about poisoning the King they accus'd him of having provided the Poison as being then the King's Physician of which Calumny he was then as well as the Count publickly cleared and the Accusers punish'd as it is related in the foregoing Treatise And tho he was not mention'd in the last Calumny and Sentence of Treason publish'd against the Count yet his Enemies in order to justify their Treachery and Baseness prevail'd with the King of Denmark in a Letter to the King of Sweden to accuse him of having kept a Correspondence with the Count. In fine after they were firmly resolv'd utterly to destroy the Count and had imprison'd the innocent Countess the only remaining Person they were jealous of and whom they thought capable to oppose their wicked Designs by assisting the Count with his Advice and to discover their Villany was Dr. Sperling For which reason they put their Heads together to consider how to secure and ruine him and his Family but whereas they were sensible that they could not obtain their End by the means of Justice they were oblig'd to have recourse to Tricks and Treachery the same means they had us'd before towards the Count and Countess his Friends In order hereunto they suborn'd a Villain and Traitor one Hagedorn who put their Project in execution Judas like in the manner following He came to the Doctor as a Stranger pretending to have a singular Respect and Esteem for his great skill in Physick and desir'd him to visit and give his Advice to a certain Friend of his whom he pretended to be ill of a secret Disease This good Man dreading no Surprize went along with him in a Coach to visit his said Patient On their return coming by a certain place where the said Hagedorn had plac'd another Ruffian like himself pretending to meet him accidentally he told the Doctor pointing to him That that Gentleman had been a great Traveller in the Indies and other remote Parts and that he had an extraordinary knowledg of many curious things asking him Whether he would allow him to take him into the Coach Dr. Sperling who he knew delighted to discourse with Persons of that Character easily consented thereunto Soon after his coming into the Coach they drew up the Glasses the Weather being very rainy and windy whereupon he perceiv'd that he was betray'd and a Pris'ner and he endeavouring to call People to his assistance tho in vain by reason of the swiftness of the motion and the great noise the Coach and the Wind made they gagg'd him in so much that he was half choak'd and in this manner carry'd him to Gluckstat and from thence to Copenhaguen In the mean time the good City of Hamburg where Dr. Sperling was very much belov'd to shew their abhorrence of this Villanous Action caus'd the Bell of Infamy to be rung to give all the People notice thereof and to register the said Hagedorn in their City-Book as a Traitor After this the Doctor 's Effects in Denmark which were very considerable were all confiscated without any cause and part thereof given to the said Hagedorn as a Reward for his Treachery The King of Sweden was graciously pleas'd to take Dr. Sperling's part he being his Subject and under his Protection as a Member of the Chapter of Hamburg and did highly resent and complain of this illegal Action as well to the King of Denmark as to other Princes and particularly to the King of England who was Guarantée of the Treaty of Peace between the two Northern Crowns And in answer to the King of Denmark's Letter to him did resute the weak grounds on which the said King endeavour'd to justify the said Action one of which was That Doctor Sperling had formerly been in his Service as his Physitian and pretending that he still was so
Revenge in time and we were reduc'd in order to avoid the continual Conspiracies of our Enemies who requir'd our Blood to retire under the Protection of the Queen of Sweden which the Laws of the Country allow'd us to do in hopes that the said Retreat would evidence the Moderation of our Sentiments But most Illustrious Lords this was so far from producing the Effects which we did expect from it that on the contrary it increas'd the boldness of those who desir'd our Ruin and they found such Dispositions in the King's Mind for their Malice to work upon that they oblig'd him to send Orders to his Ambassador at Court to accuse my Husband of several Crimes the very remembrance of which strikes me with Horror but having again clear'd himself of this new Calumny his Innocence only serv'd to make him the more unhappy for his Enemies despairing of his Ruin by the Way of Justice prevail'd with the King to dispose of his Places and to seize upon our Estate This last Misfortune depriving us of Means to subsist oblig'd C. Vlfeld after the Queen's Abdication to engage himself in the Service of the King her Successor in hopes by his Arms to recover part of our Lands He perform'd and it is not without Grief I am forc'd to speak it Actions of Conduct and of Valour which did not a little contribute towards the obtaining of the Victory over his Country-men and to make the King's Arms triumphant He thereby gain'd his Esteem and Good-will And finally I may say that it was by his Means a Peace was made between the two Crowns with so much Advantage for his Majesty I own at the same time that my Husband was rewarded for his Services and that a General Pardon was granted for him and all his Followers with a particular Clause That all his Estate should be restor'd to him which has been perform'd since by the King my Brother The King your Master added to that Act of his Justice a new Favour which was the Gift of the County of Sylburg to my Husband and his Male Issue for ever And soon after that the King gave us leave to retire upon the Estate we have in this Province of Schonen which remain'd to him by the Peace I own that these are Favours which did exceed our Hopes and which show the King's Magnanimity but at the same time I affirm that no body can put us in mind of them to convince us of Ingratitude His Majesty is willing to renew the War and offers my Husband considerable Advantages to take up Arms again against a King to whom he has the Honour of being Brother-in-Law he humbly craves his Majesty would be pleas'd to excuse him because the Articles of the General Pardon have been punctually perform'd Whereupon Count Vlfeld's Enemies make use of the said Refusal to ruin him and make a Capital Crime of a thing which of all things in the World is the most praise-worthy And indeed Illustrious Lords is not the Moderation which my Husband shows on this Occasion worthy of Praise since that notwithstanding the Reasons he has to complain he refuses the Means to resent the Offences he has receiv'd and does not accept Advantages which are so great that they might dazle the most Ambitious and make them attempt any thing to deserve them Necessity only oblig'd my Husband to take Arms in hopes that by the Means of a Peace which ought always to be the principal End of a War he might recover his Estate for the Subsistence of his Family That Peace has been made by his Mediation his Estate has been restor'd to him why then should he be oblig'd to take up Arms again since the main Reason he had to do it subsists no longer Advantages they say are offer'd to him which he refuses and that is a certain Sign he designs to take the King of Denmark's part again and therefore it behoves the King to secure his Person and to use him as an ungrateful Man Ah! most Illustrious Lords can such ill Consequences be drawn from so good a Reason Can a Vertue be accounted a Crime and must my Husband be punish'd before-hand as if he were already convicted No it is impossible without overthrowing all the Rules of Equity and of Justice and I have reason to believe that you will judg more favourably than those who have surpris'd his Majesty in giving him such unjust Suspicions My Husband's Enemies prevail with the King of Denmark to take his Imployments and his Estate from him without having convicted him of any Crime he desires the Restitution of the same for his Subsistance he is refus'd whereupon he joins with the King who is in War against him no body can blame him since it is very natural to seek out Means to preserve one's Estate and Life He mediates a Peace in that we may say he is deserving and that his Country is oblig'd to him Finally by means of this Peace he obtains what he did propose in taking Arms. There is not the least Crime in all this But most Illustrious Lords could any one excuse him at present should he engage a-new under pretence of the Advantages that are offer'd to him Would not that Ambition which alone could induce him to it be blame-worthy and would not his Country which pities his Misfortunes have reason to alter their Wishes for his Welfare and to lose the good Opinion they have of his Vertue Would not the King my Brother have a just Cause to seize our Estate a-new and to turn all the Suspicions he has receiv'd against my Husband into Certainty And finally would not Count Vlfeld make a Breach to his Honour never to be repair'd again I own that he has perhaps reason to believe that a general Pardon has only been granted to him by Force and that the same Hatred is preserv'd against him as before but though he were certain of it that ill Example would not excuse him and the sensibility we naturally have for those of our Blood would upbraid him eternally for having violated it Suppose he had it not could he without Horror contribute towards the absolute Destruction of his Country the Preservation and Glory of which has been so dear to so many great Men that History is full of a thousand Famous Examples which inform us that they have preferr'd it to their own Lives What better Party could Count Vlfeld take on this Occasion than a Retreat and a Country Life Certainly most Illustrious Lords it is impossible for him to chuse another and if I may say so he can form no wishes but for a Peace If his Country and his Blood inspire him with Love on one Side the Favours he has receiv'd from the King and the Kindness he has express'd to him on so many Occasions oblige him to remain in the Condition he is in Count Vlfeld is not ignorant that Benefits being Acts of good Will which create Pleasure and Joy in the Person who
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
who seem'd to be most dissatisfy'd he ingag'd by virtue of his Office of Great Master he being the Head and Protector of the Nobility that the Prince would preserve all their Privileges and that their Grievances should be redress'd The Election was made on this Condition as it had been done time out of mind In the mean time Count Vlfeld being satisfi'd with his having perform'd his Duty without valuing himself upon it by publishing the same not having acquainted the Prince before nor after the Election with all the Brigues that had been made to exclude him from the Crown his Enemies made use of his Modesty to ruin him for having perswaded the King that he himself had aspir'd to the Crown because some Votes had been given for him and that not being able to obtain his Ends he had in order to make himself the more recommendable caus'd the Election to be made on the Conditions I have mention'd This wrought so powerfully on the King's Mind that he was thereby excluded from his Favour in a Moment without knowing the Reason of it and the said Coldness made so much noise that the Earl's Enemies finding the King dispos'd to believe all their Calumnies had the Malice to seduce a Woman call'd Dina who had an access in the Royal Family to accuse the Count and the Countess his Wife of having made Solicitations to her to poison the King the Queen and all the Royal Family This Monarch giving too much credit to the said Accusation without staying for any farther Informations wrote to the Queen of Sweden to some Princes of the Empire and to the P. of Orange to give them an Account of the said Conspiracy and to desire their Advice how to proceed against those Traitors for so he call'd the Count and the Countess who were in his Power desiring them to rejoice at Heaven's having preserv'd him from that Treason But whereas the Quality of the Persons accus'd oblig'd him to observe some Formalities he allow'd them to make their Defence before the Council lest the World should think he design'd to oppress them It was on this Occasion this Great Man discover'd an undaunted Courage and Firmness of Mind for without discovering the least Trouble in his Countenance he made his Defence with so much Judgment that the said Woman and Captain Walter who had introduc'd her not being able to resist the Force of the Earl's Reasons were fully convicted of Perjury Dina was condemn'd to lose her Head and Walter to a perpetual Exile which was accordingly put in execution The Earl finding by this Proceeding that his Ruin was resolv'd upon and being sensible by the King's Easiness to believe so strange an Accusation against a Person of his Quality that he would be easily dispos'd to give Credit to all the Calumnies of his Enemies he resolv'd to provide for his own Sasety and that of all his Family In order thereunto he resolv'd to retire into Poland hoping to be safe there and having propos'd his Design to the Countess Eleonora that generous Lady would needs follow him notwithstanding all the Reasons he could urge to the contrary which could never prevail over her Affection for him All things being dispos'd for their departure the Countess put on Mens Clothes as well as one of her Women the only One she took along with her and going on board one of their own Ships after having been some Days at Sea they were surpriz'd by so dreadful a Storm that they thought themselves lost But after having suffer'd all the Hardships imaginable for two or three Days time they came to an Anchor in the Road of Dantzick where they landed The Earl being thus safely got on Shore dispatch'd one of his Gentlemen to the Court of Poland to intreat the King to allow him a Retreat in his Kingdom and to protect him against his Enemies He remain'd at Dantzick in expectation of his Return where the Countess Eleonora still keeping on her Mens Clothes in order to divert her Sorrows made some Addresses to a Woman of Quality who did not want Charms and whose Conversation was very agreeable and her Courtship made so strong an Impression on the Lady's Heart that she could no longer live without her Moreover the thing proceeded so far that the Lady's Husband being grown jealous the Countess would certainly have brought her self into Trouble but that the Gentleman whom Count Vlfeld had sent to the Court being return'd with a Refusal they resolv'd to repair to the Queen of Sweden The Countess having acquainted the said Lady therewith she was so strangely mov'd at her departure that after having said the most tender Things to her to oblige her to tarry she was resolv'd to follow her had not the Countess discover'd her Sex to her You may easily guess her Surprize at this unexpected Confession and what different Passions her Soul was agitated with Shame Spite and Rage tormented her by turns and the Countess stood in need of all her Wit to appease this abus'd Woman but in the end her Love being turn'd to Friendship they parted with a thousand Protestations of loving each other to the Grave The Earl whose Courage was undaunted was overjoy'd to see the Countess divert her self thus So that those Illustrious Persons did bear their Disgrace with as much Constancy as they had shown Modesty in their Prosperity The Queen of Sweden who knew their Merit and did pity their Misfortune having assur'd the Earl's Envoy that she would grant them her Protection they repair'd to Stockholm where that great Princess kept her Court at that time She receiv'd them with all the Kindness they could expect from her Generosity particularly the Countess Eleonora who not having quitted her Man's Clothes a Dress in which the Queen often delighted her self She was so much taken with her Air that she omitted nothing to express her Joy to her for being able to assist her After the Earl had paid his first Respects to the Queen he told her that he only begg'd her Protection on this Condition that he would submit to her Justice and that he would answer before her Majesty to whatever Accusations should be made against him She granted his Desires so that they remain'd two Years at Stockholm in quiet but when they thought their Enemies had no longer any thoughts to persecute them the Danish Ambassador receiv'd an Order to accuse the Earl of several Crimes the least of which would have cost him his Head had he committed it but tho the Ambassador deliver'd a Letter to the Queen written and sign'd by the King 's own Hand in which he conjur'd her to punish Count Vlfeld She allow'd him to make his Defence before the Council and having sent him a Copy of the Heads of the Accusation on the Day appointed by her Majesty to plead the Cause the Earl discover'd his Innocence by such convincing Proofs that the Queen and all the Senators were satisfy'd of it and the Ambassador was
were Pensionaries to Frederick they made use of that Occasion to ruin him in the Opinion of Charles And they put so malicious a Gloss upon the Earl's good Intentions that having represented them to him in a different manner from what he had conceiv'd when he approv'd them and no body having made an Answer to justify the Count they rais'd such suspicions against him for having refus'd the great Advantages he had offer'd him that Charles was almost perswaded that he design'd by his Credit to cause those new Conquests not fully settled as yet to revolt in order to regain the King of Denmark's Favour The Earl's Enemies went further yet for having by surprize got an Order from Charles to the Governor of Malmo he secur'd the Earl and all his Family and upon this bare Surmise the County of Sylburg was taken from him again which Charles had given him not long before Moreover they did confiscate three other considerable Estates with all his Goods which were of an inestimable Value and Count Vlfeld falling dangerously ill at the same time some disaffected Historians did publish that he had poison'd himself for Grief and that he was dead or had lock'd himself up in some uninhabited Place But it was nothing but a Continuation of the Malice of his Enemies for he had no reason to put himself to death nor to abridg so noble a Life Charles having allow'd him to make his Defence publickly he receiv'd this new Disgrace without the least astonishment and I can affirm that neither Eleonora nor himself did ever look upon it otherwise than as the least of those they had receiv'd Soon after their being secur'd in their own House the Earl was cited to appear before the Senate of Malmo but not being able to repair thither by reason of his Indisposition the Countess Eleonora undertook his Defence and whereas she had an Eloquence which is not common among those of her Sex and as much Judgment as Wit she made the Senate so sensible of the Malice of their Enemies and of the Earl's Innocence that he was publickly absolv'd of the Crimes which were laid to his Charge and the Senators were so much charm'd with what she had said that they sent her Speech to the King together with their Judgment to be confirm'd A Copy of it is fallen into my Hands which is as followeth The Countess ELEONORA's Speech to the Senate of Malmo Most Illustrious Lords WERE Count Vlfeld my Husband to make his Defence before Judges less famous for their Capacity and Justice or were he guilty of the Crimes he is accus'd of his Health not permitting him to appear to justify himself he would certainly have imploy'd some Orator to answer the Eloquence wherewith his Enemies have endeavour'd to fully his Reputation But whereas he is conscious of no Crime I come here most Illustrious Lords to discover his Innocence to you and to intreat you by a natural and plain Discourse to restore his Liberty My Husband is accus'd of Ingratitude towards the King because he refuses to accept the advantageous Offers that are made to him by that Great Prince to oblige him to take Arms again for his Service and because the Chief of the Nobility of Scandinavia often come to visit him his Enemies pretend that he designs to engage them to a Revolt in favour of the King my Brother in order to put himself into Favour again and on pretence of the pretended Intelligences which they say they hold together to succeed in the said Enterprise of which there are no Proofs he has been seiz'd in his own House Truly most Illustrious Lords were this true I own that Count Vlfeld would be very guilty and that he would deserve a rigorous Punishment But if I can make it appear to you that it is a meer Calumny has he not reason to expect an entire Absolution from your Justice which may discover his Innocence to all the World Yes I am confident of it since I observe it already in your Eyes and the Noble Impatience you discover to do him Justice is a certain proof thereof I am oblig'd in this Place in order to justify my Husband to renew all my Afflictions and to tell you things which without doubt you are but too well acquainted with I mean the greatest Persecution that ever was Be pleased therefore most Illustrious Lords to give me leave to tell you that Count Vlfeld's extraordinary Qualifications having procur'd him the Esteem and Good-Will of the late King Christian my Father at a time when I was marriageable that Great Prince would needs inspire the same Sentiments into me by designing him for my Husband and in order to enable him to support the high Honour to which he rais'd him by his Alliance he made him Great Master of his Kingdom which was the most considerable Dignity next to Royalty Tho the Earl us'd that great Fortune with all the Moderation of a wise Man he could not hinder Envy from raising many Enemies against him that cruel Envy which will not suffer true Merit to live in Prosperity omitted no Means to overthrow our Happiness his most innocent Actions were censur'd and had not the King my Father been perswaded of his Fidelity our Persecutors would have inspir'd the same Suspicions into him which after his Death they have put into the King my Brother's Mind That Prince was no sooner rais'd to the Throne but he gave too much Credit to the invenom'd Speeches of those Barbarians he lost all the Esteem and Affection he had for my Husband and for me without our knowing the Cause of it and upon the bare Deposition of a corrupted Witness he was so fully perswaded that we did design to poison him and all the Royal Family that without considering that we had the Honour to be related to him and that those sort of Crimes require very Circumstantial Proofs he caused us shamefully to be seiz'd and order'd the Senate to proceed against us But Count Vlfeld having prov'd our Innocence and that far from harbouring any such abominable Thought he was partly the Cause of the King 's being Elected having couragiously oppos'd the Brigues which were made to exclude him from the Crown He was publickly absolv'd of that Calumny and the Woman condemn'd to lose her Head which was accordingly executed Nevertheless tho this ought to have open'd the King's Eyes to see that these things were only done with a Design to embroil the Royal Family and to create Disorders in the State instead I say that such a Justification ought to have restor'd us to his Favour it only serv'd to exclude us from it for ever Moreover it prov'd a new Pretence to persecute us all our Cares prov'd vain to shew that we did no-wise resent that Injury and that we were satisfy'd that our Innocence was known This was look'd upon as a piece of Dissimulation our Submissions were rejected as Snares which were laid on purpose to execute our
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 King receiv'd them very graciously and having promis'd to use them kindly he made them hope for a happier Reign than they had injoy'd till then After which the Royal Family repair'd to the Cathedral Church there to sing Te Deum where Swaning complemented them at the Door with an Eloquence which procur'd him the Esteem of all his Auditors The Publick Ceremony was deferr'd for two days longer a Theatre was erected on which the King the Queen the Princes and Princesses their Children being conducted the King being seated on a Throne under a rich Canopy the Chancellor made a Speech to the People about the Behaviour they were to observe under this new form of Government and about the Oath they were to take to the King and his Children After which the Nobles the Ecclesiasticks and the People having taken the Oath of Allegiance the whole City express'd a world of Joy insomuch that the Danes seem'd to have lost the remembrance of their past Miseries which shows what power Novelty has over Mens Minds who always hope by Revolutions either to ease their Afflictions or to satisfy their Ambition The King would also needs make a Publick Feast for every body but whereas the Nobles were at the charge of it it was observ'd that most of them did not come to it and that among those that did some refus'd to eat so that the Clergy and the Citizens only express'd their Joy and Satisfaction at it It lasted some Days after which the City-Gates were open'd to every body Thus the whole State was alter'd in less than a Fortnight by the Conduct and Resolution of Nansen Swaning and Gabel The King in order to reward them for that great Service erected the Church of Copenhaguen into an Archbishoprick in favour of Swaning and augmented the Revenue thereof proportionably His Majesty made Nansen first President of the Senate and Bourgrafe which signifies Earl or Chief of the Burghers and gave him as well as to Gabel several considerable things And whereas the Burger-masters had also contributed considerably towards this great Revolution the King gave them the Injoyment of the Territory of Rotskild which is worth upwards of a hundred thousand Livers per Annum and granted the Inhabitants of Copenhaguen several great Privileges and among the rest the power of possessing Fiefs which till then had only been allow'd to the Nobility During these Transactions Count Vlfeld and all his Family were at Ellensburg in Funen where he endeavour'd to recover his Health which was strangely impair'd by the Ill Treatment he had receiv'd at Bornholm no longer concerning himself with the Affairs of the World Neither was he mov'd in the least when he heard this Overthrow of all the Antient Privileges of the Nobility for the preservation of which at Frederick's Election he had incurr'd his hatred and had since been expos'd to all his Misfortunes And in order not to leave the King the least suspition of his preserving any Resentment he beg'd his leave to go to Spaw there to take the Waters which was granted him Accordingly Count Vlfeld and the Countess Eleonora with all his Family left Ellensburg to go into the Low-Countries where after having seen several Towns the Earl finding that the Air at Bruges did agree better with him than any other he resolv'd to stop there The Earl had not been there above six Months when he was inform'd that Colonel Fowlk that Cruel Governor who had us'd him so barbarously in his Prison at Bornholm was come there to visit his Relations but whereas his Indisposition did not permit him to call him to an account the Earl acquainted his Eldest Son therewith who was at the Academy at Paris who taking Post immediately being fir'd with a generous desire to revenge his Father's Wrongs made so much haste that he reach'd Bruges on the very day Fowlk was to go away from thence so that meeting him in his Coach he attack'd him alone amidst all his Servants and kill'd him without being wounded This ought to teach those who have Imployments not to abuse their Authority and above all to keep within the bounds of respect towards Persons of Quality in Affliction this bold Action met almost with a general Approbation at Copenhaguen The most Judicious and those who were not influenc'd by Count Vlfeld's Enemies prais'd the Son's Courage for having undertaken it But whereas the King was still afraid of the Earl his Enemies improv'd that occasion to raise a new Crime against him and perswaded his Majesty maliciously that he would never have ventur'd to revenge himself thus had he not been sure of the Protection of some Potent Prince The King 's Natural Timorousness being join'd to the Discontents of several Noblemen who had a mind to take Arms made Frederick resolve to ruine Count Vlfeld absolutely and the better to colour the said Resolution they accus'd him of having made Offers to the Elector of Brandenburg to dethrone the King and to invest him with his Crowns which was a thing he had not so much as thought on and yet this was the last pretence of his Persecutions as it will appear by the Sequel Some Months after Fowlk's Death Count Vlfeld desir'd the Countess Eleonora to go into England there to demand a considerable Sum which was due to him This Generous Lady who had no stronger application in the World than to share all her Husband's Misfortunes seeing him overwhelm'd with Sickness made no difficulty of undertaking that Journey and without considering whether the consequences of it would prove favourable to her or not she set out towards London The King who was gloriously restor'd at that time in his Kingdoms and who had gone through many Misfortunes himself being thereby the more inclin'd to pity others receiv'd the Countess with all the Civility and Respect imaginable and his Majesty being inform'd of the Subject of her Journey order'd his Ministers to give the Countess speedy satisfaction in such an obliging manner that she had reason to believe she should not tarry long for her Payment But finding after a Month's stay that the Ministers still put her off from day to day and not being able to appear at Court with all the Grandeur due to her Birth she thought she could tarry there no longer without shame insomuch that she resolv'd to return to the Earl her Husband and so took her leave of the King who us'd her as civilly at her Departure as he had done at her Arrival expressing a great deal of concern at her not being paid The Countess went back for Dover again where she arriv'd the second day in hopes of going back for Flanders but she was strangely surpris'd when being got on Board to continue her Voyage she was seiz'd by a Danish Captain who carry'd her to Copenhaguen As the Countess did not expect this Usage that new Misfortune affected her more sensibly than all the rest had done for tho she had ever appear'd Invincible she
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