it was a meer contrivance and invention of his Enemies absolutely to ruine him and his Family and as great a Calumny as those mention'd in the foregoing Treatise of which he was absolv'd by his Judges and therefore that his said Enemies foreseeing the like success and confusion to themselves in case he should be allow'd to make his Defence resolv'd to go another way to work by force and violence but still under pretence of some groundiess Accusations in order as aforesaid absolutely to ruine him concluding that he and his Lady being once destroy'd their Malice and Wickedness would be bury'd in Oblivion and they freed from the publick Censures they now lay privately under and are ashamed of He shews withal that their insatiable Covetousness and desire to possess his and his Lady 's vast Estates under some lawful pretence had no small share in their said Contrivances and Calumnies To which Reasons we may add that which is alledg'd by the Author of the foregoing Treatise viz. Their Apprehension of Count Vlfeld's just Resentment and Revenge for all their unjust and violent Proceedings against him to prevent which they judg'd it necessary to forge the said Calumny in order to destroy him under a specious pretence to blind the World Secondly The Count proceeds further to put down and examine the grounds of so cruel a Septence given against him and his Family viz. He to be put to a most ignominious Death as a Traitor and a Rebel to forfeit all his Titles Honours and Estate his Children to be depriv'd of Honour and Estate banish'd out of all the King's Dominions with other Cruelties mention'd in the said Sentence They ground their said Sentence upon the following Articles 1. Upon their having Informations Advices and original Papers from Persons of a high Degree and Quality not to be disputed 2. Upon the Count's having acknowledg'd his past Faults under his own Hand in order to obtain a Pardon and his Freedom and his having since despis'd the King's Mercy by committing new Crimes 3. Upon the Count's having given a Reversion under his own Hand and Seal promising never to attempt any thing against his Majesty or Royal Family or against his State or to do any thing to his Prejudice 4. Upon the Count's taking an Oath of Fealty to the King which he had also given under his own Hand This is all they have alledg'd against him to prove their Accusation which was that he had conspir'd against the King of Denmark and his Royal Family designing to introduce a new Government in his Kingdoms by stirring up his Subjects to Rebellion by the alsistance of Foreign Princes which they do not name In conclusion they declare That they did not summon the Count to answer to the said Accusations because it was a Case in which no other form of Process was requir'd which way of proceeding was customary in many Parts The Count answers the aforesaid Articles as followeth First That Informations and Writings from any Persons of whatever Degree or Quality are not sufficient prooss to conclude a Person guilty without farther Examination witness the two former Accusations formerly made by the King of Denmark himself against the said Count mention'd in the foregoing Treatise viz. of designing to poison the King and the several Crimes laid to his charge at the Court of Sweden which Accusations tho absolutely affirm'd to be true by the said King and Count Vlfeld and his Lady's being declar'd Traitors to several Princes yet neither the Council in Denmark nor the Queen of Sweden did take for granted but allow'd them a fair Trial in both which the Count and his Lady were found and declar'd Innocent All which notwithstanding the said King causes the same Person anew to be condemn'd by his own Servants and Creatures upon the like weak ground of pretended Informations without hearing him in his own defence and without any probable or apparent Circumstances to confirm the matter Therefore he desires to know the necessity there was to precipitate a Sentence in this manner without allowing him the little time which was necessary to make his Defence and to hear his Reasons Were there any Soldiers in the Field at his Devotion Were any Levies made even of one Man against him or the State Can they shew or name the least Officer imploy'd in his Service or under his Pay to serve against them or the State Can they prove the least Correspondence held in the Country which might really and truly prove the least thing concerning what he is accused of Where are his Accomplices For it is impossible to form such an Enterprise as he is accus'd of without the assistance of those of the Country He is very certain that they can never produce real proofs of a thing that never enter'd in his Mind which is but a sequel of the Contrivances and Inventions of the same Cabal which had rais'd the former Calumnies against him which Persons conceal themselves under divers shapes for fear of being known But if Reason Justice and a good Cause might plead in his defence he would not fear to appear before the severest Judges He inlarges more than the Author of the foregoing Treatise upon several particulars relating to the first Calumny about poisoning the King of which Trial a particular Treatise has been publish'd in Latin and in several other Languages Whereby it may appear from several Passages and Circumstances which says the Count Lomit to relate in this last Apology that some very great Persons have had a hand in it who may be compar'd to certain Herbs call'd Noli me tangere having only us'd Dina and Walter as Instruments which says he are the same Persons who have maliciously invented this last Calumny tho they have endeavour'd to mask themselves under the general denomination of other Persons This is in short what the Count answers to the first Article of the ground of his Condemnation with many Inlargements worth the reading but I am of opinion that what has been said already is sufficient to convince the impartial Reader of the slightness of the first and main ground of Condemnation in a matter of such moment which way of proceeding without summoning or admitting the Parties to make their defence was never practis'd or approv'd of before among Christians as they seem to insinuate tho it has been us'd among the Turks especially against the richer sort Secondly As to their second Article grounded upon the Count's Confession he answers That it was forc'd from him by violence and threatnings of Death against him and his Lady with such Circumstances as are mention'd in the foregoing Treatise and that Count Rantzaw at first only desir'd him to write a Petition to demand their Freedom which the Count wrote willingly in such terms as were most proper but that he refus'd for several Weeks as appears by the said Treatise to write any thing like a Confession of Crimes he knew himself to be innocent of In
THE LIFE OF Count ULFELD GREAT MASTER of DENMARK And of the Countess Eleonora his Wife Done out of French WITH A Supplement thereunto and to the Account of Denmark formerly published LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCV TO THE Duke of MONT AVSIER Governour to the DAUPHIN My LORD SO many Books have already been dedicated to you and their Authors have so far ingross'd all manner of Thoughts in endeavouring to give us a perfect Idea of your Vertues that I want words to add new Praises to those they have already given you And indeed my Lord where should I find proper words to express the Confidence and Esteem which the greatest and wisest of our Kings has repos'd in and demonstrated towards you in committing the Care of the Dauphin's Education to you This great Choice puts your Merit so far above Praise and Envy that there needs no other Elogy to satisfy Posterity that you are a Man without Defects Therefore my Lord I am perswaded that a respectful Silence will prove more eloquent than all what I could say and that in dedicating my Book to you I shall offer you nothing that is worthy of you If after this sincere Avowsal you will be pleas'd to honour it with your Protection it will be free from the Censure of those Criticks who never like any thing and I will think my self very happy to have found this occasion to let the World know that I am with all the Zeal and all the Respect imaginable My LORD Your most humble and most obedient Servant Rousseau de la Valette TO THE READER THERE are still so many Persons at Court who have known Count Ulfeld and his Retreat into Sweden made so much noise in the World that every body will be pleas'd to hear the History of his Life and to know the motives which induc'd him to make War against his Country But notwithstanding you may find very surprising things in this Story I can assure you that whatever is contain'd in it is certainly true and that I have vritten nothing but what I have found in the Memoirs which were sent to me out of Denmark by unbyass'd knowing Persons without whom I could not have related many singular things which were never written before But whereas the matter I am treating of is considerable enough of it self to be receiv'd kindly by the Publick I will not trouble you with a long Preface provided only you will be pleas'd to excuse my want of Capacity I will think my self sufficiently rewarded for the pains I have taken in writing this History the reading of which is as curious as it may be useful The LIFE of CORNIFIX COUNT of ULFELD Great Master of DENMARK And of the Countess Eleonora his Wife THE Persons whose Lives I undertake to write have shown so much Magnanimity in the different Turns of their Fortune that it is difficult to judg which they are most to be prais'd for the Moderation they have us'd in their Prosperity or the Constancy they have express'd in their Distresses but whatever State we consider them in their Elevation and their Fall are equally Instructive to learn never to rely on the Lustre of a great Favour and to suffer the utmost Rigors of Fortune without betraying the least Weakness Cornifix Count of Vlfeld was the Tenth Son of Count Vlfeld Lord Chancellor of Denmark who in the Reign of King Christian the Fourth made himself as Illustrious by his Merit as he was by his high Birth his Family being one of the First and most Antient of the Kingdom and the only One that was honour'd with the Dignity of Count by Concession from the Emperor Besides the Advantages which Cornifix deriv'd from the Lustre of his Family and from his Father's Favour who rul'd the State Nature prov'd very favourable to him for he was the finest Gentleman of his Time he had a Noble easy Shape and a Majestick Air his Mind was great and capable of all Things his Eloquence was beyond the reach of most Men of his Quality his Judgment was solid he had an undaunted Courage without Ostentation a great deal of Sweetness mix'd with Gravity which procur'd him Respect and Good-Will from all Men he was Faithful and Moderate very Sober Generous and Vigilant In a Word he would have been perfect had he not been Ambitious Before he was ten Years of Age the great Vivacity of his Mind made him commit so many youthful Frolicks that his Father was oblig'd to send him to Paris under the Tuition of a Governour in order if possible to curb him by a Change of Clime but on the contrary his Malice increasing with his Years he became so rebellious towards his Governour that after having endeavour'd in vain for five Years together to alter his Temper he was forc'd at last to acquaint his Father the Chancellor with it who was so angry thereat that he order'd him to forsake him absolutely and to allow him nothing Cornifix finding himself thus at Liberty tho he was but fifteen Years of Age went into Germany where he apply'd himself to the Count of Oldenburgh to whom he had the Honour to be Related and discover'd the Cause of his Disgrace to him As he was incomparably well shap'd and had a great deal of Wit he soon became his Favourite And during the three Years abode he made at his Court he became so accomplish'd that many Husbands became jealous of him But his Martial Temper inspiring him with a desire of War above all other Things Count Oldenburg could not hinder him from ingaging himself in King Christian's Army who was in actual War with some of the Princes of Germany The said Count having given him a magnificent Equipage with Letters of Recommendation to General Fowlk one of the greatest Captains of his Time he took his leave of him with as much Regret as Tenderness No Man ever began the Trade of War better than young Count Vlfeld he always appear'd the first on all Occasions tho never so dangerous and whereas Fortune was resolv'd to be prodigal towards him as it will appear in the Sequel she prov'd so favourable to him that his Reputation was perfectly settled in a short space of Time He went through all Military Degrees and tho he receiv'd no manner of Assistance from Home he always appear'd with so much Splendor and made so great an Expence that he equall'd the Chief Officers of the Army He falling sick of the Plague his Gentleman of the Horse thinking he would never recover sold his Equipage You may easily imagine his Surprize when being cur'd at a time every one expected his Death his said Gentleman of the Horse acquainted him with what he had done he would certainly have punish'd him severely for it had he been strong enough to attempt it But hearing that he had not as yet dispos'd of the best part of his Money he wisely dissembled his Displeasure Insomuch that the said Gentleman who was one of
those Persons who subsist every where and who knew his Master's Humour made up another Equipage again in a short time very little inferior to the First which the Count was so well pleas'd with that he pardon'd him and made use of him as before The War which had now lasted five Years ending in a Peace Count Vlfeld who hated a sedate Life return'd into France and from thence went into Italy where getting acquainted with Seignor Cremoniny a Noble Venetian in the City of Padua he contracted so strict a Friendship with him that in a Year's time he profited so well by his Conversation that he has often own'd since he was indebted to him for the best part of what he knew After having seen all Italy he went back into Germany where he made a pretty long stay and finally the desire of returning into his Native Country growing the most predominant of all his Passions he put himself in the Retinue of an Ambassador who was going for the Court of Denmark only to honour his Embassy And by the Charms of his Person as well as of his Wit he made so great a Progress in the said Ambassador's Favour that he conceal'd nothing from him insomuch that when they came to Copenhagen he was present at all the Conferences he had with the Chancellor his Father That Great Man who thought he had lost one of his Sons in the Person of Cornifix from whom he had never heard any News in ten Years time being taken with his Wit and admiring the Solidity of his Judgment in Affairs of State in an Age in which most Men only mind their Pleasures whether it were by Simpathy of Blood or out of desire to engage Cornifix in King Christian's Court he conceiv'd so great an Esteem for him that after a long Conference he had with the Ambassador in which the Count was not present he could not forbear acquainting him with the Sentiments he had for the Count and to intreat him to let him know how he came to engage himself in his Retinue The Ambassador who lov'd him tenderly told the Chancellor that he was a Danish Gentleman whose Name was not very different from his adding a great deal to the Praises he had already given him But whereas the Chancellor who knew all the Nobility of the Kingdom could find no Family that had any Relation to the Name which the Ambassador told him the Count went by he desir'd him to grant him the Favour to discourse him the next Day in private himself It would be difficult to express the young Count's Joy when he heard the good Opinion his Father had of him and to think what an agreeable Surprize it would prove to him to hear that he was that Son whose ill Nature had oblig'd him to forsake It is much easier to imagine than to describe it and we may easily conceive that it is impossible for two Persons to have a greater Cornifix waiting on the Chancellor the next Day according to his Desire he receiv'd him with all the Civility he could expect from a Man of his Character and after having discours'd of several Things in general the Chancellor asking him what Family he was of with an obliging Concern which confirm'd what the Ambassador had told him he excus'd himself for a long while telling him that perhaps he would not be pleas'd at it and that he was afraid he would lose the good Opinion he had of him when he knew him But whereas this Mystery did only serve to increase the Chancellor's earnestness to know it the Count told him at last that he was that Cornifix the Tenth of his Sons whom he had forsake at his Governour 's Solicitation Thunder does not surprize those who see it fall near them more than this Confession did the Chancellor He held his Eyes fix'd on the Count a long while before he could utter one Word He examin'd all his Features one after another endeavouring to find out some of his own and could hardly perswade himself that a forsaken Child could have made himself so perfect Joy and Shame struggled so much in his Heart that he was quite at a loss but in conclusion Nature made him sensible that he was really his Son a Torrent of Tears gush'd out from his Eyes and Embraces succeeded Civilities As this Adventure was very Extraordinary and as the Chancellor thought himself very happy to have recover'd a Son whose Merit was already known at Court he immediately acquainted King Christian and the Prince his Son therewith who thereupon doubled the Favours they had already express'd towards Cornifix The Ambassador was not displeas'd at this Discovery tho it hinder'd him from enjoying the agreeable Conversation of the Count as before And I may affirm that all those who were Reasonable express'd the Share they took in his Joy Merit undoubtedly can produce much of it self and we have many Examples of Men who have rais'd their Fortune to the highest Degree by it alone Young Count Vlfeld had reason to expect all things from his without being thought presumptuous But yet we must needs acknowledg that the Favour of his Father who govern'd the State did contribute considerably towards his becoming a Favourite to the King and to the Prince who could do nothing without communicating it first to him Nevertheless tho it is natural for young Men to be dazled with Greatness he liv'd with more Modesty than before and being sensible that the Favour of Kings is as dangerous as pleasing he resolv'd to leave the Court to go into Spain His Equipage was ready and his Father approving his Reasons he only tarried for the King 's Leave to go on Board but that great Prince who lov'd him tenderly laid such absolute Commands on him not to go that at last he resolv'd to stay and to use his utmost Endeavours to preserve his Favour Soon after this the King honour'd him with the Place of Lord-Chamberlain which engag'd him still the more particularly near his Person and he discharg'd the said Trust so worthily and shew'd so much Courage in the Naval Wars which the King had against the King of Sweden in which two of his Brothers were kill'd that Christian could not forbear expressing his Satisfaction to all those of his Court for having so accomplish'd a Subject As there were no Degrees at that time among the Danes to distinguish the Nobles from one another the Kingdom of Denmark being then Elective the King's Children were the only Persons who were above the Nobility Among the Rivals of Glory young Cornifix had to deal with Hannibal Séested was one of those who gave him most Emulation He was a very fine Gentleman and had a great deal of Wit so that being both partly of the same Age and equally Ambitious they were commonly opposite in all Things The King after the Queen's Death being fallen in Love with a very beautiful Lady of the Antient Family of Monch call'd Christina who had all the
Qualifications of a Great Princess had she been born one not being able to obtain any Favours from her had married her with all the Formalities requir'd in a Lawful Marriage in the presence of the whole Court and of the Senate with this Clause in the Contract That the Children he should get by that Marriage should not be Princes and should be contented with the Title of Earls of Sleswick and Holstein of which they should have the Name and Arms to distinguish them from other Gentlemen The Reason of which was that the King having Children by his first Marriage and there bring no Principality in the Kingdom had those he might get by the Second been acknowledg'd Princes they would have prov'd too great a Burden to the Common-Wealth because they could not have marry'd with the Nobles of the Country The Countess Eleonora deriv'd her Birth from this Marriage Young Cornifix who till then had been a Stranger to the Power of Love meeting in that Beautiful Lady all he could wish to raise his Fortune to the highest Degree and to become the happiest of Men fell passionately in Love with her at a Time when Hannibal was mov'd with the same Passion Love among Persons of Quality is like a Beacon which is no sooner kindled but it is perceiv'd at a great Distance therefore the Count coming oftner to the Queen's Apartment than he us'd to do it was thought he had an Inclination for the young Countess and whereas the King's Favour and his own Merit gave him a great Advantage over his Rival he soon effac'd those Impressions which Hannibal had made in the young Countesses Mind But whereas she had a Prudence far above those of her Age she did them Justice without seeming to incline more towards the one than the other and had it not been for the natural Jealousy they had of each other they would have had no reason to be jealous of the Favours they receiv'd They were a long while before they could discover in favour of which the Countess would declare her self tho they omitted nothing to shew their Passion for her This made the Count so melancholy and so sad that chancing one Day to be alone with the Countess he look'd on her a considerable while without being able to utter one Word Which she desiring to know the Reason of after he had excus'd himself awhile he declar'd his Passion to her The Countess being surpriz'd blush'd at this Declaration and looking on the Count with a Severity capable to make the boldest of Men tremble he repented his having said too much but however there was no Remedy and the Occasion had seem'd too favourable to him not to say a thing which he could no longer conceal Therefore he threw himself at the Countess's Feet humbly craving her Pardon for his Presumption in words so moving and so tender that the most cruel of Women would have pitied him But this word Love did sound so harsh in the Countess's Ears and she had conceiv'd so frightful an Idea of it that she could not bear it The Count on the contrary said a thousand soft Things to her to perswade her that that Passion could never be banish'd from the World without making it as wild and savage as Desarts since it was the only thing which supported Gallantry and maintain'd Union even among the most Barbarous And he had certainly remov'd that great Aversion had not the Queen come in which oblig'd him to quit that Subject The Count went away between Fear and Hope and whereas it behov'd him to justify Love before the Countess the first time he saw her again having an Opportunity to speak to her after a pretty long Conversation the Countess told him that if he did not exceed the Bounds he had prescrib'd to himself he might hope to be hearken'd to in time so that he went away extreamly satisfy'd Some time after this having been ingag'd in a Combat in which he gave Proofs of his great Valour he had the pleasure to hear the Countess praise him in his Rival's Presence with such Elogies that he no longer doubted but she had some Kindness for him And indeed he richly deserv'd the Praises the Countess gave him having done an Action which would pass for a Fable had not his King been a Witness of it as well as most of the greatest Men of the Kingdom It is most certain that the City of Hamburgh being built upon the King of Denmark's Territories they are oblig'd to pay him Homage for the same and that according as they have encreas'd their Power they have endeavour'd to free themselves so that most of the Kings have been oblig'd to take Arms either to assert their Right or to repel those Rebellions Which oblig'd King Christian one of the bravest Princes that ever reign'd in the North to build the City of Glucstad upon the River Elbe with a Fort capable to oppose the Efforts of that little Common-Wealth and to keep them in Awe that the said Prince having been forc'd to take Arms upon the Account of some Things he demanded of the Hamburgers he being at Glucstad with his Forces they set out a Fleet of several Ships designing to make a Descent to make themselves Masters of that Place which they would have done being superiour in Number had not the extream Valour that generous Prince Count Vlfeld and a French Gentleman who belong'd to him show'd on that Occasion prevented them they never abandoning a Battery of some Pieces of Ordnance which commanded the Port notwithstanding all the Gunners were kill'd or wounded and that the Forces that kept it retir'd into the Town upon the continual Fire from on Board the Ships But those three Heroes chose rather to die than to suffer the taking of the Town or to fly And whereas nothing is impossible to those who are capable of great Resolutions they made so great a Resistance for an Hour together that the Garison of the Town taking Heart again by their Example the Fleet being half disabled was oblig'd to retire with as much Shame as Admiration and none of them were wounded tho the Bullets which were shot at them had cover'd their Faces so thick with Dirt that they were hardly to be known again Therefore this Action justly deserv'd the Praises of the Countess Eleonora and she could not refuse this Justice to the Merit of the Count seeing that immediately upon this Expedition the King had given him the Government of the Isle of Funen to honour his Vertue and that his very Enemies were forc'd to own that he deserv'd the Favour and Kindness of his Master And indeed from that time forward the Countess had a particular Respect for him and receiv'd his Addresses in such a manner as satisfy'd him that she was not insensible But that which made an end of winning her Heart and of ruining Hannibal was another Action perform'd by the Count which being very uncommon especially among Courtiers will
discover the Character of his Noble Soul as well as the Violence of his Passion for the Countess Jealousy which would not be blameable if it did not often mistake Appearances for Realities and Truths having taken possession of the Queen's Heart upon a bare suspicion that the King her Husband was passionately in love with one of her Maids of Honour forc'd that Princess whose Beauty was somewhat lessened by Years to do such extraordinary things in order to preserve a Conquest which she had lawfully won and which she esteem'd above her Life that the King was reduc'd to the dismal Extremity of suing a Divorce In order thereunto he assembled the Senate to propose Means about it lest he might be tax'd with Injustice The Countess Eleonora's Tears whom he lov'd above all his other Children could not prevail with him to alter his Resolution and all those who were at Court forsook that unfortunate Queen to indulge the King's Anger Finally Count Vlfeld prov'd the only Man who contrary to every one's Expectation undertook her Defence he chose rather to venture the loss of his Favour than to possess it at a time when his dear Countess was in Affliction and whereas he had no prospect of Happiness without her after having endeavour'd in vain to appease the King Love prevail'd over Fortune and he had the Assurance to tell the King that he was in hopes to justify the Queen publickly Hannibal who fancy'd that the Count would infallibly ruin himself in taking that Party and who was no less jealous of his Master's Favour than of his Mistress improv'd that Occasion to take his Post and to destroy him in the King's Opinion He omitted no Means to succeed therein and to the End that all the World might know it he also took upon him to acquaint the Senate with the King's Reasons The Day appointed to plead this famous Cause being come the King repair'd to the Senate-House with all the Senators The Queen and all her Children likewise repair'd thither with no body but Count Vlfeld who was to defend them And every body being seated according to their Rank Hannibal stood up and urg'd the King's Reasons with so much Eloquence and Brillant that most of those who heard him suppos'd the Queen absolutely ruin'd But they soon alter'd their Minds for Count Vlfeld whose Noble Air mov'd all those who saw him shew'd with so much Grace and Solidity the Queen's Innocence who had only sinn'd through an Excess of Love which can never be blam'd since Excess alone justifies that Passion that finally the King could not forbear mixing his Tears with the Queen's as well as all the Senators and coming down from his Throne he embrac'd her and restor'd her the same Place she possess'd in his Heart before that Misfortune It is impossible to express the Applauses Count Vlfeld receiv'd for this noble Action nor the Shame Hannibal was cover'd with when coming out of the Senate the Earl drew his Sword to shew that Rival he knew how to use it as well as his Tongue he had not the Courage to encounter him but fled in great Disorder and Confusion Nevertheless as they were the two most considerable Men of the Kingdom the King made them Friends again but notwithstanding the said Reconciliation Hannibal ever since preserv'd a Desire of Revenge against the Earl and never could forgive him that Affront The whole Court went to congratulate the Queen upon her being more in the King's Favour than ever the Earl did not fail to express his Joy to her about it You may easily imagine that she omitted nothing to shew her Gratitude to him for the great Service he had done her and that she us'd him with all the Kindness he had reason to expect But that did not move him comparably to what the Countess said to him after the Queen was gone and the Company had left them out of respect That charming Creature after having repeated all and even the least Circumstances of what had pass'd in the Senate assur'd him that she would never forget it and that in case the King did approve his Sentiments he would soon be sensible that she preferr'd him to all the World As I relate nothing but what is actually true I will not puzzle my self to find out fine Expressions to describe the Earl's Answer I will only tell you that it was as witty as passionate that at his coming away from the Countess he was the happiest of Men and that soon after it he was so fortunate that the King himself propos'd his Marriage with the Countess and that he married her notwithstanding all the Brigues of Hannibal neither will I give you an Account of the Magnificencies which were made to honour the Wedding of those Illustrious Lovers since you may easily imagine that they were not Mean besides that having many things to say I might prove tiresome should I particularize every Circumstance The King who as I have already declar'd lov'd Count Vlfeld passionately being desirous to raise his Fortune to the utmost Degree made him Constable of the Kingdom and soon after it Great Master whose Power being equal to that which the Antient Maires du Palais had under the first Race of the Kings of France made the Earl the Second Person of the Kingdom since he did exert the King's Power in his Absence Therefore as he had nothing more to wish for he found himself the happiest of Men during the Life of King Christian his Father-in-Law He was sent Ambassador Extraordinary into France and Germany where he made himself more considerable by his Merit than by his Quality and at his return to Christian's Court he officiated his Place with so much Sweetness and Modesty that every body bless'd his Government But those were much in the right who have said that in order to maintain a great Fortune a second is requir'd For K. Christian was no sooner dead but the Earl's Enemies or rather the Rivals of his Glory us'd their utmost Endeavour to destroy him But whereas they were sensible that his Fortune was upheld by the Honour he had of being ally'd to the Royal Family tho the Danes had for the space of Two hundred Years and upwards all along rais'd their last King's Eldest Son to the Throne they endeavoured to abolish that laudable Custom and in order thereunto form'd so powerful a Cabal that they had the boldness to maintain in a Council compos'd of the Deputies assembled to make the Election that Prince Frederick could not be elected without causing the absolute Ruin of the Kingdom But Count Vlfeld who was President of the Council being sensible of their Design asserted the Interest of the Prince his Brother-in-Law with so much Courage and Eloquence that the Elector who had propos'd the Exclusion desisted as well as all the rest insomuch that the Earl did not break up the Assembly until the Prince was elected King It is true that in order to appease those
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
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
hours she told the Governor returning it to him That she was very much troubled at it but that she would approve whatever the Ear did in such a dismal Conjuncture The following Day Skroder went to the Ear again and having entreated him with Tears in his Eyes speedily to take his Resolution because he could tarry nâ— longer The Earl answer'd That he found that Writing so shameful for alâ— his Family that he had rather expect the utmost Effects of his Enemy's Cruelty in his Dungeon than resolve to sign so Infamous a thing And adding to all this what he had already said to Count Rantzaw That he wonder'd they did not bring him to his Trial in order to seize all his Estate by a lawful Confiscation the Governor told him That he had Orders to send back the Ship and the Writing in case he made the least difficulty to sign it and therefore that he had no more time to lose But whereas the Count alledg'd still new Reasons for which he could not do it the Governor told him That unless both he and the Countess did sign it he was afraid the Court would finally resolve to put them to Death This Discourse reminding the Earl of what Count Rantzaw chanc'd one Day to say to him in the heat of their Contestations That the Court had been ready more than once to send a Warrant for their Execution in Prison it made him reflect more seriously upon it and he desired the Governor to allow him a little time more to confer with the Countess about it which was granted him It was then about Noon and the Weather was so calm that the Earl coming close to the Grate of his Window he call'd the Countess who heard him instantly because they never fail'd to speak to one another when the Winds which are high in that Country allow'd them so to do The Countess desiring to know his Pleasure and the Earl saying Must we die or sign what you have read The Countess who understands and speaks several Languages reply'd immediately in these Latin Verses Rebus in adversis sacile est contemnere mortem Fortius ille facit qui miser esse potest It is easy to despise Death in Adversity but he shews most Courage who can suffer Misery The Earl who admir'd the force and presence of her Mind and who was sensible that had not the Maxims of Christianity withheld her she would undoubtedly have done what the Roman Aria did under the like Misfortune asking her again Whether this was all she had to say the Countess added this other Verse Accidit in puncto quod non speratur in anno That may happen in a moment which we could not expect in a Year And told the Count that this was her Opinion But the Earl not being able to apprehend whence she could have this glimmering or this point of hope as she call'd it in so evident a despair of their Fortune they being lock'd up in Dungeons their Family dispers'd and wandering from whom all manner of Subsistence was taken away he remain'd long speechless without resolving on what he was to do But at last he fancy'd there was something supernatinal in this and according to that beam of Hopes which the Countess darted out like a Flambeau to light him he wâ—it and sign'd this Reversion which he gave to the Governor for the Countess to do the same which she did accordingly It is difficult to express the Joy those Illustrious Captives felt to see themselves out of their Dungeons and the Tenderness they express'd to each other on this occasion I shall only say that after having been long without being able to utter one word by reason of the Agitation which Grief and Love had excited in their Hearts the Tears which they shed for their Misfortune succeeded their Silence And finally after having embrac'd each other tenderly they did exhort one another to bear their Disgrace in such moving words that the by-standers seem'd no less afflicted than themselves Night being come they were imbark'd in the Ship I have mention'd where they were strictly guarded by twenty Musqueteers until their Arrival at Copenhaguen where they were conducted to Count Rantzaw's House in an Apartment prepar'd on purpose for them The following Day about Ten at Night the Count did visit them and told them from the King That his Majesty having thought fit to change something in the Reversion they had sign'd he did command them to make another to seal it with their Seals and to date it from Copenhaguen which they did tho they were sensible that it was only done to perswade the Publick that they had done it without being forc'd to it But after this Count Rantzaw having again propos'd an Oath of Fidelity to be sign'd by them which was conceiv'd in strange terms Count Vlfeld could not forbear telling him It was a very useless thing since that considering the Condition to which his Ill Fortune had reduc'd him he might more reasonably be reckon'd among the Dead than the Living Count Rantzaw who was pleas'd to insult over him putting himself in a Passion told him disdainfully That unless they did sign it they should be carry'd back to Bornholm where they should perish in their old Dungeons insomuch that the Earl not daring to make the least Reply to that cruel Threatning sign'd whatever he pleas'd But notwithstanding the Earl and the Countess had bought their Liberty at the rate I have mention'd they could not injoy it and they were confin'd in the Isle of Funen until new Orders The only Favour that was granted them was to carry their Family along with them and to dispose of the Income of the Estate of Ellensburg which was worth about Twelve Thousand Livers per Annum which the King allow'd them for their Subsistence This Violation of Faith will undoubtedly seem strange to every body and indeed it shocks Divine and Humane Laws Nevertheless considering the then state of Affairs the King was oblig'd in Policy to behave himself thus and I should freely excuse all the other Persecutions Count Vlfeld has met with if they had had as reasonable a foundation according to the Maxims of State The King had a mind to make his Kingdom Hereditary Count Vlfeld by his Merit and by his Resentment was the only Man capable to oppose it had he been at liberty because he had abundance of Relations and Friends who durst not express their good Will towards him but who would certainly have sided with him at that time as well as most of the Nobles Therefore it was the King's Interest not to release Count Vlfeld in order to prosecute his design which I will now give you a short account of All the World knows that the last Wars between Sweden and Denmark had exhausted the last in all Respects to that degree that the People was reduc'd to the utmost extremity of Misery especially the third Estate the Nobles being excus'd from all manner of
Impositions which excited a mortal hatred in the Commons against them The Nobles were also very much humbled for want of a Head to lead them and to assert their Privileges by which the Kings were kept in awe and the Peasants like Slaves John Nansen first Burguemaster of Copenhaguen a Man of sence very rich and daring and who did absolutely govern the Citizens conceiv'd the generous Design to free the People from Slavery by making the Kingdom Hereditary But whereas the said Design requir'd a great deal of Prudence and of Speed and that he could not manage it alone he discover'd it to John Swaning Bishop of Copenhaguen his Friend who by his Merit and his Eloquence had acquir'd as much Credit over the Clergy as he had over the Third Estate These two Men acting with great Secrecy on their respective sides disposed all things so well that they secur'd the Votes of the Chief of the Clergy and of the Citizens to whom they promis'd Rewards sutable to the Services they should receive from them But whereas they had not a sufficient access to the King they discover'd their Secret to Christopher Gabel a Man whom Fortune had rais'd above the Common and made him Favourite to Frederick who undertook nothing without his Advice Gabel was over joy'd to find so favourable an Occasion to signalize his Zeal towards the King and to be reveng'd of the Imperious Humour of the Nobles who often upbraided him with his Extraction Therefore having confirm'd Nansen and Swaning in their Resolution they held several secret Conferences together about this Affair and whereas the Necessities of the State oblig'd the King shortly to convene the Assembly of the Estates of the Kingdom notwithstanding that according to the antient Custom of the Kingdom the said Assembly was to be held in the Isle of Funen Gabel told the King that for several important Reasons which his Majesty would approve of it was necessary to hold it at Copenhaguen which was resolv'd upon notwithstanding the Resistance of the Nobles The Overture thereof being made Nansen and Swaning repair'd to the Castle where Gabel tarry'd for them As soon as they came into the King's Chamber Gabel told his Majesty that they had a Business of great consequence to impart to him and that in order thereunto it was necessary to give him a secret Audience whereupon every body was order'd to retire and Nansen Swaning and Gabel being by themselves with the King Nansen told his Majesty in few words That the great Authority of the Nobles was the only cause of all the Disorders of the State because the Counsels which depend on many commonly prove useless either by reason of their delays or because they are seldom kept secret Moreover that the Citizens and the Country People being no longer able to maintain all the Expences of the State alone without having the least share in the Administration of Affairs they were resolved for the Common Good to make the Kingdom Hereditary to the end that all the Authority being invested in one Person which is the most perfect Form of Government every Man might hope to be advanc'd by his Majesty according to his Merit The King being extreamly surpris'd at this Proposition told Nansen that he look'd upon it as a thing impossible and that in case they did undertake it it would cost them their Heads without his being able to hinder it That he did not think fit to venture any thing by reason of the fatal Consequences that Affair might be attended with Nansen reply'd boldly That things were brought to that pass that they must either go through or resolve to die that they were certain of the good Will of the Clergy and of the People and that they only beg'd his Majesty's Approbation and would take all the rest upon themselves The King between Fear and Hope having told them that he abandon'd all to their Conduct retir'd into his Closet in expectation of that Revolution which did astonish all Europe and secure two Crowns to his Posterity Nansen and Swaning being perswaded that they should be well rewarded retir'd very well satisfy'd to give Orders for the execution of their Design As they were crossing the Bridg of the Castle to go to the Chancery they met Otho Krag Knight of the Order of the Elephant and Minister of State who observing something extraordinary in their Looks stopt them haughtily saying Whence come you I see that you are caballing but take heed and so shew'd them the blue Tower with his hand as if he design'd to give them to understand that they should be lock'd up there To which Nansen and Swaning barely answer'd we shall see and continu'd their way That very Afternoon the Estates being assembled the King desir'd them to consider of some Means to sustain the extraordinary Expences of the State The Nobles excus'd themselves from contributing towards it alledging their Privileges which freed them from all sorts of Impositions The Clergy also alledging theirs and the Commons declaring that they would no longer pay any Duties unless the others also contributed towards them they broke up so much exasperated against each other that Nansen and Swaning who had promoted these Disputes seeing their Friends very well dispos'd Nansen put the Citizens under Arms and Swaning having assembled the Deputies of the Clergy they prevail'd with these two Estates to offer the King the Hereditary Soveraignty of the Kingdom and without losing time they besieg'd the Nobles in their Houses threatning to destroy them unless they gave their consent thereunto The Nobles being surpriz'd at this bold Proposition which destroy'd their Authority endeavour'd to make some resistance but the Citizens persisting in their Resolution in a manner which made them sensible that they would get nothing by force they desir'd time until the next Day which was granted them The People kept to their Arms all the Night and Nansen shut the Gates of the City and placed Guards in the chief parts thereof so that by break of Day the Nobles were summon'd to give in their Declaration Accordingly Fourteen of the Chief among them gave it in the form desir'd by the two Estates and having sealed it with their Seals Nansen and Swaning with the other Deputies carry'd it to the King who did not expect so favourable an Event But the said Declaration not being thought full enough the Nobles were summon'd in the King's Name to make it more positive The City-Gates remain'd close all the while and finally the Nobles finding that there was no Medium and that unless they did grant the King's desire they would be expos'd to the fury of the People whose hatred they were not ignorant of in that extremity they did consent to grant the King and his Successors the Hereditary Soveraignty of his Kingdoms and the Three Estates having sign'd the Act they went together to present it to Frederic and did submit all their Privileges to him to dispose of them at his pleasure
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
consideration of which Force and Violence the Count declares the said Ground to be vain and of no force since it is notoriously evident that no Judge is allow'd to receive or make use in any Cause or Trial of Writings or Declarations extorted from any Person whatever by any Force or Violence Fear or Imprisonment to corroborate or colour any Sentence but such Declarations and Writings are always rejected as of no force at least among Christians Thirdly As to their third Article grounded upon a Reversion as they call it of the Count he declares likewise that it is of no Validity since it was also exacted from him before at least that part of it which they do not mention to conceal their wicked Ends in forcing him to make the said Reversion viz. That the Count should transfer his whole Estate to them consisting of Lands Jewels and Money amounting to a very considerable Sum. Item That the Countess should renounce her just Titles confer'd on her by her Father King Christian of Blessed Memory viz. Of Countess of Sleswick and Holstein Item To renounce whatever was inserted to his advantage in the Treaty of Peace For as to that part which they mention he answers that it has not been prov'd nor ever will that he ever attempted any thing against his Majesty or the Royal Family since the Treaty of Peace concluded between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark in which he was included and a particular Article was inserted relating to his Person and Family his Friends and Servants his Goods Moveables and Immoveables and that the King of Denmark should restore him to the possession of all his Estate and make reparation for all Damages and that both himself and those belonging to him as aforesaid should have leave to live in any part of the Kingdom of Denmark where they should think fit in all security without the least lett hinderance or molestation And the said Treaty was ratifi'd anew and confirm'd by the second and last Peace concluded between the two Crowns so that they had no reason to use him ill for having formerly been forc'd by their Injustices and Violences after five Years patience and solicitation to engage himself against them which was the only thing Count Rantzaw could lay to his charge when he ask'd him the Reasons of his and his Lady's Imprisonment which Question the said Rantzaw accounted a new Crime threatning him with Death in case he did persist in disputing this matter He do's further alledg as an Argument of the nullity of the said Reversion that the Promise made to him in the same had not been perform'd viz. First That all his Papers and Writings which they had seiz'd should be restor'd to him without Exception which was not perform'd but on the contrary after they were releas'd out of their Prison at Bornholm and still carefully guarded by Soldiers and after their having written and sign'd the said Reversion the King caus'd a Trunk full of Letters and Papers of consequence to be taken from him out of which he pick'd all those which were of most consequence to them and their Family which he has never restor'd according to his promise inserted in the said Reversion Secondly The said Reversion did contain that immediately upon the writing and signing of the same they should be put at Liberty but private Orders were given to the Governour to the contrary for they were still kept under a strong guard of Musketeers after it as well as before Moreover after their arrival at Copenhaguen they remain'd under the same Confinement until they had also forc'd them to sign whatever they pleas'd about the alteration of the Date and Place of the said Reversion as also about the Oath of Fealty It is evident that pacta sunt reciproca and that the Covenants being broken on one side in Equity the other is no longer oblig'd He thinks it very preposterous that they could perswade themselves that a private Person as he was could change or alter the least thing contain'd in a publick Treaty of Peace between two Kings Item That he or his Lady could alienate that which Nature had produc'd and order'd viz. The Titles of Counts and Countesses of Sleswick and Holstein belonging to his Lady and her Posterity by her Birth as Daughter to a great King by a lawful Marriage as the Author of the said Treatise declares and the Count relates more at large in this Apology and that hers as well as the King's Father had granted to all his Children of this Marriage the said Titles and Arms as it appears by divers Letters from his Chancery which he caus'd to be written to them on several occasions which Settlements no Monarchs on Earth can reasonably alter or annul The Count insists largely on the force that has been us'd to compel him to sign the said Reversion As 1. The Resolution the Court had taken to put him and his Lady to Death in case of a refusal which Count Rantzaw had formerly openly declar'd unto him and that in a Passion too at a time in which Men commonly speak the truth which design was also clearly enough intimated to him by the Governour 2. The unheard of Cruelties the first Governor had us'd towards them which the Count relates in the same manner as has been declar'd by the Author of the foregoing Treatise but more at large and he reflects particularly upon that Barbarous and Unchristian-like Passage in refusing to send a Minister to the Countess who was dangerously ill to administer the Sacraments to her and to comfort her Which Inhumanity Count Vlfeld complaining of to Count Rantzaw when he was sent to them thinking it proceeded barely from the Governor 's Natural Cruelty he assur'd him that it was done by a particular Order from the Court. He inlarges very much upon the illegality of the said Reversion and concludes at last That no Judges hearing the Character of Christians or of honest Men could justly ground any Sentence upon such forc'd Writings all the Laws of Christianity being repugnant thereunto because it is very easy for those who have the power and force in hand to imprison any Person and afterwards to compel him by Violence Rigour and ill Usage to sign any Writing whatever and to give it the Title of Reversion or any other they think most proper for their purpose He also reflects upon their Baseness and Trick to blind the World by forcing them to change the date and place of the said Reversion when they were brought to Copenhaguen and to acknowledge that they were at Liberty and several other things which they thought fit to insert therein Whereas they were forc'd the first time to write it in their hard Prison at Burnholm and afterwards to write it over again at Copenhaguen being still Pris'ners under a strong Guard in Count Rantzaw's House who often pointing to them us'd to tell him Behold your antient Keepers who are ready to carry you back to Bornholm