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E. Bunnètt</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Memoirs of Leonora Christina</p> +<p> Daughter of Christian IV. of Denmark; Written During Her Imprisonment in the Blue Tower at Copenhagen 1663-1685</p> +<p>Author: Leonora Christina Ulfeldt</p> +<p>Release Date: November 24, 2011 [eBook #38128]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF LEONORA CHRISTINA***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by<br /> + the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from scanned images of public domain material<br /> + generously made available by<br /> + the Google Books Library Project<br /> + (<a href="http://books.google.com/">http://books.google.com/</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=MaYBAAAAQAAJ&id"> + http://books.google.com/books?vid=MaYBAAAAQAAJ&id</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<div class="trnote"> +<h2>Transcriber’s note</h2> +<p>Obvious word errors have been corrected, but otherwise the original +spelling has generally been retained, even where several different +spellings have been used to refer to the same person. A <a href="#trcorrections">list of +corrections</a> can be found after the book.</p> +<p>The printed book contained footnotes and endnotes—these have all +be placed at the end of the ebook.</p> +<h3 class="left">Table of Contents of the Ebook</h3> +<ul> +<li><a href="#PREFACE_PUBL">Preface</a></li> +<li><a href="#PREFACE_DANISH_EDITION">Preface of the Danish Edition</a></li> +<li><a href="#CONTENTS">Table of Contents</a></li> +<li><a href="#INTRODUCTION">Introduction</a></li> +<li><a href="#AUTOBIOGRAPHY">Autobiography</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_RECORD_OF_THE_SUFFERINGS">A Record of the Sufferings</a> +<ul> +<li><a href="#PREFACE_LC">Preface</a></li> +<li><a href="#REMINISCENCES">Reminiscences</a></li> +</ul></li> +<li><a href="#FOOTNOTES">Footnotes</a></li> +<li><a href="#ENDNOTES">Endnotes</a></li> +</ul> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:350px"> +<img src="images/portrait.jpg" class="nobord" width="350" height="555" alt="Portrait and signature" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center">Henry S. King & C<sup>o</sup>., 65, Cornhill</p> + +<hr class="pagebreak" /> + + +<h1 class="center"><span class="smaller">MEMOIRS OF</span><br /> +LEONORA CHRISTINA</h1> + +<p class="center italic">DAUGHTER of CHRISTIAN IV. of DENMARK</p> + +<p class="center w45">WRITTEN DURING HER IMPRISONMENT IN +THE BLUE TOWER AT COPENHAGEN<br /> +1663—1685</p> + +<p class="center smcap topmarg">Translated by F. E. Bunnètt</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">LONDON<br /> +<span class="smcap">Henry S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill</span><br /> +1872</p> + +<hr class="pagebreak" /> + +<p class="center smaller">LONDON: PRINTED BY<br /> +SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br /> +AND PARLIAMENT STREET</p> + + +<p class="center italic">All rights reserved</p> + + +<hr class="pagebreak" /> +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii" title="[Pg iii]"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE_PUBL" id="PREFACE_PUBL"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>In placing the present translation of <span class="smcap">Leonora Christina +Ulfeldt’s</span> Memoirs before the English reading +public, a few words are due from the Publishers, in +order to explain the relation between this edition and +those which have been brought out in Denmark and in +Germany.</p> + +<p>The original autograph manuscript of Leonora +Christina’s record of her sufferings in her prison, +written between the years 1674 and 1685, belongs to +her descendant the Austrian Count Joh. Waldstein, +and it was discovered only a few years ago. It was +then, at the desire of Count Waldstein, brought to +Copenhagen by the Danish Minister at Vienna, M. +Falbe, in order that its authenticity might be +thoroughly verified by comparison with documents +preserved in the Danish archives and libraries, and +known to be in the hand-writing of the illustrious +authoress. When the existence of this interesting +historic and literary relic had become known in Denmark, +a desire to see it published was naturally expressed<a class="pagenum" name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv" title="[Pg iv]"></a> +on all sides, and to this the noble owner most +readily acceded.</p> + +<p>Thus the first Danish edition came to light in 1869, +promoted in every way by Count Waldstein. The +editor was Mr. Sophus Birket-Smith, assistant librarian +of the University Library at Copenhagen, who +enriched the edition with a historical introduction and +copious notes. A second Danish edition appeared a +few months later; and in 1871 a German translation of +the Memoir was edited by M. Ziegler, with a new +introduction and notes, founded partly on the first +Danish edition, partly on other printed sources, to +which were added extracts from some papers found in +the family archives of Count Waldstein, and which +were supposed to possess the interest of novelty.</p> + +<p>The applause with which this edition was received in +Germany suggested the idea of an English version, +and it was at first intended merely to translate M. +Ziegler’s book into English. During the progress +of the work, however, it was found preferable to +adopt the second Danish edition as the basis of +the English edition. The translation which had +been made from M. Ziegler’s German, has been carefully +compared with the Danish original, so as to +remove any defects arising from the use of the +German translation, and give it the same value as a +translation made direct from the Danish; a new introduction +and notes have been added, for which the +Danish editor, Mr. Birket-Smith has supplied the +materials; and instead of the fragments of Ulfeldt’s<a class="pagenum" name="Page_v" id="Page_v" title="[Pg v]"></a> +Apology and of an extract from Leonora Christina’s +Autobiography found in the German edition, a complete +translation of the Autobiography to the point where +Leonora’s Memoir of her sufferings in prison takes up +the thread of the narrative, has been inserted, made +from the original French text, recently published +by Mr. S. Birket-Smith. As a matter of course the +preface of Count Waldstein, which appears in this +edition, is the one prefixed to the Danish edition. +The manuscript itself of the record of Leonora Christina’s +sufferings in prison was commenced in 1674, and +was at first intended to commemorate only what had +happened during the preceding ten years of her +captivity; it was afterwards extended to embrace the +whole period down to 1685, and subjected to a revision +which resulted in numerous additions and alterations. +As, however, these do not seem to have been properly +worked in by the authoress herself, the Memoir is here +rendered, as in the Danish edition, in its original, more +perfect shape, and the subsequent alterations made the +subject of foot notes.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi" title="[Pg vi]"></a><br /> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii" title="[Pg vii]"></a></div> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE_DANISH_EDITION" id="PREFACE_DANISH_EDITION"></a>PREFACE<br /> +<span class="smaller">TO<br /> +THE DANISH EDITION.</span></h2> + + +<p>When, in the summer of 1858, I visited the graves of +my Danish ancestors of the family of Ulfeldt, in the +little village church at Quærndrup, near the Castle of +Egeskov, on the island of Fyn, I resolved to honour +the memory of my pious ancestress Leonora Christina, +and thus fulfil the duty of a descendant by publishing +this autograph manuscript which had come to me +amongst the heirlooms left by my father.</p> + +<p>It is well known that the last male representative +of the family of Ulfeldt, the Chancellor of the +Court and Realm of Her Majesty the Empress Maria +Theresia, had only two daughters. One of them, +Elizabeth, married Georg Christian, Count Waldstein, +while the younger married Count Thun.</p> + +<p>Out of special affection for her younger son +Emanuel (my late father), my grandmother bequeathed +all that referred to the Ulfeldts to him, and the +manuscript which I now—in consequence of requests +from various quarters, also from high places—give to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii" title="[Pg viii]"></a> +publicity by the learned assistance of Mr. Sophus +Birket-Smith, thus came to me through direct descent +from her father:</p> + +<p>‘Corfitz, Count of Ulfeldt of the holy Roman +Empire, Lord of the lordships Költz-Jenikau, Hof-Kazof, +Brödlich, Odaslowitz, and the fief Zinltsch, +Knight of the Golden Vliess, First Treasurer of the +hereditary lands in Bohemia, Ambassador at the +Ottoman Porte, afterwards Chancellor of the Court +and the Empire, sworn Privy Councillor and first +Lord Steward of his Imperial and Royal Majesty +Carolus VI., as well as of His Imperial Roman and +Royal Majesty of Hungary, Bohemia,’ &c.</p> + +<p>We add: the highly honoured paternal guide of +Her Majesty the Queen Empress Maria Theresia, of +glorious memory, during the first year of her government, +until the time when the gifted Prince Kaunitz, +whose genius sometimes even was too much for this, +morally noble lady, became her successor.</p> + +<p>I possess more than eleven imposing, closely written +folio volumes, which contain the manuscripts of the +Chancellor of the Empire, his negociations with the +Sublime Porte, afterwards with the States-General of +the Netherlands, as well as the ministerial protocols +from the whole time that he held the office of Imperial +Chancellor; all of which prove his great industry and +love of order, while the original letters and annotations +of his exalted mistress, which are inserted in these same +volumes, testify to the sincere, almost childlike confidence +with which she honoured him.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix" title="[Pg ix]"></a> +But this steady and circumspect statesman was the +direct grandson of the restless and proud</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Corfitz</span>, first Count of Ulfeldt of the Roman +Empire, High Steward of the Realm in Denmark, &c., +and of his devoted and gifted wife <span class="smcap">Leonora Christina</span>, +through their son</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Leo</span>, Imperial Count Ulfeldt, Privy Councillor, +Field-marshal, and Viceroy in Catalonia of the Emperor +Carl VI., and his wife, a born Countess of +Zinzendorf.</p> + +<p>I preserved, therefore with great care this manuscript, +as well as all other relics and little objects which +had belonged to my Danish ancestress, whose exalted +character and sufferings are so highly calculated to +inspire sympathy, interest, and reverence. Amongst +these objects are several writings, such as fragments of +poems, prayers, needlework executed in prison (some +embroidered with hair of a fair colour); a christening +robe with cap worked in gold, probably used at the +christening of her children; a very fine Amulet of +Christian IV. in blue enamel, and many portraits; +amongst others the original picture in oil of which a +copy precedes the title page, &c. &c.</p> + +<p>Considering that the manuscript has been handed +down directly from my ancestors from generation to +generation in direct line, I could not personally have +any doubt as to its genuineness. Nevertheless I +yielded to the suggestions of others, in order to have +the authenticity of the manuscript thoroughly tested.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_x" id="Page_x" title="[Pg x]"></a> +In what way this was done will be seen from the Introduction +of the Editor.</p> + +<p>Though the final verdict of history may not yet have +been given on Corfitz Ulfeldt, yet—tempus omnia sanat—yon +ominous pillar, which was to perpetuate the +memory of his crime into eternity, has been put aside +as rubbish and left to oblivion. Noble in forgetting +and pardoning, the great nation of the North has given +a bright example to those who still refuse to grant to +Albert, Duke of Friedland—the great general who +saved the Empire from the danger that threatened +it from the North—the place which this hero ought to +occupy in the Walhalla at Vienna.</p> + +<p>But as to the fiery temper of Corfitz and the mysterious +springs which govern the deeds and thoughts +of mankind, it may be permitted to me, his descendant, +to cherish the belief, which is almost strengthened into +a conviction, that a woman so highly gifted, of so noble +sentiments, as Leonora appears to us, would never +have been able to cling with a love so true, and so +enduring through all the changes of life, to a man who +was unworthy of it.</p> + +<p class="right smcap">Joh. Count Waldstein.</p> + +<p class="left"><span class="smcap">Cairo</span>: <i>December 8, 1868.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi" title="[Pg xi]"></a></div> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<p class="toc"> <span class="num">Page</span></p> +<ul class="toc"> +<li><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a> <span class="num">1</span></li> +<li><a href="#AUTOBIOGRAPHY">AUTOBIOGRAPHY</a> <span class="num">31</span> +<br />A RECORD OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE IMPRISONED +COUNTESS:— +<ul> +<li><a href="#PREFACE_LC">PREFACE (TO MY CHILDREN)</a> <span class="num">87</span></li> +<li><a href="#REMINISCENCES">A REMINISCENCE OF ALL THAT OCCURRED +TO ME, LEONORA CHRISTINA, IN THE +BLUE TOWER, FROM AUGUST 8 OF THE +YEAR 1663, TO JUNE 11 OF THE YEAR 1674</a> <span class="num">102</span></li> +</ul></li> +</ul> + + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_1" id="Page_1" title="[Pg 1]"></a></div> + +<h2>MEMOIRS<br /> +OF<br /> +LEONORA CHRISTINA.</h2> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<h3><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION.</h3> + + +<p>Amongst the women celebrated in history, <span class="smcap">Leonora +Christina</span>, the heroine as well as the authoress of +the Memoirs which form the subject of this volume, +occupies a conspicuous place, as one of the noblest +examples of every womanly virtue and accomplishment, +displayed under the most trying vicissitudes of fortune. +Born the daughter of a King, married to one of the +ablest statesmen of his time, destined, as it seemed, to +shine in the undisturbed lustre of position and great +qualities, she had to spend nearly twenty-two years in +a prison, in the forced company—more cruel to her +than solitary confinement—of male and female gaolers +of the lowest order, and for a long time deprived of +every means of rendering herself independent of these +surroundings by intellectual occupation. She had to +suffer alone, and innocently, for her husband’s crimes; +whatever these were, she had no part in them, and she +endured persecution because she would not forsake +him in his misfortune. Leonora Christina was the +victim of despotism guided by personal animosity, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_2" id="Page_2" title="[Pg 2]"></a> +she submitted with a Christian meekness and forbearance +which would be admirable in any, but which her +exalted station and her great mental qualities bring +out in doubly strong relief.</p> + +<p>It is to these circumstances, which render the fate +of Leonora so truly tragic, as well as to the fact +that we have her own authentic and trustworthy +account before us, that the principal charm of this +record is due. Besides this, it affords many incidental +glimpses of the customs and habits of the time, nor +is it without its purely historical interest. Leonora +and her husband, Corfits Ulfeldt, were intimately +connected with the principal political events in the +North of Europe at their time; even the more minute +circumstances of their life have, therefore, a certain +interest.</p> + +<p>No wonder that the history of this illustrious couple +has formed, and still forms, the theme both of laborious +scientific researches and of poetical compositions. +Amongst the latter we may here mention in passing a +well-known novel by Rousseau de la Valette,<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> because +it has had the undeserved honour of being treated by +a modern writer as an historical source, to the great +detriment of his composition. Documents which have +originated from these two personages are of course +of great value. Besides letters and public documents, +there exist several accounts written by both Corfits<a class="pagenum" name="Page_3" id="Page_3" title="[Pg 3]"></a> +Ulfeldt and Leonora referring to their own life and +actions. Ulfeldt published in 1652 a defence of his +political conduct, and composed, shortly before his +death, another, commonly called the ‘Apology of +Ulfeldt,’ which has not yet been printed entirely, but +of which an extract was published in 1695 in the +supplement of the English edition of Rousseau de la +Valette’s book. Some extracts from an incomplete +copy discovered by Count Waldstein in 1870, in the +family archives at the Castle of Palota, were published +with the German edition of Leonora’s Memoir; complete +copies exist in Copenhagen and elsewhere. +Leonora Christina, who was an accomplished writer, +has composed at least four partial accounts of her own +life. One of them, referring to a journey in 1656, to +be mentioned hereafter, has been printed long ago; of +another, which treated of her and Ulfeldt’s imprisonment +at Bornholm, no copy has yet been discovered. The +third is her Autobiography, carried down to 1673, of +which an English version follows this Introduction; it +was written in the Blue Tower, in the form of a letter +to the Danish antiquarian, Otto Sperling, jun., who +wished to make use of it for his work, ‘De feminis +doctis.’<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>About a century ago a so-called Autobiography of +Leonora was published in Copenhagen, but it was +easily proved to be a forgery; in fact, the original +of her own work existed in the Danish archives, +and had been described by the historian Andreas +Höier. It has now been lost, it is supposed, in the +fire which destroyed the Castle of Christiansborg in<a class="pagenum" name="Page_4" id="Page_4" title="[Pg 4]"></a> +1794, but a complete copy exists in Copenhagen, as +well as several extracts in Latin; another short extract +in French belongs to Count Waldstein. Finally, +Leonora Christina wrote the memoir of her sufferings +in the prison of the Blue Tower from 1663-1685, of +which the existence was unknown until discovered by +Count Waldstein, and given to the public in the manner +indicated in the Preface.</p> + +<p>In introducing these memoirs to the English public, +a short sketch of the historical events and the persons +to whom they refer may not be unwelcome, particularly +as Leonora herself touches only very lightly on them, +and principally describes her own personal life.</p> + +<p><i>Leonora Christina</i> was a daughter of <i>King Christian +IV.</i> of Denmark and <i>Kirstine Munk</i>. His Queen, +Anna Catherine, born a princess of Brandenburg, died +in 1612, leaving three princes (four other children died +early), and in 1615 the King contracted a morganatic +marriage with Kirstine Munk, a lady of an ancient and +illustrious noble family. Leonora was born July 18 +(new style), 1621, at the Castle of Fredriksborg, so +well known to all who have visited Denmark, which +the King had built twenty miles north of Copenhagen, +in a beautiful part of the country, surrounded by smiling +lakes and extensive forests. But little is known of her +childhood beyond what she tells herself in her Autobiography. +Already in her eighth year she was +promised to her future husband, Corfits Ulfeldt, and in +1636 the wedding was celebrated with great splendour, +Leonora being then fifteen years old. The family of +Ulfeldt has been known since the close of the fourteenth +century. Corfits’ father had been Chancellor of the +Realm, and somewhat increased the family possessions, +though he sold the ancient seat of the family, Ulfeldtsholm,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_5" id="Page_5" title="[Pg 5]"></a> +in Fyen, to Lady Ellen Marsvin, Kirstine Munk’s +mother. He had seventeen children, of whom Corfits +was the seventh; and so far Leonora made only a +poor marriage. But her husband’s great talents and +greater ambition made up for this defect. Of his +youth nothing is known with any certainty, except that +he travelled abroad, as other young noblemen of his +time, studied at Padua, and acquired considerable proficiency +in foreign languages.<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> He became a favourite +of Christian IV., at whose Court he had every opportunity +for displaying his social talents. At the marriage +of the elected successor to the throne, the King’s eldest +son, Christian, with the Princess Magdalene Sibylle of +Saxony, in 1634, Corfits Ulfeldt acted as maréchal to the +special Ambassador Count d’Avaux, whom Louis XIII. +had sent to Copenhagen on that occasion, in which +situation Ulfeldt won golden opinions,<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and he was +one of the twelve noblemen whom the King on the +wedding-day made Knights of the Elephant. After a +visit to Paris in 1635, in order to be cured of a wound +in the leg which the Danish physicians could not heal, +he obtained the sanction of the King for his own +marriage with Leonora, which was solemnised at the +Castle of Copenhagen, on October 9, 1636, with as much +splendour as those of the princes and princesses. +Leonora was the favourite daughter of Christian IV., +and as far as royal favour could ensure happiness, it +might be said to be in store for the newly-married +pair.</p> + +<p>As we have stated, Ulfeldt was a poor nobleman;<a class="pagenum" name="Page_6" id="Page_6" title="[Pg 6]"></a> +and it is characteristic of them both that one of her +first acts was to ask him about his debts, which he +could not but have incurred living as he had done, and +to pay them by selling her jewels and ornaments, to the +amount of 36,000 dollars, or more than 7,000<i>l.</i> in +English money—then a very large sum. But the King’s +favour soon procured him what he wanted; he was +made a member of the Great Council, Governor of +Copenhagen, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> + +<p>He executed several diplomatic missions satisfactorily; +and when, in 1641, he was sent to Vienna as +special Ambassador, the Emperor of Germany, Ferdinand +III., made him a Count of the German Empire. +Finally, in 1643, he was made Lord High Steward +of Denmark, the highest dignity and most responsible +office in the kingdom. He was now at the summit +of power and influence, and if he had used his +talents and opportunities in the interests of his +country, he might have earned the everlasting gratitude +of his King and his people.</p> + +<p>But he was not a great man, though he was a clever +and ambitious man. He accumulated enormous wealth, +bought extensive landed estates, spent considerable +sums in purchasing jewels and costly furniture, and +lived in a splendid style; but it was all at the cost +of the country. In order to enrich himself, he struck +base coin (which afterwards was officially reduced to +its proper value, 8 per cent. below the nominal value), +and used probably other unlawful means for this +purpose, while the Crown was in the greatest need of +money. At the same time he neglected the defences +of the country in a shameful manner, and when the +Swedish Government, in December 1643, suddenly +ordered its army, which then stood in Germany, engaged<a class="pagenum" name="Page_7" id="Page_7" title="[Pg 7]"></a> +in the Thirty Years’ War, to attack Denmark +without any warning, there were no means of stopping +its victorious progress. In vain the veteran King +collected a few vessels and compelled the far more +numerous Swedish fleet to fly, after a furious battle +near Femern, where he himself received twenty-three +wounds, and where two of Ulfeldt’s brothers fell +fighting at his side; there was no army in the land, +because Corfits, at the head of the nobility, had refused +the King the necessary supplies. And, although the +peace which Ulfeldt concluded with Sweden and +Holland at Brömsebro, in 1645, might have been still +more disastrous than it was, if the negotiation had been +entrusted to less skilful hands, yet there was but too +much truth in the reproachful words of the King, when, +after ratifying the treaties, he tossed them to Corfits +saying, ‘There you have them, such as you have made +them!’</p> + +<p>From this time the King began to lose his confidence +in Ulfeldt, though the latter still retained his +important offices. In the following year he went to +Holland and to France on a diplomatic mission, on +which occasion he was accompanied by Leonora. +Everywhere their personal qualities, their relationship +to the sovereign, and the splendour of their appearance, +procured them the greatest attention and +the most flattering reception. While at the Hague +Leonora gave birth to a son, whom the States-General +offered to grant a pension for life of a +thousand florins, which, however, Ulfeldt wisely +refused. In Paris they were loaded with presents; and +in the Memoirs of Madame Langloise de Motteville on +the history of Anna of Austria (ed. of Amsterdam, +1783, ii. 19-22) there is a striking <i lang="fr">récit</i> of the appearance<a class="pagenum" name="Page_8" id="Page_8" title="[Pg 8]"></a> +and reception of Ulfeldt and Leonora at the +French Court. On their way home Leonora took an +opportunity of making a short trip to London, which +capital she wished to see, while her husband waited +for her in the Netherlands.</p> + +<p>If, however, this journey brought Ulfeldt and his +wife honours and presents on the part of foreigners, +it did not give satisfaction at home. The diplomatic +results of the mission were not what the King had +hoped, and he even refused to receive Ulfeldt on his +return. Soon the turning-point in his career arrived. +In 1648 King Christian IV. died, under circumstances +which for a short time concentrated extraordinary +power in Ulfeldt’s hands, but of which he +did not make a wise use.</p> + +<p>Denmark was then still an elective monarchy, and +the nobles had availed themselves of this and other +circumstances to free themselves from all burdens, +and at the same time to deprive both the Crown and +the other Estates of their constitutional rights to a +very great extent. All political power was virtually +vested in the Council of the Realm, which consisted +exclusively of nobles, and there remained for the king +next to nothing, except a general supervision of the +administration, and the nomination of the ministers. +Every successive king had been obliged to purchase +his election by fresh concessions to the nobles, and +the sovereign was little more than the president of +an aristocratic republic. Christian IV. had caused +his eldest son Christian to be elected successor in his +own lifetime; but this prince died in 1647, and when +the King himself died in 1648, the throne was vacant.</p> + +<p>As Lord High Steward, Ulfeldt became president +of the regency, and could exercise great influence<a class="pagenum" name="Page_9" id="Page_9" title="[Pg 9]"></a> +on the election. He did not exert himself to bring +this about very quickly, but there is no ground for +believing that he meditated the election either of +himself or of his brother-in-law, Count Valdemar, +as some have suggested. The children of Kirstine +Munk being the offspring of a morganatic marriage, +had not of course equal rank with princes and princesses; +but in Christian IV.’s lifetime they received +the same honours, and Ulfeldt made use of the interregnum +to obtain the passage of a decree by the +Council, according them rank and honours equal with +the princes of the royal house.</p> + +<p>But as the nobles were in nowise bound to choose +a prince of the same family, or even a prince at all, +this decree cannot be interpreted as evidence of a +design to promote the election of Count Valdemar. +The overtures of the Duke of Gottorp, who attempted +to bribe Ulfeldt to support his candidature, were refused +by him, at least according to his own statement. +But Ulfeldt did make use of his position to extort a +more complete surrender of the royal power into the +hands of the nobility than any king had yet submitted +to, and the new King, Fredrik III., was compelled +to promise, amongst other things, to fill up +any vacancy amongst the ministers with one out of +three candidates proposed by the Council of the +Realm. The new King, Fredrik III., Christian IV.’s +second son, had never been friendly to Ulfeldt. This +last action of the High Steward did not improve the +feelings with which he regarded him, and when the +coronation had taken place (for which Ulfeldt advanced +the money), he expressed his thoughts at the +banquet in these words: ‘Corfitz, you have to-day +bound my hands; who knows, who can bind yours<a class="pagenum" name="Page_10" id="Page_10" title="[Pg 10]"></a> +in return?’ The new Queen, a Saxon princess, hated +Ulfeldt and the children of Kirstine Munk on account +of their pretensions, but particularly Leonora +Christina, whose beauty and talents she heartily envied.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Ulfeldt retained his high offices for +some time, and in 1649 he went again to Holland +on a diplomatic mission, accompanied by his wife. It +is remarkable that the question which formed the +principal subject of the negotiation on that occasion +was one which has found its proper solution only in +our days—namely, that of a redemption of the Sound +dues. This impost, levied by the Danish Crown +on all vessels passing the Sound, weighed heavily +on the shipping interest, and frequently caused disagreement +between Denmark and the governments +mostly interested in the Baltic trade, particularly +Sweden and the Dutch republic.</p> + +<p>It was with especial regard to the Sound dues that +the Dutch Government was constantly interfering in +the politics of the North, with a view of preventing +Denmark becoming too powerful; for which purpose +it always fomented discord between Denmark and +Sweden, siding now with the one, now with the other, +but rather favouring the design of Sweden to conquer +the ancient Danish provinces, Skaane, &c., which were +east of the Sound, and which now actually belong to +Sweden. Corfits Ulfeldt calculated that, if the Dutch +could be satisfied on the point of the Sound dues, +their unfavourable interference might be got rid of; +and for this purpose he proposed to substitute an +annual payment by the Dutch Government for the +payment of the dues by the individual ships. Christian +IV. had never assented to this idea, and of course +the better course would have been the one adopted in<a class="pagenum" name="Page_11" id="Page_11" title="[Pg 11]"></a> +1857—namely, the redemption of the dues by all +States at once for a proportionate consideration paid +once for all. Still the leading thought was true, and +worthy of a great statesman.</p> + +<p>Ulfeldt concluded a treaty with Holland according +to his views, but it met with no favour at Copenhagen, +and on his return he found that in his absence measures +had been taken to restrict his great power; his conduct +of affairs was freely criticised, and his enemies had even +caused the nomination of a committee to investigate +his past administration, more particularly his financial +measures.</p> + +<p>At the same time the new Court refused Leonora +Christina and the other children of Kirstine Munk +the princely honours which they had hitherto enjoyed. +Amongst other marks of distinction, Christian IV. +had granted his wife and her children the title of +Counts and Countesses of Slesvig and Holstein, but +Fredrik III. declined to acknowledge it, although it +could have no political importance, being nothing +but an empty title, as neither Kirstine Munk nor her +children had anything whatever to do with either of +these principalities. Ulfeldt would not suffer himself +to be as it were driven from his high position by these +indications of disfavour on the part of the King and +the Queen (the latter was really the moving spring in +all this), but he resolved to show his annoyance by not +going to Court, where his wife did not now receive +the usual honours.</p> + +<p>This conduct only served to embolden those who +desired to oust him from his lucrative offices, not +because they were better patriots, but because they +hoped to succeed him. For this purpose a false +accusation was brought against Ulfeldt and Leonora<a class="pagenum" name="Page_12" id="Page_12" title="[Pg 12]"></a> +Christina, to the effect that they had the intention of +poisoning the King and the Queen. Information on +this plot was given to the Queen personally, by a +certain Dina Vinhowers, a widow of questionable +reputation, who declared that she had an illicit connection +with Ulfeldt, and that she had heard a conversation +on the subject between Corfits Ulfeldt and +Leonora, when on a clandestine visit in the High +Steward’s house. She was prompted by a certain +Walter, originally a son of a wheelwright, who by +bravery in the war had risen from the ranks to the +position of a colonel, and who in his turn was +evidently a tool in the hands of other parties. The +information was graciously received at Court; but +Dina, who, as it seems, was a person of weak or +unsound mind, secretly, without the knowledge of her +employers, warned Ulfeldt and Leonora Christina +of some impending danger, thus creating a seemingly +inextricable confusion.</p> + +<p>At length Ulfeldt demanded a judicial investigation, +which was at once set on foot, but in which, of course, +he occupied the position of a defendant on account of +Dina’s information. In the end Dina was condemned +to death and Walter was exiled. But the statements +of the different persons implicated, and particularly of +Dina herself at different times, were so conflicting, that +the matter was really never entirely cleared up, and +though Ulfeldt was absolved of all guilt, his enemies +did their best in order that some suspicion might +remain. If Ulfeldt had been wise, he might probably +have turned this whole affair to his own advantage; +but he missed the opportunity. Utterly absurd as the +accusation was, he seems to have felt very keenly the +change of his position, and on the advice of Leonora,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_13" id="Page_13" title="[Pg 13]"></a> +who did not doubt that some other expedient would +be tried by his enemies, perhaps with more success, +he resolved to leave Denmark altogether.</p> + +<p>After having sent away the most valuable part of +his furniture and movable property, and placed abroad +his amassed capital, he left Copenhagen secretly and +at night, on July 14, 1651, three days after the execution +of Dina. The gates of the fortress were closed +at a certain hour every evening, but he had a key +made for the eastern gate, and ere sunrise he and +Leonora, who was disguised as a valet, were on board +a vessel on their way to Holland. The consequences +of this impolitic flight were most disastrous. He had +not laid down his high offices, much less rendered +an account of his administration; nothing was more +natural than to suppose that he wished to avoid an +investigation. A few weeks later a royal summons was +issued, calling upon him to appear at the next meeting +of the Diet, and answer for his conduct; his offices, +and the fiefs with which he had been beneficed, were +given to others, and an embargo was laid on his landed +estates.</p> + +<p>Leonora Christina describes in her Autobiography +how Ulfeldt meanwhile first went to Holland, and +thence to Sweden, where Queen Christina, who certainly +was not favourably disposed to Denmark, +received Ulfeldt with marked distinction, and promised +him her protection. But she does not tell how Ulfeldt +here used every opportunity for stirring up enmity +against Denmark, both in Sweden itself and in other +countries, whose ambassadors he tried to bring over to +his ideas. On this painful subject there can be no +doubt after the publication of so many authentic State +Papers of that time, amongst which we may mention<a class="pagenum" name="Page_14" id="Page_14" title="[Pg 14]"></a> +the reports of Whitelock, the envoy of Cromwell, to +whom Ulfeldt represented that Denmark was too weak +to resist an attack, and that the British Government +might easily obtain the abolition of the Sound dues by +war.</p> + +<p>It seems, however, as if Ulfeldt did all this merely +to terrify the Danish King into a reconciliation with +him on terms honourable and advantageous to the +voluntarily exiled magnate. Representations were +several times made with such a view by the Swedish +Government, and in 1656 Leonora Christina herself +undertook a journey to Copenhagen, in order to +arrange the matter. But the Danish Government was +inaccessible to all such attempts.</p> + +<p>This attitude was intelligible enough, for not only +had Ulfeldt left Denmark in the most unceremonious +manner, but in 1652 he published in Stralsund a defence +against the accusations of which he had been the +subject, full of gross insults against the King; and in +the following year he had issued an insolent protest +against the royal summons to appear and defend +himself before the Diet, declaring himself a Swedish +subject. But, above all, the influence of the Queen was +too great to allow of any arrangement with Ulfeldt. +The King was entirely led by her; she, from her +German home, was filled with the most extravagant +ideas of absolute despotism, and hated the free speech +and the independent spirit prevailing among the +Danish nobility, of which Ulfeldt in that respect was +a true type. Leonora Christina was compelled to +return in 1656, without even seeing the King, and as +a fugitive. It is of this journey that she has given a +Danish account, besides the description in the Autobiography.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_15" id="Page_15" title="[Pg 15]"></a> +It may be questioned whether it would not have +been wise, if possible, to conciliate this dangerous man; +but at any rate it was not done, and Ulfeldt was, +no doubt, still more exasperated. Queen Christina +had then resigned, and her successor, Carl Gustav, +shortly after engaged in a war in Poland. The Danish +Government, foolishly overrating its strength, took +the opportunity for declaring war against Sweden, in +the hope of regaining some of the territory lost in +1645. But Carl Gustav, well knowing that the Poles +could not carry the war into Sweden, immediately +turned his whole force against Denmark, where he met +with next to no resistance. Ulfeldt was then living +at Barth, in Pommerania, an estate which he held in +mortgage for large sums of money advanced to the +Swedish Government. Carl Gustav summoned Ulfeldt +to follow him, and Ulfeldt obeyed the summons +against the advice of Leonora Christina, who certainly +did not desire her native country to be punished for +the wrongs, if such they were, inflicted upon her by +the Court.</p> + +<p>The war had been declared on June 1, 1657; +in August Ulfeldt issued a proclamation to the nobility +in Jutland, calling on them to transfer their +allegiance to the Swedish King. In the subsequent +winter a most unusually severe frost enabled the +Swedish army to cross the Sounds and Belts on the +ice, Ulfeldt assisting its progress by persuading the +commander of the fortress of Nakskov to surrender +without resistance; and in February the Danish +Government had to accept such conditions of peace +as could be obtained from the Swedish King, who +had halted a couple of days’ march from Copenhagen. +By this peace Denmark surrendered all her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_16" id="Page_16" title="[Pg 16]"></a> +provinces to the east of the Sound (Skaane, &c.), +which constituted one-third of the ancient Danish +territory, and which have ever since belonged to +Sweden, besides her fleet, &c.</p> + +<p>But the greatest humiliation was that the negotiation +on the Swedish side was entrusted to Ulfeldt, +who did not fail to extort from the Danish Crown +the utmost that the neutral powers would allow. For +himself he obtained restitution of his estates, freedom +to live in Denmark unmolested, and a large +indemnity for loss of income of his estates since his +flight in 1651. The King of Sweden also rewarded +him with the title of a Count of Sölvitsborg and with +considerable estates in the provinces recently wrested +from Denmark. Ulfeldt himself went to reside at +Malmö, the principal town in Skaane, situated on the +Sound, just opposite Copenhagen, and here he was +joined by Leonora Christina.</p> + +<p>In her Autobiography Leonora does not touch on +the incidents of the war, but she describes how her +anxiety for her husband’s safety did not allow her to +remain quietly at Barth, and how she was afterwards +called to her mother’s sick-bed, which she had to leave +in order to nurse her husband, who fell ill at Malmö. +We may here state that Kirstine Munk had fallen into +disgrace, when Leonora was still a child, on account +of her flagrant infidelity to the King, her paramour +being a German Count of Solms. Kirstine Munk left +the Court voluntarily in 1629,<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> shortly after the birth of +a child, whom the King would not acknowledge as<a class="pagenum" name="Page_17" id="Page_17" title="[Pg 17]"></a> +his own; and after having stayed with her mother for +a short time, she took up her residence at the old +manor of Boller, in North Jutland, where she remained +until her death in 1658.</p> + +<p>Various attempts were made to reconcile Christian +IV. to her, but he steadily refused, and with very +good reason: he was doubtless well aware that +Kirstine Munk, as recently published diplomatic documents +prove, had betrayed his political secrets to +Gustav Adolf, the King of Sweden, and he considered +her presence at Court very dangerous. Her +son-in-law was now openly in the service of another +Swedish king, but the friendship between them was +not of long duration. Ulfeldt first incurred the displeasure +of Carl Gustav by heading the opposition +of the nobility in the newly acquired provinces +against certain imposts laid on them by the Swedish +King, to which they had not been liable under +Danish rule. Then other causes of disagreement +arose. Carl Gustav, regretting that he had concluded +a peace, when in all probability he might have conquered +the whole of Denmark, recommenced the +war, and laid siege to Copenhagen. But the Danish +people now rose as one man; foreign assistance was +obtained; the Swedes were everywhere beaten; and if +the Dutch, who were bound by treaty to assist +Denmark, had not refused their co-operation in transferring +the Danish troops across the Sound, all the +lost provinces might easily have been regained.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants in some of these provinces also rose +against their new rulers. Amongst others, the citizens of +Malmö, where Ulfeldt at the time resided, entered into +a conspiracy to throw off the Swedish dominion; but it +was betrayed, and Ulfeldt was indicated as one of the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_18" id="Page_18" title="[Pg 18]"></a> +principal instigators, although he himself had accepted +their forced homage to the Swedish King, as his +deputy. Very probably he had thought that, if he took +a part in the rising, he might, if this were successful, +return to Denmark, having as it were thus wiped out +his former crimes, but having also shown his countrymen +what a terrible foe he could be. As it was, +Denmark was prevented by her own allies from regaining +her losses, and Ulfeldt was placed in custody +in Malmö, by order of Carl Gustav, in order that his +conduct might be subjected to a rigorous examination.</p> + +<p>Ulfeldt was then apparently seized with a remarkable +malady, a kind of apoplexy, depriving him of speech, +and Leonora Christina conducted his defence. She +wrote three lengthy, vigorous, and skilful replies to the +charges, which still exist in the originals. He was acquitted, +or rather escaped by a verdict of Not Proven; +but as conscience makes cowards, he contrived to escape +before the verdict was given. Leonora Christina describes +all this in her Autobiography, according to which +Ulfeldt was to go to Lubeck, while she would go to +Copenhagen, and try to put matters straight there. +Ulfeldt, however, changed his plan without her +knowledge, and also repaired to Copenhagen, where +they were both arrested and sent to the Castle of +Hammershuus, on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic, +an ancient fortress, now a most picturesque ruin, +perched at the edge of perpendicular rocks, overhanging +the sea, and almost surrounded by it.</p> + +<p>The Autobiography relates circumstantially, and no +doubt truthfully, the cruel treatment to which they were +here subjected by the governor, a Major-General Fuchs. +After a desperate attempt at escape, they were still +more rigorously guarded, and at length they had to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_19" id="Page_19" title="[Pg 19]"></a> +purchase their liberty by surrendering the whole of +their property, excepting one estate in Fyen. Ulfeldt +had to make the most humble apologies, and to promise +not to leave the island of Fyen, where this estate was +situated, without special permission. He was also +compelled to renounce on the part of his wife the title +of a Countess of Slesvig-Holstein, which Fredrik III. +had never acknowledged. She never made use of that +title afterwards, nor is she generally known by it in +history. Corfits Ulfeldt being a Count of the German +Empire, of course Leonora and her children were, and +remained, Counts and Countesses of Ulfeldt. This +compromise was effected in 1661.</p> + +<p>Having been conveyed to Copenhagen, Ulfeldt could +not obtain an audience of the King, and he was obliged, +kneeling, to tender renewed oath of allegiance before +the King’s deputies, Count Rantzow, General Hans +Schack, the Chancellor Redtz, and the Chancellor of the +Exchequer, Christofer Gabel, all of whom are mentioned +in Leonora’s account of her subsequent prison life.</p> + +<p>A few days after, Corfits Ulfeldt and Leonora +Christina left Copenhagen, which he was never to +see again, she only as a prisoner. They retired to +the estate of Ellensborg, in Fyen, which they had +still retained. This was the ancient seat of the +Ulfeldts, which Corfits’ father had sold to Ellen +Marsvin, Leonora Christina’s grandmother, and which +had come to Leonora through her mother. In the +meanwhile it had been renamed and rebuilt such as it +stands to this day, a picturesque pile of buildings in +the Elizabethan style. Here Ulfeldt might have ended +his stormy life in quiet, but his thirst for revenge left +him no peace. Besides this, a great change had +taken place in Denmark. The national revival which<a class="pagenum" name="Page_20" id="Page_20" title="[Pg 20]"></a> +followed the renewal of the war by Carl Gustav in +1658 led to a total change in the form of government.</p> + +<p>It was indisputable that the selfishness of the +nobles, who refused to undertake any burden for +the defence of the country, was the main cause of +the great disasters that had befallen Denmark. The +abolition of their power was loudly called for, and the +Queen so cleverly turned this feeling to account, that +the remedy adopted was not the restoration of the +other classes of the population to their legitimate constitutional +influence, but the entire abolition of the +constitution itself, and the introduction of hereditary, +unlimited despotism. The title ‘hereditary king,’ which +so often occurs in Danish documents and writings from +that time, also in Leonora’s Memoir, has reference to +this change. Undoubtedly this was very little to +Ulfeldt’s taste. Already, in the next year after his +release, 1662, he obtained leave to go abroad for his +health. But, instead of going to Spaa, as he had pretended, +he went to Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris, where +he sought interviews with Louis XIV. and the French +ministers; he also placed himself in communication +with the Elector of Brandenburg, with a view of raising +up enemies against his native country. The Elector +gave information to the Danish Government, whilst +apparently lending an ear to Ulfeldt’s propositions.</p> + +<p>When a sufficient body of evidence had been +collected, it was laid before the High Court of +Appeal in Copenhagen, and judgment given in his absence, +whereby he was condemned to an ignominious +death as a traitor, his property confiscated, his descendants +for ever exiled from Denmark, and a large +reward offered for his apprehension. The sentence is +dated July 24, 1663. Meanwhile Ulfeldt had been<a class="pagenum" name="Page_21" id="Page_21" title="[Pg 21]"></a> +staying with his family at Bruges. One day one of his +sons, Christian, saw General Fuchs, who had treated +his parents so badly at Hammershuus, driving through +the city in a carriage; immediately he leaped on to +the carriage and killed Fuchs on the spot. Christian +Ulfeldt had to fly, but the parents remained in Bruges, +where they had many friends.</p> + +<p>It was in the following spring, on May 24, 1663, +that Leonora Christina, much against her own inclination, +left her husband—as it proved, not to see +him again alive. Ulfeldt had on many occasions used +his wealth in order to gain friends, by lending them +money—probably the very worst method of all. It is +proved that at his death he still held bonds for more +than 500,000 dollars, or 100,000<i>l.</i>, which he had lent +to various princes and noblemen, and which were never +paid. Amongst others he had lent the Pretender, +afterwards Charles II., a large sum, about 20,000 +patacoons, which at the time he had raised with some +difficulty. He doubted not that the King of England, +now that he was able to do it, would recognise the debt +and repay it; and he desired Leonora, who, through her +father, was cousin of Charles II., once removed, to go +to England and claim it. She describes this journey +in her Autobiography.</p> + +<p>The Danish Government, hearing of her presence in +England, thought that Ulfeldt was there too, or hoped +at any rate to obtain possession of important documents +by arresting her, and demanded her extradition. The +British Government ostensibly refused, but underhand +it gave the Danish minister, Petcum, every assistance. +Leonora was arrested in Dover, where she had arrived +on her way back, disappointed in the object of her +journey. She had obtained enough and to spare of fair<a class="pagenum" name="Page_22" id="Page_22" title="[Pg 22]"></a> +promises, but no money; and by secretly giving her up +to the Danish Government, Charles II. in an easy way +quitted himself of the debt, at the same time that he +pleased the King of Denmark, without publicly +violating political propriety. Leonora’s account of +the whole affair is confirmed in every way by the +light which other documents throw upon the matter, +particularly by the extracts contained in the Calendar +of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reign of +Charles II., 1663-64.</p> + +<p>Leonora was now conducted to Copenhagen, where +she was confined in the Blue Tower—a square tower +surmounted by a blue spire, which stood in the court +of the royal castle, and was used as a prison for +grave offenders (see the engraving). At this point +the Memoir of her sufferings in the prison takes up +the thread of her history, and we need not here +dwell upon its contents.</p> + +<p>As soon as Ulfeldt heard that the Brandenburg +Government had betrayed him, and that sentence had +been passed on him in Copenhagen, he left Bruges. +No doubt the arrest of Leonora in England was a +still greater blow to him. The Spanish Government +would probably have surrendered him to the Danish +authorities, and he had to flee from place to place, +pursued by Danish agents demanding his extradition, +and men anxious to earn the reward offered for his +apprehension, dead or alive. His last abode was +Basle, where he passed under a feigned name, until a +quarrel between one of his sons and a stranger caused +the discovery of their secret. Not feeling himself safe, +Ulfeldt left Basle, alone, at night, in a boat descending +the Rhine; but he never reached his destination. He +was labouring under a violent attack on the chest, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_23" id="Page_23" title="[Pg 23]"></a> +the night air killed him. He breathed his last in the +boat, on February 20, 1664. The boatmen, concluding +from the gold and jewels which they found on him +that he was a person of consequence, brought the +body on shore, and made the matter known in Basle, +from whence his sons came and buried him under a +tree in a field—no one knows the spot.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the punishment of beheading and quartering +had been executed on a wooden effigy in Copenhagen. +His palace was demolished, and the site laid +out in a public square, on which a pillar of sandstone +was erected as an everlasting monument of his crimes. +This pillar was taken away in 1842, and the name was +changed from Ulfeldt Square to Greyfriars Square, as +an indication of the forgetting and forgiving spirit of the +time, or perhaps rather because the treason of Ulfeldt +was closely connected with the ancient jealousy between +Danes and Swedes, of which the present generation is +so anxious to efface the traces.</p> + +<p>His children had to seek new homes elsewhere. +Christian, who killed Fuchs, became a Roman Catholic +and died as an abbé; and none of them continued +the name, except the youngest son Leo, who went +into the service of the German Emperor, and rose +to the highest dignities. His son Corfits likewise +filled important offices under Charles VI. and Maria +Theresa, but left no sons. His two daughters +married respectively a Count Waldstein and a Count +Thun, whose descendants therefore now represent +the family of Ulfeldt.</p> + +<p>Leonora Christina remained in prison for twenty-two +years—that is, until the death of Sophia Amalia, +the Queen of Fredrik III. This King, as well as his +son Christian V., would willingly have set her at<a class="pagenum" name="Page_24" id="Page_24" title="[Pg 24]"></a> +liberty; but the influence of the Queen over her +husband and son was so strong that only her death, +which occurred in 1685, released Leonora.</p> + +<p>The Memoir of her life in prison terminates with +this event, and her after-life does not offer any very +remarkable incidents. Nevertheless, a few details, +chiefly drawn from a MS. in the Royal Library at +Copenhagen, recently published by Mr. Birket Smith, +may serve to complete the historical image of this +illustrious lady. The MS. in question is from the +hand of a Miss Urne, of an ancient Danish family, +who managed the household of Leonora from 1685 to +her death in 1698. A royal manor, formerly a convent, +at Maribo, on the island of Laaland, was granted to +Leonora shortly after her release from the Blue Tower, +together with a sufficient pension for a moderate establishment.</p> + +<p>‘The first occupation of the Countess,’ says Miss +Urne, ‘was devotion; for which purpose her household +was assembled in a room outside her bed-chamber. +In her daily morning prayer there was this passage: +“May the Lord help all prisoners, console the guilty, +and save the innocent!” After that she remained +the whole forenoon in her bedchamber, occupied in +reading and writing. She composed a book entitled +the “Ornament of Heroines,” which Countess +A. C. Ulfeldt and Count Leon took away with them, +together with many other rare writings. Her handiwork +is almost indescribable, and without an equal; +such as embroidering in silk, gold embroidery, and +turning in amber and ivory.’</p> + +<p>It will be seen from Leonora’s own Memoir that +needlework was one of her principal occupations in +her prison. Count Waldstein still possesses some<a class="pagenum" name="Page_25" id="Page_25" title="[Pg 25]"></a> +of her work; in the Church of Maribo an altar-cloth +embroidered by her existed still some time ago; and +at the Castle of Rosenborg, in Copenhagen, there +is a portrait of Christian V. worked by Leonora in +silk, in return for which present the King increased +her annual pension. Miss Urne says that she sent all +her work to Elizabeth Bek, a granddaughter of Leonora, +who lived with her for some years. But she +refused to send her Leonora’s Postille, or manual of +daily devotion, which had been given Leonora on +New Year’s Day, in the last year of her captivity, by +the castellan, Torslev, who is mentioned in Leonora’s +Memoir, and who had taught her to turn ivory, &c. +This book has disappeared; but amongst the relics +of Leonora Christina, the Royal Library at Copenhagen +preserves some leaves which had been bound +up with it, and contain verses, &c., by Leonora, and +other interesting matter.</p> + +<p>Her MS. works were taken to Vienna after her +death. It is not known what has become of some +of them. A copy of the first part of the book on +heroines exists in Copenhagen. Miss Urne says that +she possessed fragments of a play composed by her +and acted at Maribo Kloster; also the younger +Sperling speaks of such a composition in Danish +verse; but the MS. seems to be lost now.</p> + +<p>Several of Leonora’s relations stayed with her from +time to time at Maribo; amongst them the above-mentioned +Elizabeth Bek, whose mother, Leonora +Sophie, famous for her beauty, had married Lave Bek, +the head of an ancient Danish family in Skaane. +After Ulfeldt’s death Lave Bek demanded of the +Swedish Government the estates which Carl Gustav +had given to Ulfeldt in 1658, but which the Swedish<a class="pagenum" name="Page_26" id="Page_26" title="[Pg 26]"></a> +Government had afterwards confiscated, without any +legal ground. Leonora Christina herself memorialised +the Swedish King on the subject, and at least one of +her memorials on the subject, dated May 23, 1693, still +exists; but it was not till 1735 that these estates were +given up to Lave Bek’s sons. Leonora’s eldest +daughter, Anne Catherina, lived with her mother at +Maribo for several years, and was present at her +death. She had married Casetta, a Spanish nobleman, +mentioned by Leonora Christina in her Memoir, who +was with her in England when she was arrested. +After the death of Casetta and their children, Anne +Catherina Ulfeldt came to live with her mother. She +followed her brother to Vienna, where she died. It +was she who transmitted the MS. of Leonora’s Memoir +of her life in the Blue Tower to the brother, with the +following letter, which is still preserved with the MS.:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>‘This book treats of what has happened to our late +lady mother in her prison. I have not been able to +persuade myself to burn it, although the reading of it +has given me little pleasure, inasmuch as all those +events concern her miserable state. After all, it is not +without its use to know how she has been treated; but +it is not needful that it should come into the hands of +strangers, for it might happen to give pleasure to those +of our enemies who still remain.’</p></div> + +<p>The letter is addressed ‘A Monsieur, Monsieur le +Comte d’Ulfeldt,’ &c., but without date or signature. +The handwriting is, however, that of Anne Catherina +Ulfeldt, and she had probably sent it off to Vienna for +safety immediately after her mother’s death, before she +knew that her brother would come to Maribo himself.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_27" id="Page_27" title="[Pg 27]"></a> +Miss Urne says, in the MS. referred to, that the King +had ordered that he was to be informed immediately +of Leonora’s demise, in order that she might be buried +according to her rank and descent; but she had +beforehand requested that her funeral might be quite +plain. Her coffin, as well as those of three children +who had died young, and whose coffins had been provisionally +placed in a church at Copenhagen, was +immured in a vault in the church of Maribo; but when +this was opened some forty years ago, no trace of +Leonora’s mortal remains could be found, though those +of the children were there: from which it is concluded +that a popular report, to the effect that the body had +been secretly carried abroad, contains more truth than +was formerly supposed. Count Waldstein states that +in the family vault at Leitsmischl, there is one metal +coffin without any inscription, and which may be hers. +If so, Leonora has, as it were, after her death followed +her husband into exile. At any rate, the final resting-place +of neither of them is known with certainty.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_28" id="Page_28" title="[Pg 28]"></a><br /> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_29" id="Page_29" title="[Pg 29]"></a></div> + +<h2>AUTOBIOGRAPHY<br /> +OF<br /> +LEONORA CHRISTINA<br /> +1673.</h2> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_30" id="Page_30" title="[Pg 30]"></a><br /> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_31" id="Page_31" title="[Pg 31]"></a></div> + +<h3 class="larger"><a name="AUTOBIOGRAPHY" id="AUTOBIOGRAPHY"></a>AUTOBIOGRAPHY.</h3> + + +<p>Sir,<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>—To satisfy your curiosity, I will give you a short +account of the life of her about whom you desire to be +informed. She was born at Fredericksborg, in the year +1621, on June 11.<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> When she was six weeks old her +grandmother took her with her to Dalum, where she +remained until the age of four years; her first master +there being Mr. Envolt, afterward a priest at Roeskild. +About six months after her return to the Court, her +father sent her to Holland to his cousin, a Duchess of +Brunswick, who had married Count Ernest of Nassau, +and lived at Lewarden.</p> + +<p>Her sister Sophia, who was two years and a half +older than herself, and her brother, who was a year +younger, had gone to the aforesaid Duchess nearly a +year before. I must not forget to mention the first +mischances that befell her at her setting out. She +went by sea in one of the royal ships of war; having +been two days and a night at sea, at midnight such a +furious tempest arose that they all had given up any +hope of escaping. Her tutor, Wichmann Hassebart +(afterwards Bishop of Fyn), who attended her, woke +her and took her in his arms, saying, with tears, that<a class="pagenum" name="Page_32" id="Page_32" title="[Pg 32]"></a> +they should both die together, for he loved her tenderly. +He told her of the danger, that God was angry, +and that they would all be drowned. She caressed +him, treating him like a father (after her usual wont), +and begged him not to grieve; she was assured that +God was not angry, that He would see they would +not be drowned, beseeching him again and again to +believe her. Wichmann shed tears at her simplicity, +and prayed to God to save the rest for her sake, and +for the sake of the hope that she, an innocent girl, +reposed in Him. God heard him, and after having +lost the two mainmasts, they entered at dawn of day +the harbour of Fleckeröe,<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> where they remained for six +weeks.</p> + +<p>Having received orders to proceed by sea, they +pursued their route and arrived safely. Her sister +being informed of her arrival, and being told that she +had come with a different retinue to herself—with a +suite of gentlemen, lady preceptor, servants and attendants, +&c.—she burst into tears, and said that she was +not surprised that this sister always insinuated herself +and made herself a favourite, and that she would +be treated there too as such. M. Sophia was not +mistaken in this; for her sister was in greater favour +with the Duchess, with her governess, and with many +others, than she was herself. Count Ernest alone took +the side of M. Sophia, and this rather for the sake of +provoking his wife, who liked dispute; for M. Sophia +exhibited her obstinacy even towards himself. She +did all the mischief she could to her sister, and persuaded +her brother to do the same.</p> + +<p>To amuse you I will tell you of her first innocent<a class="pagenum" name="Page_33" id="Page_33" title="[Pg 33]"></a> +predilections. Count Ernest had a son of about eleven +or twelve years of age; he conceived an affection for +her, and having persuaded her that he loved her, and +that she would one day be his wife, but that this must +be kept secret, she fancied herself already secretly his +wife. He knew a little drawing, and by stealth he instructed +her; he even taught her some Latin words. +They never missed an opportunity of retiring from +company and conversing with each other.</p> + +<p>This enjoyment was of short duration for her; for a +little more than a year afterwards she fell ill of small-pox, +and as his elder brother, William, who had always +ridiculed these affections, urged him to see his well-beloved +in the condition in which she was, in order to +disgust him with the sight, he came one day to the +door to see her, and was so startled that he immediately +became ill, and died on the ninth day following. His +death was kept concealed from her. When she was +better she asked after him, and she was made to believe +that he was gone away with his mother (who was at this +time at Brunswick), attending the funeral of her mother. +His body had been embalmed, and had been placed in a +glass case. One day her preceptor made her go into +the hall where his body lay, to see if she recognised it; +he raised her in his arms to enable her to see it better. +She knew her dear Moritz at once, and was seized +with such a shock that she fell fainting to the ground. +Wichmann in consequence carried her hastily out of +the hall to recover her, and as the dead boy wore a +garland of rosemary, she never saw these flowers +without crying, and had an aversion to their smell, +which she still retains.</p> + +<p>As the wars between Germany and the King of +Denmark had been the cause of the removal of his<a class="pagenum" name="Page_34" id="Page_34" title="[Pg 34]"></a> +aforesaid children, they were recalled to Denmark +when peace was concluded. At the age of seven +years and two months she was affianced to a gentleman +of the King’s Chamber. She began very early +to suffer for his sake. Her governess was at this +time Mistress Anne Lycke, Qvitzow’s mother. Her +daughter, who was maid of honour, had imagined +that this gentleman made his frequent visits for love +of her. Seeing herself deceived, she did not know in +what manner to produce estrangement between the +lovers; she spoke, and made M. Sophia speak, of the +gentleman’s poverty, and amused herself with ridiculing +the number of children in the family. She regarded +all this with indifference, only declaring once that she +loved him, poor as he was, better than she loved her +rich gallant.<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>At last they grew weary of this, and found +another opportunity for troubling her—namely, the +illness of her betrothed, resulting from a complaint +in his leg; they presented her with plaisters, ointments, +and such like things, and talked together of the pleasure +of being married to a man who had his feet +diseased, &c. She did not answer a word either for +good or bad, so they grew weary of this also. A year +and a half after they had another governess, Catharina +Sehestedt, sister of Hannibal.<a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> M. Sophia thus lost +her second, and her sister had a little repose in this +quarter.</p> + +<p>When our lady was about twelve years old, +Francis Albert, Duke of Saxony,<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> came to Kolding<a class="pagenum" name="Page_35" id="Page_35" title="[Pg 35]"></a> +to demand her in marriage. The King replied that +she was no longer free, that she was already betrothed; +but the Duke was not satisfied with this, and spoke to +herself, and said a hundred fine things to her: that a +Duke was far different to a gentleman. She told him +she always obeyed the King, and since it had pleased +the King to promise her to a gentleman, she was well +satisfied. The Duke employed the governess to persuade +her, and the governess introduced him to her +brother Hannibal, then at the Court, and Hannibal +went with post-horses to Möen, where her betrothed +was, who did not linger long on the road in coming to +her. This was the beginning of the friendship between +Monsieur and Hannibal, which afterwards caused so +much injury to Monsieur. But he had not needed to +trouble himself, for the Duke never could draw from her +the declaration that she would be ready to give up her +betrothed if the King ordered her to do so. She told +him she hoped the King would not retract from his +first promise. The Duke departed ill satisfied, on the +very day the evening of which the betrothed arrived. +(Four years afterwards they quarrelled on this subject +in the presence of the King, who appeased them with +his authority.)</p> + +<p>It happened the following winter at Skanderborg +that the governess had a quarrel with the language-master, +Alexandre de Cuqvelson, who taught our +lady and her sisters the French language, writing, +arithmetic, and dancing. M. Sophia was not studious; +moreover, she had very little memory; for her heart +was too much devoted to her dolls, and as she perceived<a class="pagenum" name="Page_36" id="Page_36" title="[Pg 36]"></a> +that the governess did not punish her when Alexandre +complained of her, she neglected everything, and took +no trouble about her studies. Our lady imagined +she knew enough when she knew as much as her +sister. As this had lasted some time, the governess +thought she could entrap Alexandre; she accused him +to the King, said that he treated the children badly, +rapped their fingers, struck them on the hand, called +them bad names, &c., and with all this they could not +even read, much less speak, the French language. +Besides this, she wrote the same accusations to the +betrothed of our lady. The betrothed sent his servant +Wolff to Skanderborg, with menaces to Alexandre. +At the same time Alexandre was warned that the +King had sent for the prince,<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> to examine his children, +since the father-confessor was not acquainted with the +language.</p> + +<p>The tutor was in some dismay; he flattered our +lady, implored her to save him, which she could +easily do, since she had a good memory, so that he +could prove by her that it was not his fault that +M. Sophia was not more advanced. Our lady did +not yield readily, but called to his remembrance how +one day, about half a year ago, she had begged him +not to accuse her to the governess, but that he had +paid no attention to her tears, though he knew that +the governess treated them shamefully. He begged +her for the love of Jesus, wept like a child, said that +he should be ruined for ever, that it was an act of +mercy, that he would never accuse her, and that from +henceforth she should do nothing but what she wished. +At length she consented, said she would be diligent,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_37" id="Page_37" title="[Pg 37]"></a> +and since she had yet three weeks before her, she +learnt a good deal by heart.<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Alexandre told her +one day, towards the time of the examination, that +there was still a great favour she could render him: +if she would not repeat the little things which had +passed at school-time; for he could not always pay +attention to every word that he said when M. +Sophia irritated him, and if he had once taken the +rod to hit her fingers when she had not struck her +sister strongly enough, he begged her for the love +of God to pardon it. (It should be mentioned +that he wished the one to strike the other when they +committed faults, and the one who corrected the other +had to beat her, and if she did not do so strongly +enough, he took the office upon himself; thus he had +often beaten our lady.)</p> + +<p>She made excuses, said that she did not dare to +tell a lie if they asked her, but that she would not +accuse him of herself. This promise did not wholly +satisfy him; he continued his entreaties, and assured +her that a falsehood employed to extricate a friend +from danger was not a sin, but was agreeable to +God; moreover, it was not necessary for her to say +anything, only not to confess what she had seen and +heard. She said that the governess would treat her +ill; so he replied that she should have no occasion to +do so, for that he would never complain to her. Our +lady replied that the governess would find pretext +enough, since she was inclined to ill-treat the children; +and anyhow, the other master who taught them<a class="pagenum" name="Page_38" id="Page_38" title="[Pg 38]"></a> +German was a rude man, and an old man who taught +them the spinette was a torment, therefore she had +sufficient reason for fear. He did not give way, +but so persisted in his persuasion that she promised +everything.</p> + +<p>When the prince arrived the governess did not +forget to besiege him with her complaints, and to beg +him to use his influence that the tutor might be dismissed. +At length the day of the examination having +come, the governess told her young ladies an hour +before that they were to say how villanously he had +treated them, beaten them, &c. The prince came +into the apartments of the ladies accompanied by the +King’s father-confessor (at that time Dr. Ch(r)estien +Sar); the governess was present the whole time.</p> + +<p>They were first examined in German. M. Sophia +acquitted herself very indifferently, not being able to +read fluently. The master Christoffre excused her, +saying that she was timid. When it came to Alexandre’s +turn to show what his pupils could do, M. Sophia +could read little or nothing. When she stammered in +reading, the governess looked at the prince and +laughed aloud. There was no difference in the gospel, +psalms, proverbs, or suchlike things. The governess +was very glad, and would have liked that the other +should not have been examined. But when it came +to her turn to read in the Bible, and she did not +hesitate, the governess could no longer restrain herself, +and said, ‘Perhaps it is a passage she knows by heart +that you have made her read.’ Alexandre begged the +governess herself to give the lady another passage to +read. The governess was angry at this also, and +said, ‘He is ridiculing me because I do not know +French.’ The prince then opened the Bible and made<a class="pagenum" name="Page_39" id="Page_39" title="[Pg 39]"></a> +her read other passages, which she did as fluently as +before. In things by heart she showed such proficiency +that the prince was too impatient to listen +to all.</p> + +<p>It was then Alexandre’s turn to speak, and to +say that he hoped His Highness would graciously +consider that it was not his fault that M. Sophia was +not more advanced. The governess interrupted him +saying, ‘You are truly the cause of it, for you treat +her ill!’ and she began a torrent of accusations, +asking M. Sophia if they were not true. She +answered in the affirmative, and that she could not +conscientiously deny them. Then she asked our lady +if they were not true. She replied that she had never +heard nor seen anything of the kind. The governess, +in a rage, said to the Prince, ‘Your highness must +make her speak the truth; she dares not do so, for +Alexandre’s sake.’</p> + +<p>The Prince asked her if Alexandre had never +called her bad names—if he had never beaten her. +She replied, ‘Never.’ He asked again if she had +not seen nor heard that he had ill-treated her sister. +She replied, ‘No, she had never either heard or seen +it.’ At this the governess became furious; she spoke +to the prince in a low voice; the prince replied +aloud, ‘What do you wish me to do? I have no +order from the King to constrain her to anything.’ +Well, Alexandre gained his cause; the governess +could not dislodge him, and our lady gained more +than she had imagined in possessing the affection of +the King, the goodwill of the Prince, of the priest, +and of all those who knew her. But the governess +from that moment took every opportunity of revenging +herself on our lady.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_40" id="Page_40" title="[Pg 40]"></a> +At length she found one, which was rather absurd. +The old Jean Meinicken, who taught our lady the +spinette, one day, in a passion, seized the fingers +of our lady and struck them against the instrument; +without remembering the presence of her governess, +she took his hand and retaliated so strongly that the +strings broke. The governess heard with delight +the complaints of the old man. She prepared two +rods; she used them both, and, not satisfied with +that, she turned the thick end of one, and struck +our lady on the thigh, the mark of which she bears +to the present day. More than two months elapsed +before she recovered from the blow; she could not +dance, nor could she walk comfortably for weeks +after. This governess did her so much injury that at +last our lady was obliged to complain to her betrothed, +who had a quarrel with the governess at the wedding +of M. Sophia, and went straight to the King to accuse +her; she was at once dismissed, and the four children, +the eldest of which was our lady, went with the +princess<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> to Niköping, to pass the winter there, until +the king could get another governess. The King, who +had a good opinion of the conduct of our lady, who at +this time was thirteen years and four months old, wrote +to her and ordered her to take care of her sisters. +Our lady considered herself half a governess, so she +took care not to set them a bad example. As to study, +she gave no thought to it at this time; she occupied +herself in drawing and arithmetic, of which she was +very fond, and the princess, who was seventeen years<a class="pagenum" name="Page_41" id="Page_41" title="[Pg 41]"></a> +of age, delighted in her company. Thus this winter +passed very agreeably for her.</p> + +<p>At the approach of the Diet, which sat eight days +after Pentecost, the children came to Copenhagen, +with the prince and princess, and had as governess a +lady of Mecklenburg of the Blixen family, the mother +of Philip Barstorp who is still alive. After the Diet, +the king made a journey to Glückstad in two days and +a half, and our lady accompanied him; it pleased the +King that she was not weary, and that she could bear +up against inconveniences and fatigues. She afterwards +made several little journeys with the King, and +she had the good fortune occasionally to obtain the +pardon of some poor criminals, and to be in favour +with the king.</p> + +<p>Our lady having attained the age of fifteen years +and about four months, her betrothed obtained permission +for their marriage, which was celebrated (with +more pomp than the subsequent weddings of her +sisters), on October 9, 1636. The winter after her +marriage she was with her husband at Möen, and as +she knew that her husband’s father had not left him +any wealth, she asked him concerning his debts, +and conjured him to conceal nothing from her. He +said to her, ‘If I tell you the truth it will perhaps +frighten you.’ She declared it would not, and that she +would supply what was needful from her ornaments, +provided he would assure her that he had told her +everything<span class="corr" title="was: ,">.</span> He did so, and found that she was not +afraid to deprive herself of her gold, silver, and jewels, +in order to pay a sum of thirty-six thousand rix-dollars. +On April 21, 1637, she went with her husband to +Copenhagen in obedience to the order of the king,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_42" id="Page_42" title="[Pg 42]"></a> +who gave him the post of V.R.<a name="FNanchor_15" id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> He was again +obliged to incur debt in purchasing a house and in +setting up a larger establishment.</p> + +<p>There would be no end were I to tell you all the +mischances that befell her during the happy period of +her marriage, and of all the small contrarieties which +she endured; but since I am assured that this history +will not be seen by anyone, and that you will not keep +it after having read it, I will tell you a few points +which are worthy of attention. Those who were +envious of the good fortune of our lady could not +bear that she should lead a tranquil life, nor that she +should be held in esteem by her father and King; I +may call him thus, for the King conferred on her more +honours than were due to her from him. Her husband +loved and honoured her, enacting the lover more than +the husband.</p> + +<p>She spent her time in shooting, riding, tennis, in +learning drawing in good earnest from Charles v. +Mandern, in playing the viol, the flute, the guitar, +and she enjoyed a happy life. She knew well that +jealousy is a plague, and that it injures the mind which +harbours it. Her relations tried to infuse into her +head that her husband loved elsewhere, especially +M. Elizabet, and subsequently Anna, sister of her +husband, who was then in her house. M. Elizabet +began by mentioning it as a secret, premising that no +one could tell her and warn her, except her who was +her sister.</p> + +<p>As our lady at first said nothing and only smiled, +M. Elis... said: ‘The world says that you +know it well, but that you will not appear to do so.’<a class="pagenum" name="Page_43" id="Page_43" title="[Pg 43]"></a> +She replied with a question: ‘Why did she tell her +a thing as a secret, which she herself did not believe to +be a secret to her? but she would tell her a secret that +perhaps she did not know, which was, that she had +given her husband permission to spend his time with +others, and when she was satisfied the remainder +would be for others; that she believed there were no +such jealous women as those who were insatiable, but +that a wisdom was imputed to her, which she did not +possess; she begged her, however, to be wise enough +not to interfere with matters which did not concern her, +and if she heard others mentioning it (as our lady had +reason to believe that this was her own invention) that +she would give them a reprimand. M. Elis... was +indignant and went away angry, but Anna, Monsieur’s +sister, who was in the house, adopted another course. +She drew round her the handsomest women in the +town, and then played the procuress, spoke to her brother +of one particularly, who was a flirt, and who was the +handsomest, and offered him opportunities, &c. As +she saw that he was proof against it, she told him +(to excite him) that his wife was jealous, that she had +had him watched where he went when he had been +drinking with the King, to know whether he visited +this woman; she said that his wife was angry, because +the other woman was so beautiful, said that she +painted, &c.</p> + +<p>The love borne to our lady by her husband made +him tell her all, and, moreover, he went but rarely +afterwards to his sister’s apartments, from which she +could easily understand that the conversation had not +been agreeable to him; but our lady betrayed nothing +of the matter, visited her more than before, caressed +this lady more than any other, and even made her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_44" id="Page_44" title="[Pg 44]"></a> +considerable presents. (Anna remained in her house +as long as she lived.)</p> + +<p>All this is of small consideration compared with the +conduct of her own brother. It is well known to +you that the Biel... were very intimate in our +lady’s house. It happened that her brother made +a journey to Muscovy, and that the youngest of +the Biel... was in his suite. As this was a very +lawless youth, and, to say the truth, badly brought +up, he not only at times failed in respect to our +lady’s brother, but freely expressed his sentiments +to him upon matters which did not concern him; +among other things, he spoke ill of the Holstein +noblemen, naming especially one, who was then in +waiting on the King, who he said had deceived our +lady’s brother. The matter rested there for more +than a year after their return from this journey. The +brother of our lady and Biel... played cards together, +and disputed over them; upon this the brother +of our lady told the Holstein nobleman what Biel... +had said of him more than a year before, which B. +did not remember, and swore that he had never said. +The Holstein nobleman said insulting things against +Biel....</p> + +<p>Our lady conversed with her brother upon the affair, +and begged him to quiet the storm he had raised, +and to consider how it would cause an ill-feeling +with regard to him among the nobility, and that it +would seem that he could not keep to himself what +had been told him in secret; it would be very easy for +him to mend the matter. Her brother replied that he +could never retract what he had said, and that he +should consider the Holstein nobleman as a villain if +he did not treat B. as a rogue.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_45" id="Page_45" title="[Pg 45]"></a> +At length the Holstein nobleman behaved in such +a manner as to constrain B. to send him a challenge. +B. was killed by his adversary with the sword of +our lady’s brother, which she did not know till afterwards. +At noon of the day on which B. had been +killed in the morning, our lady went to the castle to +visit her little twin sisters; her brother was there, +and came forward, laughing loudly and saying, ‘Do +you know that Ran... has killed B...?’ +She replied, ‘No, that I did not know, but I knew +that you had killed him. Ran... could do nothing +less than defend himself, but you placed the sword +in his hand.’ Her brother, without answering a +word, mounted his horse and went to seek his +brother-in-law, who was speaking with our old friend,<a name="FNanchor_16" id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +told him he was the cause of B.’s death, and that +he had done so because he had understood that his +sister loved him, and that he did not believe that his +brother-in-law was so blind as not to have perceived +it. The husband of our lady did not receive this +speech in the way the other had imagined, and said, +‘If you were not her brother, I would stab you with +this poniard,’ showing it to him. ‘What reason have +you for speaking thus?’ The good-for-nothing fellow +was rather taken aback at this, and knew not what to +say, except that B... was too free and had no +respect in his demeanour; and that this was a true<a class="pagenum" name="Page_46" id="Page_46" title="[Pg 46]"></a> +sign of love. At length, after some discussion on +both sides, the brother of our lady requested that not +a word might be said to his sister.</p> + +<p>As soon as she returned home, her husband told +her everything in the presence of our old friend, but +ordered her to feign ignorance. This was all the +more easy for her, as her husband gave no credence +to it, but trusted in her innocence. She let nothing +appear, but lived with her brother as before. But +some years after, her brother ill-treated his own mother, +and her side being taken by our lady, they were in +consequence not good friends.</p> + +<p>In speaking to you of the occupations of our lady, +after having reached the age of twenty-one or thereabouts, +I must tell you she had a great desire to learn +Latin. She had a very excellent master,<a name="FNanchor_17" id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> whom you +know, and who taught her for friendship as well as +with good will. But she had so many irons in the fire, +and sometimes it was necessary to take a journey, and +a yearly accouchement (to the number of ten) prevented +her making much progress; she understood +a little easy Latin, but attempted nothing difficult; +she then learnt a little Italian, which she continued +studying whenever an opportunity presented itself.</p> + +<p>I will not speak of her short journeys to Holstein, +Jutland, &c.; but in the year 1646 she made a voyage +with her husband by sea, in the first place to Holland, +where she gave birth to a son six weeks after her +arrival at the Hague. From thence she went with +her husband to France, first to Paris and afterwards to +Amiens; there they took leave of the King and of the +Queen Mother, Regent, and as they were returning by +Dunkirk she had the curiosity to see England, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_47" id="Page_47" title="[Pg 47]"></a> +begged her husband to permit her to cross over with a +small suite, to which he consented, since one of the +royal vessels lay in the roads. She took a nobleman +with her who knew the language, our old friend, a +servant, and the valet of the aforesaid nobleman, and +this was the whole of her retinue. She embarked, and +her husband planned to pass through Flanders and +Brabant, and to await her at Rotterdam. As she was +on the vessel a day and night, and the wind did not +favour them, she resolved to land and to follow her +husband, fancying she could reach him in time to see +Flanders and Brabant; she had not visited these +countries before, having passed from Holland by sea to +Calais.</p> + +<p>She found her husband at Ostend, and travelled with +him to Rotterdam; from thence she pursued her former +plan, embarked at Helvoot-Sluys, and arrived at Duns, +went to London, and returned by Dover, making the +whole voyage in ten days, and she was again enceinte. +She was an object of suspicion in London. The Prince +Palatine, then Elector of Heidelberg,<a name="FNanchor_18" id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> belonged to the +party opposed to the beheaded King, who was then a +prisoner; and they watched her and surrounded her +with spies, so she did not make a long sojourn in +London. Nothing else was imagined, when it was +known she had been there, but that she had letters from +the King of Dan... for the King of Engl.... +She returned with her husband to Dan....</p> + +<p>In the year 1648 fortune abandoned our lady, for on +February 28 the King was taken from her by death. +She had the happiness, however, of attending upon him +until his last breath. Good God, when I think of what +this good King said to her the first day, when she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_48" id="Page_48" title="[Pg 48]"></a> +found him ill in bed at Rosenborg, and wept abundantly, +my heart is touched. He begged her not to weep, +caressed her, and said: ‘I have placed you so securely +that no one can move you.’ Only too much has she +felt the contrary of the promise of the King who +succeeded him, for when he was Duke and visited +her at her house, a few days after the death of the +King, finding her in tears, he embraced her, saying: +‘I will be a father to you, do not weep.’ She kissed +his hand without being able to speak. I find +that some fathers have been unnatural towards their +children.</p> + +<p>In the year 1649 she made another voyage with her +husband to Holland, and at the Hague gave birth to +a daughter. When her husband returned from this +journey, he for the first time perceived the designs of +Hannibal, of Gerstorp, and Wibe, but too late. He +absented himself from business, and would not listen +to what his wife told him. Our old friend shared the +opinion of our lady, adducing very strong reason for it, +but all in vain; he said, that he would not be a perpetual +slave for the convenience of his friends. His +wife spoke as a prophet to him, told him that he would +be treated as a slave when he had ceased to have +authority, that they would suspect him, and envy his +wealth; all of which took place, though I shall make no +recital of it, since these events are sufficiently known +to you.</p> + +<p>We will now speak a little of the events which +occurred afterwards. When they had gained their +cause,<a name="FNanchor_19" id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> our lady feared that the strong party which +they had then overcome would not rest without +ruining them utterly at any cost; so she advised her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_49" id="Page_49" title="[Pg 49]"></a> +husband to leave the country, since he had the King’s +permission to do so,<a name="FNanchor_20" id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and to save his life, otherwise his +enemies would contrive some other invention which +would succeed better. He consented to this at length, +and they took their two eldest children with them, and +went by sea to Amsterdam. At Utrecht they left the +children with the servants and a female attendant, and +our lady disguised herself in male attire and followed +her husband, who took the route to Lubeck, and from +thence by sea to Sweden, to ask the protection of +Queen Christina, which he received; and as the Queen +knew that his wife was with him in disguise, she +requested to see her, which she did.</p> + +<p>The husband of our lady purposed to remain some +time in Pomerania, and the Queen lent him a vessel +to convey him thither. Having been three days at +sea, the wind carried them towards Dantzig, and not +being able to enter the town, for it was too late, they +remained outside the gates at a low inn. An +adventure fit for a novel here happened to our lady. +A girl of sixteen, or a little more, believing that our +lady was a young man, threw herself on her neck with +caresses, to which our lady responded, and played +with the girl, but, as our lady perceived what the +girl meant, and that she could not satisfy her, she +turned her over to Charles, a man of their suite, +thinking he would answer her purpose; he offered the +girl his attentions, but she repelled him rudely, saying, +she was not for him, and went again to our lady, +accosting her in the same way. Our lady got rid of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_50" id="Page_50" title="[Pg 50]"></a> +her, but with difficulty however, for she was somewhat +impudent, and our lady did not dare to leave her +apartment. For the sake of amusing you, I must tell +you, what now occurs to me, that in the fort before +Stade, the name of which has escaped me, our lady +played with two soldiers for drink, and her husband, +who passed for her uncle, paid the expenses; the +soldiers, willing to lose for the sake of gaining the beer, +and astonished that she never lost, were, however, civil +enough to present her with drink.</p> + +<p>We must return to Dantzig. The husband of our +lady, finding himself near Thoren, desired to make +an excursion there, but his design was interrupted by +two men, one who had formerly served in Norway +as Lieutenant-Colonel, and a charlatan who called +himself Dr. Saar, and who had been expelled from +Copenhagen. They asked the Mayor of the town +to arrest these two persons, believing that our lady +was Ebbe Wl....<a name="FNanchor_21" id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> They were warned by their host +that these persons said they were so-and-so, and that +these gentlemen were at the door to prevent their +going out. Towards evening they grew tired of +keeping guard, and went away. Before dawn the +husband of our lady went out of the house first, and +waited at the gate, and our lady with the two servants +went in a coach to wait at the other gate until it was +opened; thus they escaped this time.</p> + +<p>They went by land to Stralsund, where our lady +resumed her own attire, after having been in disguise +twelve weeks and four days, and having endured +many inconveniences, not having gone to bed all the +time, except at Stockholm, Dantzig, and Stettin. She<a class="pagenum" name="Page_51" id="Page_51" title="[Pg 51]"></a> +even washed the clothes, which inconvenienced her +much. The winter that they passed at Stralsund, +her husband taught her, or rather began to teach her, +Spanish. In the spring they again made a voyage to +Stockholm, at the desire of Queen Chr.... This +good Queen, who liked intrigue, tried to excite +jealousy and to make people jealous, but she did not +succeed. They were in Sweden until after the abdication +of the Queen, and the wedding and coronation of +King Charles and Queen Hedevig, which was in the +year 1654. They returned to Pomerania for a visit to +Barth, which they possessed as a mortgage. There, +our lady passed her time in study, sometimes occupied +with a Latin book, sometimes with a Spanish one. +She translated a small Spanish work, entitled <i>Matthias +de los Reyos</i>; but this book since fell into the hands of +others, as well as the first part of <i>Cleopatre</i>, which she +had translated from the French, with matters of greater +value.</p> + +<p>In the year 1657,<a name="FNanchor_22" id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> her husband persuaded her to +make a voyage to Dannem... to try and gain an +audience with the King, and see if she could not +obtain some payment from persons who owed them +money. Our lady found various pleas for not undertaking +this voyage, seeing a hundred difficulties against +its successful issue; but her husband besought her to +attempt it, and our old friend shared her husband’s +opinion that nothing could be done to her, that she +was under the protection of the King of Sweden, and +not banished from Dan... with similar arguments. +At length she yielded, and made the journey in the +winter, travelling in a coach with six horses, a secretary,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_52" id="Page_52" title="[Pg 52]"></a> +a man on horseback, a female attendant, a page +and a lacquey—that was all. She went first to see her +mother in Jutland, and remained there three days; +this was immediately known at the Court.</p> + +<p>When she had passed the Belt, and was within +cannon-shot of Corsör, she was met by Uldrich Chr. +Guldenl...,<a name="FNanchor_23" id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> who was on the point of going to +Jutland to fetch her. He returned with his galley +and landed; she remained in her vessel, waiting for +her carriage to be put on shore. Guld... impatient, +could not wait so long, and sent the burgomaster +Brant to tell her to come ashore, as he had +something to say to her. She replied that if he had +anything to say to her, he ought to show her the +attention of coming to her. Brant went with this +answer; awaiting its issue, our lady looked at her +attendants and perceived a change in them all. Her +female attendant was seized with an attack from +which she suffers still, a trembling of the head, while +her eyes remained fixed. The secretary trembled so +that his teeth chattered. Charles was quite pale, as +were all the others. Our lady spoke to them, and +asked them why they were afraid; for her they had +nothing to fear, and less for themselves. The +secretary answered, ‘They will soon let us know +that.’ Brant returned with the same message, with +the addition that Gul... was bearer of the King’s +order, and that our lady ought to come to him at the +Castle to hear the King’s order. She replied that she +respected the King’s order there as well as at the +castle; that she wished that Gul... would please to +let her know there the order of His Majesty; and when<a class="pagenum" name="Page_53" id="Page_53" title="[Pg 53]"></a> +Brant tried to persuade her, saying continually, ‘Oh! +do give in, do give in!’ she used the same expression, +and said also, ‘Beg Gul... to give in,’ &c. At +length she said, ‘Give me sufficient time to have two +horses harnessed, for I cannot imagine he would wish +me to go on foot.’</p> + +<p>When she reached the castle she had the coach +pulled up. Brant came forward to beg her to enter +the castle; she refused, and said she would not enter; +that if he wished to speak to her he must come to +her, that she had come more than half-way. Brant +went, and returned once again, but she said the +same, adding that he might do all that seemed +good to him, she should not stir from the spot. At +length the <a class="corr" name="corr_1" id="corr_1" title="was: good-for nothing">good-for-nothing</a> fellow came down, and +when he was ready to speak to her, she opened the +coach and got out. He said a few polite words to +her, and then presented her with an order from the +King, written in the chancery, the contents of which +were, that she must hasten to depart from the King’s +territory, or she would have to thank herself for any +ill that might befall her. Having read the order she +bowed, and returned him the order, which was intended +to warn her, saying, ‘That she hoped to have +been permitted to kiss the King’s hand, but as her +enemies had hindered this happiness by such an order, +there was nothing left for her but to obey in all +humility, and thanking His Majesty most humbly for +the warning, she would hasten as quickly as possible +to obey His Majesty’s commands. She asked if she +were permitted to take a little refreshment, for that +they had had contrary winds and had been at sea all +day. Gul... answered in the negative, that he did +not dare to give her the permission; and since she had<a class="pagenum" name="Page_54" id="Page_54" title="[Pg 54]"></a> +obeyed with such great submission, he would not show +her the other order that he had, asking her at the +same moment if she wished to see this other order? +She said, no; that she would abide by the order that +she had seen, and that she would immediately embark +on board her ferry-boat to return. Gul... gave +her his hand, and begged her to make use of his galley.</p> + +<p>She did so. They went half the way without speaking; +at length Gul... broke the silence, and they +entered into conversation. He told her that the King +had been made to believe that she had assembled a +number of noblemen at her mother’s house, and that +he had orders to disperse this cabal. They had a long +conversation together, and spoke of Dina’s affair; he +said the King did not yet know the real truth of it. +She complained that the King had not tried to know +it. At length they arrived by night at Nyborg. +Gul... accompanied her to her hostelry, and went +to his own, and an hour afterwards sent Scherning<a name="FNanchor_24" id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> +to tell her that at dawn of day she must be ready, in +order that they might arrive at Assens the next +evening, which it was impossible to do with her own +horses, as they did not arrive till morning. She +assented, saying she would act in obedience to his +orders, began talking with Scherning, and conversed +with him about other matters. I do not know how, +but she gained his good graces, and he prevailed so far +with Gul... that Gul... did not hasten her +unduly. Towards nine o’clock the next morning he +came to tell her that he did not think it necessary to +accompany her further, but he hoped she would follow +the King’s order, and begged her to speak with Kay v.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_55" id="Page_55" title="[Pg 55]"></a> +Ahlefeld at Haderslef, when she was passing through; +he had received orders as to what he had to do. She +promised this, and Gul... returned to Copenhagen, +placing a man with our lady to watch her.</p> + +<p>Our lady did not think it necessary to speak to +Kay v. Ahlefeld, for she had nothing to say to him, +and she did not want to see more orders; she passed +by Haderslef, and went to Apenrade, and awaited +there for ten days<a name="FNanchor_25" id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> a letter from <a class="corr" name="corr_2" id="corr_2" title="was: Gl...">Gul...</a> which he +had promised to write to her; when she saw that he +was not going to keep his word she started on her +way to Slesvig, halting half way with the intention of +dining. Holst, the clerk of the bailiwick of Flensborg, +here arrived in a coach with two arquebuses larger +and longer than halberds. He gave orders to close +the bar of Boy..., sent to the village, which is +quite close, that the peasants should hold themselves +ready with their spears and arms, and made four +persons who were in the tavern take the same arms, +that is, large poles. Afterwards he entered and made +a long speech, with no end of compliments to our +lady, to while away the time. The matter was, that +the governor<a name="FNanchor_26" id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> desired her to go to Flensborg, as he +had something to say to her, and he hoped she would +do him the pleasure to rest a night at Flensborg.</p> + +<p>Our lady replied that she had not the pleasure of +his acquaintance, and therefore she thought he took<a class="pagenum" name="Page_56" id="Page_56" title="[Pg 56]"></a> +her for someone else; if she could oblige him in +anything she would remain at Slesvig the following +day, in order to know in what she could serve him. +No, it was not that; he repeated his request. She +ordered Charles to have the horses put to. Holst +understood this, which was said in French, and begged +her for the love of God not to set out; he had orders +not to let her depart. ‘You,’ said she, in a somewhat +haughty tone, ‘who are you? With what authority +do you speak thus?’ He said he had no written +order, but by word of mouth, and that his governor +would soon arrive; he begged her for the love of God +to pardon him. He was a servant, he was willing to +be trodden under her feet. She said: ‘It is not for +you to pay me compliments, still less to detain me, since +you cannot show me the King’s order, but it is for me +to think what I ought to do.’</p> + +<p>She went out and ordered her lacquey, who was the +only determined one of her suite, to make himself +master of Holst’s chariot and arquebuses. Holst +followed her, begging her a hundred times, saying, ‘I +do not dare to let you pass, I do not dare to open +the bar.’ She said, ‘I do not ask you to open;’ she +got into the coach. Holst put his hand upon the +coach-door and sang the old song. Our lady, who +had always pistols in her carriage when she travelled, +drew out one and presented it to him saying, ‘Draw +back, or I will give you the contents of this.’ He was +not slow in letting go his hold; then she threw a +<a class="corr" name="corr_3" id="corr_3" title="was: patacon">patacoon</a> to those who were to restrain her, saying, +‘Here is something for drink; help in letting the +carriage pass the fosse!’ which they immediately did.</p> + +<p>Not a quarter of an hour after she had gone, the +governor arrived with another chariot. There were<a class="pagenum" name="Page_57" id="Page_57" title="[Pg 57]"></a> +two men and four guns in each chariot. Our lady +was warned of the pursuit; she begged her two coachmen, +whom she had for herself and her baggage, to dispute +them the road as much as they could; she ordered +Charles always to remain at the side of her carriage, in +order that she might throw herself upon the horse if +she saw that they gained ground. She took off her +furred robe. They disputed the road up to the bridge, +which separated the territory of the King from that of +the Duke.</p> + +<p>When she had passed the bridge she stopped, put +on her robe, and alighted. The others paused on the +other side of the bridge to look at her, and thus she +escaped again for this time.<a name="FNanchor_27" id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> But it was amusing to +see how the secretary perspired, what fright he was in; +he did not afterwards pretend to bravery, but freely +confessed that he was half dead with fear. She +returned to Barth, and found her husband very very +ill. Our old friend had almost given up all hope of +his recovery, but her presence acted as a miracle; he +was sufficiently strong in the morning to be taken out +of bed, to the great surprise of our old friend.</p> + +<p>Just as our lady was thinking of passing some days +in tranquillity, occupied in light study, in trifling work, +distillations, confectionery, and such like things, her +husband mixed himself in the wars. The King of +Sweden sent after him to Stettin; he told his wife +that he would have nothing to do with them. He did +not keep his word, however; he did not return to Barth, +but went straight off with the King. She knew he +was not provided with anything; she saw the danger<a class="pagenum" name="Page_58" id="Page_58" title="[Pg 58]"></a> +to which he was exposed, she wished to share it; she +equipped herself in haste, and, without his sending for +her, went to join him at Ottensen. He wished to +persuade her to return to Hamburgh, and spoke to +her of the great danger; she said the danger was the +reason why she wished to bear him company, and +to share it with him; so she went with him, and +passed few days without uneasiness, especially when +Friderichsodde was taken; she feared for both +husband and son. There she had the happiness of +reconciling the C. Wrangel and the C. Jaques,<a name="FNanchor_28" id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> which +her husband had believed impossible, not having been +able to succeed. She had also the good fortune to +cure her eldest son and eight of her servants of a +malignant fever named Sprinckeln; there was no +doctor at that time with the army, our old friend +having left.</p> + +<p>When her husband passed with the King to Seeland, +she remained at Fyen. The day that she had resolved +to set out on the following to return to Schone, +a post arrived with news that her mother was at the +point of death and wished to speak to her; she posted +to Jutland, found Madame very ill and with no hope +of life. She had only been there one night, when her +husband sent a messenger to say that if she wished +to see him alive she must lose no time. Our lady +was herself ill; she had to leave her mother, who was +already half dead; she had to take her last farewell in +great sorrow, and to go with all speed to seek her +husband, who was very ill at Malmöe. Two days +afterwards she received the tidings of her mother’s +death, and as soon as the health of her husband<a class="pagenum" name="Page_59" id="Page_59" title="[Pg 59]"></a> +permitted it, she went to Jutland to give the necessary +orders for her mother’s funeral. She returned once +more to Schone before the burial; after the funeral<a name="FNanchor_29" id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> +she went to Copenhagen and revisited Malmöe one +day before the King of Sweden began the war for the +second time and appeared before Kopenh....</p> + +<p>In the year 1659 the King of Sweden ordered her +husband to be arrested at Malmöe. She went immediately +to Helsingör to speak to the King, but had +not the happiness of speaking to him; on the contrary, +the King sent two of his counsellors to tell her that +she was free to choose whether she would return to her +estates and superintend them, or go back to Malmöe +and be arrested with her husband. She thanked His +Majesty very humbly for the favour of the choice; +she chose to suffer with her husband, and was glad to +have the happiness of serving him in his affliction, +and bearing the burden with him which would lighten +it to him.</p> + +<p>She returned to Malmöe with these news; her husband +exhibited too much grief that she was not permitted +to solicit on his behalf, and she consoled him as well +as she was able. A few days after, an officer came to +their house and irritated her husband so much by his +impertinent manner that he had a fit of apoplexy. +Our lady was overwhelmed with sorrow; she sent for +the priest the next morning, made her husband receive +the holy communion, and received it herself. She +knew not at what hour she might be a widow; no one +came to see her, no one in <a class="corr" name="corr_4" id="corr_4" title="was: consequenec">consequence</a> consoled her, +and she had to console herself. She had a husband<a class="pagenum" name="Page_60" id="Page_60" title="[Pg 60]"></a> +who was neither living nor dead; he ate and drank; +he spoke, but no one could understand him.</p> + +<p>About eight months after, the King began to take +proceedings against her husband, and in order to make +her answer for her husband they mixed her up in +certain points as having asked for news: whence the +young lady was taken whom her husband brought to +Copenhagen? who was Trolle? and that she had kept +the property of a Danish nobleman in her house.<a name="FNanchor_30" id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> +Since her husband was ill, the King graciously permitted +her to answer for him; thus they proceeded +with her for nine weeks in succession; she had no +other assistance in copying her defence than her eldest +daughter, then very young. She was permitted to +make use of Wolff, for receiving the accusations and +taking back the replies, but he wrote nothing for her. +If you are interested in knowing the proceedings, Kield<a name="FNanchor_31" id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +can give you information respecting them.</p> + +<p>When the proceedings had lasted so many weeks, +and she had answered with regard to the conversations +which it was said her husband had had with one +and another, they fancied that her husband feigned +illness. Four doctors were sent with the commandant +to visit the sick man, and they found that he was +really ill; not content with this, they established the +Court in his house, for they were ashamed to make +her come to them. They caused the city magistrate +to come, placing him on one side of the hall, and on<a class="pagenum" name="Page_61" id="Page_61" title="[Pg 61]"></a> +the other the Danish noblemen who were under arrest, +all as witnesses; eight Commissioners sat at a round +table, the lawyer in front of the table and two clerks +at another table; having made these arrangements, +our lady was desired to enter.</p> + +<p>We must mention, in the first place, that two of the +delinquents who were executed afterwards, and another, +together with one of the servants of her husband, +were brought there. The principal delinquents were +summoned first, and afterwards the others, to take an +oath that they would speak the truth. We must +mention that these gentlemen were already condemned, +and were executed a few days afterwards. +When the lawyer had said that <a class="corr" name="corr_5" id="corr_5" title="was: t hey">they</a> had now taken +their oaths according to the law, our lady said, ‘Post +festum! After having proceeded against my husband +so many weeks, having based everything on the +tattle of these delinquents, you come, after they are +condemned to suffer for their trespasses, and make +them take an oath. I do not know if this is conformable +to law!’</p> + +<p>The lawyer made no reply to this, and, thinking to +confuse our lady, said that he found things contrary +the one to the other, cited passages, leaves, lines, and +asked her if she could make these things agree. +She, having at that time a good memory, remembered +well what her own judgment had dictated to her, and +said that they would not find her replies what the +lawyer said, but so-and-so, and asked that they should +be read openly, which was done. The lawyer made +three attempts of the same kind; when they saw +there was nothing to be gained by this, the Commissioners +attacked her three at a time, one putting one +question and another, another. She said to them<a class="pagenum" name="Page_62" id="Page_62" title="[Pg 62]"></a> +quietly, ‘Messieurs, with your permission, let one speak +at a time, for I am but one, and I cannot answer three +at once!’ At which they were all a little ashamed.</p> + +<p>The principal point to which they adhered was, that +her husband was a vassal by oath, and a servant of the +King, with which assertion they parried every objection. +She proved that it was not so, that her husband was +neither vassal nor a servant; he had his lands under +the King just as many Swedes had elsewhere, without +on that account being vassals; that he had never taken +an oath of fidelity to the King of Sweden, but that +he had shown him much fidelity; that he owed him +no obligation—this she showed by a letter from the +King, in which he thanked him for his services, and +hoped so to act that he would render him still more. +She shut the mouth of the delinquent,<a name="FNanchor_32" id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> and begged the +Commissioners to reflect on what she had said.</p> + +<p>When all was over, after the space of three hours, +she requested that the protocol might be read before +her. The President said that she need have no doubt +the protocol was correct, that she should have a copy +of it, that they now understood the matter, and would +make a faithful report of it to the King. No sentence +was passed, and they remained under arrest. The +King of Sweden died, and peace was concluded, but +they remained under arrest. A friend came to inform +them, one day, that there was a vessel of war in the +roads, which was to take them to Finland. When +she saw her husband a little recovered, that he could +use his judgment, she advised him to escape and go to +Lubeck. She would go to Copenhagen and try to +arrange the matter. He consented to it, and she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_63" id="Page_63" title="[Pg 63]"></a> +contrived to let him out in spite of all the guards +round the house (thirty-six in number).</p> + +<p>When she received the news that he had passed +and could reckon that he was on his way to Lubeck, +she escaped also, and went straight to Copenh.... +Having arrived there, she found her husband arrived +before her; she was much surprised and vexed, +fearing what happened afterwards, but he had flattered +himself so with the comfortable hope that he would +enter into the good graces of the King. The next day +they were both arrested and brought to Borringh...<a name="FNanchor_33" id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>; +her husband was ill; on arriving at Borr... they +placed him on a litter and brought him from the town +to the castle, a distance of about two leagues.</p> + +<p>It would weary you to tell you of all that passed +at Borr... If you take pleasure in knowing it, there +is a man in Hamburgh who can tell it you.<a name="FNanchor_34" id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> I will +tell you, however, a part and the chief of what I +remember concerning it. At Rönne, the town where +they disembarked at Borringh——, our lady wrote +to the King and to the Queen in the name of her +husband, who was ill, as I have already said, and gave +the memorials to Colonel Rantzou, who promised to +deliver them, and who gave hopes of success.<a name="FNanchor_35" id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> There +Fos arrived and conveyed them to the Castle of +Hammershuus. The governor Fos saw that our lady +had a small box with her, and was seized with the +desire to know what was in it and to possess himself +of it. He sent one Dina, the wife of the warder to our +lady, to offer to procure a boat for their escape. There<a class="pagenum" name="Page_64" id="Page_64" title="[Pg 64]"></a> +is no doubt she accepted the offer, and promised in +return five hundred crowns. This was enough for +Fos; he went one night with the Major to their +apartment, thundered like a madman, said that they +wished to betray him, &c.; the end of the farce was, +that he took the box, but, for the sake of a little +ceremony, he sealed it with her husband’s seal, +promising to keep it for its safety.</p> + +<p>About three weeks after, he took the two prisoners +to walk a little in the fields; the husband would not +go, but the wife went out to take the air. The traitor +gave her a long history of his past adventures, how +many times he had been in prison, some instances of +how great lords had been saved by the assistance of +those they had gained over, and made their fortune. +He thought they would do the same. She said she +had not much to dispose of, but besides that, they +would find other means for rewarding such a service. +He said he would think of it, that he had nothing to +lose in <a class="corr" name="corr_6" id="corr_6" title="was: Den...">Dan...</a>.</p> + +<p>After various discussions from day to day, her +husband wished her to offer him 20,000 rix-dollars; +this sum seemed to him too little, and he asked 50,000 +dollars. She said that she could easily promise it, but +could not keep her word, but provided it was twenty +she would pay it. He asked for a security; her +husband had a note which would give security, but +our lady did not think it good that he should see this +note, and told Fos that in her box there was a letter +that could secure it; she did not know that he had +already opened the box. Some days after, she asked +him if he had made up his mind? He said, ‘I will +not do it for less than 50,000, and there is no letter in +your box which would secure it to me. I have opened<a class="pagenum" name="Page_65" id="Page_65" title="[Pg 65]"></a> +it; to-morrow I will send it to Copenh....’ She +asked him quietly if he had done right in breaking her +husband’s seal; he answered rudely that he would take +the responsibility.</p> + +<p>Towards autumn, Hannibal and the other heirs of +our lady’s mother sent to her husband to notify to him +that they could not longer delay dividing the inheritance, +and since they knew that he had in his possession +papers of importance, they requested to be +informed of them. Her husband stated in his reply +that Fos had taken his letters, and that in a rude +manner. This answer having been read in the presence +of Fos, he flew in a thundering rage, used +abusive language first to the husband and then to the +wife, her husband having firmly promised our lady not +to dispute with this villain, for she feared some evil +might result, but to leave her to answer, for Fos would +be answered.</p> + +<p>She was not angry; she ridiculed him and his +invectives. At length he told her that she had offered +him 20,000 dollars to induce him to become a traitor; +she replied with calmness, ‘If it had been 50,000, +what then?’ Fos leapt into the air like an enraged +animal, and said that she lied like a ——, &c. She +was not moved, but said ‘You speak like an ass!’ +Upon this he loaded her with abuse, and then retracted +all that he had just said. She said quite quietly, ‘I +am not going to appeal to these gentlemen who are +present (there were four) to be witnesses, for this is +an affair that will never be judicially settled, and +nothing can efface this insult but blood.’ ‘Oh!’ said +he, seizing his sword, and drawing it a little out of the +scabbard, ‘this is what I wear for you, madam.’ She, +smiling, drew the bodkin from her hair, saying, ‘Here<a class="pagenum" name="Page_66" id="Page_66" title="[Pg 66]"></a> +are all the arms at present which I have for you.’ He +manifested a little shame, and said that it was not for +her but her sons, if she still had four.<a name="FNanchor_36" id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> She, moreover, +ridiculed him, and said that it was no use his +acting the brave there. In short, books could be filled +with all the quarrels between these two persons from +time to time. He shouted at times with all his might, +he spoke like a torrent, and foamed at the mouth, and +the next moment he would speak low like another +man. When he shouted so loudly, our lady said, +‘The fever is attacking him again!’ He was enraged +at this.</p> + +<p>Some weeks afterwards he came to visit them, and +assumed a humble manner. Our lady took no notice +of it, and spoke with him on indifferent subjects; but +her husband would not speak to him, and never afterwards +was he able to draw from him more than a few +words. Towards Christmas, Fos treated the prisoners +very ill, more so than formerly, so that Monsieur sent +the servant to beg him to treat him as a gentleman +and not as a peasant. Fos went to them immediately, +after having abused Monsieur’s servant; and as he +entered, Monsieur left the apartment and went into +another, and refused to give him his hand. Fos was +enraged at this, and would not remain, nor would he +speak a word to our lady, who begged him to hear her. +A moment after, he caused the door to be bolted, +so that they could not go out to take the air, for +they before had free access to a loft. At every +Festival he devised means of annoying them; he +closed all the windows, putting to some bars of iron, +and to others wooden framework and boxes; and as to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_67" id="Page_67" title="[Pg 67]"></a> +their food, it was worse than ever. They had to +endure that winter in patience; but as they perceived +that Fos’s design was that they should die of hunger, +they resolved to hazard an escape, and made preparation +through the winter, in order to escape as soon +as the thaw would set in.</p> + +<p>Our lady, who had three pairs of sheets that her +children had sent her, undid some articles of clothing +and made cordage and a sail; she sewed them with +silk, for she had no thread. Her husband and the +servant worked at the oars. When the moon was +favourable to them in the month of April, they +wished to carry out the plan they had been projecting +for so long a time. Our lady was the first to make +the descent: the height was seventy-two feet; she +went on to the ravelin to await the others. Some +time elapsed before her husband came, so she returned, +and at last she heard a great noise among +the ropes, her husband having lost a shoe in his +descent. They had still to wait for the valet; he had +forgotten the cord, and said that he could not carry it +with him.</p> + +<p>It was <a class="corr" name="corr_7" id="corr_7" title="was: neccessary">necessary</a> to descend the rampart into the +moats, which were dry; the height is about forty feet. +Our lady was the first to descend; she helped her +husband, for his strength was already failing. When +they were all three in the fosse, the moon was obscured +and a little rain fell. This was unfortunate, as they +could not see which road to take. Her husband said +it would be better to remain where they were till daylight, +for they might break their necks in descending +the rocks. The servant said he knew the way, as he had +observed it when the window was free; that he would +go in front. He went in advance, gliding in a sitting<a class="pagenum" name="Page_68" id="Page_68" title="[Pg 68]"></a> +position, after him our lady, and then her husband; +they could not see an inch before them; the man fell +from an incredible height, and did not speak; our lady +stopped, shouted to him, and asked him to answer if +he was alive.</p> + +<p>He was some time before he answered, so she +and her husband considered him dead; at length he +answered, and said he should never get out of this +ravine; our lady asked him if he judged the depth to +be greater than one of the cords could reach? She +would tie two together, and throw the end to him to draw +him up. He said that one cord would be sufficient, +but that she could not draw him up, that she would +not be strong enough; she said she could, she would +hold firm, and he should help himself with his knees. +He took courage, and she drew him up; the greatest +marvel was, that on each side of her there was a +precipice deeper than that over which he fell, and +that she had nothing by which to support herself, +except a small projection, which they believed to be of +earth, against which she placed her left foot, finding +no resting-place for the right one.</p> + +<p>We can truly say that God had granted her his +protection, for to escape from such a danger, and draw +another out of it, could not have been done by +unaided man. Our fool Fos explained it otherwise, +and used it for his own purposes, saying that without +the assistance of the devil it would have been impossible +to stand firm in such a place, still less to +assist another; he impressed this so well on the +Queen, that she is still of the opinion that our lady +exercises sorcery. Fos would take the glory from +God to give it to the devil, and this calumny +has to be endured with many others. But let us<a class="pagenum" name="Page_69" id="Page_69" title="[Pg 69]"></a> +return to our miserable fugitives, whom we left in the +fosse. Our lady, who had shouted to her husband +not to advance, as soon as she heard the valet fall, +called to him to keep back, turn quietly, and to climb +upwards, for that there was no passage there; this was +done, and they remounted the fosse and kept themselves +quiet. Her husband wished that they should +remain there, since they did not know which road to +take.</p> + +<p>While they were deliberating, the moon shone +forth a little, and our lady saw where she was, and she +remembered a good passage which she had seen on +the day when she walked out with the governor; she +persuaded her husband to follow her; he complained +of his want of strength; she told him that God would +assist him, and that he did not require great strength +to let himself glide down, that the passage was +not difficult, and that in ascending on the opposite +side, which was not high, the valet and herself +could assist him. He resolved, but he found it +difficult enough; at length, however, they succeeded; +they had then to go half a quarter of a league to +reach the place where the boats were.</p> + +<p>Her husband, wearied out, could not walk, and +begged her, for the love of God, to leave him where +he was; he was ready to die; she consoled him, and +gave him restoratives, and told him that he had but a +little step to make; he begged her to leave him there, +and to save herself with the servant: she would find +means afterwards to rescue him from prison. She +said no, she would not abandon him; that he knew +well the opportunities she had had to escape before, +if she had wished to forsake him; that she would +never quit him nor leave him in the hands of this<a class="pagenum" name="Page_70" id="Page_70" title="[Pg 70]"></a> +tyrant; that if Fos ventured to touch him, she was +resolved on avenging herself upon him.</p> + +<p>After having taken a little breath, he began again +to proceed. Our lady, who was loaded with so many +ropes and clothes, could scarcely walk, but necessity +gave her strength. She begged her husband to lean +on her and on the valet, so he supported himself +between them, and in this way arrived where the boats +were; but too late, for it was already day. As our +lady saw the patrol coming in the distance, she begged +her husband to stop there with the valet, saying that +she would go forward in advance, which she did. She +was scarcely a musket-shot distant from a little town +where the major lodged, when she spoke with the +guard, and asked them after the major. One of them +went for the major, whose name was Kratz.</p> + +<p>The major saw our lady with great consternation; +he asked after her husband. She told him where +he was, and in a few words she requested that he +would go to the castle and tell Major-General Fos +that his ill-treatment had been the cause of the +desperate resolution they had taken, and to beg him +not to ill-treat them; they were at present sick at heart; +they could not endure anything; she begged him to +consider that those who had resolved to face more +than one form of death, would not fear it in any shape. +Kratz conducted the prisoners to his house, mounted +his horse, and went in search of the governor, who +was still in bed, and told him the affair.</p> + +<p>The governor got out of bed like a furious creature, +swore, menaced; after having recovered a little, the +major told him what our lady had begged him to +say. Then he was for some time thoughtful, and said, +‘I confess it; they had reason to seek their liberty,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_71" id="Page_71" title="[Pg 71]"></a> +for otherwise they would never have had it.’ He did +not immediately come for the prisoners, for he had +another apartment prepared for them. As he entered, +he assumed a pleasant manner, and asked if they ought +to be there; he did not say an unkind word, but, on the +contrary, said he should have done the same. They +were conducted to the Royal Hall to warm themselves, +for they were all wet with the rain; our lady +had then an opportunity of speaking to the valet, and +of taking from him the papers that he had, which +contained all that had passed during the time of their +imprisonment,<a name="FNanchor_37" id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> and she counselled the valet to lay +aside the arms that he had upon him, and that if he +had anything which he wished to secure that he would +deliver it up to her keeping. The valet gave her +what she asked, followed her orders, threw away his +arms, but as regarded his own papers he would not +give them up, for he did not share her fears; but he +knew afterwards, for Fos caused him to be entirely +stripped, and took away everything from him, and made +him pay well for having noted down the dishes that +they had on the first day of the Festivals, and on the +rest.</p> + +<p>At length towards evening our lady and her +husband were conveyed into another apartment, and +the valet into the body-guard loaded with irons. They +were there together thirteen weeks, until Fos received +orders from the Court to separate them; meanwhile, he +encased the prisons in iron. I may well use such a +term, for he caused plates of iron to be placed on the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_72" id="Page_72" title="[Pg 72]"></a> +walls, double bars and irons round the windows.<a name="FNanchor_38" id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> +When he had permission to separate them, he entered +one day to begin a quarrel, and spoke of the past; our +lady begged him not to say more, but he would go on; he +was determined to quarrel. He said to her, ‘Madame, +you are so haughty, I will humble you; I will make +you so—so small,’ and he made a measurement with +his hand from the floor. ‘You have been lifted up and +I will bring you down.’ She laughed, and said, ‘You +may do with me whatever you will, but you can never +humble me so that I shall cease to remember that you +were a servant of a servant of the King my father;’ at +last, he so forgot himself as to hold his fist in her face. +She said to him, keeping her hand on her knife which +she had in her pocket, ‘Make use of your foul mouth +and accursed tongue, but keep your hands quiet.’ He +drew back, and made a profound bow in ridicule, +calling her ‘your grace,’ asked her pardon, and what he +had to fear. She said, ‘You have nothing to fear; if +you take liberties, you will meet with resistance—feeble +enough, but such as I have strength to give you.’</p> + +<p>After some further invectives, he said farewell, and +begged they might be good friends; he came once more +and conducted himself in the same manner, but less +violently. He said to a captain who was present, of +the name of Bolt, that he did it expressly in order to +have a quarrel with her husband, that he might revenge +himself for her conduct upon him, but that her husband +would not speak to him. At length the unhappy day +of their separation came, and Fos entered to tell them +that they must be prepared to bid each other a final +farewell, for that he had orders to separate them, and in<a class="pagenum" name="Page_73" id="Page_73" title="[Pg 73]"></a> +this life they would never see each other again; he +gave them an hour to converse together for the last +time. You can easily imagine what passed in this +hour; but as they had been prepared for this separation +weeks before, having been warned of it by their guard +with whom they could talk, it did not surprise them. +Our lady had gained over four of the guards, who +were ready to let them escape easily enough, but +her husband would not undertake it, always saying +that he had no strength, but that she might do it. +Well, they had to abide by it; after this sad day<a name="FNanchor_39" id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> +they were separated, he in one prison below and she +in another above, one above another, bars before the +windows, he without a servant, and she without a waiting +woman.</p> + +<p>About three weeks after, our lady fell ill; she requested +a woman or girl to wait upon her, and a priest. +Fos sent answer, with regard to a woman or girl to +wait upon her, he did not know anyone who would do +it, but that there was a wench who had killed her child, +and who would soon be beheaded, and if she wished +for her, she could have her. As to a priest, he had no +orders, and she would have no priest even if death were +on her lips. Our lady said nothing but ‘Patience; I +commend it to God.’ Our lady had the happiness of +being able to give her husband signs daily, and to +receive such, and when the wind was not too strong +they could speak to one another. They spoke Italian +together, and took their opportunity before the reveille. +Towards the close of the governorship of this villain, +he was informed of this. He then had a kind of machine +made which is used to frighten the cattle from the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_74" id="Page_74" title="[Pg 74]"></a> +corn in the summer, and which makes a great noise, +and he desired the sentinel to move this machine in +order to hinder them hearing each other.</p> + +<p>Fifteen days before Count Rantzow came to Borringholm +to treat with them, Fos had news of it from +Copenhagen from his intimate friend Jaques P...; +he visited our lady, told her on entering that her +children had been expelled from Skaane by the +Swedes; our lady said, ‘Well, the world is wide, they +will find a place elsewhere.’ He then told her that +Bolt had come from Copenhagen with the tidings that +they would never be let at liberty; she replied, ‘Never +is a long time; this imprisonment will not last a +hundred years, much less an eternity—in the twinkling +of an eye much may change; the hand of God, in +whom are the hearts of kings, can change everything.’ +He said, ‘You have plenty of hope; you think perhaps +if the King died, you would be free?’ She replied, +‘God preserve the King. I believe that he will give +me liberty, and no one else.’ He chatted about a +great many things, and played the flatterer.</p> + +<p>At length Count Rantzow came and made a stay +at Borringh... of eleven weeks. He visited the +prisoners, and did them the favour of having the +husband to dine with him, and in the evening our lady +supped with him, and he conferred with them separately. +Our lady asked him of what she was accused; +he replied, ‘Will you ask that? that is not the way to +get out of Borringholm; do you know that you have +said the King is your brother? and kings do not +recognise either sisters or brothers.’ She replied, ‘To +whom had I need to say that the King is my brother? +who is so ignorant in Denmark as not to know that? I +have always known, and know still, the respect that is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_75" id="Page_75" title="[Pg 75]"></a> +due to the King; I have never given him any other +title than my King and Lord; I have never called him +my brother, in speaking of him; kings are gracious +enough to recognise their sisters and brothers as such; +for example, the King of England gives the title of +sister to his brother’s wife, although she is of very +mediocre extraction.<a name="FNanchor_40" id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> Rantzow replied, ‘Our King does +not wish it, and he does not know yet the truth about +Dina’s affair.’ She said, ‘I think the King does not +wish to know.’ He replied, ‘Indeed, by God he desires +with all his heart to be informed of it.’ She answered, +‘If the King will desire Walter to tell him, and this with +some earnestness, he will be informed of it.’ Rantzow +made no reply.</p> + +<p>When he had concluded everything with her +husband, whom he had obliged to yield up all his +possessions, Rantzow acquainted our lady with the +fact; she said that her husband had power to give +up what was his, but that the half belonged to her, +and that this she would not give up, not being able to +answer for it before God nor before her children; she +had committed no crime; liberty should be given to her +husband for the half of their lands, and that if the King +thought he could retain her with a good conscience she +would endure it. Rantzow with a serious air replied, +‘Do not think that your husband will ever be set at +liberty, if you do not sign with him.’ She said that the +conditions were too severe; that they should do better +for their children to die as prisoners, God and all the +world knowing their innocence, than to leave so many +children beggars. Rantzow said, ‘If you die in prison,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_76" id="Page_76" title="[Pg 76]"></a> +all your lands and property are forfeited, and your +children will have nothing; but at this moment you can +have your liberty, live with your husband; who knows, +the King may still leave you an estate, and may always +show you favour, when he sees that you yield to his +will.’ Our lady said that since there was no other +prospect for her husband’s liberty, she would consent. +Rantzow ordered her husband and herself separately to +place in writing the complaints they had to bring +forward against Fos, and all that had happened with +regard to their attempt at escape; which was done. +Our lady was gracious in her demeanour to Fos, but +her husband could not make up his mind even to speak +to him. Rantzow returned to Copenh... and +eighteen days afterwards the galley of Gabel came with +orders to the new governor (Lieutenant-Colonel +Lytkens, a very well-bred man and brave soldier, his +wife a noble lady of the Manteuffel family, very polite +and pretty), that he should make the prisoners sign the +papers sent, and when the signature was done, should +send them on together.</p> + +<p>The governor sent first to the husband, as was +befitting, who made difficulties about signing because +they had added points here and there, and among +other things principally this, that they were never to +plead against Fos. The husband said he would rather +die. The good governor went in search of the wife +and told her everything, begging her to speak to her +husband from the window; when he knew that she had +spoken to him, he would return. She thanked the +governor, and when he had gone out she spoke to her +husband, and persuaded him to sign. Then the +governor made her sign also; and after that, towards +nine o’clock in the evening, her husband came to her,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_77" id="Page_77" title="[Pg 77]"></a> +having been separated just twenty-six weeks.<a name="FNanchor_41" id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> They +were separated on a Saturday, and they met again on a +Saturday. Fos was still at the castle; it is easy to +believe that he was in great rage. Time does not +permit to dwell on it. Two days afterwards they +embarked and came to Copenhagen, and were received +on the Custom-house pier by C. Rantzow and Gabel. +The Queen knew nothing of it. When she was told +of it she was so angry that she would not go to table. +In a few words the King held his ground, and as she +would not accept the thanks of Monsieur and his wife, +the King ordered her to receive them in writing. +They spent the Christmas of 1660 in the house of C. +Rantzow. Afterwards they went to Fyen, to the estate +of Ellensborg, which was graciously left to them.<a name="FNanchor_42" id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>Her husband having permission to go to France to +take the waters for eighteen months, left Ell... with +his family in the month of June 1662, and landed at +Amsterdam. Our lady went from thence to Bruges to +hire a house, and returned to Amsterdam. Her +daughter Helena fell ill of the small-pox; she remained +with her, and her husband and the other children went +to Bruges. When her daughter had recovered, she +went to rejoin her husband and children. She +accompanied her husband, who went to France. Having<a class="pagenum" name="Page_78" id="Page_78" title="[Pg 78]"></a> +arrived at Paris, the doctors did not find it advisable +that he should take the waters, and he returned to +Bruges. Her husband begged our lady to make a +journey to England, and to take her eldest son with +her. She raised obstacles, and showed him plainly +that she should obtain nothing; that she should only be +at great expense. She had examples before her which +showed her that the King of England would never +pay her husband. He would not have been turned +from his purpose at this time but for their son’s rencontre +with Fos, which prevented the journey that +winter, and postponed the misfortunes of our lady, +though it did not ultimately prevent them.</p> + +<p>But towards the spring the same design was again +brought forward; our lady was assisted by the nobleman +who followed her afterwards<a name="FNanchor_43" id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> in dissuading her +husband; but no reasoning could avail; he believed +the King could not forget the benefits received, and +refuse to pay his cousin. Our lady prepared for her +departure, since her husband wished it. The day that +she bade him her last farewell—a fatal day, indeed—her +husband’s heart did not tell him that these would +be the last embraces he would give her, for he was so +satisfied and so full of joy that she and all were astonished. +She, on the contrary, was sad. The last +day of their intercourse was May 24, 1663. She had +many contretemps at first, and some time elapsed +before she had the honour of speaking to the King.</p> + +<p>The King greeted her after the fashion of the +country, treated her as his cousin,<a name="FNanchor_44" id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> and promised her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_79" id="Page_79" title="[Pg 79]"></a> +all sorts of satisfaction; that he would send his secretary<a name="FNanchor_45" id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> +to her to see her papers, which he did. The +secretary made her fine promises, but the time was +always postponed. The minister resident, Petkum, +minister of the King of Danem..., came to visit +her (he had placed some obstacles in the way of her +demands, from what was told her). She showed him +her papers, informed him of the affair, told him that +the King of Denmark had had all the papers in his +hands, and had graciously returned them. The traitor +made a semblance of understanding the affair, and +promised that he would himself help in securing the +payment of her demands. But this Judas always intended +to betray her, asking her if she did not like to +make excursions, speaking to her of beautiful houses, +gardens and parks, and offering her his coach. But +our lady was not inclined to make excursions.</p> + +<p>When he saw that he could not catch her in this +way, he obtained an order to arrest her. Our poor +lady knew nothing of all this; she had letter upon letter +from her husband requesting her return. She took +leave of the King by letter, gave her papers to a +lawyer<a name="FNanchor_46" id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> upon a receipt, and set out from London. +Having arrived at Dover, and intending to embark the +same evening for Flanders, a lieutenant of the name of +Braten<a name="FNanchor_47" id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> appeared, who came to show her an order +from the King of Anglet... which she read herself, +the purport of which was that the governor was to +arrest such a lady, and to place her in the castle till +further orders. She asked the reason why. He said +that she had left without permission from the King.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_80" id="Page_80" title="[Pg 80]"></a> +She told him that she had taken leave of the King by +letter, and had spoken the day before her departure +with the Prime Minister and Vice-Admiral Aschew,<a name="FNanchor_48" id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> +who had bade her farewell.<a name="FNanchor_49" id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></p> + +<p>When she came to the castle, the emissary of +Petkum presented himself, by name Peter Dreyer. +Then the Lieutenant said, ‘It is the King of Danemarc +who has ordered you to be arrested.’ She +asked the cause. He replied, ‘You undoubtedly set +out incognito from Danemarck.’ She replied to this +that the King of Danem... had given her husband +leave of absence for a term of eighteen months, which +had not yet expired. They ordered her boxes and +those of the nobleman who accompanied her to be +opened, and they took all the papers. Afterwards<a class="pagenum" name="Page_81" id="Page_81" title="[Pg 81]"></a> +Dreyer spoke to her, and she asked him why she +was treated thus? He said he did not know the real +cause, but that he believed it was for the death of +Fos, and that she was believed to have been the cause +of his death. They always mentioned this to her, and +no other cause.</p> + +<p>This double traitor Braten enacted the gallant, +entertained her, made her speak English (as she was +bolder in speaking this language than any other), for +she had just begun to learn it well, having had a +language-master in London. One day he told that +they intended conducting her to Danemarck. She +told him there was no need to send her to Danem...; +she could go there very well by herself. He said, +‘You know yourself what suits you; if you will not go +there willingly, I will manage so that you may go to +Flanders.’ She did not see that this was feasible, +even if he was willing; she spoke with him as to the +means, saw that he did not satisfy her, and did not +trust his conversation; as he was cunning, he made her +believe that the King wished her to go secretly, and +that he would take it all upon himself; that the King +had his reasons why he did not wish to deliver her +into the hands of the King of Danem....</p> + +<p>This deception had such good colouring, for she had +written several times to the King during her arrest, +and had begged him not to reward her husband’s +services by a long arrest, only speaking of what she +had done at the Hague for him: she had taken her +jewels and rings and given them to him, when his +host would not any longer supply him with food.<a name="FNanchor_50" id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a><a class="pagenum" name="Page_82" id="Page_82" title="[Pg 82]"></a> +Her claim was not small; it exceeded 20,000 patacoons.<a name="FNanchor_51" id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p> + +<p>Our lady allowed herself to be persuaded that the +King of England wished her to leave secretly. The +traitor Braten told her that he thought it best that she +should disguise herself as a man. She said that there +was no necessity she should disguise herself; that no +one would pursue her; and even if it were so, that she +would not go in disguise with any man who was not +her husband. After having been detained seventeen +days at Dover, she allowed herself to be conducted by +Braten, at night, towards the ramparts, descended by a +high ladder which broke during her descent, passed +the fosse, which was not difficult; on the other side +there was a horse waiting for her, but the nobleman, +her attendant, and the nobleman’s valet, went on foot; +they would not allow her valet to go with them; Braten +made an excuse of not being able to find him, and that +time pressed; it was because they were afraid that +there would be an effort at defence.</p> + +<p>When she arrived where the traitors were, her guide +gave a signal by knocking two stones one against +another. At this, four armed men advanced; Petkum +and Dreyer were a little way off; one held a pistol to +her breast, the other a sword, and said, ‘I take you +prisoner.’ The other two traitors said, ‘We will conduct +you to Ostend.’ She had always suspected +treachery, and had spoken with her companion, in case +it happened, what it would be best to do, to give +herself up or to defend herself? She decided on +allowing herself to be betrayed without a struggle, +since she had no reason to fear that her life would be<a class="pagenum" name="Page_83" id="Page_83" title="[Pg 83]"></a> +attempted because her son had avenged the wrong +done to his parents. Thus she made no resistance, +begged them not to take so much trouble, that she +would go of herself; for two men held her with so +much force that they hurt her arm. They came with +a bottle of dry wine to quench her thirst, but she would +not drink; she had a good way to go on foot, for she +would not again mount the horse.</p> + +<p>She showed some anger towards her guide, begged +him in English to give her respects to the governor,<a name="FNanchor_52" id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> +but to convey to the traitor Braten all the abuse that +she could hurriedly call to mind in this language, which +was not quite familiar to her. She advanced towards +the boat; the vessel which was to convey her was in +the roads, near the Downs. She bade farewell to the +nobleman. She had two bracelets with diamonds +which she wished to give him to convey to her children; +but as he feared they would be taken from him, she +replaced them without troubling him with them. She +gave a pistol to her servant, and a mariner then carried +her to the boat; she was placed in an English frigate +that Petkum had hired, and Dreyer went with her.<a name="FNanchor_53" id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a><a class="pagenum" name="Page_84" id="Page_84" title="[Pg 84]"></a> +She was thirteen days on the road, and arrived near +the Custom-house pier on August 8, 1663, at nine +o’clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>[The remaining part of the Autobiography treats of +the commencement of her imprisonment in the Blue +Tower, which forms the subject of the following +Memoir.]</p> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_85" id="Page_85" title="[Pg 85]"></a></div> + +<h2><a name="A_RECORD_OF_THE_SUFFERINGS" id="A_RECORD_OF_THE_SUFFERINGS"></a>A RECORD<br /> +OF<br /> +THE SUFFERINGS OF THE IMPRISONED COUNTESS<br /> +LEONORA CHRISTINA.</h2> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_86" id="Page_86" title="[Pg 86]"></a><br /> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_87" id="Page_87" title="[Pg 87]"></a></div> + +<h3><a name="PREFACE_LC" id="PREFACE_LC"></a>PREFACE.<br /> +<span class="smaller italic">TO MY CHILDREN.</span></h3> + + +<p>Beloved children, I may indeed say with Job, ‘Oh, +that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my +calamity laid in the balances together! For now it +would be heavier than the sand of the sea.’ My +sufferings are indeed great and many; they are heavy +and innumerable. My mind has long been uncertain +with regard to this history of my sufferings, as I could +not decide whether I ought not rather to endeavour +to forget them than to bear them in memory. At +length, however, certain reasons have induced me, not +only to preserve my sorrow in my own memory, but +to compose a record of it, and to direct it to you, my +dear children.<a name="FNanchor_54" id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p>The first of these reasons is the remembrance of +the omnipotence of God; for I cannot recall to mind +my sorrow and grief, my fears and distresses, without +at the same time remembering the almighty power of +God, who in all my sufferings, my misery, my affliction, +and anxiety, has been my strength and help, my consolation +and assistance; for never has God laid a +burden upon me, without at the same time giving me +strength in proportion, so that the burden, though it<a class="pagenum" name="Page_88" id="Page_88" title="[Pg 88]"></a> +has weighed me down and heavily oppressed me, has +not overwhelmed me and crushed me; for which I +praise and extol through eternity the almighty power +of the incomprehensible God.</p> + +<p>I wish, therefore, not alone to record my troubles and +to thank God for His gracious support in all the misfortunes +that have befallen me, but also to declare to +you, my dear children, God’s goodness to me, that you +may not only admire with me the inconceivable help of +the Almighty, but that you may be able to join with +me in rendering Him thanks. For you may say with +reason that God has dealt wonderfully with me; that +He was mighty in my weakness and has shown His +power in me, the frailest of His instruments. For +how would it have been possible for me to resist such +great, sudden, and unexpected misfortunes, had not His +spirit imparted to me strength? It was God who Himself +entered with me into the Tower-gate; it was He +who extended to me His hand, and wrestled for me in +that prison cell for malefactors, which is called ‘the +Dark Church.’</p> + +<p>Since then, now for almost eleven years, He has +always been within the gate of my prison as well as +of my heart; He has strengthened me, comforted +me, refreshed me, and often even cheered me. God +has done wonderful things in me, for it is more than +inconceivable that I should have been able to survive +the great misfortunes that have befallen me, and +at the same time should have retained my reason, +sense, and understanding. It is a matter of the +greatest wonder that my limbs are not distorted and +contracted from lying and sitting, that my eyes are +not dim and even wholly blind from weeping, and +from smoke and soot; that I am not short-breathed<a class="pagenum" name="Page_89" id="Page_89" title="[Pg 89]"></a> +from candle smoke and exhalation, from stench and +close air. To God alone be the honour!</p> + +<p>The other cause that impels me is the consolation it +will be to you, my dear children, to be assured through +this account of my sufferings that I suffer innocently; +that nothing whatever has been imputed to me, nor +have I been accused of anything for which you, my +dear children, should blush or cast down your eyes in +shame. I suffer for having loved a virtuous lord and +husband, and for not having abandoned him in misfortune. +I was suspected of being privy to an act of +treason for which he has never been prosecuted +according to law, much less convicted of it, and the +cause of the accusation was never explained to me, +humbly and sorrowfully as I desired that it should be. +Let it be your consolation, my dear children, that I +have a gracious God, a good conscience, and can +boldly maintain that I have never committed a dishonourable +act. ‘This is thankworthy,’ says the +apostle St. Peter, ‘if a man for conscience toward God +endure grief, suffering wrongfully.’ I suffer, thank +God, not for my misdeeds, for that were no glory to +me; yet I can boast that from my youth up I have +been a bearer of the cross of Christ, and had incredibly +secret sufferings, which were very heavy to +endure at such an early age.</p> + +<p>Although this record of my sufferings contains and +reveals nothing more than what has occurred to me in +this prison, where I have now been for eleven years, +I must not neglect in this preface briefly to recall to +your minds, my dear children, my earlier misfortunes, +thanking God at the same time that I have overcome +them.</p> + +<p>Not only you, my dear children, know, but it is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_90" id="Page_90" title="[Pg 90]"></a> +known throughout the whole country, what great +sorrow and misfortune Dina and Walter, with their +powerful adherents, inflicted on our house in the year +1651.</p> + +<p>Although I will not mention the many fatiguing +and difficult journeys, the perils by sea, and various +dangers which I have endured in foreign countries, I +will only remind you of that journey which my lord +requested me to undertake to Denmark, contrary to +my wish, in the year 1657.<a name="FNanchor_E1" id="FNanchor_E1" href="#Footnote_E1" class="fnanchor">[E1]</a> It was winter time, and +therefore difficult and dangerous. I endured scorn +and persecution; and had not God given me courage +and taken it from him who was to have arrested me, +I should not at that time have escaped the misery of +captivity.</p> + +<p>You will remember, my dear children, what I suffered +and endured during fourteen months in custody at +Malmöe; how the greatest favour which His Majesty, +King Charles X. of Sweden, at that time showed +me, was that he left it to my free will, either to remain +at liberty, taking care of our property, or to be in +prison with my lord. I acknowledged the favour, and +chose the latter as my duty, esteeming it a happiness +to be allowed to console and to serve my anxious +husband, afflicted as he subsequently was by illness. +I accepted it also as a favour that I was allowed (when +my lord could not do it himself on account of illness) +to appear before the tribunal in his stead. What +anxiety and sorrow I had for my sick lord, what +trouble, annoyance and distress, the trial caused me +(it was carried on daily for more than nine weeks), is +known to the most high God, who was my consolation,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_91" id="Page_91" title="[Pg 91]"></a> +assistance, and strength, and who inspired me with +heart and courage to defend the honour of my lord in +the presence of his judges.</p> + +<p>You will probably not have forgotten how quickly +one misfortune followed another, how one sorrow was +scarcely past when a greater one followed in its track; +we fared, according to the words of the poet:</p> + +<div class="poem" lang="la"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Incidit in Scyllam, qui vult vitare Charibdin.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We escaped custody and then fell into strict captivity, +without doubt by the dispensation of God, who inspired +my lord with the idea of repairing, contrary to our +agreement, to Copenhagen instead of Lübeck. No +pen can describe how sorrowful I was when, contrary +to all expectation, I met my lord in Copenhagen, when +I had imagined him escaped from the power and +violence of all his enemies. I expected just that which +my lord did not believe would happen, but which +followed immediately—namely, our arrest. The second +day after my arrival (which they had waited for) we +were apprehended and conveyed to Bornholm, where +we were in close imprisonment for seventeen months. +I have given a full description of what I suffered, and +this I imagine is in your keeping, my dear children; +and from it you see what I and my sick lord endured; +how often I warded off greater misery, because my +lord could not always brook patiently the bad treatment +of the governor, Adolf Foss, who called himself +Fux.</p> + +<p>It was hard and bitter indeed to be scorned and +scoffed at by a peasant’s son; to have to suffer hunger +at his will, and to be threatened and harassed by him; +but still harder and more bitter was it to be sick +beneath his power, and to hear from him the words<a class="pagenum" name="Page_92" id="Page_92" title="[Pg 92]"></a> +that even if death were on my lips no minister of +God’s word should come to me. Oh monstrous +tyranny! His malice was so thoroughly beyond all +bounds, that he could not endure that we should +lighten each other’s cross; and for this reason he contrived, +after the lapse of eleven months, to have us +separated from each other, and to place us each in the +hardest confinement.</p> + +<p>My husband (at that time already advancing in years) +without a servant, and I without an attendant, was only +allowed a light so long as the evening meal lasted. I +cannot forbear bitterly recalling to mind the six months +of long and hard separation, and the sad farewell which +we took of each other; for to all human sight there +was no other prospect than that which the governor +announced to us—namely, that we were seeing and +speaking with each other for the last time in this world. +God knows best how hard our sufferings were, for it +was He who consoled us, who gave us hope contrary +to all expectation, and who inspired me with courage +when the governor visited me and endeavoured to fill +me with despair.</p> + +<p>God confirmed my hope. Money and property +loosened the bonds of our captivity, and we were +allowed to see and speak with each other once more. +Sad as my lord had been when we were separated at +Borringholm, he was joyous when two years afterwards +he <a class="corr" name="corr_8" id="corr_8" title="was: pursuaded">persuaded</a> me to undertake the English journey, +not imagining that this was to part us for ever. My +lord, who entertained too good an opinion of the King +of England, thought that now that he had come to +the throne he would remember not only his great +written and spoken promises, but that he would also +bear in mind how, at the time of his need and exile,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_93" id="Page_93" title="[Pg 93]"></a> +I had drawn the rings from my fingers and had pawned +them for meals for him and his servants. But how +unwillingly I undertook this journey is well known to +some of you, my dear children, as I was well aware +that from an ungrateful person there is nothing else to +be expected but ingratitude. I had the example of +others by whom to take warning; but it was thus +destined to be.</p> + +<p>Bitter bread was in store for me, and bitter gall +was to fill my cup in the Blue Tower of Copenhagen +Castle; thither was I to go to eat it and drink +it out. It is not unknown to you how falsely the +King of England acted towards me; how well he +received me on my arrival; how he welcomed me with +a Judas kiss and addressed me as his cousin; and how +both he himself and all his high ministers assured me +of the royal favour, and promised me payment of the +money advanced. You know how cunningly (at the +desire of His Majesty the King of Denmark) he had +me arrested at Dover, and subsequently sent me word +through the traitor Lieutenant Braten that he would +let me escape secretly, at the same time delivering me +into the hand of the Danish Minister Simon Petcon, +who had me arrested by eight armed men; keeping +aloof, however, himself, and never venturing to come +near me. They held sword and pistol to my breast, +and two of them took me between them and placed +me in a boat, which conveyed me to a vessel held in +readiness by the said Minister; a man of the name of +Peter Dreyer having received orders to conduct me to +Copenhagen.</p> + +<p>From this period this record of my suffering begins. +It contains all that happened to me within the gates +of the Blue Tower. Reflect, my dear children, on<a class="pagenum" name="Page_94" id="Page_94" title="[Pg 94]"></a> +these hard sufferings; but remember also God’s great +goodness towards me. Verily, He has freed me from +six calamities; rest assured that He will not leave me +to perish in the seventh. No! for the honour of His +name, He will mightily deliver me.</p> + +<p>The narrative of my sufferings is sad to hear, and +must move the hardest heart to pity; yet in reading it, +do not be more saddened than can be counterbalanced +by joy. Consider my innocence, courage, and patience; +rejoice over these.</p> + +<p>I have passed over various petty vexations and +many daily annoyances for the sake of brevity, although +the smallest of them rankled sore in the wounds of my +bitter sorrow.</p> + +<p>I acknowledge my weaknesses, and do not shrink +from confessing them to you. I am a human being, +and am full of human imperfections. Our first emotions +are not under our own power; we are often overhasty +before we are able to reflect. God knows that I +have often made myself deaf and blind, in order not +to be carried away by passion. I am ashamed to +mention and to enumerate the unchaste language, bad +words and coarse invectives, of the prison governor +Johan Jaeger, of Kresten Maansen, the tower warder, +of Karen the daughter of Ole, and of Catharina Wolff; +they would offend courtly ears. Yet I can assure you +they surpass everything that can be imagined as indecent, +ugly, churlish and unbecoming; for coarse words +and foul language were the tokens of their friendliness +and clemency, and disgusting oaths were the ornament +and embellishment of their untruthfulness; so that their +intercourse was most disagreeable to me. I was never +more glad than when the gates were closed between +me and those who were to guard me. Then I had only<a class="pagenum" name="Page_95" id="Page_95" title="[Pg 95]"></a> +the woman alone, whom I brought to silence, sometimes +amicably, and at others angrily and with threats.</p> + +<p>I have also had, and have still, pleasant intercourse +with persons whose services and courtesies I shall +remember as long as I live. You, my dear children, +will also repay them to every one as far as you are +able.</p> + +<p>You will find also in this record of my sufferings +two of the chief foes of our house, namely Jörgen +Walter and Jörgen Skröder,<a name="FNanchor_E2" id="FNanchor_E2" href="#Footnote_E2" class="fnanchor">[E2]</a> with regard to whom God +has revenged me, and decreed that they should have +need of me, and that I should comfort them. Walter +gives me cause to state more respecting him than was +my intention.</p> + +<p>Of the psalms and hymns which I have composed +and translated, I only insert a few, in order that you, +my dear children, may see and know how I have +ever clung steadfastly to God, who has been and +still is my wall of defence against every attack, and +my refuge in every kind of misfortune and adversity. +Do not regard the rhymes; they are not according to +the rules which poets make; but regard the matter, the +sense, and the purport. Nor have I left my other +small pastime unmentioned, for you may perceive the +repose of my mind from the fact that I have had no +unemployed hours; even a rat, a creature so abominable +to others, affording me amusement<span class="corr" title="added: .">.</span></p> + +<p>I have recorded two observations, which though they +treat of small and contemptible animals, yet are remarkable, +and I doubt whether any naturalist hitherto +has observed them. For I do not think it has been +recorded hitherto that there exists a kind of caterpillar +which brings forth small living grubs like itself, nor<a class="pagenum" name="Page_96" id="Page_96" title="[Pg 96]"></a> +either that a flea gives birth to a fully-formed flea, and +not that a nit comes from a nit.<a name="FNanchor_55" id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> + +<p>In conclusion, I beg you, my dear children, not to +let it astonish you that I would not avail myself of the +opportunity by which I might have gained my freedom. +If you rightly consider it, it would not have been +expedient either for you or me. I confess that if my +deceased lord had been alive, I should not only have +accepted the proposal, but I should have done my +utmost to have escaped from my captivity, in order to +go in quest of him, and to wait on him and serve him +till his last breath; my duty would have required this. +But since he was at that time in rest and peace with +God, and needed no longer any human service, I have +with reason felt that self-obtained liberty would have +been in every respect more prejudicial than useful to +us, and that this would not be the way to gain the +possessions taken from us, for which reason I refused +it and endeavoured instead to seek repose of mind and +to bear patiently the cross laid upon me. If God so +ordains it, and it is His divine will that through royal +mercy I should obtain my freedom, I will joyfully +exert myself for you, my beloved children, to the utmost +of my ability, and prove in deed that I have never +deviated from my duty, and that I am no less a good +and right-minded mother than I have been a faithful +wife. Meanwhile let God’s will be your will. He will +turn and govern all things so that they may benefit +you and me in soul and body, to whose safe keeping +I confidently recommend you all, praying that He will +be your father and mother, your counsellor and guide. +Pray in return for me, that God may direct me by His<a class="pagenum" name="Page_97" id="Page_97" title="[Pg 97]"></a> +good spirit, and grant me patience in the future as +heretofore. This is all that is requested from you by,</p> + +<p class="b0">My dearly beloved children, your affectionate +mother,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Leonora Christina</span>, V.E.G.</p> + +<p>Written in the Blue Tower, anno 1674, the 18th +of July, the eleventh year of imprisonment, my birthday, +and fifty-third year of my age.<a name="FNanchor_56" id="FNanchor_56" href="#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>I bear also in mind, with the greatest humility and +gratitude, our gracious hereditary King’s favour towards +me, immediately after His Majesty came to the throne. +I remember also the sympathy of our most gracious +Queen Regent, and of Her Highness the Electoral +Princess of Saxony in my unfortunate fate; also the +special favour of Her Majesty the Queen.</p> + +<p>I have also not forgotten to bear duly in mind the +favour shown towards me by Her Majesty the Queen +Mother, the virtuous Landgravine of Hesse.</p> + +<p>I have also recorded various things which occurred in +my imprisonment during the period from the year 1663 +to the year 1674, intending with these to conclude the +record of my sufferings; as I experienced a pleasure, +and often consoled myself, in feeling that it is better to +remain innocently in captivity than to be free and to +have deserved imprisonment. I remember having read +that captivity has served many as a protection from<a class="pagenum" name="Page_98" id="Page_98" title="[Pg 98]"></a> +greater dangers, and has guarded them from falling +into the hands of their enemies. There have been +some who have escaped from their prison and immediately +after have been murdered. There have also +been some who have had a competence in prison and +afterwards have suffered want in freedom. Innocent +imprisonment does not diminish honour, but rather +increases it. Many a one has acquired great learning +in captivity, and has gained a knowledge of things +which he could not master before. Yes, imprisonment +leads to heaven. I have often said to myself: ‘Comfort +thyself, thou captive one, thou art happy.’</p> + +<p>Since the year 1674 constituted only half the period +of my captivity, I have added in this record of my +sufferings some facts that occurred since that time +within my prison-gates. I am on the eve of my +liberty, May 19, 1685. To God alone be the honour, +who has moved His Royal Majesty to justice! I will +here mention those of whose death I have been informed +during my captivity.</p> + +<p>1. The Prime Minister of His Majesty, Count +Christian of Rantzow<a name="FNanchor_E3" id="FNanchor_E3" href="#Footnote_E3" class="fnanchor">[E3]</a>, died in the month of September, +1663. He did not live to drink the health of our +Princess and of the Electoral Prince of Saxony at the +feast of their betrothal. Still less did he live long +enough to see a wooden effigy quartered in mockery +of my lord, according to his suggestion. Death was +very bitter to him.</p> + +<p>2. The Mistress of the Robes of the Queen +Dowager, who was so severe on me in my greatest +sorrow, had a long and painful illness; she said with +impatience that the pain of hell was not greater than<a class="pagenum" name="Page_99" id="Page_99" title="[Pg 99]"></a> +her pain. Her screams could often be heard in the +tower. She was carried on a bed into the town, and +died there.</p> + +<p>3. The death of Able Catherine was very painful. +As she had formerly sought for letters on the private +parts of my person, so she was afterwards herself +handled by the surgeons, as she had boils all over her. +She was cut and burnt. She endured all this pain, +hoping to live, but neither the art of the surgeons +nor the visits of the Queen could save her from +death.<a name="FNanchor_E4" id="FNanchor_E4" href="#Footnote_E4" class="fnanchor">[E4]</a></p> + +<p>4. Secretary Erich Krag, who had displayed the +malice of his heart in my imprisonment in the ‘Dark +Church,’ was snatched away by death in a place of +impurity. He was lively and well, had invited guests +to dinner, sat and wrote at his table, went out to obey +the necessities of nature, and was found dead by his +attendants when they had waited some time for him.</p> + +<p>5. Major-General Fridrich von Anfeldte,<a name="FNanchor_E5" id="FNanchor_E5" href="#Footnote_E5" class="fnanchor">[E5]</a> who had +more than once manifested his delight at my misfortunes, +died as he had lived. He was a godless man +and a blasphemer. He fell a victim to jealousy, and went +mad, because another obtained an honorary title which +he had coveted; this was indeed little enough to deprive +him of sense and reason. He would hear nothing of God, +nor would he be reconciled with God. Both Queens, the +Queen Dowager and the Queen Regent, persuaded +him at length to be so. When he had received the +sacrament, he said, ‘Now your Majesties have had +your desire; but what is the good of it?’ He continued +to curse and to swear, and so died.</p> + +<p>6. General Schak died after a long illness.</p> + +<p>7. Chancellor Peter Retz likewise.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_100" id="Page_100" title="[Pg 100]"></a> +8. His Royal Majesty King Friedrich III.’s death +accelerated the death of the Stadtholder Cristoffer +Gabel. He felt that the hate of the Queen Dowager +could injure him greatly, and he desired death. God +heard him.<a name="FNanchor_E6" id="FNanchor_E6" href="#Footnote_E6" class="fnanchor">[E6]</a></p> + +<p>9. It has pleased God that I should be myself a +witness of Walter’s miserable death; indeed, that I +should compassionate him. When I heard him scream, +former times came to my mind, and I often thought how +a man can allow himself to be led to do evil to those +from whom he had only received kindness and +honour.</p> + +<p>10. Magister Buch, my father-confessor, who acted +so ill to me, suffered much pain on his bed of languishing. +He was three days speechless before he died.</p> + +<p>11. When the rogue and blasphemer, Christian, who +caused me so much annoyance in my captivity, had +regained his liberty and returned to his landlord, Maans +Armfeld in Jutland, he came into dispute with the +parish priest, who wanted him to do public penance for +having seduced a woman. The rogue set fire to the +parsonage; the minister’s wife was burnt to death in +trying to save some of her property, and all the +minister’s possessions were left in ashes. The +minister would not bring the rogue to justice. He commended +him to the true Judge, and left vengeance to +Him. The incendiary’s conscience began to be +awakened; for a long time he lived in dread, and was +frightened if he saw anyone coming at all quickly, and +he would call out and say tremblingly, ‘Now they are +going to take me!’ and would run hither and thither, +not knowing where to go. At length he was found +dead on the field, having shot himself; for a long rifle<a class="pagenum" name="Page_101" id="Page_101" title="[Pg 101]"></a> +was found lying between his legs, the barrel towards +his breast, and a long ramrod in his hand, with which +he had touched the trigger. He did not, therefore, die +in as Christian a manner as if he had perished under +the hand of the executioner, of which he had so lightly +said that he should not care for it at all, so long as he +could bring someone else into trouble.</p> + + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_102" id="Page_102" title="[Pg 102]"></a></div> + +<h3><a name="REMINISCENCES" id="REMINISCENCES"></a>A RECORD OF SUFFERING;</h3> + +<div class="blockquot italic"><p>OR, A REMINISCENCE OF ALL THAT OCCURRED TO +ME, LEONORA CHRISTINA, IN THE BLUE TOWER, +FROM AUGUST 8 OF THE YEAR 1663, TO JUNE 11<a name="FNanchor_57" id="FNanchor_57" href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> +OF THE YEAR 1674.</p></div> + + +<p>The past is rarely remembered without sorrow, for it +has been either better or worse than the present. If it +was more joyous, more happy, and full of honour, its +remembrance justly saddens us, and in proportion as +the present is full of care, unhappiness, and dishonour. +If past times were sadder, more miserable, and more +deplorable than the present, the remembrance of them +is equally sorrowful, for we recover and feel once +more all the past misfortunes and adversities which +have been endured in the course of time. But all +things have, as it were, two handles by which they +may be raised, as Epictetus says. The one handle, +he says, is bearable; the other is not bearable; and +it rests with our will which handle we grasp, the bearable +or the unbearable one. If we grasp the bearable +one, we can recall all that is transitory, however sad +and painful it may have been, rather with joy than with +sorrow.<a name="FNanchor_E7" id="FNanchor_E7" href="#Footnote_E7" class="fnanchor">[E7]</a> So I will seize the bearable handle, and in the +name of Jesus I will pass rapidly through my memory, +and recount all the wretchedness and misery, all the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_103" id="Page_103" title="[Pg 103]"></a> +grief, scorn and suffering, contempt and adversity, which +have befallen me in this place, and which I have overcome +with God’s help. I will, moreover, in no wise +grieve over it; but, on the contrary, I will remind +myself at every step of the goodness of God, and will +thank the Most High who has been constantly near +me with His mighty help and consolation; who has +ruled my heart, that it should not depart from God; +who has preserved my mind and my reason, that it has +not become obscured; who has maintained my limbs +in their power and natural strength, and even has +given, and still gives me, repose of mind and joyfulness. +To Thee, incomprehensible God, be honour +and praise for ever!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px"> +<img src="images/castle.jpg" width="400" height="421" alt="" title="THE OLD CASTLE OF COPENHAGEN." /> +<div class="caption"><span lang="de">DAS ALTE SCHLOSS IN COPENHAGEN<br /> +<span class="smaller">MIT DEM BLAUEN THURM.</span></span><br /> +<hr class="w25 tight" /> +THE OLD CASTLE OF COPENHAGEN.<br /> +<span class="smaller">SHOWING THE BLUE TOWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK-GROUND.</span></div> +</div> + +<p>And now to proceed with my design. I consider it +necessary to begin the record of my sufferings with +the commencement of the day which concluded with +the fatal evening of my captivity, and to mention +somewhat of that which befell me on the vessel. +After the captain had cast anchor a little outside the +pier of St. Anna, on August 8, 1663, at nine o’clock +in the forenoon, he was sent on shore with letters by +Peter Dreyer, who was commissioned by Petcon, at that +time the minister resident in England, of his Majesty +the King of Denmark, to take charge of me. I dressed +myself and sat down in one of the cabins of the sailors +on the deck, with a firm resolution to meet courageously +all that lay before me;<a name="FNanchor_58" id="FNanchor_58" href="#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> yet I in no wise +expected what happened; for although I had a good +conscience, and had nothing evil with which to reproach<a class="pagenum" name="Page_104" id="Page_104" title="[Pg 104]"></a> +myself, I had at various times asked the before-mentioned +Peter Dreyer the reason why I had been thus +brought away. To this question he always gave me +the reply which the traitor Braten had given me at +Dover (when I asked of him the cause of my arrest); +namely, that I was, perhaps, charged with the death +of Major-General Fux, and, that it was thought I +had persuaded my son to slay him; saying, that he +knew of no other cause. At twelve o’clock Nils +Rosenkrantz, at that time Lieutenant-Colonel, and +Major Steen Anderson Bilde, came on board with +some musketeers. Lieutenant-Colonel Rosenkrantz +did not salute me. The Major walked up and down +and presently passed near me. I asked him, en passant, +what was the matter? He gave me no other answer +than, ‘<span lang="fr">Bonne mine, mauvais jeu</span>;’ which left me just +as wise as before. About one o’clock Captain Bendix +Alfeldt came on board with several more musketeers, +and after he had talked some time with Peter Dreyer, +Dreyer came to me and said, ‘It is ordered that you +should go into the cabin.’ I said, ‘Willingly;’ and +immediately went. Soon after, Captain Alfeldt came +in to me, and said he had orders to take from me my +letters, my gold, silver, money, and my knife. I +replied, ‘Willingly.’ I took off my bracelets and +rings, gathered in a heap all my gold, silver, and +money, and gave it to him. I had nothing written +with me, except copies of the letters which I had +addressed to the King of England, notes respecting +one thing or another relating to my journey, and some +English vocabularies; these I also gave up to him. +All these Alfeldt placed in a silver utensil which I had +with me, sealed it in my presence, and left the vessel +with it. An hour, or somewhat more, afterwards,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_105" id="Page_105" title="[Pg 105]"></a> +Major-General Friderich von Anfeldt,<a name="FNanchor_59" id="FNanchor_59" href="#Footnote_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> Commandant +in Copenhagen, arrived, and desired that I should come +to him outside the cabin. I obeyed immediately. He +greeted me, gave me his hand, and paid me many +compliments, always speaking French. He was +pleased to see me in health, he feared the sea might +have inconvenienced me; I must not allow the time +to seem long to me; I should soon be accommodated +otherwise. I caught at the last word and said, smiling, +‘Monsieur says otherwise, but not better.’ ‘Yes, +indeed,’ he replied, ‘you shall be well accommodated; +the noblest in the kingdom will visit you.’ I understood +well what he meant by this, but I answered: ‘I +am accustomed to the society of great people, therefore +that will not appear strange to me.’ Upon this, he +called a servant and asked for the before-mentioned +silver utensil (which Captain Alfeldt had taken away +with him). The paper which Captain Alfeldt had +sealed over it was torn off. The Major-General +turned to me, and said: ‘Here you have your jewels, +your gold, silver, and money back; Captain Alfeldt +made a mistake—they were only letters which he had +orders to demand, and these only have been taken out, +and have been left at the Castle; you may dispose of +the rest as you wish yourself.’ ‘In God’s name,’ I +answered, ‘am I, therefore, at liberty to put on again +my bracelets and rings?’ ‘O Jesus,’ he said, ‘they +are yours; you may dispose of them as you choose.’ +I put on the bracelets and rings, and gave the rest to +my attendant. The Major-General’s delight not +only appeared in his countenance, but he was full +of laughter, and was overflowing with merriment.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_106" id="Page_106" title="[Pg 106]"></a> +Among other things he said that he had had the +honour of making the acquaintance of two of my sons; +that he had been in their society in Holland; and he +praised them warmly. I complimented him in return, +as was proper, and I behaved as if I believed that he +was speaking in good faith. He indulged in various +jokes, especially with my attendant; said that she was +pretty, and that he wondered I could venture to keep +such a pretty maiden; when Holstein ladies kept pretty +maids it was only to put their husbands in good +humour; he held a long discourse on how they managed, +with other unmannerly jests which he carried on +with my attendant. I answered nothing else <a class="corr" name="corr_9" id="corr_9" title="was: then">than</a> that +he probably spoke from experience. He said all kinds +of foolish jokes to my servant, but she did not answer +a word. Afterwards the prison governor told me +that he (von Anfeldt) had made the King believe, at +first, that my attendant was my daughter, and that the +King had been long of that opinion. At length, after +a long conversation, the Major-General took his leave, +saying that I must not allow the time to seem long to +me; that he should soon come again; and he asked +what he should say to his Majesty the King. I begged +him to recommend me in the best manner to their +Majesties’ favour, adding that I knew not well what to +say or for what to make request, as I was ignorant of +what intentions they had with regard to me. Towards +three o’clock Major-General von Anfeldt returned; he +was full of laughter and merriment, and begged me to +excuse him for being so long away. He hoped the +time had not appeared long to me; I should soon get +to rest; he knew well that the people (with this he +pointed to the musketeers, who stood all along both +sides of the vessel) were noisy, and inconvenienced me,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_107" id="Page_107" title="[Pg 107]"></a> +and that rest would be best for me. I answered that +the people did not inconvenience me at all; still I +should be glad of rest, since I had been at sea for +thirteen days, with rather bad weather. He went on +with his compliments, and said that when I came into +the town his wife would do herself the honour of +waiting on me, and, ‘as it seems to me,’ he continued, +‘that you have not much luggage with you, and +perhaps, not the clothes necessary, she will procure for +you whatever you require.’ I thanked him, and said +that the honour was on my side if his wife visited me, +but that my luggage was as much as I required at the +time; that if I needed anything in the future, I hoped +she might be spared this trouble; that I had not the +honour of knowing her, but I begged him, nevertheless, +to offer her my respects. He found various subjects +of discourse upon Birgitte Speckhans<a name="FNanchor_E8" id="FNanchor_E8" href="#Footnote_E8" class="fnanchor">[E8]</a> and other trifles, +to pass away the time; but it is not worth the +trouble to recall them to mind, and still less to write +them down. At last a message came that he was to +conduct me from the vessel, when he said to me with +politeness: ‘Will it please you, madame, to get into +this boat, which is lying off the side of the ship?’ I +answered, ‘I am pleased to do anything that I must +do, and that is commanded by His Majesty the King.’ +The Major-General went first into the boat, and held +out his hand to me; the Lieutenant-Colonel Rosenkrantz, +Captain Alfeldt, Peter Dreyer, and my attendant, +went with me in the boat. And as a great crowd of +people had assembled to look at the spectacle, and +many had even gone in boats in order to see me as +they wished, he never took his eyes off me; and when<a class="pagenum" name="Page_108" id="Page_108" title="[Pg 108]"></a> +he saw that I turned sometimes to one side and sometimes +to another, in order to give them this pleasure, +he said, ‘The people are delighted.’ I saw no one +truly who gave any signs of joy, except himself, so I +answered, ‘He who rejoices to-day, cannot know that +he may not weep to-morrow; yet I see, that, whether +for joy or sorrow, the people are assembling in crowds, +and many are gazing with amazement at one human +being.’ When we were advanced a little further, I +saw the well-known wicked Birgitte Ulfeldt,<a name="FNanchor_E9" id="FNanchor_E9" href="#Footnote_E9" class="fnanchor">[E9]</a> who +exhibited great delight. She was seated in an open +carriage; behind her was a young man, looking like a +student. She was driving along the shore. When I +turned to that side, she was in the carriage and laughed +with all her might, so that it sounded loudly. I looked +at her for some time, and felt ashamed of her impudence, +and at the disgrace which she was bringing on +herself; but for the rest, this conduct did not trouble +me more than the barking of the dogs, for I esteemed +both equally.<a name="FNanchor_60" id="FNanchor_60" href="#Footnote_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> The Major-General went on talking +incessantly, and never turned his eyes from me; for he +feared (as he afterwards said) that I should throw +myself into the water. (He judged me by himself; he +could not endure the change of fortune, as his end +testified, for it was only on account of an honorary +title which another received in his stead that he lost +his mind. He did not know that I was governed by +another spirit than he, which gave me strength and +courage, whilst the spirit he served led him into<a class="pagenum" name="Page_109" id="Page_109" title="[Pg 109]"></a> +despair.<a name="FNanchor_61" id="FNanchor_61" href="#Footnote_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a>) When the boat arrived at the small pier +near the office of the Exchequer, Captain Alfeldt +landed and gave me his hand, and conducted me up +towards the castle bridge. Regiments of horse and +foot were drawn up in the open place outside the castle; +musketeers were standing on both sides as I walked +forwards. On the castle bridge stood Jockum Walburger, +the prison governor, who went before me; and as +the people had placed themselves in a row on either side +up to the King’s Stairs, the prison governor made as if +he were going thither; but he turned round abruptly, +and said to Alfeldt, ‘This way,’ and went to the gate of +the Blue Tower; stood there for some time and fumbled +with the key; acted as if he could not unlock it, in +order that I might remain as long as possible a +spectacle to the people. And as my heart was turned +to God, and I had placed all my confidence in the +Most High, I raised my eyes to heaven, sought +strength, power, and safety from thence, and it was +graciously vouchsafed me. (One circumstance I will +not leave unnoticed—namely, that as I raised my eyes +to heaven, a screaming raven flew over the Tower, +followed by a flock of doves, which were flying in the +same direction.) At length, after a long delay, the prison +governor opened the Tower gate, and I was conducted +into the Tower by the before-mentioned Captain +Alfeldt. My attendant, who was preparing to follow +me, was called back by Major-General von Anfeldt, and +told to remain behind. The prison governor went up +the stairs, and showed Alfeldt the way to a prison for +malefactors, to which the name of the ‘Dark Church’ +has been given. There Alfeldt quitted me with a<a class="pagenum" name="Page_110" id="Page_110" title="[Pg 110]"></a> +sigh and a slight reverence. I can truly say of him +that his face expressed pity, and that he obeyed the +order unwillingly. The clock was striking half-past +five when Jockum closed the door of my prison. I +found before me a small low table, on which stood a +brass candlestick with a lighted candle, a high chair, +two small chairs, a fir-wood bedstead without hangings +and with old and hard bedding, a night-stool and +chamber utensil. At every side to which I turned I +was met with stench; and no wonder, for three peasants +who had been imprisoned here, and had been +removed on that very day, and placed elsewhere, had +used the walls for their requirements. Soon after the +door had been closed, it was opened again, and there +entered Count Christian Rantzow, Prime Minister, +Peter Zetz, Chancellor, Christoffer von Gabel, at that +time Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Erich Krag, +at that time Secretary, all of whom gave me their +hands with civility. The Chancellor spoke and said: +‘His Royal Majesty, my gracious master and hereditary +king, sends you word, madame, that His Majesty has +great cause for what he is doing against you, as you +will learn.’ I replied: ‘It is much to be regretted by +me, if cause should be found against me; I will, however, +hope that it may not be of such a kind that His +Majesty’s displeasure may be lasting. When I know the +cause I can defend myself.’ Count Rantzow answered: +‘You will obtain permission to defend yourself.’ He +whispered something to the Chancellor, upon which +the Chancellor put a few questions: first, Whether on +my last journey I had been in France with my husband? +To which I answered in the affirmative. +Then, What my husband was doing there? To which +I replied, that he was consulting physicians about<a class="pagenum" name="Page_111" id="Page_111" title="[Pg 111]"></a> +his health, whether it would be serviceable to him to +use the warm baths in the country, which no one would +advise him to do; he had even been dissuaded from +trying them by a doctor in Holland of the name of +Borro,<a name="FNanchor_E10" id="FNanchor_E10" href="#Footnote_E10" class="fnanchor">[E10]</a> when he had asked his opinion. Thirdly, +What I had purposed doing in England? To this +I replied that my intention had been to demand payment +of a sum of money which the King of England +owed us, and which we had lent him in the time of his +misfortune. Fourthly, Who had been in England +with me? I mentioned those who were with me in +England—namely, a nobleman named Cassetta, my +attendant who had come hither with me, a lacquey +named Frantz, who had remained in England, and the +nobleman’s servant. Fifthly, Who visited my husband +in Bruges? I could not exactly answer this, as +my lord received his visits in a private chamber, where +I was not admitted. Count Rantzow said, ‘You know, +I suppose, who came to him oftenest?’ I answered, +that the most frequent visitors among those I knew +were two brothers named Aranda,<a name="FNanchor_E11" id="FNanchor_E11" href="#Footnote_E11" class="fnanchor">[E11]</a> the before-mentioned +Cassetta, and a nobleman named Ognati. +Sixthly the Chancellor asked, With whom I had +corresponded here in the country? To which I +answered, that I had written to H. Hendrick Bielcke, +to Olluff Brockenhuuss, Lady Elsse Passberg, and +Lady Marie Ulfeldt;<a name="FNanchor_E12" id="FNanchor_E12" href="#Footnote_E12" class="fnanchor">[E12]</a> I did not remember any more. +Count Rantzow enquired if I had more letters than +those which I had given up? To which I answered +in the negative, that I had no more. He asked +further, Whether I had more jewels with me than +those he had seen? I answered that I had two strings<a class="pagenum" name="Page_112" id="Page_112" title="[Pg 112]"></a> +of small round pearls on my hat, and a ring with a +diamond, which I had given a lieutenant named Braten +in Dover (it was he who afterwards betrayed me). +Count Rantzow asked, How much the pearls might +have been worth? This I could not exactly say. He +said, that he supposed I knew their approximate value. +I said they might be worth 200 rix-dollars, or somewhat +more. Upon this they were all silent for a little. +I complained of the severity of my imprisonment, and +that I was so badly treated. Count Rantzow answered, +‘Yes Madame, His Royal Majesty has good cause for +it; if you will confess the truth, and that quickly, you +may perhaps look for mercy. Had Maréchal de Birron<a name="FNanchor_E13" id="FNanchor_E13" href="#Footnote_E13" class="fnanchor">[E13]</a> +confessed the matter respecting which he was interrogated +by order of the King, when the royal mercy +was offered to him if he would speak the truth, it +would not have fared with him as it did. I have heard +as a truth that the King of France would have pardoned +him his crime, had he confessed at once; therefore, +bethink yourself, madame!’ I answered, ‘Whatever +I am asked by order of His Majesty, and whatever I +am cognizant of, I will gladly say in all submission.’ +Upon this Count Rantzow offered me his hand, and I +reminded him in a few words of the severity of my +imprisonment. Count Rantzow promised to mention +this to the King. Then the others shook hands with +me and went away. My prison was closed for a little. +I therefore profited by the opportunity, and concealed +here and there in holes, and among the rubbish, a gold +watch, a silver pen which gave forth ink and was filled +with ink, and a scissor-sheath worked with silver and +tortoiseshell. This was scarcely done when the door<a class="pagenum" name="Page_113" id="Page_113" title="[Pg 113]"></a> +was again opened, and there entered the Queen’s +Mistress of the Robes, her woman of the bed-chamber, +and the wife of the commissariat clerk, Abel Catharina. +I knew the last. She and the Queen’s woman of the +bed-chamber carried clothes over their arm; these +consisted of a long dressing-gown stitched with silk, +made of flesh-coloured taffeta and lined with white +silk, a linen under-petticoat, printed over with a black +lace pattern, a pair of silk stockings, a pair of slippers, +a shift, an apron, a night-dress, and two combs. They +made me no greeting. Abel Cath. spoke for them, +and said: ‘It is the command of Her Majesty the +Queen that we should take away your clothes, and that +you should have these in their place.’ I answered, ‘In +God’s name!’ Then they removed the pad from my +head, in which I had sown up rings and many loose +diamonds. Abel Cath. felt all over my head to see +if anything was concealed in my hair; then she said +to the others, ‘There is nothing there; we do not +require the combs.’ Abel Cath. demanded the bracelets +and rings, which were a second time taken from +me. I took them off and gave them to them, except +one small ring which I wore on the last joint of my +little finger, and which could not be worth more than +a rix-dollar, this I begged to be allowed to keep. +‘No,’ said the Mistress of the Robes, ‘You are to +retain nothing.’ Abel Cath. said, ‘We are strictly forbidden +to leave you the smallest thing; I have been +obliged to swear upon my soul to the Queen that I +would search you thoroughly, and not leave you the +smallest thing; but you shall not lose it; they will all +be sealed up and kept for you, for this I swear the +Queen has said.’ ‘Good, good, in God’s name!’ I +answered. She drew off all my clothes. In my under-petticoat<a class="pagenum" name="Page_114" id="Page_114" title="[Pg 114]"></a> +I had concealed some ducats under the broad +gold lace; there was a small diamond ornament in my +silk <a class="corr" name="corr_10" id="corr_10" title="was: camisolle">camisole</a>, in the foot of my stockings there were +some Jacobuses’, and there were sapphires in my shoes. +When she attempted to remove my chemise, I begged +to be allowed to retain it. No; she swore upon her +soul that she dared not. She stripped me entirely, +and the Mistress of the Robes gave Abel Cath. a nod, +which she did not at once understand; so the Mistress +of the Robes said: ‘Do you not remember your +orders?’ Upon this, Abel Cath. searched my person +still more closely, and said to the lady in waiting: ‘No, +by God! there is nothing there.’ I said: ‘You act +towards me in an unchristian and unbecoming manner.’ +Abel Cath. answered: ‘We are only servants; we +must do as we are ordered; we are to search for letters +and for nothing else; all the rest will be given back to +you; it will be well taken care of.’ After they had +thus despoiled me, and had put on me the clothes they +had brought, the servant of the Mistress of the Robes +came in and searched everywhere with Abel Cath., +and found every thing that I had concealed. God +blinded their eyes so that they did not observe my +diamond earrings, nor some ducats which had been +sown into leather round one of my knees; I also saved +a diamond worth 200 rix-dollars; while on board the +ship I had bitten it out of the gold, and thrown the +gold in the sea; the stone I had then in my mouth.<a name="FNanchor_62" id="FNanchor_62" href="#Footnote_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></p> + +<p>The Mistress of the Robes was very severe; they +could not search thoroughly enough for her. She<a class="pagenum" name="Page_115" id="Page_115" title="[Pg 115]"></a> +laughed at me several times, and could not endure +that I sat down, asking whether I could not stand, +and whether anything was the matter with me. I +answered, ‘There is only too much the matter with me, +yet I can stand when it is necessary.’ (It was no wonder +that the Mistress of the Robes could so well execute +the order to plunder, for she had frequently accompanied +her deceased husband. Colonel Schaffshaussen<a name="FNanchor_E14" id="FNanchor_E14" href="#Footnote_E14" class="fnanchor">[E14]</a>, +in war.) When she had searched every part +thoroughly, they took all my clothes, except a taffeta +cap for the head, and went away. Then the prison +governor came in with his hat on, and said, ‘Leonora, +why have you concealed your things?’ I answered +him not a word; for I had made the resolution not to +answer him, whatever he might say; his qualities were +known to me; I was aware that he was skilful in improving +a report, and could twist words in the manner +he thought would be acceptable, to the damage of those +who were in trouble. He asked again with the same +words, adding ‘Do you not hear?’ I looked at him +over my shoulder, and would not allow his disrespect +to excite me. The table was then spread, and four +dishes were brought in, but I had no appetite, although +I had eaten little or nothing the whole day.</p> + +<p>An hour afterwards, when the dishes had been carried +away, a girl came in named Maren Blocks, and said +that she had orders from the Queen to remain the +night with me. The prison governor joked a good +deal with the before-mentioned Maren, and was very +merry, indulging in a good deal of loose talk. At +last, when it was nearly ten o’clock, he said good night +and closed the two doors of my prison, one of which is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_116" id="Page_116" title="[Pg 116]"></a> +cased with copper. When Maren found herself alone +with me, she pitied my condition, and informed me that +many, whom she mentioned by name (some of whom +were known to me) had witnessed my courage with grief +and tears, especially the wife of H. Hendrick Bielcke<a name="FNanchor_E12B" id="FNanchor_E12B" href="#Footnote_E12B" class="fnanchor">[E12b]</a>, +who had fainted with weeping. I said, ‘The good +people have seen me in prosperity; it is no wonder +that they deplore the instability of fortune;’ and I +wished that God might preserve every one of those +from misfortune, who had taken my misfortune to +heart. I consoled myself with God and a good conscience; +I was conscious of nothing wrong, and I asked +who she was, and whom she served? She said she was +in the Queen’s private kitchen, and had the silver in +her keeping (from which I concluded that she had probably +to clean the silver, which was the case). She +said that the Queen could get no one who would be +alone with me, for that I was considered evil; it was +said also that I was very wise, and knew future +events. I answered, ‘If I possessed this wisdom, I +scarcely think that I should have come in here, for I +should then have been able to guard myself against +it.’ Maren said we might know things and still not be +able to guard against them.</p> + +<p>She told me also that the Queen had herself spoken +with her, and had said to her, ‘You are to be this +night with Leonora; you need not be afraid, she can +now do no evil. With all her witchcraft she is now +in prison and has nothing with her; and if she strikes +you, I give you leave to strike her back again till the +blood comes.’ Maren said also, ‘The Queen knows +well that my mind has been affected by acute illness,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_117" id="Page_117" title="[Pg 117]"></a> +and therefore she wished that I should be with you.’ +So saying she threw her arms round my neck as I +was sitting, and caressed me in her manner, saying, +‘Strike me, dear heart, strike me!’ ‘I will not<span class="corr" title="was: .’ She">,’ she</span> +swore, ‘strike again.’ I was rather alarmed, fearing +that the frenzy might come on. She said further +that when she saw me coming over the bridge, she +felt as if her heart would burst. She informed +me with many words how much she loved me, and +how the maid of honour, Carisius, who was standing +with her in the window, had praised me, and wished +to be able to do something for my deliverance, with +many such words and speeches. I accepted the +unusual caress, as under the circumstances I could not +help it, and said that it would be contrary to all justice +to offer blows to one who manifested such great affection +as she had done, especially to one of her sex; +adding, that I could not think how the Queen had +imagined that I struck people, as I had never even +given a box on the ears to a waiting-woman. I +thanked her for her good opinion of me, and told her +that I hoped all would go well, dark as things looked; +that I would hold fast to God, who knew my innocence, +and that I had done nothing unjustifiable; that I would +commend my cause to Him, and I did not doubt that +He would rescue me: if not immediately He would do +so some day, I was well assured.</p> + +<p>Maren began to speak of different things; among +others of my sister Elizabeth Augusta<a name="FNanchor_E15" id="FNanchor_E15" href="#Footnote_E15" class="fnanchor">[E15]</a>, how she had +sat in her porch as I had been conveyed past as a +prisoner, and had said that if I were guilty there +was nothing to say against it, but that if I were innocent<a class="pagenum" name="Page_118" id="Page_118" title="[Pg 118]"></a> +they were going too far. I said nothing to this, +nor did I answer anything to much other tittle-tattle. +She began to speak of her own persecution, which +she did with great diffuseness, interspersing it with +other stories, so that the conversation (in the present +circumstances) was very wearisome to me; I was +besides very tired, and worn out with care, so I said +I would try to sleep and bid her good-night. My +thoughts prevented me from sleeping. I reflected on +my present condition, and could in no wise reconcile +myself to it, or discover the cause of such a great +misfortune. It was easy to perceive that somewhat +besides Fux’s death was imputed to me, since I was +treated with such disrespect.</p> + +<p>When I had long lain with my face to the wall, I +turned round and perceived that Maren was silently +weeping, so I asked her the reason of her tears. She +denied at first that she was crying, but afterwards confessed +that she had fallen into thinking over this whole +affair. It had occurred to her that she had heard so +much of Lady Leonora and her splendour, &c., of how +the King loved her, and how every one praised her, &c., +and now she was immured in this execrable thieves’ +prison, into which neither sun nor moon shone, and +where there was a stench enough to poison a person +only coming in and out, far more one who had to +remain in it. I thought the cause of her weeping +was that she should be shut up with me in the +terrible prison; so I consoled her, and said that she +would only remain with me until another had been +fixed upon, since she was in other service; but that I +for my part did not now think of past times, as the +present gave me sufficient to attend to; if I were to +call to mind the past, I would remember also the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_119" id="Page_119" title="[Pg 119]"></a> +misfortunes of great men, emperors, kings, princes, +and other high personages, whose magnificence and +prosperity had far exceeded mine, and whose misfortunes +had been far greater than mine; for they had +fallen into the hands of tyrants, who had treated them +inhumanly, but this king was a Christian king, and a +conscientious man, and better thoughts would occur to +him when he had time to reflect, for my adversaries +now left him no leisure to do so. When I said this, +she wept even more than before, but said nothing, +thinking in herself (as she declared to me some days +afterwards) that I did not know what an infamous +sentence had been pronounced upon my late lord,<a name="FNanchor_E16" id="FNanchor_E16" href="#Footnote_E16" class="fnanchor">[E16]</a> and +weeping all the more because I trusted the King so +firmly. Thus we went on talking through the night.</p> + +<p>On the morning of August 9, at six o’clock, the +prison governor came in, bade me good morning, and +enquired whether we would have some brandy. I +answered nothing. He asked Maren whether I was +asleep; she replied that she did not know, came up to +my bed, and put the same question to me. I thanked +her, adding that it was a kind of drink which I had never +tasted. The prison governor chattered with Maren, was +very merry considering the early hour, told her his +dreams, which he undoubtedly invented merely for the +sake of talking. He told her, secretly, that she was to +come to the Queen, and ordered her to say aloud that +she wished to go out a little. He said that he would +remain with me in the meanwhile, until she returned, +which he did, speaking occasionally to me, and asking +me whether I wished for anything? whether I had +slept? whether Maren had watched well? But he<a class="pagenum" name="Page_120" id="Page_120" title="[Pg 120]"></a> +got no answer, so that the time seemed very long to +him. He went out towards the stairs and came back +again, sang a morning psalm, screamed out sometimes +to one, and sometimes to another, though he knew +they were not there.</p> + +<p>There was a man named Jon who helped to bring +up the meals with Rasmus the tower warder, and +to him he called more than forty times and that in +a singing tone, changing his key from high to low, and +screaming occasionally as loud as he could, and +answering himself ‘Father, he is not here! by God, +he is not here!’ then laughing at himself; and then +he began calling again either for Jon or for Rasmus, +so that it seemed to me that he had been tasting the +brandy. About eight o’clock Maren came back, and +said that at noon two women would come to relieve her. +After some conversation between the prison governor +and Maren, he went out and shut the doors. Maren +told me how the Queen had sent for her, and asked +her what I was doing, and that she answered that I +was lying down quietly, and not saying anything. The +Queen had asked whether I wept much. Maren +replied, ‘Yes indeed, she weeps silently.’ ‘For,’ +continued Maren, ‘if I had said that you did not weep, +the Queen would have thought that you had not yet +enough to weep for.’ Maren warned me that one of +the two women who were to watch me was the wife of +the King’s shoemaker, a German, who was very much +liked by the Queen. Her Majesty had employed her +to attend Uldrich Christian Gyldenlöwe in the severe +and raving illness of which he died, and this woman +had much influence with the Queen. With regard to +the other woman, Maren had no idea who she might<a class="pagenum" name="Page_121" id="Page_121" title="[Pg 121]"></a> +be, but the last-mentioned had spoken with the Queen +in Maren’s presence, and had said that she did not trust +herself to be alone with me. The women did not +come before four o’clock in the afternoon. The prison +governor accompanied them, and unlocked the door for +them. The first was the wife of the shoemaker, a +woman named Anna, who generally would not suffer +anybody else to speak. The other was the wife of the +King’s groom, a woman named Catharina, also a +German. After greeting me, Anna said that her +Majesty the Queen had ordered them to pass a day or +two with me and wait upon me. ‘In God’s name,’ I +answered.</p> + +<p>Anna, who was very officious, asked me, ‘Does +my lady wish for anything? She will please only +say so, and I will solicit it from the Queen.’ I +thanked her, and said that I should like to have some +of my clothes, such as two night-jackets, one lined with +silk and another braided with white, my stomacher, +something for my head, and above all my bone box of +perfume, which I much needed. She said she would +at once arrange this, which she did, for she went immediately +and proffered my request. The things were all +delivered to me by the prison governor at six o’clock, +except my box of perfume, which had been lost, and in +its place they sent me a tin box with a very bad kind +of perfume. When the time arrived for the evening +meal, Catharina spread a stool by the side of my bed, +but I had no desire to eat. I asked for a lemon with +sugar, and they gave it me. The prison governor sat +down at the table with the two women, and did the part +of jester, so much so that no one could have said that +they were in a house of mourning, but rather in one of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_122" id="Page_122" title="[Pg 122]"></a> +festivity. I inwardly prayed to God for strength and +patience, that I might not forget myself. God heard +my prayer, praised be His name. When the prison +governor was tired of the idle talking and laughing, he +bade good night after ten o’clock, and told the women +to knock if they wanted anything, as the tower warder +was just underneath. After he had locked both the +doors, I got up, and Catharina made my bed. Anna +had brought a prayer-book with her, from which I +read the evening prayer, and other prayers for them; +then I laid down and bid them good night. They laid +on a settle-bed which had been brought in for them. +I slumbered from time to time, but only for short +intervals.</p> + +<p>About six o’clock on the morning of August 10 the +prison governor opened the door, to the great delight of +the women, who were sincerely longing for him, especially +Catharina, who was very stout; she could not endure +the oppressive atmosphere, and was ill almost the whole +night. When the prison governor, after greeting them, +had inquired how it fared with them, and whether they +were still alive, he offered them brandy, which they +readily accepted. When it was seven o’clock, they +requested to go home, which they did, but they first +reported to the Queen all that had happened during the +half-day and the night. The prison governor remained +with me.</p> + +<p>When it was near nine o’clock, he brought in a +chair without saying anything. I perceived from +this that visitors were coming, and I was not wrong; +for immediately afterwards there entered Count +Rantzow, prime minister, chancellor H. Peter Retz, +Christoffer Gabel, the chancellor of the exchequer, and +secretary Erick Krag, who all shook hands with me<a class="pagenum" name="Page_123" id="Page_123" title="[Pg 123]"></a> +and seated themselves by my bed. Krag, who had +paper, pen and ink with him, seated himself at the +table. Count Rantzow whispered something to the +chancellor. The chancellor upon this began to address +me as on the previous occasion, saying that his Majesty +the King had great cause for his treatment of me. +‘His Majesty,’ he went on to say, ‘entertains suspicion +with regard to you, and that not without reason.’ I +inquired in what the suspicion consisted. The chancellor +said, ‘Your husband has offered the kingdom +of Denmark to a foreign lord.’ I inquired if the kingdom +of Denmark belonged to my husband, that he +could thus offer it, and as no one answered, I continued +and said, ‘Good gentlemen, you all know my lord; you +know that he has been esteemed as a man of understanding, +and I can assure you that when I took leave +of him he was in perfect possession of his senses. +Now it is easy to perceive that no sensible man would +offer that which was not in his own power, and which +he had no right to dispose of. He is holding no post, +he has neither power nor authority; how should he, +therefore, be so foolish as to make such an offer, and +what lord would accept it?’</p> + +<p>Count Rantzow said: ‘Nevertheless it is so, madame; +he has offered Denmark to a foreign potentate; you +know it well.’ I answered, ‘God is my witness that I +know of no such thing.’ ‘Yes,’ said Count Rantzow, +‘your husband concealed nothing from you, and therefore +you must know it.’ I replied, ‘My husband certainly +never concealed from me anything that concerned +us both. I never troubled myself in former days with +that which related to his office; but that which affected +us both he never concealed from me, so that I am sure, +had he entertained any such design, he would not have<a class="pagenum" name="Page_124" id="Page_124" title="[Pg 124]"></a> +held it a secret from me. And I can say, with truth, +that I am not the least aware of it.’ Count Rantzow +said: ‘Madame, confess it while the King still asks +you to do so.’</p> + +<p>I answered, ‘If I knew it I would gladly say so; +but as truly as God lives I do not know it, and as +truly am I unable to believe that my husband would +have acted so foolishly, for he is a sick man. He +urged me to go to England in order to demand the +money that had been lent; I undertook the journey, +unwillingly, chiefly because he was so very weak. He +could not go up a few steps of the stairs without +resting to get his breath; how should he, then, undertake +a work of such labour? I can say with truth +that he is not eight days without an attack, sometimes +of one kind sometimes of another.’ Count Rantzow +again whispered with the chancellor, and the chancellor +continued: ‘Madame, say without compulsion how the +matter stands, and who is privy to it; say it now, while +you are asked freely to do so. His Majesty is an +absolute Sovereign; he is not fettered by law; he can +do as he will; say it.’ I answered: ‘I know well that +his Majesty is an absolute Sovereign, and I know also, +that he is a Christian and a conscientious man; therefore, +his Majesty will do nothing but what he can justify +before God in heaven. See, here I am! You can do +with me what you will; that which I do not know I +cannot say.’</p> + +<p>Count Rantzow began again to bring forward the +Maréchal de Birron, and made a long speech about +it. To this I at length replied, that the Maréchal de +Birron in nowise concerned me; that I had no answer +to make on the matter, and that it seemed to me +that it was not a case in point. Count Rantzow asked<a class="pagenum" name="Page_125" id="Page_125" title="[Pg 125]"></a> +me why, when I was demanded with whom I had +corresponded in the kingdom, I had not said that I +had written to him and to the treasurer Gabel. To +this I replied that I thought those who asked me +knew it well, so that it was not necessary for me to +mention it; I had only said that of which they probably +did not know. Count Rantzow again whispered +to the chancellor, and the chancellor said: ‘In a +letter to Lady Elsse Passberg you have written +respecting another state of things in Denmark,’ (as +he said this, he looked at Count Rantzow and asked +if it was not so, or how it was); ‘what did you mean +by that, madame?’ I replied that I could not recollect +what cause her letter had given me to answer +it in this way; what came before or what followed, +would, without a doubt, explain my meaning; if I +might see the letter, it would prove at once that +I had written nothing which I could not justify.<span class="corr" title="removed: ‘"></span></p> + +<p>Nothing more was said with regard to it. Count +Rantzow asked me what foreign ministers had +been with my lord in Bruges. ‘None,’ I answered, +<span class="corr" title="added: ‘">‘</span>that I am aware of.’ He asked further whether any +Holstein noblemen had been with him. I answered, +‘I do not know.’ Then he enumerated every Prince +in Germany, from the Emperor to the Prince of +Holstein, and enquired respecting each separately +whether any of their Ministers had been with my +husband. I gave the same answer as before to each +question, that I was not aware that any one of them +had been with him. Then he said, ‘Now, madame, +confess! I beg you; remember Maréchal de Birron! +you will not be asked again.’ I was somewhat tired of +hearing Birron mentioned so often, and I answered +rather hastily: ‘I do not care about the Maréchal<a class="pagenum" name="Page_126" id="Page_126" title="[Pg 126]"></a> +de Birron; I cannot tell what I do not know anything +about.’</p> + +<p>Secretary Krag had written somewhat hurriedly it +seemed, for when at my desire he read aloud what +he had written, the answers did not accord with the +questions; this probably partly arose from hurry, and +partly from malice, for he was not amicably inclined +towards my late lord. I protested against this +when he read the minutes. The chancellor agreed +with me in every item, so that Krag was obliged to +re-write it. After this they got up and took their +leave. I requested to beg His Majesty the King to be +gracious to me, and not to believe what he had been +informed with regard to my husband. I could not +imagine they would find that he had ever deviated +from his duty. ‘Yes,’ answered Count Rantzow, ‘if +you will confess, madame, and tell us who is concerned +in this business and the details of it, you might perhaps +find him a gracious lord and king.’ I protested by +the living God that I knew nothing of it; I knew of +nothing of the kind, much less of accomplices. With +this they went away, after having spent nearly three +hours with me, and then the prison governor and the +women entered. They spread the table and brought +up the meal, but I took nothing but a draught of beer. +The prison governor sat down to table with the women. +If he had been merry before, he was still more so now, +and he told one indecent story after another.</p> + +<p>When they had had enough of feasting and talking +he went away and locked the door; he came as usual +again about four o’clock in the afternoon, and let the +women go out, staying with me until they returned, +which generally was not for two hours. When the +women were alone with me, Anna told Catharina of her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_127" id="Page_127" title="[Pg 127]"></a> +grief for her first husband, and nothing else was talked +of. I behaved as if I were asleep, and I did the same +when the prison governor was alone with me, and he +then passed the time in singing and humming. The +evening meal was also very merry for the women, for +the prison governor amused them by telling them of his +second marriage; how he had wooed without knowing +whom, and that he did not know it until the betrothal. +The story was as ludicrous as it was diffuse. I noticed +that it lasted an hour and a quarter.</p> + +<p>When he had said good night, Anna sat down on +my bed and began to talk to Catharina, and said, +‘Was it not a horrible story of that treacherous design +to murder the King and Queen and the whole royal +family?’ Catharina answered, ‘Thank God the King +and Queen and the whole family are still alive!’ +‘Yes,’ said Anna, ‘it was no merit of the traitors, +though, that they are so; it was too quickly discovered; +the King knew it three months before he +would reveal it to the Queen. He went about sorrowfully, +pondering over it, unable quite to believe it; +afterwards, when he was quite certain of it, he told +the Queen; then the body-guard were doubled, as +you know.’ Catherina enquired how they had learnt +it. Anna answered, ‘That God knows; it is kept so +secret that no one is allowed as much as to ask from +whom it came.’ I could not help putting in a word; +it seemed to me a pity that they could not find out +the informer, and it was remarkable that no one +ventured to confess having given the information. +Catherina said, ‘I wonder whether it is really true?’ +‘What do you mean?’ answered Anna; ‘would the +King do as he is doing without knowing for certain +that it is true? How can you talk so?’ I regarded<a class="pagenum" name="Page_128" id="Page_128" title="[Pg 128]"></a> +this conversation as designed to draw some words +from me, so I answered but little, only saying that until +now I had seen nothing which gave credibility to the +report, and that therefore I felt myself at liberty not to +believe it until I saw certain proof of it. Anna adhered +to her statement, wondered that there could be such +evil people as could wish to murder the good King, +and was very diffuse on the matter.<a name="FNanchor_E17" id="FNanchor_E17" href="#Footnote_E17" class="fnanchor">[E17]</a> She could be at +no loss for material, for she always began again from +the beginning; but at last she had to stop, since she +spoke alone and was not interrupted either by Catharina +or by me.</p> + +<p>I got up and requested to have my bed made, +which Catharina always did. Anna attended to the +light during the night, for she was more watchful than +Catharina. I read aloud to them from Anna’s book, +commended myself to God, and laid down to sleep. +But my sleep was light, the promenades of the rats +woke me, and there were great numbers of them. +Hunger made them bold; they ate the candle as it +stood burning. Catharina, moreover, was very uncomfortable +all night, so that this also prevented my +sleeping. Early on the morning of August 11 the +prison governor came as usual with his brandy attentions, +although they had a whole bottle with them. Catharina +complained a good deal, and said she could not endure +the oppressive air; that when she came in at the door it +seemed as if it would stifle her; if she were to remain +there a week she was certain that she would be carried +out dead. The prison governor laughed at this.</p> + +<p>The women went away, and he remained with me. +He presented me Major-General von Anfeldt’s compliments,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_129" id="Page_129" title="[Pg 129]"></a> +and a message from him, that I ‘should be of +good courage; all would now soon be well.’ I made +no reply. He enquired how I was, and whether I had +slept a little; and answered himself, ‘I fancy not much.’ +He asked whether I would have anything, again +answering himself, ‘No, I do not think you wish for +anything.’ Upon this he walked up and down, humming +to himself; then he came to my bedside and said: ‘Oh, +the dear King! he is indeed a kind master! Be at +peace; he is a gracious sovereign, and has always held +you in esteem. You are a woman, a weak instrument. +Poor women are soon led away. No one likes to harm +them, when they confess the truth. The dear Queen, +she is indeed a dear Queen! She is not angry with +you. I am sure if she knew the truth from you, she +would herself pray for you. Listen! if you will write +to the Queen and tell her all about the matter, and +keep nothing back, I will bring you pen, ink, and +paper. I have no wish, on my soul! to read it. No, +God take me if I will look at it; and that you may be +sure of this, I will give you wax that you may seal it. +But I imagine you have probably no seal?’ As I +answered him not a word, he seized my hand and shook +it rather strongly, saying, ‘Do you not hear? Are +you asleep?’ I raised my head threateningly; I should +like to have given him a box on the ears, and I turned +round to the wall.</p> + +<p>He was angry that his design had failed, and he +went on grumbling to himself for more than an hour. +I could not understand a word beyond, ‘Yes, yes! +you will not speak.’ Then he muttered somewhat +between his teeth: ‘You will not answer; well, well, +they will teach you. Yes, by God! hum, hum, hum.’ +He continued thus until the tower warder, Rasmus,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_130" id="Page_130" title="[Pg 130]"></a> +came and whispered something to him; then he went +out. It seemed to me that there was someone speaking +with him, and so far as I could perceive it must +have been someone who asked him if the ink and +paper should be brought up, for he answered, ‘No, it +is not necessary; she will not.’ The other said, +‘Softly, softly!’ The prison governor, however, could +not well speak softly, and I heard him say, ‘She cannot +hear that; she is in bed.’ When he came in again he +went on muttering to himself, and stamped because I +would not answer; he meant it kindly; the Queen was +not so angry as I imagined. He went on speaking +half aloud; he wished the women would come; he did +nothing else but beg Rasmus to look for them.</p> + +<p>Soon after Rasmus came and said that they were +now going up the King’s Stairs. Still almost an hour +passed before they came in and released him. When +they had their dinner (my own meal consisted of some +slices of lemon with sugar) the prison governor was not +nearly so merry as he was wont to be, though he +chattered of various things that had occurred in former +times, while he was a quarter-master. He also retired +sooner than was his custom. The women, who remained, +talked of indifferent matters. I also now and +then put in a word, and asked them after their husbands +and children. Anna read some prayers and hymns +from her book, and thus the day passed till four o’clock, +when the prison governor let them out. He had +brought a book with him, which he read in a tolerably +low tone, while he kept watch by me. I was well +pleased at this, as it gave me rest.</p> + +<p>At the evening meal the prison governor began +amongst other conversation to tell the women that a +prisoner had been brought here who was a Frenchman;<a class="pagenum" name="Page_131" id="Page_131" title="[Pg 131]"></a> +he could not remember his name; he sat cogitating +upon the name just as if he could not rightly hit upon +it. Carl or Char, he did not know what he was called, +but he had been formerly several years in Denmark. +Anna enquired what sort of a man he was. He replied +that he was a man who was to be made to sing,<a name="FNanchor_63" id="FNanchor_63" href="#Footnote_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> but he +did not know for a certainty whether he was here or +not. (There was nothing in all this.) He only said +this in order to get an opportunity of asking me, or to +perceive whether it troubled me.</p> + +<p>He had undoubtedly been ordered to do this; for +when he was gone Anna began a conversation with +Catharina upon this same Carl, and at last asked +me whether we had had a Frenchman in our employ. +I replied that we had had more than one. +She enquired further whether there was one among +them named Carl, who had long been in our service. +‘We had a servant,’ I answered, ‘a Frenchman +named Charle; he had been with us a long time.’ +‘Yes, yes,’ she said, ‘it is he. But I do not think +he has arrived here yet; they are looking for him.’ +I said, ‘Then he is easy to find, he was at Bruges +when I left that town.’ Anna said she fancied he +had been in England with me, and she added, ‘That +fellow knows a good deal if they get him.’ I answered, +‘Then it were to be wished that they had him for the +sake of his information.’ When she perceived that I +troubled myself no further about him she let the conversation +drop, and spoke of my sister Elizabeth +Augusta, saying that she passed her every day. She +was standing in her gateway or sitting in the porch, +and that she greeted her, but never uttered a word of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_132" id="Page_132" title="[Pg 132]"></a> +enquiry after her sister, though she knew well that she +was waiting on me in the Tower. I said I thought +my sister did not know what would be the best for her +to do. ‘I cannot see,’ said Anna, ‘that she is depressed.’ +I expressed my opinion that the less we grieved over +things the better. Other trifles were afterwards talked +of, and I concluded the day with reading, commended +myself to the care of Jesus, and slept tolerably well +through the night.</p> + +<p>August 12 passed without anything in particular +occurring, only that Anna tried to trouble me by +saying that a chamber next to us was being put in +order, for whom she did not know; they were of +course expecting someone in it. I could myself hear +the masons at work. On the same day Catharina +said that she had known me in prosperity, and blessed +me a thousand times for the kindness I had shown +her. I did not remember having ever seen her. She +said she had been employed in the storeroom in the +service of the Princess Magdalena Sybille, and that +when I had visited the Princess, and had slept in the +<a class="corr" name="corr_11" id="corr_11" title="was: Cstale">Castle</a>, I had sent a good round present for those in +the storeroom, and that she had had a share in it, and +that this she now remembered with gratitude. Anna +was not pleased with the conversation, and she interrupted +it three times; Catharina, however, did not +answer her, but adhered to the subject till she had +finished. The prison governor was not in good humour +on this day also, so that neither at dinner nor at supper +were any indecent stories related.</p> + +<p>On August 13, after the women had been into the +town and had returned, the prison governor opened the +door at about nine o’clock, and whispered something to +them. He then brought in another small seat; from this<a class="pagenum" name="Page_133" id="Page_133" title="[Pg 133]"></a> +I perceived that I was to be visited by one more than +on the previous occasion. At about ten o’clock Count +Rantzow, General Skack, Chancellor Retz, Treasurer +Gabel, and Secretary Krag entered. They all saluted +me with politeness; the four first seated themselves +on low seats by my bedside, and Krag placed himself +with his writing materials at the table. The Chancellor +was spokesman, and said, ‘His royal Majesty, my +gracious Sovereign and hereditary King, sends you +word, madame, that his Majesty has great cause for +all that he is doing, and that he entertains suspicions +with regard to you that you are an accomplice in the +treason designed by your husband; and his royal +Majesty had hoped that you would confess without +compulsion who have participated in it, and the real +truth about it.’</p> + +<p>When the Chancellor ceased speaking, I replied +that I was not aware that I had done anything +which could render me suspected; and I called God +to witness that I knew of no treason, and therefore +I could mention no names. Count Rantzow said, +‘Your husband has not concealed it from you, hence +you know it well.’ I replied, ‘Had my husband +entertained so evil a design, I believe surely he would +have told me; but I can swear with a good conscience, +before God in Heaven, that I never heard him speak +of anything of the kind. Yes, I can truly say he +never wished evil to the King in my hearing, and +therefore I fully believe that this has been falsely +invented by his enemies.’ Count Rantzow and the +Chancellor bent their heads together across to the +General, and whispered with each other for some time. +At length the Chancellor asked me whether, if my +husband were found guilty, I would take part in his<a class="pagenum" name="Page_134" id="Page_134" title="[Pg 134]"></a> +condemnation. This was a remarkable question, so I +reflected a little, and said, ‘If I may know on what +grounds he is accused, I will answer to it so far as I +know, and so much as I can.’ The Chancellor said, +‘Consider well whether you will.’ I replied as before, +that I would answer for him as to all that I knew, if +I were informed of what he was accused. Count +Rantzow whispered with Krag, and Krag went out, but +returned immediately.</p> + +<p>Soon afterward some one (whom I do not know) +came from the Chancellor’s office, bringing with him +some large papers. Count Rantzow and the Chancellor +whispered again. Then the Chancellor said, +‘There is nothing further to do now than to let you +know what sort of a husband you have, and to let +you hear his sentence.’ Count Rantzow ordered the +man who had brought in the papers to read them +aloud. The first paper read was to the effect that +Corfitz, formerly Count of Ulfeldt, had offered the +kingdom of Denmark to a foreign sovereign, and had +told the same sovereign that he had ecclesiastical and +lay magnates on his side, so that it was easy for him +to procure the crown of Denmark for the before-mentioned +sovereign.</p> + +<p>A paper was then read which was the defence of +the clergy, in which they protested that Corfitz, Count +of Ulfeldt, had never had any communication with any +of them; that he had at no time shown himself a friend +of the clergy, and had far less offered them participation +in his evil design. They assured his royal Majesty +of their fidelity and subjection, &c. Next, a paper was +read, written by the Burgomaster and council in Copenhagen, +nearly similar in purport, that they had had no +correspondence with Count Corfitz Ulfeldt, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_135" id="Page_135" title="[Pg 135]"></a> +equally assuring his royal Majesty of their humble +fidelity. Next followed the reading of the unprecedented +and illegal sentence which, without a hearing, +had been passed on my lord. This was as unexpected +and grievous as it was disgraceful, and unjustifiable +before God and all right-loving men. No documents +were brought forward upon which the sentence had +been given. There was nothing said about prosecution +or defence; there was no other foundation but mere +words; that he had been found guilty of having +offered the crown of Denmark to a foreign sovereign, +and had told him that he had on his side ecclesiastical +and lay magnates, who had shown by their signed +protestations that this was not the case, for which +reason he had been condemned as a criminal.</p> + +<p>When the sentence with all the names subjoined to it +had been read, the reader brought it to me, and placed +it before me on the bed. Everyone can easily imagine +how I felt; but few or none can conceive how it was +that I was not stifled by the unexpected misery, and +did not lose my sense and reason. I could not utter a +word for weeping. Then a prayer was read aloud +which had been pronounced from the pulpit, in which +Corfitz was anathematised, and God was prayed not +to allow his gray hair to go to the grave in peace. +But God, who is just, did not listen to the impious +prayer of the unrighteous, praised be His name for +ever.</p> + +<p>When all had been read, I bemoaned with sighs +and sorrowful tears that I had ever lived to see this +sad day, and I begged them, for <a class="corr" name="corr_12" id="corr_12" title="was: Jesu’s">Jesus’</a> sake, that +they would allow me to see on what the hard judgment +was based. Count Rantzow answered, ‘You can well +imagine, madame, that there are documents upon<a class="pagenum" name="Page_136" id="Page_136" title="[Pg 136]"></a> +which we have acted: some of your friends are in the +council.’ ‘May God better it!’ I said. ‘I beg you, +for God’s sake, to let me see the documents. <span lang="fr">Les +apparences sont bien souvent trompeuses</span>. What had +not my husband to suffer from that Swede in Skaane, +during that long imprisonment, because he was +suspected of having corresponded with his Majesty, +the King of Denmark, and with his Majesty’s +ministers? Now, no one knows better than his +Majesty, and you my good lords, how innocently he +suffered at that time, and so this also may be apparently +credible, and yet may not be so in truth. +Might I not see the documents?’ To this no answer +was given. I continued and said, ‘How is it possible +that a man who must himself perceive that death is at +hand should undertake such a work, and be so led +away from the path of duty, when he did not do so at +a time when he acknowledged no master, and when +such great promises were made him by the Prince of +Holstein, as the Prince’s letters show, which are now +in his Majesty’s hands.’ Count Rantzow interrupted +me and said, ‘We did not find those letters.’ ‘God +knows,’ I replied, ‘they were there; of that I am +certain.’ I said also, ‘At that time he might have +done something to gratify a foreign sovereign; at that +time he had power and physical vigour, and almost +the entire government was in his hands; but he never +looked to his own advantage, but pawned his own +property to hasten the King’s coronation, so that no +impediment might come between.<a name="FNanchor_64" id="FNanchor_64" href="#Footnote_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> This is his reward!<a class="pagenum" name="Page_137" id="Page_137" title="[Pg 137]"></a> +Good gentlemen, take an example of me, you who +have seen me in prosperity, and have compassion on +me. Pray his royal Majesty to be mild, and not to +proceed to such severity.’</p> + +<p>The Chancellor and Treasurer were moved by this, +so that the tears came into their eyes. Count Rantzow +said to the General and the Chancellor, ‘I think it is a +fortnight ago since the sentence was published?’ The +Chancellor answered, ‘It is seventeen days ago.’<a name="FNanchor_E18" id="FNanchor_E18" href="#Footnote_E18" class="fnanchor">[E18]</a> I +said, ‘At that time I was still in England, and now I +am asked for information on the matter! Oh, consider +this, for God’s sake! and that there was no one present +to speak on my husband’s behalf.’ Count Rantzow +enquired whether I wished to appeal against it?<span class="corr" title="removed: ‘"></span> I +replied, ‘How am I to appeal against a judicial +decree? I only beg for <a class="corr" name="corr_13" id="corr_13" title="was: Jesu’s">Jesus’</a> sake that what I say +may be considered, and that I may have the satisfaction +of seeing the documents upon which the +sentence is based.’</p> + +<p>Count Rantzow answered as before, that there +were documents, and that some of my friends had +sat in the council, and added that all had been agreed, +and that not one had had anything to say against +it. I dared not say what I thought. I knew well +how matters are done in such absolute governments: +there is no such thing as opposition, they merely +say, ‘Sign, the King wishes it; and ask not wherefore, +or the same condemnation awaits thee.’<a name="FNanchor_65" id="FNanchor_65" href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> I was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_138" id="Page_138" title="[Pg 138]"></a> +silent, and bewailed my unhappiness, which was irremediable. +When Krag read aloud the minutes he +had written, namely, that when I was asked whether I +would participate in my husband’s sentence, I had +answered that I would consider of it. I asked, ‘How +was that?’ The Chancellor immediately replied, +‘No, she did not say so, but she requested to know +the accusation brought against her husband.’ I repeated +my words again,<a name="FNanchor_66" id="FNanchor_66" href="#Footnote_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> I know not whether Krag +wrote them or not; for a great part of that which I +said was not written. Krag yielded too much to his +feelings in the matter, and would gladly have made bad +worse. He is now gone where no false writings avail; +God took him away suddenly in an unclean place, and +called him to judgment without warning. And Count +Rantzow, who was the principal mover and inventor +of that illegal sentence, the like of which was never +known in Denmark, did not live to see his desire +fulfilled in the execution of a wooden image.<a name="FNanchor_E19" id="FNanchor_E19" href="#Footnote_E19" class="fnanchor">[E19]</a> When +this was done, they rose and shook hands with me. +This painful visit lasted more than four hours.</p> + +<p>They went away, leaving me full of anxiety, sighing +and weeping—a sad and miserable captive woman, +forsaken by all; without help, exposed to power and +violence, fearing every moment that her husband +might fall into their hands, and that they might vent +their malice on him. God performed on that day a +great miracle, by manifesting His power in my weakness, +preserving my brain from bewilderment, and my<a class="pagenum" name="Page_139" id="Page_139" title="[Pg 139]"></a> +tongue from overflowing with impatience. Praised be +God a thousand times! I will sing Thy praise, so +long as my tongue can move, for Thou wast at this +time and at all times my defence, my rock, and my +shield!</p> + +<p>When the gentlemen were gone away, the prison +governor came and the women, and a stool was +spread by the side of my bed. The prison governor +said to me, ‘Eat, Leonora; will you not eat?’ As +he said this, he threw a knife to me on the bed. I +took up the knife with angry mind, and threw it +on the ground. He picked up the knife, saying, +‘You are probably not hungry? No, no! you have +had a breakfast to-day which has satisfied you, have +you not? Is it not so?’ Well, well, come dear +little women (addressing the two women), let us eat +something! You must be hungry, judging from my +own stomach.’ When they had sat down to table, he +began immediately to cram himself, letting it fall as +if inadvertently from his mouth, and making so many +jokes that it was sad to see how the old man could +not conceal his joy at my unhappiness.</p> + +<p>When the meal was finished, and the prison governor +had gone away, Anna sat down by my bed +and began to speak of the sorrow and affliction which +we endure in this world, and of the joy and delights of +heaven; how the pain that we suffer here is but small +compared with eternal blessedness and joy, wherefore +we should not regard suffering, but should rather think +of dying with a good conscience, keeping it unsullied by +confessing everything that troubles us, for there is no +other way. ‘God grant,’ she added, ‘that no one may +torment himself for another’s sake.’ After having +repeated this remark several times, she said to me, ‘Is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_140" id="Page_140" title="[Pg 140]"></a> +it not true, my lady?’ ‘Yes, certainly it is true,’ I +replied; ‘you speak in a Christian manner, and according +to the scriptures.’ ‘Why will you, then,’ she went on +to say, ‘let yourself be tormented for others, and not +say what you know of them?’ I asked whom she +meant. She answered, ‘I do not know them.’ I +replied, ‘Nor do I.’ She continued in the same strain, +however, saying that she would not suffer and be tormented +for the sake of others, whoever they might be; +if they were guilty they must suffer; she would not +suffer for them; a woman was easily led away, but +happiness was more than all kindred and friends.</p> + +<p>As she seemed unable to cease chattering, I wished +to divert her a little, so I asked whether she were a +clergyman’s daughter; and since she had before told +me of her parentage, she resented this question all the +more, and was thoroughly angry; saying, ‘If I am not +a clergyman’s daughter, I am the daughter of a good +honest citizen, and not one of the least. In my time, +when I was still unmarried, I never thought that I +should marry a shoemaker.’ I said, ‘But your first +husband, too, was also a shoemaker.’ ‘That is true,’ +she replied, ‘but this marriage came about in a very +foolish manner,’ and she began to narrate a whole +history of the matter, so that I was left in peace. +Catharina paced up and down, and when Anna was +silent for a little, she said, with folded hands, ‘O God, +Thou who art almighty, and canst do everything, preserve +this man for whom they are seeking, and never +let him fall into the hands of his enemies. Oh God, +hear me!’ Anna said angrily to her, ‘Catharina, do +you know what you are saying? How can you speak +so?’ Catharina answered, ‘Yes, I know well what I +am saying. God preserve him, and let him never fall<a class="pagenum" name="Page_141" id="Page_141" title="[Pg 141]"></a> +into the hands of his enemies. Jesus, be Thou his +guide!’ She uttered these words with abundant tears. +Anna said, ‘I think that woman is not in her senses.’ +Catharina’s kind wish increased my tears, and I said, +‘Catharina shows that she is a true Christian, and +sympathises with me; God reward her, and hear her +and me!’ Upon this Anna was silent, and has not +been so talkative ever since. O God, Thou who art a +recompenser of all that is good, remember this in +favour of Catharina, and as Thou heardest her at that +time, hear her prayer in future, whatever may be her +request! And you, my dear children, know that if +ever fortune so ordains it that you can be of any +service either to her or her only son, you are bound to +render it for my sake; for she was a comfort to me in +my greatest need, and often took an opportunity to say +a word which she thought would alleviate my sorrow.</p> + +<p>The prison governor came as usual, about four o’clock, +and let the women out, seating himself on the bench and +placing the high stool with the candle in front of him. +He had brought a book with him, and read aloud +prayers for a happy end, prayers for the hour of death, +and prayers for one suffering temporal punishment for +his misdeeds. He did not forget a prayer for one who +is to be burnt; in reading this he sighed, so religious +had he grown in the short time. When he had read +all the prayers, he got up and walked up and down, +singing funeral hymns; when he knew no more, he +began again with the first, till the women released him. +Catharina complained that her son had been ill, and +was greatly grieved about it. I entered into her +sorrow, and said that she ought to mention her son’s +illness to the Queen, and then another would probably +be appointed in her place; and I begged her to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_142" id="Page_142" title="[Pg 142]"></a> +compose herself, as the child would probably be better +again. During the evening meal the prison governor +was very merry, and related all sorts of coarse stories. +When he was gone, Anna read the evening prayer. I +felt very ill during this night, and often turned about +in bed; there was a needle in the bed, with which I +scratched myself; I got it out, and still have it.<a name="FNanchor_67" id="FNanchor_67" href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>On August 14, when the prison governor opened the +door early, the women told him that I had been very ill +in the night. ‘Well, well,’ he answered, ‘it will soon +be better.’ And when the women were ready to go to +the Queen (which they were always obliged to do), +Anna said to Catharina, outside the door, ‘What shall +we say to the Queen?’ Catharina answered: ‘What +shall we say, but that she is silent and will say nothing!’ +‘You know very well that the Queen is displeased at +it.’ ‘Nevertheless, we cannot tell a lie;’ answered +Catharina; ‘she says nothing at all, so it would be a +sin.’<a name="FNanchor_68" id="FNanchor_68" href="#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> Catharina came back to the mid-day meal, and +said that the Queen had promised to appoint another +in her stead; in the afternoon, she managed secretly +to say a word to me about the next chamber, which +she imagined was being put in readiness for me and +for no one else; she bid me good night, and promised +to remember me constantly in her prayers. I thanked +her for her good services, and for her kind feeling +towards me.</p> + +<p>About four o’clock the prison governor let her +and Anna out. He sang one hymn after another, +went to the stairs, and the time appeared long to him,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_143" id="Page_143" title="[Pg 143]"></a> +till six o’clock, when Anna returned with Maren Blocks. +At the evening meal the prison governor again told +stories of his marriage, undoubtedly for the sake of +amusing Maren. Anna left me alone, and I lay quiet +in silence. Maren could not find an opportunity of +speaking with me the whole evening, on account of +Anna. Nothing particular happened on August 15 +and 16.</p> + +<p>When the prison governor let out Anna in the +morning and afternoon, Maren Blocks remained with +me, and the prison governor went his own way and +locked the door, so that Maren had opportunity of +talking with me alone. She told me different things; +among others, that the Queen had given my clothes +to the three women who had undressed me, that +they might distribute them amongst themselves. She +asked me whether I wished to send a message to +my sister Elizabeth. I thanked her, but said that I +had nothing good to tell her. I asked Maren for +needles and thread, in order to test her. She replied +she would gladly procure them for me if she dared, but +that it would risk her whole well-being if the Queen +should know it; for she had so strictly forbidden +that anyone should give me either pins or needles. +I inquired ‘For what reason?’ ‘For this reason,’ +she replied, ‘that you may not kill yourself.’ I assured +her that God had enlightened me better than that I +should be my own murderer. I felt that my cross +came from the hand of the Lord, that He was chastising +me as His child; He would also help me to bear +it; I trusted in Him to do so. ‘Then I hope, dear +heart,’ said Maren, ‘that you will not kill yourself; then +you shall have needles and thread; but what will you +sew?’ I alleged that I wished to sew some buttons on<a class="pagenum" name="Page_144" id="Page_144" title="[Pg 144]"></a> +my white night-dress, and I tore off a pair, in order to +show her afterwards that I had sewn them on.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that I had sewn up some ducats in +a piece of linen round my knee; these I had kept, as I +pulled off the stockings myself when they undressed me, +and Anna had at my desire given me a rag, as I pretended +that I had hurt my leg. I sewed this rag over +the leather. They all imagined that I had some secret +malady, for I lay in the linen petticoat they had given +me, and went to bed in my stockings. Maren imagined +that I had an issue on one leg, and she confided to me +that a girl at the court, whom she mentioned by name, +and who was her very good friend, had an issue of +which no one knew but herself, not even the woman +who made her bed. I thought to myself, you keep +your friend’s secret well; I did not, however, make her +any wiser, but let her believe in this case whatever she +would. I was very weak on those two days, and as I +took nothing more than lemon and beer, my stomach +became thoroughly debilitated and refused to retain +food. When Maren told the prison governor of this, +he answered, ‘All right, her heart is thus getting rid of +its evil.’ Anna was no longer so officious, but the +prison governor was as merry as ever.</p> + +<p>On August 17 the prison governor did not open the +door before eight o’clock, and Anna asked him how it +was that he had slept so long. He joked a little; presently +he drew her to the door and whispered with her. +He went out and in, and Anna said so loudly to Maren, +that I could hear it (although she spoke as if she were +whispering), ‘I am so frightened that my whole body +trembles, although it does not concern me. Jesus keep +me! I wish I were down below!’ Maren looked sad, +but she neither answered nor spoke a word. Maren<a class="pagenum" name="Page_145" id="Page_145" title="[Pg 145]"></a> +came softly up to my bed and said, ‘I am sure some +one is coming to you.’ I answered, ‘Let him come, +in God’s name.’ Presently I heard a running up and +down stairs, and also overhead, for the Commissioners +came always through the apartments, in order not to +cross the square. My doors were closed again. Each +time that some one ran by on the stairs, Anna shuddered +and said, ‘I quite tremble.’</p> + +<p>This traffic lasted till about eleven. When the +prison governor opened the door, he said to me, +‘Leonora, you are to get up and go to the gentlemen.’ +God knows that I could hardly walk, and Anna +frightened me by saying to Maren, ‘Oh! the poor +creature!’ Maren’s hands trembled when she put +on my slippers. I could not imagine anything else +than that I was to be tortured, and I consoled myself +with thinking that my pain could not last long, +for my body was so weary that it seemed as if God +might at any moment take me away. When Maren +fastened the apron over my long dress, I said: ‘They +are indeed sinning heavily against me; may God +give me strength.’ The prison governor hurried me, +and when I was ready, he took me by the arm and +led me. I would gladly have been free of his help, +but I could not walk alone. He conducted me up to +the next story, and there sat Count Rantzow, Skack, +Retz, Gabel, and Krag, round the table.</p> + +<p>They all rose when I entered, and I made them +a reverence as well as I was able. A small low seat +had been placed for me in the middle, in front of +the table. The Chancellor asked me whether I had +not had more letters than those taken from me in +England. I answered that I had not had more; that +all my letters had been then taken from me. He<a class="pagenum" name="Page_146" id="Page_146" title="[Pg 146]"></a> +asked further, whether I had at that time destroyed +any letters. ‘Yes,’ I answered, ‘one I tore in two, +and threw it in a closet.’ ‘Why did you do so?’ +enquired Count Rantzow. ‘Because’ I replied, ‘there +were cyphers in it; and although they were of +no importance, I feared, notwithstanding, that they +might excite suspicion.’ Count Rantzow said: ‘Supposing +the pieces were still forthcoming?’ ‘That were +to be wished,’ I replied, ‘for then it could be seen that +there was nothing suspicious in it, and it vexed me +afterwards that I had torn it in two.’ Upon this the +Chancellor drew forth a sheet of paper upon which, +here and there, pieces of this very letter were pasted, +and handed it to Krag, who gave it to me. Count +Rantzow asked me if it were not my husband’s handwriting. +I answered that it was. He said: ‘A part +of the pieces which you tore in two have been found, +and a part are lost. All that has been found has been +collected and copied.’ He then asked the Chancellor +for the copy, who gave it to Count Rantzow, and he +handed it to me, saying, ‘See there what is wanting, +and tell us what it is that is missing.’ I took it, and +looked over it and said: ‘In some places, where there +are not too many words missing, I think I can guess +what is lost, but where a whole sentence is wanting, I +cannot know.’</p> + +<p>Most of the letter had been collected without +loss of intervening pieces, and it all consisted of mirth +and jest. He was telling me that he had heard from +Denmark that the Electoral Prince of Saxony was to +be betrothed with the Princess of Denmark;<a name="FNanchor_E20" id="FNanchor_E20" href="#Footnote_E20" class="fnanchor">[E20]</a> and he +joked, saying that they would grease their throats and +puff out their cheeks in order that with good grace<a class="pagenum" name="Page_147" id="Page_147" title="[Pg 147]"></a> +and voice they might duly trumpet forth each their +own titles, and more of the same kind, all in high +colouring. He described the way in which Count +Rantzow contrived to let people know his titles; when +he had a dinner-party, there was a man employed to +read aloud his titles to the guests, asking first each +separately, whether he knew his titles; if there was +anyone who did not know them, the secretary must +forthwith come and read them aloud.</p> + +<p>It seemed that Count Rantzow referred all this to +himself, for he asked me what my husband meant by +it. I replied that I did not know that he meant anything +but what he had written; he meant undoubtedly those +who did such things. The Chancellor averted his face +from Count Rantzow, and his lips smiled a little; Gabel +also did the same. Among other things there were +some remarks about the Electoral Prince, that he probably +cherished the hope of inheriting the Crown of +Denmark; ‘<span lang="fr">mais j’espère ... cela ne se fera point</span>.’ +Count Rantzow enquired as to the words which were +wanting. I said, if I remembered rightly, the words +had been, ‘<span lang="fr">qu’en 300 ans</span>.’ He enquired further as +to the expressions lacking here and there, some of +which I could not remember exactly, though they were +of no importance. I expressed my opinion that they +could easily gather what was wanting from the preceding +and following words; it was sufficiently evident +that all was jest, and this was apparent also to Gabel, +who said, ‘<span lang="fr">Ce n’est que raillerie</span>.’ But Count Rantzow +and the General would not allow it to pass as jest.</p> + +<p>Skack said: ‘One often means something else under +the cloak of jest, and names are used when others are +intended.’ For in the letter there was something said +about drinking out; there was also an allusion made to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_148" id="Page_148" title="[Pg 148]"></a> +the manners of the Swiss at table, and all the titles of +the canton nobles were enumerated, from which Skack +thought that the names of the cities might have +another signification. I did not answer Skack; but as +Count Rantzow continued to urge me to say what my +husband had meant by it, I replied that I could not +know whether he had had another meaning than that +which was written. Skack shook his head and thought +he had, so I said: ‘I know no country where the same +customs are in vogue at meals as in Switzerland; if +there are other places where the same customs prevail, +he may perhaps have meant these also, for he is only +speaking of drinking.’</p> + +<p>Gabel said again, ‘It is only jest.’ The cyphers, +for the sake of which I had torn the letter in two, +were fortunately complete, and nothing was missing. +Count Rantzow gave me a sheet of paper, to which +pieces of my lord’s letter were pasted, and asked +me what the cyphers meant. I replied, ‘I have +not the key, and cannot solve them out of my +head.’ He expressed his opinion that I could do it. +I said I could not. ‘Well, they have been read,’ he +said, ‘and we know what they signify.’ ‘All the +better,’ I answered. Upon this, he gave me the interpretation +to read, and the purport of it was that our +son had written from Rome, asking for money, which +was growing short, for the young nobleman was not at +home. I gave the paper back to Count Rantzow without +saying anything. Count Rantzow requested the +Treasurer that he should read the letter, and Rantzow +began again with his questions wherever anything was +wanting, requesting that I should say what it was. I +gave him the same answer as before; but when in one +passage, where some words were missing, he pressed<a class="pagenum" name="Page_149" id="Page_149" title="[Pg 149]"></a> +me hard to say them, and it was evident from the +context that they were ironical (since an ironical word +was left written), I said: ‘You can add as much of the +same kind as pleases you, if one is not enough; I do +not know them.’ Gabel again said, ‘<span lang="fr">Ce n’est que +raillerie</span>.’<a name="FNanchor_E21" id="FNanchor_E21" href="#Footnote_E21" class="fnanchor">[E21]</a></p> + +<p>No further questions were then made respecting +the letters; but Count Rantzow enquired as to my +jewels, and asked where the large diamond was +which my husband had received in France.<a name="FNanchor_E22" id="FNanchor_E22" href="#Footnote_E22" class="fnanchor">[E22]</a> I replied +that it had long been sold. He further asked where +my large drop pearls where, which I had worn as a +feather on my hat, and where my large pearl head-ornament +was. ‘All these,’ I replied, ‘have long been +sold.’ He asked further whether I had then no more +jewels. I answered, ‘I have none now.’ ‘I mean,’ +he said, <span class="corr" title="added: ‘">‘</span>elsewhere.’ I replied, ‘I left some behind.’ +‘Where, then?’ he asked. ‘At Bruges,’ I replied. +Then he said: ‘I have now somewhat to ask you, +madame, that concerns myself. Did you visit my +sister in Paris the last time you were there?’ I replied, +‘Yes.’ He asked whether I had been with her in the +convent, and what was the name of the convent. I +informed him that I had been in the convent, and that +it was the Convent des Filles Bleues. At this he +nodded, as if to confirm it. He also wished to know +whether I had seen her. I said that no one in the +convent might be seen by anyone but parents; even +brothers and sisters were not allowed to see them.<a name="FNanchor_E23" id="FNanchor_E23" href="#Footnote_E23" class="fnanchor">[E23]</a> +‘That is true,’ he said, and then rose and gave me his +hand. I begged him to induce his gracious Majesty +to have pity on me, but he made no answer. When<a class="pagenum" name="Page_150" id="Page_150" title="[Pg 150]"></a> +the Treasurer Gabel gave me his hand, I begged the +same favour of him. He replied, ‘Yes, if you will +confess,’ and went out without waiting for a reply.</p> + +<p>For more than three hours they had kept up the interrogation. +Then the prison governor came in and said +to me: ‘Now you are to remain in here; it is a beautiful +chamber, and has been freshly whitewashed; you may +now be contented.’ Anna and Maren also came in. +God knows, I was full of care, tired and weary, and +had insufferable headache; yet, before I could go to +rest, I had to sit waiting until the bedstead had been +taken out of the ‘Dark Church’ and brought hither. +Anna occupied herself meanwhile in the Dark Church, +in scraping out every hole; she imagined she might +find something there, but in vain. The woman who +was to remain with me alone then came in. Her pay +was two rix-dollars a week; her name is Karen, the +daughter of Ole. After the prison governor had supped +with the woman and Maren, Anna and Maren Blocks +bade me good night; the latter exhibited great affection. +The prison governor bolted two doors before my innermost +prison. In the innermost door there is a square +hole, which is secured with iron cross-bars. The prison +governor was going to attach a lock to this hole, but he +forebore at Karen’s request, for she said she could not +breathe if this hole were closed. He then affixed locks +to the door of the outer chamber, and to the door leading +to the stairs; he had, therefore, four locks and +doors twice a day to lock and unlock.</p> + +<p>I will here describe my prison. It is a chamber, +seven of my paces long and six wide; there are in +it two beds, a table, and two stools. It was freshly +whitewashed, which caused a terrible smell; the floor, +moreover was so thick with dirt, that I imagined it<a class="pagenum" name="Page_151" id="Page_151" title="[Pg 151]"></a> +was of loam, though it was really laid with bricks. It +is eighteen feet high, with a vaulted ceiling, and +very high up is a window which is two feet square. +In front of it are double thick iron bars, besides a +wire-work, which is so close that one could not put +one’s little finger into the holes. This wire-work had +been thus ordered with great care by Count Rantzow +(so the prison governor afterwards told me), so that +no pigeons might bring in a letter—a fact which +he had probably read in a novel as having happened. +I was weak and deeply grieved in my heart; I looked +for a merciful deliverance, and an end to my sorrow, +and I sat silent and uncomplaining, answering little +when the woman spoke to me. Sometimes in my +reverie I scratched at the wall, which made the woman +imagine that I was confused in my head; she told this +to the prison governor, who reported it to the Queen, +and during every meal-time, when the door was open, +she never failed to send messengers to enquire how it +fared with me, what I said, and what I was doing.</p> + +<p>The woman had, however, not much to tell in obedience +to the oath she, according to her own statement, +had taken in the presence of the prison governor. But +afterwards she found some means to ingratiate herself. +And as my strength daily decreased, I rejoiced at the +prospect of my end, and on August 21 I sent for the +prison governor, and requested him to apply for a +clergyman who could give me the sacrament. This was +immediately granted, and His Majesty’s Court preacher, +Magister Mathias Foss, received orders to perform for +me the duties of his office, and exhorted me, both on +behalf of his office and in consequence of the command +he had received, not to burden my conscience; I might +rest assured, he said, that in this world I should never<a class="pagenum" name="Page_152" id="Page_152" title="[Pg 152]"></a> +see my husband again, and he begged me to say what +I knew of the treason. I could scarcely utter a word +for weeping; but I said that I could attest before God +in heaven, from whom nothing is hidden, that I knew +nothing of this treason. I knew well I should never +see my husband again in this life; I commended him +to the Almighty, who knew my innocence; I prayed +God only for a blessed end and departure from this +evil world; I desired nothing from the clergyman but +that he should remember me in his prayers, that God +might by death put an end to my affliction. The +clergyman promised faithfully to grant my request. +It has not pleased God to hear me in this: He has +willed to prove my faith still further, by sending to me +since this time much care, affliction, and adversity. +He has helped me also to bear the cross, and has +Himself supported its heaviest end; His name be +praised for ever. When I had received the Lord’s +Supper, M. Foss comforted me and bid me farewell.</p> + +<p>I lay silently for three days after this, taking little +or nothing. The prison governor often enquired +whether I wished for anything to eat or drink, or +whether he should say anything to the King. I +thanked him, but said I required nothing.</p> + +<p>On August 25 the prison governor importuned me at +once with his conversation, expressing his belief that I +entertained an evil opinion of the Queen. He inferred +it from this: the day before he had said to me that +His Majesty had ordered that whatever I desired from +the kitchen and cellar should be at once brought to +me, to which I had answered, ‘God preserve His +Majesty; he is a good sovereign; may he show clemency +to evil men!’ He had then said, ‘The Queen is also +good,’ to which I had made no answer. He had then<a class="pagenum" name="Page_153" id="Page_153" title="[Pg 153]"></a> +tried to turn the conversation to the Queen, and to hear +if he could not draw out a word from me; he had said: +‘The Queen is sorry for you that you have been so +led away. It grieves her that you have willed your +own unhappiness; she is not angry; she pities you.’ +And when I made no answer, he repeated it again, +saying from time to time, ‘Yes, yes, my dear lady, it is +as I say.’ I was annoyed at the talk, and said, ‘<span lang="fr">Dieu +vous punisse</span>!’ ‘Ho, ho!’ he said, misinterpreting my +words, and calling Karen, he went out and closed the +doors. Thus unexpectedly I got rid of him. It was +ridiculous that the woman now wanted to oblige me to +attend to what the prison governor had said. I begged +her to remember that she was now not attending on a +child (she had before been nurse to children). She +could not so easily depart from her habit, and for a +long time treated me as a child, until at length I made +her comprehend that this was not required.</p> + +<p>When I perceived that my stomach desired food and +could retain it, I became impatient that I could not die, +but must go on living in such misery. I began to +dispute with God, and wanted to justify myself with +Him. It seemed to me that I had not deserved such +misfortune. I imagined myself far purer than David +was from great sins, and yet he could say, ‘Verily I +have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands +in innocency. For all the day long have I been +plagued, and chastened every morning.’ I thought I +had not deserved so exceedingly great a chastisement +as that which I was receiving. I said with Job, +‘Show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it +good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou +shouldest despise the work of thine hands?’ I repeated +all Job’s expressions when he tried to justify himself,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_154" id="Page_154" title="[Pg 154]"></a> +and it seemed to me that I could justly apply them to +myself. I cursed with him and Jeremiah the day of +my birth, and was very impatient; keeping it, however, +to myself, and not expressing it aloud. If at times a +word escaped me, it was in German (since I had +generally read the Bible in German), and therefore the +woman did not understand what I was saying. I was +very restless from coughing, and turned from side to +side on the bed. The woman often asked me how I +was. I begged her to leave me quiet and not to speak +to me. I was never more comfortable than in the +night when I observed that she was sleeping; then, +unhindered, I could let my tears flow and give free +vent to my thoughts. Then I called God to account. +I enumerated everything that I had innocently suffered +and endured during my life, and I enquired of God +whether I had deviated from my duty? Whether I +ought to have done less for my husband than I had +done? Whether the present was my recompense for +not having left him in his adversity? Whether I was +to be now tortured, tormented, and scorned for this? +Whether all the indescribable misfortunes which I had +endured with him were not enough, that I had been +reserved for this irremediable and great trouble? I do +not wish to conceal my unreasonableness. I will confess +my sins. I asked if still worse misfortunes were in store +for me for which I was to live? Whether there was any +affliction on earth to be compared to mine? I prayed +God to put an end to my sufferings, for it redounded in +no wise to his honour to let me live and be so tormented. +I was after all not made of steel and iron, but of flesh +and blood. I prayed that He would suggest to me, or +inform me in a dream, what I was to do to shorten my +misery.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_155" id="Page_155" title="[Pg 155]"></a> +When I had long thus disputed and racked my +brains, and had also wept so bitterly that it seemed +as if no more tears remained, I fell asleep, but +awoke with terror, for I had horrible fancies in my +dreams, so that I feared to sleep, and began again to +bewail my misery. At length God looked down upon +me with his eye of mercy, so that on August 31 I had +a night of quiet sleep, and just as day was dawning I +awoke with the following words on my lips: ‘My son, +faint not when thou art rebuked of the Lord; for whom +the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every +son whom he receiveth.’ I uttered the last words +aloud, thinking that the woman was sleeping; possibly +she awoke at the moment, and she asked me whether +I wished for anything. I answered ‘No.’ ‘You were +speaking,’ she said, ‘and you mentioned your stockings; +I could not understand the rest.’ I replied, ‘It must +have been then in my sleep. I wish for nothing.’</p> + +<p>I then lay quietly thinking. I perceived and confessed +my folly, that I, who am only dust and ashes, and +decay, and am only fit for the dunghill, should call God +to account, should dispute with my Creator and his +decrees, and should wish to censure and question them. +I began to weep violently, and I prayed fervently and +from my heart for mercy and forgiveness. While I +had before boasted with David, and been proud of my +innocence, now I confessed with him that before God +there is none that doeth good; no, not one. While +before I had spoken foolishly with Job, I now said +with him that I had ‘uttered that I understood not; +things too wonderful for me which I knew not.’ I +besought God to have mercy on me, relying on his +great compassion. I cited Moses, Joshua, David, +Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, and others, all highly endowed<a class="pagenum" name="Page_156" id="Page_156" title="[Pg 156]"></a> +men, and yet so weak that in the time of calamity they +grumbled and murmured against God. I prayed that +He would in his mercy forgive me, the frailest of +earthen vessels, as I could not after all be otherwise +than as He had created me. All things were in his +power; it was easy to Him to give me patience, as He +had before imparted to me power and courage to endure +hard blows and shocks. And I prayed God (after +asking forgiveness of my sins) for nothing else than +good patience to await the period of my deliverance. +God graciously heard me. He pardoned not only my +foolish sins, but He gave me that also for which I had +not prayed, for day by day my patience increased. +While I had often said with David, ‘Will the Lord +cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? +Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise +fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? +Hath He in anger shut up his tender mercies?’ I now +continued with him, ‘This is my infirmity, but I will +remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ +I said also with Psalm cxix.: ‘It is good for me that I +have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.’</p> + +<p>The power of God was working within me. Many +consolatory sentences from the Holy Scriptures came +into my mind; especially these:—‘If so be that we suffer +with Christ, that we may be also glorified together.’ +Also: ‘We know that all things work together for +good to them that love God.’ Also: ‘My grace is +sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect +in weakness.’ I thought especially often of Christ’s +words in St. Luke, ‘Shall not God avenge his own +elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he +bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge +them speedily.’ I felt in my trouble how useful it is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_157" id="Page_157" title="[Pg 157]"></a> +to have learned psalms and passages from the Bible in +youth. Believe me, my children, that it has been a +great consolation to me in my misery. Therefore, +cultivate now in your youth what your parents taught +you in childhood; now, while trouble visits you less +severely, so that when it comes, you may be ready to +receive it and to comfort yourselves with the Word of +God.</p> + +<p>I began by degrees to feel more at peace, and to speak +with the woman, and to answer the prison governor when +he addressed me. The woman told me sundry things, and +said that the prison governor had ordered her to tell him +everything that I spoke or did, but that she was too wise +to do such a thing; that she understood now better than +she had done at first how to behave. He went out, but +she remained shut up with me, and she would be true +to me. And as it appeared that I did not at once believe +what she said, she swore it solemnly, and prayed God to +punish her if ever she acted falsely towards me. She +stroked and patted my hand, and laid it against her +cheek, and begged that I would believe her, using the +words, ‘My dearest lady, you can believe me; as truly +as I am a child of God, I will never deceive you! Now, +is not that enough?’ I answered, ‘I will believe you;’ +thinking at the same time that I would do and say +nothing but what she might divulge. She was very +glad that she had induced me to speak, and said, +‘When you lay so long silent, and I had no one with +whom I could speak, I was sad, and determined that I +would not long lead this life, even if they gave me +double as much, for I should have become crazed. I +was afraid for you, but still more for myself, that my +head would give way.’</p> + +<p>She went on talking in this way, introducing also<a class="pagenum" name="Page_158" id="Page_158" title="[Pg 158]"></a> +various merry stories. When she was young she +had been in the service of a clergyman, who encouraged +his domestics in the fear of God, and there +she had learned prayers and sentences from the Bible +by heart; she knew also the Children’s Primer, +with the explanatory remarks, and sang tolerably +well. She knew in some measure how she should +walk before God and behave towards her neighbour; +but she acted contrary to her knowledge—for she had +a malicious temper. She was an elderly woman, +but she liked to reckon herself as middle-aged. It +appeared that in her youth she had been pretty and +rather dissolute, since even now she could not lay +aside her levity, but joked with the tower-warder, and +the prison governor’s coachman, a man of the name of +Peder, and with a prisoner named Christian (more will +presently be said with regard to this prisoner; he was +free to go about the tower).<a name="FNanchor_69" id="FNanchor_69" href="#Footnote_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<p>Maren Blocks often sent me a message through +this coachman, besides various kinds of candied sugar +and citron, letting me know from time to time whether +anything new was occurring. All this had to be +done through the woman. One day she came in when +the doors were closed, and brought me a message +from Maren Blocks, saying, ‘My lady, if you will +now write to your children in Skaane, there is a +safe opportunity for you to do so.’ I answered, ‘My +children are not in Skaane, yet if I can send a message +to Skaane, I have a friend there who will probably let +me know how it fares with my children.’ She gave +me a piece of crumpled paper and a pencil. I wrote a<a class="pagenum" name="Page_159" id="Page_159" title="[Pg 159]"></a> +few words to F. Margrete Rantzow,<a name="FNanchor_E24" id="FNanchor_E24" href="#Footnote_E24" class="fnanchor">[E24]</a> saying that she +probably knew of my miserable condition, but supposing +that her friendship was not lessened by it, and begging +her to let me know how my children were, and from +what cause they had come to Skaane, as I had been +informed was the case, though I did not believe it. +This was what I wrote and gave to the woman. I +heard nothing further of it, and I imagine that she +had been ordered to find out to whom I wrote, &c. +(They have been busy with the idea that some of you, +my dear children, might come to Skaane.) I sewed +up the letter or slip of paper in such a manner that it +could not be opened without making it apparent. I +asked the woman several times if she knew whether +the letter had been sent away. She always answered +that she did not know, and that with a morose expression, +and at last she said (when I once more asked her +to enquire of Peder), ‘I suppose that the person who +ought to have it has got it.’ This answer made me +reflect, and since then I asked no further.</p> + +<p>I remained all this time in bed, partly because I had +nothing with which to beguile the time, and partly +because of the cold, for no stove was placed in my +prison till after the New Year. Occasionally I requested +the woman to manage, through Peder, that +I should have a little silk or thread, that I might +beguile the time by embroidering a piece of cloth that +I had; but the answer I received was that he dared +not. A long time afterwards it came to my knowledge +that she had never asked Peder for it. There was +trouble enough, however, to occupy my thoughts without +my needing to employ the time in handiwork.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_160" id="Page_160" title="[Pg 160]"></a> +It was on September 2 that I heard some one +moving early overhead, so I asked the woman if +she knew whether there was a chamber there (for the +woman went up every Saturday with the night-stool). +She answered that there was a prison there like this, +and outside was the rack (which is also the case). +She observed that I showed signs of fear, and she +said, ‘God help! Whoever it is that is up there is +most assuredly to be tortured.’ I said, ‘Ask Peder, +when the doors are unlocked, whether there is a +prisoner there.’ She said she would do so, and +meanwhile she kept asking herself and me who it +might be. I could not guess; still less did I venture +to confess my fear to her, which she nevertheless +perceived, and therefore increased; for after she had +spoken with Peder, about noon,<a name="FNanchor_70" id="FNanchor_70" href="#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> and the doors were +locked, she said, ‘God knows who it is that is imprisoned +there! Peder would tell me nothing.’ She said +the same at the evening meal, but added that she had +asked him, and that he would give no answer. I +calmed myself, as I heard no more footsteps above, and +I said, ‘There is no prisoner up there.’<a name="FNanchor_71" id="FNanchor_71" href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> ‘How do +you know that?’ she asked. ‘I gather it from the +fact,’ I said, ‘that since this morning I have heard no +one above; I think if there were anyone there, they +would probably give him something to eat.’ She was +not pleased that my mind was quieted, and therefore +she and Peder together endeavoured to trouble me.</p> + +<p>On the following day, when the doors were being +locked after the mid-day dinner (which was generally +Peder’s task), and he was pulling to my innermost door,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_161" id="Page_161" title="[Pg 161]"></a> +which opens inside, he put in his head and said, ‘<span class="sic" title="[sic]">Casset</span>!’ +She was standing beside the door, and appeared +as if she had not rightly understood him, saying, ‘Peder +spoke of some one who is in prison, but I could not +understand who it is.’ I understood him at once, but +also behaved as if I had not. No one knows but God +what a day and night I had. I turned it over in my +mind. It often seemed to me that it might be that +they had seized him, although Cassetta was a subject +of the King of Spain; for if treason is suspected, there +is no thought given as to whose subject the man suspected +may be. I lay in the night secretly weeping +and lamenting that the brave man should have come +into trouble for my sake, because he had executed my +lord’s will, and had followed me to England, where +we parted, I should say, when Petcon and his company +separated us and carried me away.</p> + +<p>I lay without sleep till towards day, then I fell into +a dream which frightened me. I suppose my thoughts +caused it. It came before me that Cassetta was being +tortured in the manner he had once described to me +that a Spaniard had been tortured: four cords were +fastened round his hands and feet, and each cord was +made secure in a corner of the room, and a man sometimes +pulled one cord and sometimes another; and +since it seemed to me that Cassetta never screamed, I +supposed that he was dead, and I shrieked aloud and +awoke. The woman, who had long been awake, said: +‘O God! dear lady, what ails you? Are you ill? +You have been groaning a long time, and now you +screamed loudly.’ I replied, ‘It was in my dream; +nothing ails me.’ She said further, ‘Then you have +had a bad dream?’ ‘That may well be,’ I answered. +‘Oh, tell me what you have dreamt; I can interpret<a class="pagenum" name="Page_162" id="Page_162" title="[Pg 162]"></a> +dreams.’ I replied, ‘When I screamed I forgot my +dream, otherwise no one can interpret dreams better +than I.’ I thank God I do not regard dreams; +and this dream had no other cause than what I have +said. When the door was locked after the mid-day +meal, the woman said of herself (for I asked no +further respecting the prisoners), ‘There is no one +imprisoned there; shame on Peder for his nonsense!’ +I asked him who was imprisoned there, and he laughed +at me heartily. ‘There is no one there, so let your +mind be at peace.’ I said, ‘If my misfortunes were +to involve others, it would be very painful to me.’</p> + +<p>Thus matters went on till the middle of September, +and then two of our servants were brought as prisoners +and placed in arrest; one Nils Kaiberg, who had acted +as butler, and the other Frans, who had been in our +service as a lacquey. After having been kept in +prison for a few weeks and examined they were set at +liberty. At the same time two Frenchmen were +brought as prisoners: an old man named La Rosche, +and a young man whose name I do not know. La +Rosche was brought to the tower and was placed in +the witch-cell; a feather-bed had been thrown down, +and on this he lay; for some months he was never +out of his clothes. His food consisted of bread and +wine; he refused everything else. He was accused +of having corresponded with Corfitz, and of having +promised the King of France that he would deliver +Crooneborg into his hands.<a name="FNanchor_72" id="FNanchor_72" href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> This information had +been given by Hannibal Sehested, who was at that +time in France, and he had it from a courtesan who +was then intimate with Hannibal, but had formerly<a class="pagenum" name="Page_163" id="Page_163" title="[Pg 163]"></a> +been in connection with La Rosche, and probably +afterwards had quarrelled with him. There was no +other proof in favour of the accusation. Probably suspicion +had been raised by the fact that this La Rosche, +with the other young man, had desired to see me +when I was in arrest in Dover, which had been permitted, +and they had paid me their respects. It is +possible that he had wished to speak with me and to +tell me what he had heard in London, and which, it +seemed to him, excited no fears in me. But as I was +playing at cards with some ladies who had come to +look at me, he could not speak with me; so he asked +me whether I had the book of plays which the +Countess of Pembroke had published.<a name="FNanchor_E25" id="FNanchor_E25" href="#Footnote_E25" class="fnanchor">[E25]</a> I replied, ‘No’. +He promised to send it me, and as I did not receive it, +I think he had written in it some warning to me, which +Braten afterwards turned to his advantage.</p> + +<p>However all this may be, La Rosche suffered innocently, +and could prove upon oath that he had never +spoken with my lord in his life, and still less had corresponded +with him.<a name="FNanchor_73" id="FNanchor_73" href="#Footnote_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> In short, after some months of innocent +suffering, he was set at liberty and sent back to +France. The other young man was confined in an +apartment near the servants’ hall. He had only been +apprehended as a companion to the other, but no further +accusation was brought against him.<a name="FNanchor_E26" id="FNanchor_E26" href="#Footnote_E26" class="fnanchor">[E26]</a> At first, when +these men were imprisoned, there was a whispering and +talking between the prison governor and the woman, +and also between Peder and her; the prison governor +moreover himself locked my door. I plainly perceived +that there was something in the wind, but I made no enquiries.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_164" id="Page_164" title="[Pg 164]"></a> +Peder at length informed the woman that they +were two Frenchmen, and he said something about the +affair, but not as it really was. Shortly before they +were set at liberty the prison governor said, ‘I have +two parle mi franço in prison; what they have done I +know not.’ I made no further enquiries, but he jested +and said, ‘Now I can learn French.’ ‘That will take +time,’ said I.</p> + +<p>In the same month of September died Count +Rantzow. He did not live to see the execution of an +effigy, which he so confidently had hoped for, being +himself the one who first had introduced this kind of +mockery in these countries.<a name="FNanchor_E27" id="FNanchor_E27" href="#Footnote_E27" class="fnanchor">[E27]</a></p> + +<p>On October 9 our Princess Anna Sophia was +betrothed to the Electoral Prince of Saxony. On the +morning of the day on which the festivities were to +take place I said to the woman, ‘To-day we shall +fast till evening.’ For I thought they would not think +of me, and that I should not receive any of the remains +until the others had been treated, at any rate, to +dinner. She wished to know the reason why we were +to fast. I answered, ‘You shall know it this evening.’ +I lay and thought of the change of fortune: that I, who +twenty-eight years ago had enjoyed as great state as +the Princess, should now be lying a captive, close by +the very wall where my bridal chamber had been; +thank God, that it afflicted me but little. Towards +noonday, when the trumpets and kettledrums were +sounding, I said, ‘Now they are conducting the bride +across the square to the great hall.’ ‘How do you +know that?’ said the woman. ‘I know it,’ I said; ‘my +spirit tells me so.’ ‘What sort of spirit is that?’ she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_165" id="Page_165" title="[Pg 165]"></a> +asked. ‘That I cannot tell you,’ I replied. And as +the trumpets blew every time that a new course of +dishes and sweets were produced, I mentioned it; and +before they were served the kettledrums were sounded. +And as they were served on the square in front of the +kitchen, I said each time, ‘We shall have no dinner +yet.’ When it was nearly three o’clock, the woman said, +‘My stomach is quite shrunk up; when shall we have +dinner?’ I answered, ‘Not for a long time yet; +the second course is only now on the table; we shall +have something at about seven o’clock, and not before.’ +It was as I said. About half-past seven the prison +governor came and excused himself, saying that he +had asked for the dinner, but that all hands in the +kitchen were occupied. The woman, who had always +entertained the idea that I was a witch, was now confirmed +in her opinion.<a name="FNanchor_74" id="FNanchor_74" href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> + +<p>On the following day knights were dubbed, and +each time when the trumpets blew I did not only say, +‘Now they have made a knight’ (for I could hear the +herald calling from the window, though I could not +understand what he said), but even who had been made +a knight; for this I guessed, knowing who were in the +Council who were not knights before; and because it +was as I said, the woman believed for certain that I +was an enchantress. I perceived this, as she put +questions to me concerning things which I could not +know, and to which I often gave equivocal answers. I +thought perhaps that the fear she had that I could know +what would happen might hinder her from entangling +me with lies. Since then she whispered much less<a class="pagenum" name="Page_166" id="Page_166" title="[Pg 166]"></a> +with the prison governor. She told of a person +whom she regarded as a witch, whose power, however, +consisted in nothing else than in the science of curing +French pox, and causing the miscarriage of bad +women, and other improprieties. She had had much +intercourse with this woman.</p> + +<p>Some time after the departure of the Electoral +Prince it was determined that a wooden effigy should +be subjected to capital punishment, and on the forenoon +my chamber was opened, swept, cleaned, and +strewed with sand.<a name="FNanchor_75" id="FNanchor_75" href="#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> When it was opened, towards +noon, and the woman had been on the stairs, talking +with the coachman, she came in, and walking up to my +bed, stood as if startled, and said hurriedly, ‘Oh, Jesus! +Lady, they are bringing your husband!’ The news +terrified me, which she observed; for as she uttered it, +I raised myself in the bed and stretched out my right +arm, and was not able to draw it back again at once. +Perhaps this vexed her, for I remained sitting in this +way and not speaking a word; so she said, ‘My dearest +lady, it is your husband’s effigy.’ To this I said, ‘May +God punish you!’ She then gave full vent to her evil +tongue, and expressed her opinion that I deserved +punishment, and not she, and used many unprofitable +words. I was quite silent, for I was very weak, and +scarcely knew where I was. In the afternoon I heard +a great murmuring of people in the inner palace square, +and I saw the effigy brought across the street by the +executioner on a wheelbarrow, and placed in the tower +below my prison.</p> + +<p>The next morning, at about nine o’clock, the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_167" id="Page_167" title="[Pg 167]"></a> +effigy was <span class="sic" title="[sic]">wofully</span> treated by the executioner, but +no sound came from it. At the mid-day meal the +prison governor told the woman how the executioner +had cut off its head, and had divided the body into +four quarters, which were then placed on four wheels, +and attached to the gallows, while the head was exhibited +on the town hall. The prison governor stood +in the outer chamber, but he narrated all this in a loud +tone, so that I might hear it, and repeated it three +times.<a name="FNanchor_E28" id="FNanchor_E28" href="#Footnote_E28" class="fnanchor">[E28]</a> I lay and thought what I should do; I could +not show that I made but little of it, for then something +else perhaps would be devised to trouble me, and +in the hurry I could think of nothing else than saying +to the woman with sadness, ‘Oh, what a shame! speak +to the prison governor and tell him to beg the King to +allow the effigy to be taken down and not to remain as +it is!’ The woman went out, and spoke softly with the +prison governor; but he answered aloud and said, ‘Yes, +indeed, taken down! There will be more put up; yes, +more up;’ and kept on repeating these words a good +while.</p> + +<p>I lay silently thinking; I said nothing, but indulged +in my own reflections. Sometimes I consoled myself, +and hoped that this treatment of the effigy was a +token that they could not get the man; then again +fear asserted its sway. I did not care for the dishonour, +for there are too many instances of great men +in France whose effigies have been burnt by the +executioner, and who subsequently arrived again at +great honour.</p> + +<p>When the door was unlocked again for the evening +meal, there was a whispering between the prison<a class="pagenum" name="Page_168" id="Page_168" title="[Pg 168]"></a> +governor and the woman. A lacquey was also sent, +who stood outside the outer door and called the prison +governor to him (my bed stands just opposite the doors, +and thus when all three doors are opened I can see the +staircase door, which is the fourth). I do not know +what the woman can have told the prison governor, for +I had not spoken all day, except to ask her to give me +what I required; I said, moreover, nothing more than +this for several days, so that the prison governor grew +weary of enquiring longer of the woman; for she had +nothing to communicate to him respecting me, and she +tormented him always with her desire to get away; she +could not longer spend her life in this way.</p> + +<p>But as she received no other consolation from him +than that he swore to her that she would never get away +as long as she lived, for some days she did nothing +else than weep; and since I would not ask her why +she wept, she came one day up to my bedside crying, +and said, ‘I am a miserable being!’ I asked her why? +what ailed her? ‘I ail enough,’ she answered; ‘I have +been so stupid, and have allowed myself to be shut up +here for the sake of money, and now you are cross with +me and will not speak with me.’ I said, ‘What am I +to say? you wish perhaps to have something to communicate +to the prison governor?’ Upon this she began +to call down curses on herself if she had ever repeated +to the prison governor a word that I had said or done; +she wished I could believe her and speak with her; +why should she be untrue to me? we must at any rate +remain together as long as we lived. She added many +implorations as to my not being angry; I had indeed +cause to be so; she would in future give me no cause +for anger, for she would be true to me. I thought, +‘You shall know no more than is necessary.’</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_169" id="Page_169" title="[Pg 169]"></a> +I let her go on talking and relating the whole history +of her life—such events as occur among peasants. She +had twice married cottagers, and after her last widowhood +she had been employed as nurse to the wife of +Holger Wind, so that she had no lack of stories. By +her first husband she had had a child, who had never +reached maturity, and her own words led me to have +a suspicion that she had herself helped to shorten the +child’s days; for once when she was speaking of widows +marrying again, she said among other things, ‘Those +who wish to marry a second time ought not to have +children, for in that case the husband is never one with +the wife.’ I had much to say against this, and I asked +her what a woman was to do who had a child by her +first husband. She answered quickly, ‘Put a pillow +on its head.’ This I could only regard as a great sin, +and I explained it to her. ‘What sin could there be,’ +she said, ‘when the child was always sickly, and the +husband angry in consequence?’ I answered as I +ought, and she seemed ill at ease. Such conversation +as this gave me no good reason to believe in the fidelity +which she had promised me.</p> + +<p>The woman then took a different tack, and brought +me word from the coachman of all that was occurring. +Maren Blocks sent me a prayer-book through her, and +that secretly, for I was allowed no book of any kind, +nor any needles and pins; respecting these the woman +had by the Queen’s order taken an oath to the prison +governor. Thus the year passed away. On New +Year’s day, 1664, the woman wished me a happy year. +I thanked her, and said, ‘That is in God’s hands.’ +‘Yes,’ she said, ‘if He wills it.’ ‘And if He does not +will it,’ I answered, ‘it will not be, and then He will give +me patience to bear my heavy cross.’ ‘It is heavy,’ she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_170" id="Page_170" title="[Pg 170]"></a> +said, ‘even to me; what must it not be to you? May +it only remain as it is, and not be worse with you!’ It +seemed to me as if it could not be worse, but better; +for death, in whatever form, would put an end to my +misery. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘is it not all one how one dies?’ +‘That is true,’ I answered; ‘one dies in despair, +another with free courage.’ The prison governor did +not say a word to me that day. The woman had a long +talk with the coachman; she no doubt related to him +our conversation.</p> + +<p>In the month of March the prison governor came in +and assumed a particularly gentle manner, and said, +among other things, ‘Now you are a widow; now you +can tell the state of all affairs.’ I answered him with a +question, ‘Can widows tell the state of all affairs?’ He +laughed and said, ‘I do not mean that; I mean this +treason!’ I answered, ‘You can ask others about it +who know of it; I know of no treason.’ And as it +seemed to him that I did not believe that my husband +was dead,<a name="FNanchor_E29" id="FNanchor_E29" href="#Footnote_E29" class="fnanchor">[E29]</a> he took out a newspaper and let me read it, +perhaps chiefly because my husband was badly treated +in it. I did not say much about it—nothing more than, +‘Writers of newspapers do not always speak the truth.’ +This he might take as he liked.</p> + +<p>I lay there silently hoping that it might be so, that +my husband had by death escaped his enemies; and +I thought with the greatest astonishment that I +should have lived to see the day when I should +wish my lord dead; then sorrowful thoughts took +possession of me, and I did not care to talk. The +woman imagined that I was sad because my lord +was dead, and she comforted me, and that in a<a class="pagenum" name="Page_171" id="Page_171" title="[Pg 171]"></a> +reasonable manner; but the remembrance of past +times was only strengthened by her consolatory remarks, +and for a long time my mind could not again +regain repose. Your condition, my dearest children, +troubled me. You had lost your father, and with him +property and counsel. I am captive and miserable, +and cannot help you, either with counsel or deed; you +are fugitives and in a foreign land. For my three +eldest sons I am less anxious than for my daughters +and my youngest son.<a name="FNanchor_E30" id="FNanchor_E30" href="#Footnote_E30" class="fnanchor">[E30]</a> I sat up whole nights in my +bed, for I could not sleep, and when I have headache +I cannot lay my head on the pillow. From my heart +I prayed to God for a gracious deliverance. It has not +pleased God to grant this, but He gave me patience to +bear my heavy cross.</p> + +<p>My cross was so much heavier to me at first, as it +was strictly forbidden to give me either knife, scissors, +thread, or anything that might have beguiled the time +to me. Afterwards, when my mind became a little +calmer, I began to think of something wherewith to +occupy myself; and as I had a needle, as I have before +mentioned, I took off the ribands of my night-dress, +which were broad flesh-coloured taffeta. With the +silk I embroidered the piece of cloth that I had with +different flowers worked in small stitches. When this +was finished, I drew threads out of my sheet, twisted +them, and sewed with them. When this was nearly +done, the woman said one day, ‘What will you do +now when this is finished?’ I answered, ‘Oh, I shall +get something to do; if it is brought to me by the +ravens, I shall have it.’ Then she asked me if I could +do anything with a broken wooden spoon. I answered,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_172" id="Page_172" title="[Pg 172]"></a> +‘Perhaps you know of one?’ After having laughed a +while, she drew one forth, the bowl of which was half +broken off. ‘I could indeed make something with that,’ +I said, ‘if I had only a tool for the purpose. Could +you persuade the prison governor or Peder the coachman +to lend me a knife?’ ‘I will beg for one,’ she +answered, ‘but I know well that they will not.’ That +she said something about it to the prison governor +I could perceive from his answer, for he replied aloud, +‘She wants no knife; I will cut her food for her. She +might easily injure herself with one.’<a class="corr" name="corr_14" id="corr_14" title="added footnote anchor"></a><a name="FNanchor_76" id="FNanchor_76" href="#Footnote_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + +<p>What she said to the coachman I know not (this I +know, that she did not desire me to obtain a knife, +for she was afraid of me, as I afterwards discovered). +The woman brought the answer from the coachman +that he dared not for his life. I said, ‘If I can but +have a piece of glass, I will see what I can make that +is useful with the piece of spoon.’ I begged her to +look in a corner in the outermost room, where all +rubbish was thrown; this she did, and found not only +glass, but even a piece of a pewter cover which had +belonged to a jug. By means of the glass I formed +the spoon handle into a pin with two prongs, on which +I made riband, which I still have in use (the silk for +this riband I took from the border of my night-dress). +I bent the piece of pewter in such a manner that +it afterwards served me as an inkstand. It also is +still in my keeping. As a mark of fidelity, the woman +brought me at the same time a large pin, which was +a good tool for beginning the division between the +prongs, which I afterwards scraped with glass.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_173" id="Page_173" title="[Pg 173]"></a> +She asked me whether I could think of anything +to play with, as the time was so long to her. I said, +‘Coax Peder, and he will bring you a little flax for +money and a distaff.’ ‘What!’ she answered, ‘shall +I spin? The devil may spin! For whom should I +spin?’ I said, ‘To beguile the time, I would spin, +if I only had what is necessary for it.’ ‘That you may +not have, dear lady,’ said she; ‘I have done the very +utmost for you in giving you what I have done.’ ‘If +you wish something to play with,’ said I, ‘get some +nuts, and we will play with them.’ She did so, and we +played with them like little children. I took three of +the nuts, and made them into dice, placing two kinds +of numbers on each, and we played with these also. +And that we might know the ⊙ which I made with +the large pin,<a name="FNanchor_77" id="FNanchor_77" href="#Footnote_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> I begged her to procure for me a piece +of chalk, which she did, and I rubbed chalk into it. +These dice were lost, I know not how; my opinion is +that the coachman got possession of them, perhaps at +the time that he cheated the woman out of the candles +and sugar left. For he came to her one day at noon +quite out of breath, and said she was to give him the +candles and the sugar which he had brought her from +Maren Blocks, and whatever there was that was not +to be seen, as our quarters were to be searched. She +ran out with the things under her apron, and never +said anything to me about it until the door was locked. +I concealed on myself, as well as I was able, my pin, +my silk, and the pieces of sewing with the needle and +pin. Nothing came of the search, and it was only a<a class="pagenum" name="Page_174" id="Page_174" title="[Pg 174]"></a> +<i>ruse</i> of the coachman, in order to get the candles that +were left, for which she often afterwards abused him, +and also for the sugar.</p> + +<p>I was always at work, so long as I had silk from my +night-dress and stockings, and I netted on the large +pin, so that it might last a long time. I have still +some of the work in my possession, as well as the +bobbins, which I made out of wooden pegs. By means +of bags filled with sand I made cords which I formed +into a bandage (which is worn out), for I was not +allowed a corset, often as I begged for one; the reason +why is unknown to me. I often beguiled the time +with the piece of chalk, painting with it on a piece of +board and on the table, wiping it away again, and +making rhymes and composing hymns. The first of +these, however, I composed before I had the chalk. +I never sang it, but repeated it to myself.</p> + +<p>A morning hymn, to the tune, ‘<span lang="da">Ieg wil din Priiss ud +Synge</span>’<a class="corr" name="corr_15" id="corr_15" title="added footnote anchor"></a><a name="FNanchor_E31" id="FNanchor_E31" href="#Footnote_E31" class="fnanchor">[E31]</a>:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">I<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God’s praise I will be singing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In every waking hour.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My grateful tribute bringing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To magnify his power;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his almighty love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His angel watchers sending,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My couch with mercy tending,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And watching from above.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">II<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In salt drops streaming ever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The tears flowed from my eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I often thought I never<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should see the morning rise.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet has the Lord instilled<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sleep in his own good pleasure;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And sleep in gracious measure<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has his command fulfilled.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_175" id="Page_175" title="[Pg 175]"></a> +<span class="i6">III<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh Christ! Lord of the living,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thine armour place on me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which manly vigour giving,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Right valiant shall I be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">‘Gainst Satan, death, and sin.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And every carnal feeling,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That nought may come concealing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy sway my heart within.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">IV<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Help me! Thy arms extending;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My cross is hard and sore:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Support its heaviest ending,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or I can bear no more.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Too much am I oppressed!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My trust is almost waning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With pain and vain complaining!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thine arrows pierce my breast.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">V<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In mercy soothe the sorrow<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That weighs the fatherless;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vouchsafe a happier morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And all my children bless!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Strength to their father yield,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In their hard fate respect them,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From enemies protect them;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My strength, be Thou their shield.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">VI<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am but dust and ashes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet one request I crave:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let me not go at unawares<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Into the silent grave.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With a clear mind and breast<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My course in this world closing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Let me, on Thee reposing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pass to Thy land of rest.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I composed the following hymn in German and often +sang it, as they did not understand German; a hymn,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_176" id="Page_176" title="[Pg 176]"></a> +somewhat to the air of ‘<span lang="de">Was ist doch auff dieser Welt, +das nicht fehlt</span>?’ &c.:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">I<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Reason speaketh to my soul:<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Fret not Soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou hast a better goal!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It is not for thee restricted<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That with thee<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Past should be<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All the wrongs inflicted.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">II<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Why then shouldst thou thus fret thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Anxiously,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ever sighing, mournfully?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou canst not another sorrow<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Change with this,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For that is<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which shall be on the morrow.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">III<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Loss of every earthly gain<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Bringeth pain;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fresh courage seek to obtain!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Much was still superfluous ceded,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nature’s call<br /></span> +<span class="i4">After all<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Makes but little needed.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">IV<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Is the body captive here?<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Do not fear:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou must not hold all too dear;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou art free—a captive solely;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Can no tower<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Have the power<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thee to fetter wholly?<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">V<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">All the same is it at last<br /></span> +<span class="i6">When thou hast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The long path of striving past,<br /></span> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_177" id="Page_177" title="[Pg 177]"></a> +<span class="i2">And thou must thy life surrender;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Death comes round,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whether found<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On couch hard or tender.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">VI<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Courage then, my soul, arise!<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Heave no sighs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That nought yet thy rest supplies!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">God will not leave thee in sorrow:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Well He knows<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When He chose<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Help for thee to borrow.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Thus I peacefully beguiled the time, until Doctor +Otto Sperling<a name="FNanchor_E32" id="FNanchor_E32" href="#Footnote_E32" class="fnanchor">[E32]</a> was brought to the tower; his prison +is below the ‘dark church.’ His fate is pitiable. +When he was brought to the tower his feet and hands +were chained in irons. The prison governor, who had +formerly not been friendly with him, rejoiced heartily at +the doctor’s misfortune, and that he had fallen into his +hands, so that the whole evening he did nothing but +sing and hum. He said to the woman, ‘My Karen, +will you dance? I will sing.’ He left the doctor to +pass the night in his irons. We could hear that a +prisoner had been brought in from the murmuring, and +the concourse of people, as well as from the locking +of the prison, which was below mine (where iron bolts +were placed against the door).<a name="FNanchor_78" id="FNanchor_78" href="#Footnote_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> The joy exhibited by +the prison governor excited my fear, also that he not +only himself opened and shut my door, but that he prevented +the woman from going out on the stairs, by +leaning against the outermost door of my prison. The +coachman stood behind the prison governor making<a class="pagenum" name="Page_178" id="Page_178" title="[Pg 178]"></a> +signs; but as the prison governor turned from side to +side, I could not rightly see him.</p> + +<p>On the following day, at about eight o’clock, I +heard the iron bolts drawn and the door below +opened; I could also hear that the inner prison was +opened (the doctor was then taken out for examination). +The woman said, ‘There is certainly a prisoner +there; who can it be?’ I said: ‘It seems indeed +that a prisoner has been brought in, for the prison +governor is so merry. You will find it out from Peder; +if not to-day, another time. I pity the poor man, +whoever he may be.’ (God knows my heart was not +as courageous as I appeared.) When my door was +opened at noon (which was after twelve o’clock, for +they did not open my door till the doctor had been +conveyed to his cell again), the prison governor was +still merrier than usual, and danced about and sang, +‘Cheer up! courage! It will come to pass!’</p> + +<p>When he had cut up the dinner, he leaned +against the outer door of my prison and prevented the +woman from going out, saying to me, ‘I am to +salute you from the Major-General von Alfeldt; +he says all will now soon be well, and you may +console yourself. Yes, yes, all will now soon be +well!’ I behaved as if I received his words in their +apparent meaning, and I begged him to thank the +Major-General for his consolation; and then he repeated +the same words, and added, ‘Yes, indeed! he +said so.’ I replied with a question: ‘What may it +arise from that the Major-General endeavours to cheer +me? May God cheer him in return! I never knew him +before.’ To this the prison governor made no answer +at all. While the prison governor was talking with me, +the coachman was standing behind him, and showed by<a class="pagenum" name="Page_179" id="Page_179" title="[Pg 179]"></a> +gestures how the prisoner had been bound hand and +foot, that he had a beard and a calotte on his head, and +a handkerchief round his neck. This could not make +me wiser than I was, but it could indeed grieve me still +more. At the evening meal the woman was again prevented +speaking with the coachman, and the coachman +again made the same signs, for the prison governor was +standing in his usual place; but he said nothing, nor +did I.<a name="FNanchor_79" id="FNanchor_79" href="#Footnote_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> On the following morning the Doctor was again +brought up for examination, and the prison governor +behaved as before. As he stood there ruminating, I +asked him who the prisoner below was. He answered +that there was no one below. I let the matter rest for +the time, and as we proceeded to speak of other things, +the woman slipped out to Peder, who told her quickly +who it was. Some days went by in the same manner. +When sentence had been pronounced on the Doctor, and +his execution was being postponed,<a name="FNanchor_80" id="FNanchor_80" href="#Footnote_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> and I said nothing +to the prison governor but when he accosted me, he +came in and said: ‘I see that you can judge that there +is a prisoner below. It is true, but I am forbidden to +tell you who it is!’ I answered: ‘Then I do not desire +to know.’ He began to feel some compassion, and said: +‘Don’t fret, my dear lady; it is not your husband, nor +your son, nor daughter, nor brother-in-law, nor any +relative; it is a bird which ought to sing,<a name="FNanchor_81" id="FNanchor_81" href="#Footnote_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> and will not, +but he must, he must!’ I said: ‘I ought to be able<a class="pagenum" name="Page_180" id="Page_180" title="[Pg 180]"></a> +to guess from your words who it is. If the bird can +sing what can ring in their ears, he will probably do +so; but he cannot sing a melody which he does not +know!’ Upon this he was silent, and turned away +and went out.</p> + +<p>By degrees all became quiet with regard to the +Doctor, and no more was said about the matter, and +the prison governor came in from time to time when the +door was opened, and often made himself merry with +the woman, desiring her to make a curtsey to him, and +showing her how she should place her feet and carry +her body, after the fashion of a dancing-master. He +related also different things that had occurred in former +times, some of them evidently intended to sadden me +with the recollection of my former prosperity: all that +had happened at my wedding, how the deceased King +had loved me. He gave long accounts of this, not +forgetting how I was dressed, and all this he said for +the benefit of no one else but myself, for the woman +meanwhile stood on the stairs talking with the tower +warder, the coachman, and the prisoner Christian.</p> + +<p>Maren Blocks, who constantly from time to time sent +me messages and kept me informed of what was going +on, also intimated to me that she was of opinion that I +could practise magic, for she wrote me a slip of paper<a name="FNanchor_82" id="FNanchor_82" href="#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> +with the request that I should sow dissension between +the Lady Carisse and an Alfelt, explaining at length that +Alfelt was not worthy of her, but that Skinckel was a +brave fellow (Carisse afterwards married Skinckel). As +the letter was open, the coachman knew its contents, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_181" id="Page_181" title="[Pg 181]"></a> +the woman also. I was angry at it, but I said nothing. +The woman could easily perceive that I was displeased +at it, and she said, ‘Lady, I know well what Maren +wishes.’ I replied, ‘Can you help her in it?’ ‘No,’ +she declared, and laughed heartily. I asked what +there was to laugh at. ‘I am laughing,’ said she, +‘because I am thinking of the clever Cathrine, of whom +I have spoken before, who once gave advice to some +one desiring to sow discord between good friends.’ +I enquired what advice she had given. She said that +they must collect some hairs in a place where two +cats had been fighting, and throw these between +the two men whom it was desired to set at variance. +I enquired whether the trick succeeded. She replied, +‘It was not properly tried.’ ‘Perhaps,’ I said, ‘the +cats were not both black?’ ‘Ho, ho!’ said she, +‘I see that you know how it should be done.’ ‘I +have heard more than that,’ I replied; ‘show her the +trick, and you will get some more sugar-candy, but do +not let yourself be again cheated of it by Peder as you +were lately. Seriously, however, Peder must beg +Maren Blocks to spare me such requests!’ That she +as well as Maren believed that I could practise magic +was evident in many ways. My own remarks often +gave cause for this. I remembered how my deceased +lord used to say (when in his younger days he wished +to make anyone imagine that he understood the black +art), that people feared those of whom they had this +opinion, and never ventured to do them harm. It +happened one day at the mid-day meal, when the prison +governor was sitting talking with me, that the woman +carried on a long conversation on the stairs with the +others respecting the witches who had been seized in +Jutland, and that the supreme judge in Jutland at<a class="pagenum" name="Page_182" id="Page_182" title="[Pg 182]"></a> +that time sided with the witches and said they were +not witches.<a name="FNanchor_E33" id="FNanchor_E33" href="#Footnote_E33" class="fnanchor">[E33]</a> When the door was locked we had much +talk about witches, and she said, ‘This judge is of your +opinion, that it is a science and not magic.’ I said, as +I had before said, that some had more knowledge than +others, and that some used their knowledge to do evil; +although it might happen naturally and not with the +devil’s art, still it was not permitted in God’s Word to +use nature for evil purposes; it was also not fair to +give the devil the honour which did not belong to him. +We talked on till she grew angry, laid down and slept +a little, and thus the anger passed away.</p> + +<p>Some days after she said: ‘Your maid is sitting below +in the prison governor’s room, and asks with much +solicitude after you and what you are doing. I have +told Peder of what you have sewed, and of the ribbons +you have made, but he has promised solemnly not to +mention it to anyone except to Maren, Lars’ daughter; +she would like so much to be here with you.’ I replied: +‘It would be no good for her to sit with me in prison; it +would only destroy her own happiness; for who knows +how long I may live?’ I related of this same waiting-maid +that she had been in my employ since she was +eight years old, all that I had had her taught, and how +virtuous she was. To this she replied, ‘The girl will +like to see what you have sewed; you shall have it +again directly.’ I handed it to her, and the first time +the doors were unlocked she gave it to the prison +governor, who carried it to the Queen. (Two years +afterwards the prison governor told me this himself, and +that when the King had said, ‘She might have something +given her to do,’ the Queen had answered, ‘That<a class="pagenum" name="Page_183" id="Page_183" title="[Pg 183]"></a> +is not necessary. It is good enough for her! She has +not wished for anything better.’) I often enquired for +the piece of sewing, but was answered that Peder was +not able to get it back from the girl.</p> + +<p>Late in the autumn the prison governor began to +sicken: he was ill and could not do much, so he let the +coachman frequently come alone to lock and unlock +both the doctor’s door below and mine. The iron bars +were no longer placed before the outermost prison below, +but four doors were locked upon me. One day, when +Peder was locking up, he threw me a skein of silk,<a name="FNanchor_83" id="FNanchor_83" href="#Footnote_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> +saying, ‘Make me some braces for my breeches out of it.’ +I appeared not to have heard, and asked the woman +what it was that he had said. She repeated the same +words. I behaved as if I did not believe it, and +laughed, saying, ‘If I make the braces for him, he will +next wish that you should fasten them to his breeches.’ +A good deal of absurd chatter followed. As meal-time +was approaching, I said to the woman, ‘Give Peder +back his silk, and say that I have never before made a +pair of braces; I do not know how they are made.’ +(Such things I had to endure with smiles.)</p> + +<p>At the time that our former palace here in the city +(which we had ceded by a deed when we were imprisoned +at Borringholm) was pulled down, and a +pillar (or whatever it is) was raised to my lord’s shame, +the prison governor came in when he unlocked at noon, +and seated himself on my bed (I was somewhat indisposed +at the time), and began to talk of former times (I +knew already that they were pulling down the palace),<a class="pagenum" name="Page_184" id="Page_184" title="[Pg 184]"></a> +enumerating everything the loss of which he thought +might sadden me, even to my coach and the horses. +‘But,’ he said, ‘all this is nothing compared with the +beautiful palace!’ (and he praised it to the utmost); ‘it is +now down, and not one stone is left on another. Is not +that a pity, my dear lady?’ I replied: ‘The King can do +what he will with his own; the palace has not been +ours for some time.’ He continued bewailing the beautiful +house and the garden buildings which belonged +to it. I asked him what had become of Solomon’s +temple? Not a stone of that beautiful building was +now to be found; not even could the place be pointed +out where the temple and costly royal palace had once +stood. He made no answer, hung his head, and +pondered a little, and went out. I do not doubt he +has reported what I said. Since that day he began to +behave himself more and more courteously, saying even +that His Majesty had ordered him to ask me whether +I wished for anything from the kitchen, the cellar, or +the confectioner, as it should be given me; that he had +also been ordered to bring me twice a week confectionery +and powdered sugar, which was done.<a name="FNanchor_84" id="FNanchor_84" href="#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> I +begged the prison governor to thank the King’s Majesty +for the favour shown me, and praised, as was proper, the +King’s goodness most humbly. The prison governor +would have liked to praise the Queen had he only been +able to find cause for so doing; he said, ‘The Queen is +also a dear Queen!’ I made no answer to this. He +came also some time afterwards with an order from the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_185" id="Page_185" title="[Pg 185]"></a> +King that I should ask for any clothes and linen I required: +this was written down, and I received it later, +except a corset, and that the Queen would not allow me. +I never could learn the cause of this. The Queen also +was not well pleased that I obtained a bottle-case with +six small bottles, in which was sprinkling-water, headwater, +and a cordial. All this, she said, I could well +do without; but when she saw that in the lid there was +an engraving representing the daughter of Herod with +the head of St. John on a charger, she laughed and +said, ‘That will be a cordial to her!’ This engraving +set me thinking that Herodias had still sisters on +earth.</p> + +<p>The prison governor continued his politeness, and lent +me at my desire a German Bible, saying at the same time, +‘This I do out of kindness, I have no order to do so; +the Queen does not know it.’ ‘I believe that,’ I replied, +and thanked him; but I am of opinion that the King +knew it well. Some days afterwards Maren Blocks +sent for her prayer-book back again. I had taught +the woman a morning and evening prayer by heart, +and all the morning and evening hymns, which she +repeated to me night and morning. I offered to teach +her to read if she would procure an A B C. She +laughed at this jeeringly, and said, ‘People would think +me crazed if I were to learn to read now.’ I tried to +persuade her by argument, in order that I might thus +get something to beguile the time with; but far from +it; she knew as much as she needed. I sought everywhere +for something to divert my thoughts, and as I +perceived that the potter, when he had placed the +stove, had left a piece of clay lying outside in the other +room, I begged the woman to give it to me.</p> + +<p>The prison governor saw that she had taken it, but<a class="pagenum" name="Page_186" id="Page_186" title="[Pg 186]"></a> +did not ask the reason. I mixed the clay with beer, and +made various things, which I frequently altered again +into something else; among other things I made the +portraits of the prison governor and the woman, and +small jugs and vases. And as it occurred to me to try +whether I were able to make anything on which I could +place a few words to the King, so that the prison +governor should not observe it (for I knew well that the +woman did not always keep silence; she would probably +some time say what I did), I moulded a goblet over the +half of the glass in which wine was brought to me, +made it round underneath, placed it on three knobs, +and wrote the King’s name on the side—underneath the +bottom these words ... <span lang="fr">il y a un ... un Auguste</span>.<a name="FNanchor_E34" id="FNanchor_E34" href="#Footnote_E34" class="fnanchor">[E34]</a></p> + +<p>I kept it for a long time, not knowing in what way I +could manage to get it reported what I was doing, +since the woman had solemnly sworn to me not to mention +it: so I said one day: ‘Does the prison governor +ask you what I am doing?’ ‘Yes, indeed he does,’ +she replied, ‘but I say that you are doing nothing but +reading the Bible.’ I said: ‘You may ingratiate yourself +in his favour and say that I am making portraits in +clay; there is no reason that he should not know that.’ +She did so, and three days after he came to me, and +was quite gentle, and asked how I passed my time. +I answered, ‘In reading the Bible.’ He expressed his +opinion that I must weary of this. I said I liked at +intervals to have something else to do, but that this +was not allowed me. He enquired what I had wanted +the clay for, which the woman had brought in to me; +he had seen it when she had brought it in. I said, ‘I +have made some small trifles.’ He requested to see<a class="pagenum" name="Page_187" id="Page_187" title="[Pg 187]"></a> +them. So I showed him first the woman’s portrait; +that pleased him much, as it resembled her; then a +small jug, and last of all the goblet. He said at once: +‘I will take all this with me and let the King see it; +you will perhaps thus obtain permission to have somewhat +provided you for pastime,’<a name="FNanchor_85" id="FNanchor_85" href="#Footnote_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> I was well satisfied. +This took place at the mid-day meal. At supper he +did not come in. The next day he said to me: ‘Well, +my dear lady, you have nearly brought me into trouble!’ +‘How so?’ I asked. ‘I took the King a petition +from you! the Queen did not catch sight of it, but the +King saw it directly and said, “So you are now +bringing me petitions from Leonora?” I shrank back +with terror, and said, “Gracious King! I have brought +nothing in writing!” “See here!” exclaimed the King, +and he pointed out to me some French writing at the +bottom of the goblet. The Queen asked why I had +brought anything written that I did not understand. I +asserted that I had paid no attention to it, and begged +for pardon. The good King defended me, and the <i>invention</i> +did not please him ill. Yes, yes, my dear lady! +be assured that the King is a gracious sovereign to you, +and if he were certain that your husband were dead, +you would not remain here!’ I was of opinion that +my enemies well knew that my husband was dead. I +felt that I must therefore peacefully resign myself to +the will of God and the King.</p> + +<p>I received nothing which might have beguiled the +time to me, except that which I procured secretly, and +the prison governor has since then never enquired what<a class="pagenum" name="Page_188" id="Page_188" title="[Pg 188]"></a> +I was doing, though he came in every evening and sat +for some time talking with me; he was weak, and it +was a labour to him to mount so many steps. Thus +we got through the year together.</p> + +<p>The prison governor gradually began to feel pity +for me, and gave me a book which is very pretty, +entitled ‘Wunderwerck.’<a name="FNanchor_E35" id="FNanchor_E35" href="#Footnote_E35" class="fnanchor">[E35]</a> It is a folio, rather old, +and here and there torn; but I was well pleased with +the gift. And as he sat long of an evening with me, +frequently till nine o’clock, talking with me, the malicious +woman was irritated.<a name="FNanchor_86" id="FNanchor_86" href="#Footnote_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> She said to Peder, ‘If I +were in the prison governor’s place, I would not trust +her in the way he does. He is weak; what if she were +now to run out and take the knife which is lying on the +table outside, and were to stab him? She could easily +take my life, so I sit in there with my life hanging on +a thread.’</p> + +<p>Absurd as the idea was, the knife was not only in +consequence hidden under the table, but the prison +governor for a long time did not venture to come to +me, but sat outside by my outermost door and talked +there just as long as before, so that I was no gainer.<a name="FNanchor_87" id="FNanchor_87" href="#Footnote_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> +(I did not know what the woman had said till three +years afterwards, when it was mentioned by the prisoner +Christian, who had heard the woman’s chatter.)</p> + +<p>One day when the prison governor intended to go to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_189" id="Page_189" title="[Pg 189]"></a> +the holy communion, he stood outside my outermost +door and took off his hat, and begged for my forgiveness; +he knew, he said, that he had done much to annoy +me, but that he was a servant. I answered, ‘I forgive +you gladly!’ Then he went away, and Peder closed +the door. The woman said something to Peder about +the prison governor, but I could not understand what. +Probably she was blaming the prison governor, for she +was so angry that she puffed; she could not restrain her +anger, but said: ‘Fye upon the old fool! The devil +take him! I ought to beg pardon too? No’ (she +added with an oath), ‘I would not do it for God’s +bitter death! No! no!’ and she spat on the ground. +I said afterwards: ‘What does it matter to you that the +prison governor asks me for my friendship? Do you +lose anything by it? If you will not live like a Christian +and according to the ordinances of the Church, do not +at any rate be angry with one who does. Believe +assuredly that God will punish you, if you do not +repent of what evil you have done and will not be +reconciled with your adversaries before you seek to be +reconciled with God!’</p> + +<p>She thought that he had done nothing else than +what he was ordered to do. I said, ‘You good +people know best yourselves what has been ordered +you.’ She asked, ‘Do I do anything to you?’ I +answered, ‘I know not what you do. You can tell +any amount of untruths about me without my knowing +it.’ Upon this she began a long story, swearing by +and asserting her fidelity; she had never lied to +anyone nor done anyone a wrong. I said: ‘I hear; +you are justifying yourself with the Pharisee.’ She +started furiously from her seat and said, ‘What! do +you abuse me as a Pharisee?’ ‘Softly, softly!’ I<a class="pagenum" name="Page_190" id="Page_190" title="[Pg 190]"></a> +said; ‘while only one of us is angry, it is of no consequence; +but if I get angry also, something may +come of it!’ She sat down with an insolent air, and +said, ‘I should well imagine that you are not good +when you are angry! It is said of you that in former +days you could bear but little, and that you struck at +once. But now’——(with this she was silent). ‘What +more?’ I said. ‘Do you think I could not do anything +to anyone if I chose, just as well as then, if anyone +behaved to me in a manner that I could not endure? +Now much more than then! You need not refuse me +a knife because I may perhaps kill you; I could do so +with my bare hands. I can strangle the strongest +fellow with my bare hands, if I can seize him unawares, +and what more could happen to me than is happening? +Therefore only keep quiet!’</p> + +<p>She was silent, and assumed no more airs; she was +cast down, and did not venture to complain to the prison +governor. What she said to the others on the stairs +I know not, but when she came in, when the room was +locked at night, she had been weeping.<a name="FNanchor_88" id="FNanchor_88" href="#Footnote_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a></p> + +<p>On Sunday at noon I congratulated<a name="FNanchor_E36" id="FNanchor_E36" href="#Footnote_E36" class="fnanchor">[E36]</a> the prison governor +and said: ‘You are happy! You can reconcile +yourself with God, and partake of His body and blood; +this is denied to me (I had twice during two years +requested spiritual consolation, but had received in +answer that I could not sin as I was now in prison; that +I did not require religious services). And as I talked<a class="pagenum" name="Page_191" id="Page_191" title="[Pg 191]"></a> +upon this somewhat fully with the prison governor, I +said that those who withheld from me the Lord’s +Supper must take my sins upon themselves; that one +sinned as much in thought as in word and deed; so +the prison governor promised that he would never desist +from desiring that a clergyman should come to me; +and asked whom I wished for. I said: ‘The King’s +Court preacher, whom I had in the beginning of my +troubles.’ He said: ‘That could scarcely be.’ I was +satisfied whoever it was.</p> + +<p>A month afterwards I received the holy communion +from the German clergyman, M. Hieronimus Buk, +who behaved very properly the first time, but spoke +more about the law than the gospel. The prison +governor congratulated me, and I thanked him, for he +had brought it about.</p> + +<p>1665. In this year, on Whitsun-eve, the prison governor +ordered May-trees to be placed in my inner prison, +and also in the anteroom. I broke small twigs from +the branches, rubbed off the bark with glass, softened +them in water, laid them to press under a board, which +was used for carrying away the dirt from the floor, and +thus made them flat, then fastened them together and +formed them into a weaver’s reed. Peder the coachman +was then persuaded to give me a little coarse +thread, which I used for a warp. I took the silk from +the new silk stockings which they had given me, and +made some broad ribbons of it (The implements and +a part of the ribbons are still in my possession.) One +of the trees (which was made of the thick end of a +branch which Peder had cut off) was tied to the stove, +and the other I fastened to my own person. The +woman held the warp: she was satisfied, and I have +no reason to think that she spoke about it, for the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_192" id="Page_192" title="[Pg 192]"></a> +prison governor often lamented that I had nothing with +which to beguile the time, and he knew well that this +had been my delight in former times, &c.<a name="FNanchor_89" id="FNanchor_89" href="#Footnote_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></p> + +<p>He remained now again a long time with me after +meals, for his fear had passed away, or he had, perhaps, +forgotten, as his memory began to fail him. He +said then many things which he ought not. He +declined perceptibly, and was very weak; he would +remain afterwards sitting outside, reading aloud, and +praying God to spare his life. ‘Yes,’ he would say, +‘only a few years!’ When he had some alleviation, +he talked unceasingly. Creeping along the wall to the +door, he said, ‘I should like to know two things: one +is, who will be prison governor after me? The other +is, who is to to have my Tyrelyre?’ (That was Tyre, +his wife.) I replied: ‘That is a knowledge which you +cannot obtain now, especially who will woo your wife. +You might, perhaps, have already seen both, but at your +age you may yet have long to live.’ ‘Oh!’ said he, +‘God grant it!’ and looked up to the window. ‘Do +you think so, my dear lady?’ ‘Yes, I do,’ I replied. +A few days afterwards, he begged me again to forgive +him, if he had done me any wrong since the last time, +for he wished to make reconciliation with God before +he became weaker, and he wept and protested, saying, +‘It indeed grieves me still that I should have often +annoyed you, and you comfort me.’ On Sunday at +noon I congratulated him on his spiritual feast.</p> + +<p>Thus he dragged on with great difficulty for about<a class="pagenum" name="Page_193" id="Page_193" title="[Pg 193]"></a> +fourteen days, and as I heard that two men were +obliged almost to carry him up the stairs, I sent him +word that he might remain below on the ground floor +of the tower, and that he might rest assured I would +go nowhere. He thanked me, crawled up for the last +time to my door, and said, ‘If I did that and the +Queen heard of it, my head would answer for it.’ I +said: ‘Then confess your weakness and remain in bed. +It may be better again; another could meanwhile +attend for you.’ He took off his cap in recognition of +my advice, and bade me farewell. I have never seen +him again since then. One day afterwards he crawled +up in the tower-chamber, but came no farther.</p> + +<p>A man of the name of Hans Balcke was appointed +in his place to keep watch over the prisoners. He +was very courteous. He was a cabinet-maker by +trade; his father, who had also been a cabinet-maker, +had worked a good deal for me in the days of my +prosperity. This man had travelled for his trade both +in Italy and Germany, and knew a little Italian. I +found intercourse with him agreeable, and as he dined +in the anteroom outside, in the tower, I begged him to +dine with me, which he did for fourteen days. One +day, when he carved the joint outside, I sent him word +requesting him to come in. He excused himself, +which appeared strange to me.</p> + +<p>After he had dined, he said that Peder the coachman +had jeered at him, and that he had been forbidden +to dine with me. When he afterwards remained +rather long with me talking, I begged him myself to +go, so that this also might not be forbidden. He had +on one occasion a large pin stuck in his sleeve, and I +begged him for it. He said, ‘I may not give it you, +but if you take it yourself, I can’t help it.’ So I took<a class="pagenum" name="Page_194" id="Page_194" title="[Pg 194]"></a> +it, and it has often been of use to me. He gave me +several books to read, and was in every way courteous +and polite. His courtesy was probably the reason +why the prisons were not long entrusted to him, for he +was also very good to Doctor Sperling, giving him +slices of the meat which came up to me, and other +good food. In his childhood he had been a playfellow +of the doctor’s children. He talked also occasionally +a long time with the doctor, both on unlocking and locking +his door, which did not please the servants.<a name="FNanchor_90" id="FNanchor_90" href="#Footnote_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> The +prison governor lay constantly in bed; he endeavoured +as often as he could to come up again, but there was +little prospect of it. So long as the keys were not +taken from him, he was satisfied.</p> + +<p>My maid Maren, Lars’ daughter, had risen so high +in favour at court, that she often sat in the women’s +apartment, and did various things. One day the +woman said to me, ‘That is a very faithful maiden +whom you have! She speaks before them up there in +a manner you would never believe.’ I replied: ‘I have +permitted her to say all she knows. I have no fear of +her calumniating me.’ ‘Have you not?’ she said +ironically. ‘Why does she throw herself, then, on her +bare knees, and curse herself if she should think of +returning to you?’ I said: ‘She wished to remain with +me (according to your own statement), but she was not +allowed; so she need not curse herself.’ ‘Why then +do you think,’ said she, ‘that she is so much in favour +at court?’ ‘Do you mean,’ I replied, ‘that if anyone +is in favour at court, it is because their lips are full of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_195" id="Page_195" title="[Pg 195]"></a> +lies? I am assured my maid has calumniated no one, +least of all me; I am not afraid.’</p> + +<p>The woman was angry, and pouted in consequence +for some time. Some weeks afterwards Maren, Lars’ +daughter, was set at liberty, and became waiting-maid +to the Countess Friis: and Balcke brought me some +linen which she still had belonging to me. The +woman was not a little angry at this, especially as I +said: ‘So faithful I perceive is my maid to me, that she +will not keep the linen, which she might easily have +done, for I could not know whether it had not been +taken from her with the rest.’</p> + +<p>All my guards were very ill satisfied with Balcke, +especially the woman, who was angry for several +reasons. He slighted her, she said, for he had supplied +a basin for the night-stool which was heavier than the +former one (which leaked); but she was chiefly angry +because he told her that she lived like a heathen, since +she never went to the sacrament. For when I once +received the holy communion, while Balcke was +attending to me, he asked her if she would not wish to +communicate also, to which she answered, ‘I do not +know German.’ Balcke said, ‘I will arrange that the +clergyman shall come to you whose office it is to +administer the Lord’s Supper to the prisoners.’ She +replied that in this place she could not go with the +proper devotion: if she came out, she would go gladly. +Balcke admonished her severely, as a clergyman might +have done. When the door was closed, she gave +vent to puffing and blowing, and she always unfastened +her jacket when she was angry.</p> + +<p>I said nothing, but I thought the evil humour must +have vent, or she will be choked; and this was the +case, for she abused Balcke with the strongest language<a class="pagenum" name="Page_196" id="Page_196" title="[Pg 196]"></a> +that occurred to her. She used unheard-of curses, +which were terrible to listen to: among others, ‘God +damn him for ever, and then I need not curse him +every day.’ Also, ‘May God make him evaporate +like the dew before the sun!’ I could not endure this +cursing, and I said, ‘Are you cursing this man because +he held before you the word of God, and desires that +you should be reconciled with God and repent your +sins?’ ‘I do not curse him for that,’ she said, ‘but on +account of the heavy basin which the accursed fellow +has given me, and which I have to carry up the steep +stairs;<a name="FNanchor_91" id="FNanchor_91" href="#Footnote_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> the devil must have moved him to choose it! +Does he want to make a priest of himself? Well, he +is probably faultless, the saucy fellow!’ and she began +again with her curses.</p> + +<p>I reproved her and said: ‘If he now knew that you +were cursing him in this way, do you not think he +would bring it about that you must do penitence? It +is now almost two years since you were at the Lord’s +table, and you can have the clergyman and you will +not.’ This softened her a little, and she said, ‘How +should he know it, unless you tell him?’ I said, +‘What passes here and is said here concerns no one +but us two; it is not necessary that others should +know.’ With this all was well; she lay down to sleep, +and her anger passed away; but the hate remained.</p> + +<p>The prison governor continued to lie in great pain, +and could neither live nor die. One day at noon, when +Balcke unlocked (it was just twenty weeks since he +had come to me), a man came in with him, very badly +dressed, in a grey, torn, greasy coat, with few buttons +that could be fastened, with an old hat to which was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_197" id="Page_197" title="[Pg 197]"></a> +attached a drooping feather that had once been white +but was now not recognisable from dirt. He wore +linen stockings and a pair of worn-out shoes fastened +with packthread.<a name="FNanchor_92" id="FNanchor_92" href="#Footnote_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> Balcke went to the table outside +and carved the joint; he then went to the door of the +outer apartment, stood with his hat in his hand, made +a low reverence, and said, ‘Herewith I take my departure; +this man is to be prison governor.’ I enquired +whether he would not come again to me. He replied, +‘No, not after this time.’ Upon this I thanked him for +his courteous attendance, and wished him prosperity.<a name="FNanchor_93" id="FNanchor_93" href="#Footnote_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p> + +<p>Peder the coachman locked the door, and the new +prison governor, whose name was Johan Jäger,<a name="FNanchor_E37" id="FNanchor_E37" href="#Footnote_E37" class="fnanchor">[E37]</a> never +appeared before me the whole day, nor during the +evening. I said to the woman in the morning, ‘Ask +Peder who the man is;’ which she did, and returned +to me with the answer that it was the man who had +taken the Doctor prisoner; and that now he was to be +prison governor, but that he had not yet received the +keys. Not many days passed before he came with the +Lord Steward to the old prison governor, and the keys +were taken from the old man and given to him. The<a class="pagenum" name="Page_198" id="Page_198" title="[Pg 198]"></a> +old man lived only to the day after this occurred. In +both respects his curiosity was satisfied; he saw the +man who was to be prison governor after him (to his +grief), and the doctor who attended him obtained his +Tyrelyre before the year was ended.</p> + +<p>The new prison governor Jäger<a name="FNanchor_E37B" id="FNanchor_E37B" href="#Footnote_E37B" class="fnanchor">[E37b]</a> did not salute me for +several weeks, and never spoke to me. He rarely +locked my doors, but he generally opened them himself. +At length one day, when he had got new shoes +on, he took his hat off when he had opened the door, +and said ‘Good morning.’ I answered him, ‘Many +thanks.’ The woman was very pleased while this +lasted. She had her free talk with Peder the coachman +(who still for a couple of months came to the +tower as before) and with the prisoner Christian, who +had great freedom, and obtained more and more freedom +in this prison governor’s time, especially as +Rasmus the tower-warder was made gatekeeper, and a +man of the name of Chresten was appointed in his +place. Among other idle talk which she repeated to +me, she said that this prison governor was forbidden +to speak with me. I said, ‘I am very glad, as he then +can tell no lies about me.’ I am of opinion that he did +not venture to speak with me so long as Peder brought +up the food to the tower, and was in waiting there; +for when he had procured Peder’s dismissal on account +of stealing, he came in afterwards from time to time. +The very first time he was intoxicated. He knew what +Peder had said of Balcke, and he informed me of it.<a name="FNanchor_94" id="FNanchor_94" href="#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>Before I mention anything of the prisoner Christian’s<a class="pagenum" name="Page_199" id="Page_199" title="[Pg 199]"></a> +designs against me, I will in a few words state the +crime for which he was in prison. He had been a +lacquey in the employ of Maans Armfelt. With some +other lacqueys he had got into a quarrel with a man +who had been a father to Christian, and who had +brought him up from his youth and had taken the +utmost care of him. The man was fatally wounded, +and called out in the agonies of death: ‘God punish +thee, Christian! What a son you have been! It was +your hand that struck me!’ The other lacqueys ran +away, but Christian was seized. His dagger was found +bloody. He denied, and said it was not he who had +stabbed the man. He was sentenced to death; but as +the dead man’s widow would not pay for the execution, +Christian remained for the time in prison, and his +master paid for his maintenance. He had been there +three years already when I came to the prison, and +three times he was removed; first from the Witch +Cell to the Dark Church; and then here where I am +imprisoned.<a name="FNanchor_95" id="FNanchor_95" href="#Footnote_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> When I was brought here, he was placed +where the Doctor is, and when the Doctor was brought +in, Christian was allowed to go freely about the tower. +He wound the clock for the tower-warder, locked and +unlocked the cells below, and had often even the keys +of the tower.</p> + +<p>I remember once, when Rasmus the tower-warder +was sitting at dinner with the prison governor in my +outermost cell, and the prison governor wished to +send Peder on a message, he said to Rasmus: ‘Go +and open! I want Peder to order something.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_200" id="Page_200" title="[Pg 200]"></a> +‘Father,’ said Rasmus, ‘Christian has the key.’ +‘Indeed!’ said the prison governor; ‘that is pretty +work!’ And there it rested, for Rasmus said, ‘I am +perfectly sure that Christian will not go away.’ Thus +by degrees Christian’s freedom and power increased +after Peder the coachman left, and he waited on the +prison governor at meals in my outermost room.</p> + +<p>One day, when the woman had come down from +above, where she had been emptying the utensils in +my room, and the doors were locked, she said to me: +‘This Christian who is here has been just speaking with +me upstairs. He says he cannot describe the Doctor’s +miserable condition, how severe is his imprisonment, +and what bad food he gets, since Balcke left. He +has no longer any candle except during meal-time, +and no light reaches him but through the hole in his +door leading into the outer room. He begged me to +tell you of it; his eyes were full of tears, such great +pity had he for him.’ I said: ‘That is all that one can +do, and it is the duty of a Christian to sympathise with +the misfortune of one’s neighbour. The poor man +must have patience as well as I, and we must console +ourselves with a good conscience. The harder he +suffers the sooner comes the end; he is an old man.’</p> + +<p>Two days afterwards she came again with some talk +from Christian. The Doctor sent me his compliments, +and he asked constantly if I was well; she said also, +that Christian would give him anything I liked to send +him. I regarded this as a snare, but I said that +Christian could take a piece of roast meat when the +prison governor was with me, and that he should look +about for something into which wine could be poured, +and then she could secretly give some from my glass, +and beg Christian to give my compliments to the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_201" id="Page_201" title="[Pg 201]"></a> +Doctor. This was accepted, and I had rest for a few +days. Christian conformed entirely to the woman, +caused a dispute between her and the tower-warder, +and made it immediately right again; so that there was +no lack of chatter. At last she said one day: ‘That is +an honest fellow, this Christian! He has told me how +innocently he got into prison and was sentenced. He +is afraid that you may think he eats and drinks all +that you send to the Doctor. He swore with a solemn +oath that he would be true to you, if you would write a +word to the Doctor.<a name="FNanchor_96" id="FNanchor_96" href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> I hope you do not doubt my +fidelity!’ and she began to swear and to curse herself +if she would deceive me. She said, he had taken a no +less solemn oath, before she believed him. I said: ‘I +have nothing to write to him. I do not know what I +have to write.’ ‘Oh!’ said she, ‘write only two +words, so that the old man may see that he can trust +him! If you wish for ink, Christian can give you +some.’ I replied: ‘I have something to write with, +if I choose to do so, and I can write without ink and +paper.’</p> + +<p>This she could not understand; so I took some pieces +of sugared almonds, and made some letters on them +with the large pin, placing on four almonds the words: +<i lang="la">non ti fidar</i>! I divided the word <i lang="la">fidar</i>, and placed +half on each almond. I had in this way rest for a day, +and somewhat to beguile the time. Whether the +Doctor could not see what was written on the almonds, +or whether he wished to test Christian’s fidelity, I know +not, but Christian brought the woman a slip of paper +from the Doctor to me, full of lamentations at our condition,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_202" id="Page_202" title="[Pg 202]"></a> +and stating that my daughter Anna Cathrina, or +else Cassetta, were the cause of his misfortune.</p> + +<p>I wished to know more of this, so I wrote to him +desiring information (we wrote to each other in +Italian). He replied that one or the other had left his +letter lying somewhere on the table, where it was found +and despatched; for that a letter of his was the cause +of his misfortune. I wrote back to him that it was not +credible, but that he was suspected of having corresponded +with my lord, and hence his letters had been +seized. The more I tried to impress this upon him +the more opinionated he became,<a name="FNanchor_97" id="FNanchor_97" href="#Footnote_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> and he wrote afterwards +saying that it was a scheme of Cassetta’s to get +him into the net, in order to bring me out of it. When +he began to write in this way, I acquired a strange +opinion of him, and fancied he was trying to draw something +out of me which he could bring forward; and I +reflected for some days whether I should answer. At +last I answered him in this strain, that no one knew +better than he that I was not aware of any treason; +that the knowledge as to how his correspondence with +my lord had become known was of no use to him; that +I had no idea why he was sentenced, and that no sentence +had been passed on me. Some weeks elapsed +before the Doctor wrote. At last he communicated to +me in a few words the sentence passed upon him, and +we corresponded from time to time with each other.</p> + +<p>The prison governor became gradually more accessible, +came in at every meal-time, and related all sorts +of jokes and buffooneries, which he had carried on in his +youth: how he had been a drummer, and had made a +Merry Andrew of himself for my brother-in-law Count +Pentz, and how he had enacted a dog for the sake of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_203" id="Page_203" title="[Pg 203]"></a> +favour and money, and had crawled under the table, +frightening the guests and biting a dog for a ducat’s +reward. When he had been drinking (which was often +the case) he juggled and played Punch, sometimes a +fortune-teller, and the like.</p> + +<p>When Chresten the tower-warder, and Christian +the prisoner, heard the prison governor carrying on his +jokes, they did the same, and made such a noise with +the woman in the antechamber that we could not hear +ourselves speak. She sat on Christian’s lap, and +behaved herself in a wanton manner. One day she +was not very well, and made herself some warm beer +and bread, placing it outside on the stove. The +prison governor was sitting with me and talking, +Chresten and Christian were joking with her outside, +and Christian was to stir the warm beer and bread, and +taste if it was hot enough. Chresten said to Christian, +‘Drink it up if you are thirsty.’ The words were no +sooner said than the deed was done, and almost at the +same moment the prison governor got up and went +away. When the door was locked, the woman seemed +to be almost fainting. I thought she was ill, and I was +fearful that she might die suddenly, and that the guilt of +her death might be laid on me, and I asked quickly, +‘Are you ill?’ She answered, ‘I am bad enough,’ confirming +it with a terrible oath and beginning to unbutton +her jacket. Then I saw that she was angry, +and I knew well that she would give vent to a burst of +execrations, which was the case.</p> + +<p>She cursed and scolded those who had so treated +her; a poor sick thing as she was, and she had not had +anything to eat or drink all day. I said, ‘Be quiet, and +you shall have some warm beer.’ She swore with a +solemn oath, asking how it was to be got here? it was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_204" id="Page_204" title="[Pg 204]"></a> +summer and there was no fire in the stove, and it was +no use calling, as no one could hear. I said, ‘If you +will be silent, I will cause the pot to boil.’ ‘Yes,’ +and she swore with another fearful oath, ‘I can indeed +be silent, and will never speak of it.’ So I made +her take three pieces of brick, which were lying behind +the night-stool, and place on these her pot of beer and +bread (everything that she was to do was to be done +in silence; she might not answer me with words but +only with signs, when I asked her anything). She sat +down besides the pot, stirring it with a spoon. I sat +always on my bed during the day, and then the table +was placed before me. I had a piece of chalk, and I +wrote various things on the table, asking from time to +time whether the pot boiled. She kept peeping in and +shaking her head. When I had asked three times and +she turned to me and saw that I was laughing, she +behaved herself like a mad woman, throwing the spoon +from her hand, turning over the stool, tearing open her +jacket, and exclaiming, ‘The devil may be jeered at like +this!’ I said, ‘You are not worthy of anything better, +as you believe that I can practise magic.’ ‘Oh (and +she repeated a solemn oath) had I not believed that +you could practise magic, I should never have consented +to be locked up with you; do you know that?’ +I reflected for a moment what answer to give, but I +said nothing, smiled, and let her rave on.</p> + +<p>Afterwards she wept and bemoaned her condition. +‘Now, now,’ I said<span class="corr" title="added: ,">,</span> ‘be quiet! I will make the pot boil +without witchcraft.’ And as we had a tinder-box, I +ordered her to strike a light, and to kindle three ends of +candles, which she was to place under the pot. This +made the pot boil, and she kissed her hand to me and +was very merry. Once or twice afterwards I gave her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_205" id="Page_205" title="[Pg 205]"></a> +leave to warm beer in this way: it could not always be +done, for if the wind blew against the window (which +was opened with a long pike) the smoke could not pass +away. I said, ‘Remember your oath and do not talk +of what takes place here, or the lights will be taken +from us; at any rate we shall lose some of them.’ +She asserted that she would not. I heard nothing +of it at the time, but some years afterwards I found +that she had said that I had taken up two half-loose +stones from the floor (this was afterwards related in +another manner by a clergyman, as will be mentioned +afterwards). She had also said that I had climbed up and +looked at the rope-dancers in the castle square, which +was true. For as Chresten one day told the woman +that rope-dancers would be exhibiting in the inner castle +yard, and she informed me of it and enquired what they +were, and I explained to her, she lamented that she could +not get a sight of them. I said it could easily be done, +if she would not talk about it afterwards. She swore, +as usual, with an oath that she would not. So I took the +bedclothes from the bed and placed the boards on the +floor and set the bed upright in front of the window, +and the night-stool on the top of it. In order to get +upon the bedstead, the table was placed at the side, +and a stool by the table in order to get upon the table, +and a stool upon the table, in order to get upon the +night-stool, and a stool on the night-stool, so that we +could stand and look comfortably, though not both at +once. I let her climb up first, and I stood and took +care that the bed did not begin to give way; she was +to keep watch when I was on the top. I knew, moreover, +well that the dancers did not put forth their +utmost skill at first.<a name="FNanchor_98" id="FNanchor_98" href="#Footnote_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_206" id="Page_206" title="[Pg 206]"></a> +I could see the faces of the King and Queen: they +were standing in the long hall, and I wondered afterwards +that they never turned their eyes to the place +where I stood. I did not let the woman perceive that +I saw them. During this woman’s time I once had a +desire to see the people go to the castle-church and +return from it. The bed was again placed upright, +and I sat for a long time on the top, until everyone had +come out of church. The woman did not venture to +climb up; she said that she had been afraid enough the +last time, and was glad when she had come down.</p> + +<p>The first time I received the holy communion during +this prison governor’s time, two brass candlesticks which +did not match were brought in, with tallow candles. +This displeased the woman, though she said nothing to +me. But when at length she was compelled to take +the sacrament, after more than three years had elapsed +since she had been at the Lord’s table, she begged +Chresten, the tower-warder, to go to her daughter (who +was in the service of a carpenter in the town), and to +get the loan of a pair of beautiful brass candlesticks +and a couple of wax candles. If she could also procure +for her a fine linen cloth, she was to do her best; she +would pay for it.</p> + +<p>Whether the woman had before thought of the +candlesticks and candles which had been placed for me, +or whether Chresten himself thought that it would not +be proper to provide better for her, I know not, but +shortly before the priest came, Chresten unlocked the +outer door of my prison and said, ‘Karen, hand me +out the candlestick you have, and two candles.’ Her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_207" id="Page_207" title="[Pg 207]"></a> +behaviour is not to be described: she asked if he had +not spoken with her daughter, and much of the same +kind (I did not at the time know what she had desired +of Chresten). He made no reply to her question, but +asked for the candlestick and candles. For a long time +she would not give them, but cursed and scolded. I was +still lying down, and I asked her if I should be her +maid, and should do it for her? whether she could +withhold from him what he requested? So she handed +them to him through the hole of the inner door, with so +many execrations against him that it was terrible to +listen to. He laughed aloud, and went away. This +made her still more angry. I did my best to appease +her, telling her that such conduct was a most improper +preparation, and holding before her the sinfulness +of her behaviour. She said she thought that the +sin belonged to him who had given cause for it. I +asked her, at last, in what the Lord’s Supper consisted? +whether it consisted in candlesticks and candles? +I rebuked her for looking to externals and not to the +essential; and I begged her to fall on her knees and +pray heartily to God for forgiveness of her sins, that +He might not impute her folly to her. She answered +that she would do so, but she did not do it at once.</p> + +<p>I imagine that the clergyman<a name="FNanchor_99" id="FNanchor_99" href="#Footnote_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> was well informed by +Chresten of all that concerned her, as he put to her so +many questions: where she was born? whom she +had served? and more of the same kind, and finally, +whether she had her certificate of confession, and how +long it was since she had received the Lord’s Supper? +After this he confessed her in a strange manner; at first +as one who had deserved to do public penance for great<a class="pagenum" name="Page_208" id="Page_208" title="[Pg 208]"></a> +sins, then as a criminal under sentence of death who +was preparing for her end; at last consoling her, and +performing his office. When all was over and she +came in to me, I wished her joy. ‘Joy, indeed’ (she +answered); ‘there is not much good in it! This does +me more harm than good! If I could only get out, I +would indeed go straight to the sacrament; I reckon +this as nothing!’ I interrupted her quickly, and said: +‘Reflect upon what you are saying! blaspheme not +God—I will not hear that! You know well what God’s +Word says of those who receive Christ’s body and +blood unworthily and have trodden under foot his +body?’ ‘Under foot?’ said she. ‘Yes, under foot!’ I +said, and I made a whole sermon upon it. She +listened decently; but when I was silent, she said: +‘He looked upon me as a malefactor, and as one under +sentence of death. I have never murdered anyone (I +thought, we know not what);<a name="FNanchor_100" id="FNanchor_100" href="#Footnote_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> why should I die? +God Almighty grant’——and with this she was silent. +I preached to her again, and said that she had deserved +eternal death on account of her sins, and especially +because she had so long kept aloof from the Lord’s +table. ‘This confession,’ she said, ‘I have to thank +Chresten for; Balcke was also probably concerned in +it.’ And she began to curse them both. I threatened +her with a second confession, if she did not restrain +such words. I told her I could not justify myself before +God to keep silence to it, and I said, ‘If you speak in +this way to Chresten, you may be sure he will inform +against you.’ This kept her somewhat in check, and +she did not go out upon the stairs that noon.<a name="FNanchor_101" id="FNanchor_101" href="#Footnote_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_209" id="Page_209" title="[Pg 209]"></a> +After that time she was not so merry by far with the +man. She often complained to me that she was weak, +and had strained herself lifting the new basin which +Balcke had given her; she could not long hold out, she +said, and she had asked the prison governor to let her +go away, but that he had answered that she was to die +in the tower. I said, ‘The prison governor cannot yet +rightly understand you; ask Chresten to speak for you.’ +This she did, but came back with the same answer. +One day she said: ‘I see well, dear lady, that you would +be as gladly free of me as I should be to go. What +have I for all my money? I cannot enjoy it, and I +cannot be of service to you.’ I said: ‘Money can do +much. Give some money to the prison-governor, and +then he will speak for you. Request one of the charwomen +to carry the basin instead of you, and this you +could pay with very little.’ She did the latter for some +weeks; at length one day she said to me, ‘I have had a +silver cup made for the prison governor. (Her daughter +came to her on the stairs as often as she desired, and +she had permission to remain downstairs the whole +afternoon, under pretext of speaking with her daughter. +Whether she gave him presents for this, I know not, +but I was well contented to be alone. She was, however, +once afraid that I should tell the priest of it.) +The fact was, the prison-governor did not dare to speak +for her with the King. She asked my advice on the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_210" id="Page_210" title="[Pg 210]"></a> +matter. I said, ‘Remain in bed when the dinner is +going on, and I will go out and speak with the +prison-governor.’ This was done. At first he raised +some difficulties, and said, ‘The Queen will say that +there is some trick at the bottom of it.’ I said they +could visit and examine the woman when she came out; +that we had not been such intimate friends; that I knew +the woman had been sent to wait on me; when she +could do so no longer, but lay in bed, I had no attendance +from her, and still less was I inclined to wait +on her; she did her work for money, and there were +women enough who would accept the employment.</p> + +<p>Three days afterwards, when the King came from +Fridrichsborg, the prison-governor came in and said +that the woman could go down in the evening; that +he had another whom Chresten had recommended, and +who was said to be a well-behaved woman (which +she is).</p> + +<p>Karen the daughter of Ole therefore went down, and +Karen the daughter of Nels came up in her place. +And I can truly say that it was one of the happiest +days during my severe imprisonment; for I was freed +of a faithless, godless, lying<a name="FNanchor_102" id="FNanchor_102" href="#Footnote_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> and ill-behaved woman, +and I received in her stead a Christian, true, and +thoroughly good (perhaps too good) woman. When +the first took her departure, she said, ‘Farewell, lady! +we are now both pleased.’ I answered, ‘That is +perhaps one of the truest words you have ever spoken +in your life.’ She made no reply, but ran as fast as<a class="pagenum" name="Page_211" id="Page_211" title="[Pg 211]"></a> +she could, so that no weakness nor illness were perceptible +in her. She lived scarcely a year afterwards, +suffering severe pain for six weeks in her bed, before +she died; the nature of her malady I know not.</p> + +<p>On the day after this Karen’s arrival, she sat +thoroughly depressed all the afternoon. I asked her +what was the matter. She said, ‘Oh! I have nothing +to do, and I might not bring work with me! I weary +to death.’ I enquired what work she could do. +‘Spinning,’ she answered, ‘is my work principally; I +can also do plain needlework and can knit a little.’ I +had nothing to help her in this way; but I drew out +some ends of silk, which I had kept from what I cut +off, and which are too short to work with, and other +tufts of silk from night-jackets and stockings; I had +made a flax-comb of small pins,<a name="FNanchor_103" id="FNanchor_103" href="#Footnote_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> fastened to a piece of +wood; with this I combed the silk and made it available +for darning caps; and I said to her, ‘There is +something for you to do; comb that for me!’ She +was so heartily pleased that it was quite a delight to +me. I found from her account of this and that which +had occurred in her life, that she had a good heart, +and that she had often been deceived owing to her +credulity. She had also known me in my prosperity; +she had been in the service of a counsellor’s lady who +had been present at my wedding, and she could well +remember the display of fireworks and other festivities; +she wept as she spoke of it, and showed great sympathy<a class="pagenum" name="Page_212" id="Page_212" title="[Pg 212]"></a> +with me. She was a peasant’s daughter from Jutland, +but had married the quarter-master of a regiment. By +degrees I felt an affection for her, and begged her to +speak to Christian and to enquire how the Doctor was; +I told her that Christian could occasionally perform +small services for us, and could buy one thing or +another for us; for he had a lad, in fact sometimes two, +who executed commissions for him, but that I had +never trusted the other woman, so that he had never +bought anything for me; besides, the other woman had +not cared to spin; but that Christian should now procure +us what we wanted in return for our candles. +And as she did not care to drink wine (for at each +meal the woman received at that time half-a-pint of +French wine), I said: ‘Give Chresten your wine as I +give wine to Christian, then Chresten can let it stay with +the cellar-clerk and can take it weekly, which will give +him a profit on it, and then he will see nothing even if +he remarks anything.’</p> + +<p>This was done, and Christian got us two hand-distaffs. +Mine was but small, but hers was a proper +size. I spun a little and twisted it into thread, which +is still in my possession. Christian procured her as +much flax as she desired, and brought her up a whole +wreath in his trousers. She spun a good deal on the +hand-distaff, and I arranged my loom on a stool, which +I placed on the table, fastening one beam with ribbon +and cord which I had made myself, so that when the +key was put into the staircase-door, I could in one pull +loosen my loom and unfasten the other beam which +was fastened to myself, and put all away before the +inner door was opened. I made myself also a wooden +skewer (I had before used a warp), so that I could +weave alone; I had also obtained a real weaver’s<a class="pagenum" name="Page_213" id="Page_213" title="[Pg 213]"></a> +comb; so we were very industrious, each at her own +work.</p> + +<p>The prison governor was full of foolish jokes, and +played tricks such as boys enjoy; he tried to jest with +the woman, but she would not join him. Almost every +day he was drunk at dinner-time when he came up. +Afterwards he came rarely of an evening, but sent a +servant instead, who would lie and sleep on the wall in +the window. He wanted to jest with me also, and +opened his mouth, telling me to throw something in +and see if I could hit his mouth. I laughed and said, +‘How foolish you are!’ and begged him to come +nearer, and I would see if I could hit him. ‘No, no,’ +said he; ‘I am not such a fool; I daresay you would box +my ears.’ One day he came up with a peculiar kind of +squirt, round in form like a ball, and he placed a small +tube in it, so small as scarcely to be seen; it was quite +pretty. When pressed in any part, the water squirted +out quite high and to a distance. He was saucy, and +squirted me. When he saw that I was angry, he came +to me with the squirt, ran away and sat down with his +mouth as wide open as possible and begged me to squirt +into it if I could. I would not begin playing with +him, for I knew his coarseness well from his stories, +and I gave him back the squirt. When Karen was +bringing in the meat, the prison governor had the squirt +between his legs, and was seated on a low stool, from +which he could squirt into the woman’s face; he was +some distance from her, and the ball was not larger +than a large plum. She knew nothing of the squirt +(she is somewhat hasty in her words), and she exclaimed, +‘May God send you a misfortune, Mr. governor! +Are you insulting me?’ The prison governor +laughed like an insane man, so pleased was he at this.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_214" id="Page_214" title="[Pg 214]"></a> +By degrees he became less wild; he rarely came up +sober, and he would lie on the woman’s bed and sleep +while I dined, so that Chresten and the woman had to +help him off the bed when they had woke him. +The keys of the prisons lay by his side, and the principal +key close by (did he not take good care of his +prisoners?).<a name="FNanchor_104" id="FNanchor_104" href="#Footnote_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> He was not afraid that I should murder +him. One evening he was intoxicated, and behaved +as such; and began, after his fashion, to try and caress +me, endeavouring to feel my knee and seized the edge +of my petticoat. I thrust him away with my foot, and +said nothing more than: ‘When you are intoxicated, +remain away from me, and do not come in, I tell you.’ +He said nothing, got up and went away; but he did +not come in afterwards when he was tipsy, but remained +outside in the anteroom, lying down in the +window, where there was a broad stone bench against +the wall; there he lay and slept for some time after +my doors were locked, then the coachman and +Chresten came and dragged him down. Occasionally +he came in when he was not drunk, and he gave me +at my request some old cards, which I sewed together +and made into a box. Christian covered it +with thin sticks of fir, which I afterwards stitched +over, and I even secretly contrived to paint it. I +have it in my possession. The prison governor saw it +afterwards, but he never asked where the covering had<a class="pagenum" name="Page_215" id="Page_215" title="[Pg 215]"></a> +come from.<a name="FNanchor_105" id="FNanchor_105" href="#Footnote_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> In this box (if I may call it so) I keep +all my work and implements, and it stands by day on +my bed.</p> + +<p>Christian’s power increased. He waited not only +outside at dinner, but he even locked my door in the +face of the tower-warder. He came with the perfuming-pan +into my room when the woman took away +the night-stool; in fact, he subsequently became so +audacious that he did everything he chose, and had +full command over the prisoners below. Chresten +availed himself also of the slack surveillance of the +prison governor, and stayed sometimes the whole night +out in the town, often coming in tipsy to supper. One +evening Chresten was intoxicated, and had broken +some panes of glass below with his hand, so that his +fingers were bloody; he dashed my wine-cup on the +ground, so that it cracked and was bent; and as the +cup was quite bloody outside when he came in to me, +and some blood seemed to have got into the wine, +I spoke somewhat seriously with the prison governor +about it. He said nothing but ‘The man is mad,’ took +the cup and went himself down into the cellar, and had +the cup washed and other wine put in it. How they +afterwards made it up I know not. The indentations +on the cup have been beaten out, but the crack on the +edge is still there; this suits the cellar-clerk well, for +now scarcely half a pint goes into the cup. Christian +held his own manfully against the prison governor, when +he had a quarrel with some of the prisoners below;<a class="pagenum" name="Page_216" id="Page_216" title="[Pg 216]"></a> +and Chresten complained of this to the prison governor, +who came in and wanted to place Christian in the Witch +Cell; but he thrust the prison governor away, and said +that he had nothing to do with him, and that he had not +put him into the prison; and then harangued him in +such a style that the Governor thanked God when he +went away. Christian then called after him from the +window, and said, ‘I know secret tricks of yours, but +you know none of mine.’ (One I knew of, of which +he was aware, and that not a small one. There was +a corporal who had stabbed a soldier, and was sought for +with the beating of drums: the prison governor concealed +him for several weeks in the tower.) On the +following morning Christian repented, and he feared +that he might be locked up, and came to my door before +it had been opened<a name="FNanchor_106" id="FNanchor_106" href="#Footnote_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> (it often happened that the anteroom +was unlocked before the food was brought up, +and always in the winter mornings, when a fire was +made in the stove outside), and he begged me to speak +for him with the prison governor, which I did; so that +things remained as they were, and Christian was as +bold as before.</p> + +<p>The woman and I lived in good harmony together. +Occasionally there were small disputes between Christian +and her, but at that time they were of no importance. +I quieted his anger with wine and candles. +This woman had a son, who died just after she had +come to me, and a daughter who is still alive; at that +time she was in the service of a tailor, but she is now +married to a merchant. The daughter received permission<a class="pagenum" name="Page_217" id="Page_217" title="[Pg 217]"></a> +occasionally to come and speak with her +mother on the stairs. This annoyed Christian, as he +thought that through her all sorts of things were +obtained; and he threatened often that he would say +what he thought, though he did not know it, and this +frequently troubled the woman (she easily weeps and +easily laughs). I could soon comfort her. We spent +our time very well. I taught her to read, beginning +with A B C, for she did not know a single letter. I +kept to fixed hours for teaching her. She was at the +time sixty years of age. And when she could spell +a little,<a name="FNanchor_107" id="FNanchor_107" href="#Footnote_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> she turned the book one day over and over, +and began to rub her eyes and exclaimed, ‘Oh God, +how strange it is! I do not know (and she swore by +God) a single letter.’ I was standing behind her, and +could scarcely keep from laughing. She rubbed her +eyes again, and (as she is rather hasty with her words) +she pointed quickly to an O, and said, ‘Is not that an +O?’ ‘Yes,’ I said, and I laughed when she turned to +me. She then for the first time perceived that she +was holding the book upside down; she threw herself +on the bed and laughed till I thought she would burst.</p> + +<p>One day when she was to read, and did not like to +lay aside her distaff, it did not go smoothly, and she +gave it up, and said, ‘Am I not foolish to wish to +learn to read in my old age? What good does it do +me? I have spent much money on my son to have +him taught to read, and see, is he not dead?’ I knew +how much she was able to do, and I let her go on +speaking. She threw the book on her bed, sat down to<a class="pagenum" name="Page_218" id="Page_218" title="[Pg 218]"></a> +her work, and said, ‘What do I need to learn to read +in a book? I can, thank God, read my morning and +evening prayer.’ (I thought to myself, ‘badly enough.’ +She knew very little of her catechism.) I said (gently): +‘That is true, Karen. It is not necessary for you to +learn to read a book, as you can read very nicely by +heart.’ I had scarcely said this than she jumped up, +took her book again, and began to spell. I neither +advised her nor dissuaded her, but treated her like a +good simple child.<a name="FNanchor_108" id="FNanchor_108" href="#Footnote_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a></p> + +<p>I fell ill during this year,<a name="FNanchor_109" id="FNanchor_109" href="#Footnote_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> and as the prison governor +no longer came in to me and sent the servant up of an +evening, I begged the woman to tell him that I was ill, +and that I wished a doctor to come to me. The +woman told him this (for by this time he understood +Danish, and the woman understood a little German), +and when she said, ‘I am afraid she will die,’ he +answered, ‘Why the d—— let her die!’ I had daily +fevers, heat, but no shivering; and as an obstruction +was the chief cause of my illness, I desired a remedy. +The prison governor ridiculed the idea. When I heard +this, I requested he would come to me, which he did. I +spoke to him rather seriously; told him that it was not +the King’s will that he should take no more care of me +than he did, that he had more care for his dog than for +me (which was the case). Upon this his manner<a class="pagenum" name="Page_219" id="Page_219" title="[Pg 219]"></a> +improved, and he enquired what I wished for, and I +said what I desired, and obtained it. I had become +rather excited at the conversation, so that I felt weak. +The woman cried and said: ‘I am afraid you will die, +dear lady! and then the bad maids from the wash-house +will wash your feet and hands.’ (One of the maids below +had sent very uncivil messages to me.) I replied that I +should not say a word against that. ‘What?’ said she +angrily, ‘will you suffer that? No,’ she added with an +asseveration, ‘I would not! I would not suffer it if I +were in your place.’ So I said, like that philosopher, +‘Place the stick with the candlestick at my side, and +with that I can keep them away from me when I am +dead.’<a name="FNanchor_110" id="FNanchor_110" href="#Footnote_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> This brought her to reason again, and she +talked of the grave and of burial. I assured her that +this did not trouble me at all; that when I was dead, +it was all one to me; even if they threw my body in +the sea, it would, together with my soul, appear before +the throne of God at the last day, and might come off +better perhaps than many who were lying in coffins +mounted with silver and in splendid vaults. But that I +would not say, as the prison governor did in his levity, +that I should like to be buried on the hill of Valdby, in +order to be able to look around me. I desired nothing +else than a happy end. We spoke of the prison +governor’s coarseness; of various things which he did, +on account of which it would go badly with him if the +Queen knew it; of his godlessness, how that when he +had been to the Lord’s Supper, he said he had passed +muster; and other things. There was no fear of God +in him.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_220" id="Page_220" title="[Pg 220]"></a> +I requested to have the sacrament, and asked M. +Buck to come to me at seven o’clock in the morning, +for at about half-past eight o’clock the fever began. +The priest did not come till half-past nine, when the +fever heat had set in (for it began now somewhat later). +When I had made my confession, he began to preach +about murder and homicide; about David, who was +guilty of Uriah’s death, although he had not killed him +with his own hand. He spoke of sin as behoved him, +and of the punishment it brings with it. ‘You,’ he +said, ‘have killed General Fux, for you have bribed a +servant to kill him.’ I replied, ‘That is not true! I +have not done so!’ ‘Yes, truly,’ he said; ‘the servant +is in Hamburg, and he says it himself.’ I replied: ‘If +he has so said, he has lied, for my son gave Fux his +death-blow with a stiletto. I did not know that Fux +was in Bruges until I heard of his death. How could +the servant, then, say that I had done it? It was not +done by my order, but that I should not have rejoiced +that God should have punished the villain I am free to +confess.<span class="corr" title="added: ’">’</span> To this he answered, ‘I should have done so +myself.’ I said: ‘God knows how Fux treated us in our +imprisonment at Borringholm. That is now past, and I +think of it no more.’ ‘There you are right,’ he said, as he +proceeded in his office. When all was over, he spoke +with the prison governor outside the door of my anteroom, +just in front of the door of the Dark Church, and +said that I made myself ill; that I was not ill; that my +face was red from pure anger; that he had spoken the +truth to me, and that I had been angry in consequence. +Christian was standing inside the door of the Dark +Church, for at this time there were no prisoners there, +and he heard the conversation, and related it to me when +I began to get up again and spoke with him at the door.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_221" id="Page_221" title="[Pg 221]"></a> +Some time afterwards Christian said to me, quite +secretly, ‘If you like, I will convey a message from you +to your children in Skaane.’ I enquired how this +could be done. He said: ‘Through my girl; she is +thoroughly true; she shall go on purpose.’ He knew +that I had some ducats left, for Peder the coachman had +confided it to him, as he himself told me. I accepted +his offer and wrote to my children, and gave him a +ducat for the girl’s journey.<a name="FNanchor_111" id="FNanchor_111" href="#Footnote_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> She executed the +commission well, and came back with a letter from +them and from my sister.<a name="FNanchor_E40" id="FNanchor_E40" href="#Footnote_E40" class="fnanchor">[E40]</a> The woman knew nothing +of all this.</p> + +<p>By degrees Christian began to be insolent in various +ways. When he came with his boy’s pouch, in which +the woman was to give him food, he would throw it at +her, and he was angry if meat was not kept for himself +for the evening; and when he could not at once get +the pouch back again, he would curse the day when he +had come to my door and had spoken with me or had +communicated anything to me. She was sad, but she +said nothing to me. This lasted only for a day, and +then he knocked again at the door and spoke as usual +of what news he had heard. The woman was sitting +on the bed, crossing herself fifteen times (he could +not see her, nor could he see me). When he was gone, +she related how fearfully he had been swearing, &c. +I said: ‘You must not regard this; in the time of the +other Karen he has done as much.’ His courage daily +increased. The dishes were often brought up half-an-hour +before the prison-governor came. In the meanwhile +Christian cut the meat, and took himself the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_222" id="Page_222" title="[Pg 222]"></a> +piece he preferred (formerly at every meal I had sent +him out a piece of fish, or anything else he desired). +The stupid prison governor allowed it to go on; he +was glad, I imagine, that he was spared the trouble, +and paid no attention to the fact that there was anything +missing in the dish. I let it go on for a time, for +it did not happen regularly every day. But when he +wanted food for his boy, he would say nothing but +‘Some food in my boy’s pouch!’ We often laughed +over this afterwards, when he was away, but not at the +time, for it grew worse from day to day. He could not +endure that we should laugh and be merry; if he heard +anything of the kind outside, he was angry. But if one +spoke despondingly, he would procure what was in his +power.<a name="FNanchor_112" id="FNanchor_112" href="#Footnote_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> One day he listened, and heard that we were +laughing; for the woman was just relating an amusing +story of the mother of a schoolboy in Frederichsborg (she +had lived there); how the mother of the boy did not +know how to address the schoolmaster, and called him +Herr Willas.<a name="FNanchor_E41" id="FNanchor_E41" href="#Footnote_E41" class="fnanchor">[E41]</a> He said, ‘I am no Herr.’ ‘Then Master,’ +said the woman. ‘I am no Master either,’ he said; +‘I am plain Willas.’ Then the woman said: ‘My good +plain Willas! My son always licks the cream from my +milk-pans when he comes home. Will you lick him in +return, and that with a switch on his back?’ While we +were laughing at this, he came to the door and heard the +words I was saying: ‘I don’t suppose that it really so +happened; one must always add something to make a +good story of it.’ He imagined we were speaking of +him, and that we were laughing at him. At meal-time<a class="pagenum" name="Page_223" id="Page_223" title="[Pg 223]"></a> +he said to the woman, ‘You were very merry to-day.’ +She said, ‘Did you not know why? It is because I +belong to the “Lætter”’<a name="FNanchor_E42" id="FNanchor_E42" href="#Footnote_E42" class="fnanchor">[E42]</a> (that was her family name). +‘It would be a good thing,’ he said, ‘to put a stop to +your laughter altogether; you have been laughing at +me.’ She protested that we had not, that his name +had not been mentioned (which was the case); but he +would not regard it. They fell into an altercation. She +told me of the conversation, and for some days he did +not come to the door, and I sent him nothing; for just +at that time a poor old man was my neighbour, and I +sent him a drink of wine. Christian came again to the +door and knocked. He complained very softly of the +woman; begged that I would reprove her for what she +had said to him, as he had heard his name mentioned. +I protested to him that at the time we were not even +thinking of him, and that I could not scold her for the +words we had spoken together. I wished to have repose +within our closed door. ‘Yes,’ he answered; ‘household +peace is good, as the old woman said.’ With this +he went away.</p> + +<p>Afterwards he caused us all sorts of annoyance, and +was again pacified. Then he wished again that I +should write to Skaane.<a name="FNanchor_113" id="FNanchor_113" href="#Footnote_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> I said I was satisfied to know +that some of my children were with my sister; where +my sons were, and how it fared with them, I did not +know: I left them in God’s care. This did not satisfy +him, and he spoke as if he thought I had no more<a class="pagenum" name="Page_224" id="Page_224" title="[Pg 224]"></a> +money; but he did not at that time exactly say so. +But one day, when he had one of his mad fits, he came +to the door and had a can with wine (which I gave +him at almost every meal) in his hand, and he said: +‘Can you see me?’ (for there was a cleft in the outermost +door, but at such a distance one could not clearly +see through). ‘Here I am with my cup of wine, and +I am going to drink your health for the last time.’ I +asked: ‘Why for the last time?’ ‘Yes,’ he swore, +coming nearer to the door and saying: ‘I will do no +more service for you; so I know well that I shall get +no more wine.’ I said, ‘I thank you for the services +you have rendered me; I desire no more from you, +but nevertheless you may still get your wine.’ ‘No!’ +he said; ‘no more service! there is nothing more to +be fetched.’ ‘That is true,’ I answered. ‘You do +not know me,’ said he; ‘I am not what you think; +it is easy to start with me, but it is not easy to get rid +of me.’ I laughed a little, and said: ‘You are far +better than you make yourself out to be. To-morrow +you will be of another mind.’</p> + +<p>He continued to describe himself as very wicked (it +was, however, far from as bad as he really is). I could +do nothing else but laugh at him. He drank from the +can, and sat himself down on the stool outside. I +called him and begged him to come to the door, as I +wanted to speak with him. There he sat like a fool, +saying to himself: ‘Should I go to the door? No,’ and +he swore with a terrible oath, ‘that I will not do! Oh +yes, to the door! No, Christian, no!’ laughing from +time to time immoderately, and shouting out that the +devil might take him and tear him in pieces the day +on which he should go to my door or render me a +service. I went away from the door and sat down<a class="pagenum" name="Page_225" id="Page_225" title="[Pg 225]"></a> +horrified at the man’s madness and audacity. Some +days passed in silence, and he would accept no wine. +No food was offered to him, for he continued, in the +same way as before, to cut the meat before the prison +governor came up. As the prison governor at this time +occasionally again came in to me and talked with me, +I requested him that Christian, as a prisoner, should not +have the liberty of messing my food. This was, therefore, +forbidden him in future.</p> + +<p>Some days afterwards he threw the pouch to the +woman on the stairs, and said: ‘Give me some food +for to-night in my lad’s pouch.’<a name="FNanchor_114" id="FNanchor_114" href="#Footnote_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> This was complied +with with the utmost obedience, and a piece of meat +was placed in the pouch. This somewhat appeased +him, so that at noon he spoke with the woman, and +even asked for a drink of wine; but he threatened the +woman that he would put an end to the laughing. I +did not fear the evil he could do to me, but this vexatious +life was wearisome. I allowed no wine to be +offered to him, unless he asked for some. He was in +the habit every week of procuring me the newspapers<a name="FNanchor_E43" id="FNanchor_E43" href="#Footnote_E43" class="fnanchor">[E43]</a> +for candles, and as he did not bring me the newspapers +for the candles of the first week, I sent him no more. +He continued to come every Saturday with the perfuming-pan, +and to lock my door. When he came in +with the fumigating stuff, he fixed his eyes upon the +wall, and would not look at me. I spoke to him once +and asked after the doctor, and he made no reply.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_226" id="Page_226" title="[Pg 226]"></a> +Thus it went on for some weeks; then he became +appeased, and brought the woman the papers from the +time that he had withheld them, all rolled up together +and fastened with a thread. When the prison governor +came in during the evening and sat and talked (he was +slightly intoxicated), and Chresten had gone to the +cellar, the woman gave him back the papers, thanking +him in my name, and saying that the papers were of no +interest to me; I had done without them for so many +weeks, and could continue to do so. He was so angry +that he tore the papers in two with his teeth, tore +open his coat so that the buttons fell on the floor, threw +some of the papers into the fire, howled, screamed, +and gnashed with his teeth. I tried to find something +over which I could laugh with the prison governor, +and I spoke as loud as I could, in order to drown +Christian’s voice.<a name="FNanchor_115" id="FNanchor_115" href="#Footnote_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> The woman came in as pale as a +corpse, and looked at me. I signed to her that she +should go out again. Then Christian came close to +my door and howled, throwing his slippers up into the +air, and then against my door, repeating this frequently. +When he heard Chresten coming up with the cups, he +threw himself on the seat on which the prison governor +was accustomed to lie, and again struck his slippers +against the wall. Chresten gazed at him with astonishment, +as he stood with the cups in his hand. He saw well +that there was something amiss between the woman +and Christian, and that the woman was afraid; he could +not, however, guess the cause, nor could he find it out; +he thought, moreover, that it had nothing to do with +me, since I was laughing and talking with the prison<a class="pagenum" name="Page_227" id="Page_227" title="[Pg 227]"></a> +governor. When the doors were closed, the lamentations +found free vent. The woman said that he had +threatened her; he would forbid her daughter coming +on the stairs and carrying on her talk, and doing other +things that she ought not. I begged her to be calm; told +her he was now in one of his mad fits, but that it would +pass away; that he would hesitate before he said anything +of it, for that he would be afraid that what he had +brought up to her would also come to light, and then +he would himself get into misfortune for his trouble; that +the prison governor had given her daughter leave to +come to her, and to whom therefore should he complain? +(I thought indeed in my own mind that if he +adhered to his threat, he would probably find some one +else to whom he could complain, as he had so much +liberty; he could bring in and out what he chose, and +could speak with whom he desired in the watchman’s +gallery.) She wept, was very much affected, and talked +with but little sense, and said: ‘If I have no peace for +him, I will—yes, I will—.’ She got no further, and could +not get out what she would do. I smiled, and said at +last: ‘Christian is mad. I will put a stop to it to-morrow: +let me deal with him! Sleep now quietly!’</p> + +<p>She fell asleep afterwards, but I did not do so very +quickly, thinking what might follow such wild fits. Next +day towards noon I told her what she was to say to +Christian; she was to behave as if she were dissatisfied, +and begin to upbraid him and to say, ‘The devil take +you for all you have taught her! She has pulled off +her slippers just as you do, and strikes me on the head +with them. She is angry and no joke, and she took +all the pretty stuff she had finished and threw it into +the night-stool. “There,” said she, “no one shall have +any advantage of that.”’ At this he laughed like a fool,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_228" id="Page_228" title="[Pg 228]"></a> +for it pleased him. ‘Is she thoroughly angry?’ he +asked. ‘Yes,’ she replied; ‘she is indeed.’ At this +he laughed aloud on the stairs, so that I heard it. For +a fortnight he behaved tolerably well, now and then +demanding wine and food; and he came moreover to +the door and related, among other things, how he had +heard that the prince (now our king) was going to be +married. I had also heard it, though I did not say so, +for the prison governor had told me of it, and besides I +received the papers without him. And as I asked him +no questions, he went away immediately, saying afterwards +to the woman, ‘She is angry and so am I. We +will see who first will want the other.’ He threatened +the woman very much. She wished that I would give +him fair words. I told her that he was not of that +character that one could get on with him by always +showing the friendly side.<a name="FNanchor_116" id="FNanchor_116" href="#Footnote_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> As he by degrees became +more insolent than could be tolerated, I said +one day to the prison governor that I was surprised that +he could allow a prisoner to unlock and lock my doors, +and to do that which was really the office of the tower-warder; +and I asked him whether it did not occur to +him that under such circumstances I might manage to +get out, if I chose to do so without the King’s will? +Christian was a prisoner, under sentence of death; he had +already offered to get me out of the tower. The prison +governor sat and stared like one who does not rightly +understand, and he made no reply but ‘Yes, yes!’ but +he acted in conformity with my warning, so that either +he himself locked and unlocked, or Chresten did so. +(I have seen Christian snatching the keys out of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_229" id="Page_229" title="[Pg 229]"></a> +Chresten’s hand and locking my door, and this at the +time when he began to make himself so angry.)</p> + +<p>If Christian had not been furious before, he became +so now, especially at the time that Chresten came in +with the perfuming-pan when the woman was above. +He would then stand straight before me in the anteroom, +looking at me like a ghost and gnashing his +teeth; and when he saw that I took the rest of the +fumigating stuff from Chresten’s hand (which he had +always himself given me in paper), he burst into a +defiant laugh. When the doors were unlocked in the +evening, and Christian began talking with the woman, +he said: ‘Karen, tell her ladyship that I will make +out a devilish story with you both. I have with my +own eyes seen Chresten giving her a letter. Ay, that +was why she did not let me go in with the perfuming-pan, +because I would not undertake her message to +Skaane. Ay, does she get the newspapers also from +him? Yes, tell her, great as are the services I have +rendered her, I will now prepare a great misfortune +for her.’ God knows what a night I had! Not because +I feared his threat, for I did not in the least regard +his words; he himself would have suffered the most +by far. But the woman was so sad that she did nothing +but lament and moan, chiefly about her daughter, on +account of the disgrace it would be to her if they put +her mother into the Dark Church, nay even took her +life. Then she remembered that her daughter had +spoken with her on the stairs, and she cried out again: +‘Oh my daughter! my daughter! She will get into the +house of correction!’ For some time I said nothing +more than ‘Calm yourself; it will not be as bad as +you think,’ as I perceived that she was not capable +of listening to reason, for she at once exclaimed ‘Ach<a class="corr" name="corr_16" id="corr_16" title="added: !">!</a><a class="pagenum" name="Page_230" id="Page_230" title="[Pg 230]"></a> +ach!’ as often as I tried to speak, sitting up in bed +and holding her head between her two hands and +crying till she was almost deluged. I thought, ‘When +there are no more tears to come, she will probably +stop.’</p> + +<p>I said at length, when she was a little appeased: +‘The misfortune with which the man threatens us +cannot be averted by tears. Calm yourself and lie +down to sleep. I will do the same, and I will pray +God to impart to me His wise counsel for the morrow.’ +This quieted her a little; but when I thought she was +sleeping, she burst forth again with all the things that +she feared; she had brought in to me slips of paper, +knife and scissors, and other things furnished by him +contrary to order. I answered only from time to time: +‘Go to sleep, go to sleep! I will talk with you to-morrow!’ +It was of no avail. The clock struck two, +when she was still wanting to talk, and saying, ‘It +will go badly with the poor old man down below!’<a name="FNanchor_117" id="FNanchor_117" href="#Footnote_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> +I made as if I were asleep, but the whole night, till +five o’clock and longer, no sleep came to my eyes.</p> + +<p>When the door was unlocked at noon, I had already +intimated to her what she was to say to Christian, and +had given her to understand that he thought to receive +money from her and candles from me by his threats,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_231" id="Page_231" title="[Pg 231]"></a> +and that he wanted to force us to obey his pleasure; +but that he had others to deal with than he imagined. +She was only to behave as if she did not care for his +talk, and was to say nothing but ‘Good day,’ unless he +spoke to her; and if he enquired what I had said, she +was to act as if she did not remember that she was to +tell me anything. If he repeated his message, she +was to say: ‘I am not going to say anything to her +about that. Are you still as foolish as you were last +night? Do what you choose!’ and then go away. +This conversation took place, and he threatened her +worse than before. The woman remained steadfast, +but she was thoroughly cast down when our doors +were locked; still, as she has a light heart, she often +laughed with the tears in her eyes. I knew well that +Christian would try to recover favour again by communicating +me all kind of news in writing, but I had +forbidden the woman to take his slips of paper, so that +he got very angry. I begged her to tell him that he +had better restrain himself if he could; that if he +indulged his anger, it would be worse for him. At +this he laughed ironically, and said, ‘Tell her, it will be +worse for her. Whatever I have done for her, she has +enticed me to by giving me wine: tell her so. I will +myself confess everything; and if I come to the rack +and wheel, Chresten shall get into trouble. He brought +her letters from her children.’ (The rogue well knew +that I had not allowed the woman to be cognisant +neither of the fact that he had conveyed for me a +message to Skaane to my children, nor of the wax in +which the tower keys were impressed; this was why +he spoke so freely to her.) When our doors were +locked, this formed the subject of our conversation. +I laughed at it, and asked the woman what disgrace<a class="pagenum" name="Page_232" id="Page_232" title="[Pg 232]"></a> +could be so great as to be put on the wheel; I regarded +it as thoughtless talk, for such it was, and I begged her +to tell him that he need not trouble himself to give +himself up, as I would relieve him of the trouble, and +(if he chose) tell the prison governor everything on +the following day that he had done for me; he had +perhaps forgotten something, but that I could well remember +it all.</p> + +<p>When the woman told him this, he made no answer, +but ran down, kept quiet for some days, and scarcely +spoke to the woman. One Saturday, when the woman +had gone upstairs with the night-stool, he went up +to her and tried to persuade her to accept a slip of +paper for me, but she protested that she dare not. +‘Then tell her,’ he said, ‘that she is to give me back +the scissors and the knife which I have given her. I +will have them, and she shall see what I can do. You +shall both together get into trouble!’ She came down +as white as a corpse, so that I thought she had strained +herself. She related the conversation and his request, +and begged me much to give him back the things, and +that then he would be quiet. I said: ‘What is the +matter with you? are you in your senses? Does he +not say that we shall get into trouble if he gets the +scissors and knife back again? Now is not the time +to give them to him. Do you not understand that he +is afraid I shall let the things be seen? My work, he +thinks, is gone, and the papers are no longer here, so +that there is nothing with which he can be threatened +except these things. You must not speak with him +this evening. If he says anything, do not answer him.’ +In the evening he crept in, and said in the anteroom to +her, ‘Bring me the scissors and the knife!’ She made +no answer. On the following morning, towards noon,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_233" id="Page_233" title="[Pg 233]"></a> +I begged her to tell him that I had nothing of his; +that I had paid for both the scissors and knife, and +that more than double their value. He was angry at +the message, and gnashed with his teeth. She went +away from him, and avoided as much as possible +speaking with him alone. When he saw that the +woman would not take a slip of paper from him, he +availed himself of a moment when the prison governor +was not there, and threw in a slip of paper to me on +the floor. A strange circumstance was near occurring +this time: for just as he was throwing in the paper, +the prison governor’s large shaggy dog passed in, +and the paper fell on the dog’s back, but it fell off again +in the corner, where the dog was snuffling.</p> + +<p>Upon the paper stood the words: ‘Give me the +knife and scissors back, or I will bring upon you as +much misfortune as I have before rendered you good +service, and I will pay for the knife and scissors if I +have to sell my trousers for it. Give them to me at +once!’ For some days he went about like a lunatic, +since I did not answer him, nor did I send him a +message through the woman; so that Chresten asked +the woman what she had done to Christian, as he went +about below gnashing his teeth and howling like a +madman. She replied that those below must best +know what was the matter with him; that he must see +he was spoken with in a very friendly manner here. +At noon on Good Friday, 1667,<a name="FNanchor_118" id="FNanchor_118" href="#Footnote_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> he was very angry, +swore and cursed himself if he did not give himself up, +repeating all that he had said before, and adding that +I had enticed him with wine and meat, and had +deceived him with candles and good words. That he +cared but little what happened to him; he would gladly<a class="pagenum" name="Page_234" id="Page_234" title="[Pg 234]"></a> +die by the hand of the executioner; but that I, and +she, and Chresten, should not escape without hurt.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was not very cheerful to us. The +woman was depressed. I begged her to be calm, told +her there was no danger in such madness, though it was +very annoying, and harder to bear than my captivity; +but that still I would be a match for the rogue. She +took her book and read, and I sat down and wrote a +hymn upon Christ’s sufferings, to the tune ‘As the +hart panteth after the water-springs.’<a name="FNanchor_119" id="FNanchor_119" href="#Footnote_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a></p> + +<p>Christian had before been in the habit of bringing +me coloured eggs on Easter-Eve; at this time he was +not so disposed. When the door was locked, I said to +Chresten, ‘Do not forget the soft-boiled eggs to-morrow.’ +When the dinner was brought up on Easter-Day, +and the eggs did not come at once (they were a +side dish), Christian looked at me, and made a long +nose at me three or four times. (I was accustomed to +go up and down in front of the door of my room when +it was unlocked.) I remained standing, and looked at +him, and shrugged my shoulders a little. Soon after +these grimaces, Chresten came with a dish full of soft-boiled +eggs. Christian cast down his eyes at first, then +he raised them to me, expecting, perhaps, that I should +make a long nose at him in return; but I intended +nothing less. When the woman went to the stairs, he +said, ‘There were no coloured eggs there.’ She +repeated this to me at once, so that I begged her to +say that I ate the soft-boiled eggs and kept the +coloured ones, as he might see (and I sent him one of<a class="pagenum" name="Page_235" id="Page_235" title="[Pg 235]"></a> +the last year’s, on which I had drawn some flowers; he +had given it to me himself for some candles). He +accepted it, but wrote me a note in return, which was +very extraordinary. It was intended to be a highflown +composition about the egg and the hen. He tried to be +witty, but it had no point. I cannot now quite remember +it, except that he wrote that I had sent him +a rotten egg; that his egg would be fresh, while mine +would be rotten.<a name="FNanchor_120" id="FNanchor_120" href="#Footnote_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> He threw the slip of paper into +my room. I made no answer to it. Some days passed +again, and he said nothing angry; then he recommenced. +I think he was vexed to see Chresten often receive +my wine back again in the cup. At times I presented it +to the prison governor. Moreover, he received no food, +either for himself or his boy. One day he said to the +woman, ‘What do you think the prison governor would +say if he knew that you give the prisoners some of his +food to eat?’ (The food which came from my table +was taken down to the prison governor.) ‘Tell her +that!<span class="corr" title="added: ’">’</span> The woman asked whether she was to say so to +me, as a message from him. ‘As whose message otherwise?’ +he answered. I sent him word that I could +take as much as I pleased of the food brought me: +that it was not measured out and weighed for me, and +that those who had a right to it could do what they +liked with what I did not require, as it belonged to +no one. On this point he could not excite our fear. +Then he came back again one day to the old +subject, that he would have the scissors and the knife, +and threatening to give himself up; and as it was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_236" id="Page_236" title="[Pg 236]"></a> +almost approaching the time when I received the +Lord’s Supper, I said to the woman: ‘Tell him once +for all, if he cannot restrain himself I will inform +against him as soon as the priest comes, and the first +Karen shall be made to give evidence; she shall, +indeed, be brought forward, for she had no rest on his +account until I entered into his proposals. Whether +voluntarily or under compulsion, she shall say the +truth, and then we shall see who gets into trouble.’ +He might do, I sent word, whatever he liked, but I +would be let alone; he might spare me his notes, or I +would produce them. When the woman told him this, +he thought a little, and then asked, ‘Does she say so?’ +‘Yes,’ said the woman, ‘she did. She said still +further: “What does he imagine? Does he think +that I, as a prisoner who can go nowhere, will suffer for +having accepted the services of a prisoner who enjoys +a liberty which does not belong to him?”’ He stood +and let his head hang down, and made no answer at +all. This settled the fellow, and from that time I have +not heard one unsuitable word from him. He spoke +kindly and pleasantly with the woman on the stairs, +related what news he had heard, and was very +officious; and when she once asked him for his cup to +give him some wine, he said sadly, ‘I have not +deserved any wine.’ The woman said he could nevertheless +have some wine, and that I desired no more +service from him. So he received wine from time to +time, but nothing to eat.<a name="FNanchor_121" id="FNanchor_121" href="#Footnote_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> On the day that I received +the Lord’s Supper, he came to the door and knocked +softly. I went to the door. He saluted me and +wished me joy in a very nice manner, and said that he<a class="pagenum" name="Page_237" id="Page_237" title="[Pg 237]"></a> +knew I had forgiven those who had done aught against +me. I answered in the affirmative, and gave no +further matter for questions; nor did he, but spoke of +other trivialities, and then went away. Afterwards he +came daily to the door, and told me what news he had +heard; he also received wine and meat again. He +told me, among other things, that many were of opinion +that all the prisoners would be set at liberty at the +wedding of the prince (our present king) which was then +talked of; that the bride was to arrive within a month +(it was the end of April when this conversation took +place), and that the wedding was to be at the palace.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the bride was delayed till the beginning +of June, and then the wedding was celebrated in +the palace at Nykjöbing in Falster. Many were of +opinion that it took place there in order that the bride +might not intercede for me and the doctor.<a name="FNanchor_122" id="FNanchor_122" href="#Footnote_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> When +the bride was to be brought to Copenhagen, I said to +Christian: ‘Now is the time for you to gain your +liberty. Let your girl wait and fall on one knee before +the carriage of the bride and hold out a supplication, +and then I am sure you will gain your liberty.’ He +asked how the girl should come to be supplicating for +him. I said, ‘As your bride—’ ‘No (and he swore +with a terrible oath), she is not that! She imagines it, +perhaps, but (he swore again) I will not have her.’ +‘Then leave her in the idea,’ I said, ‘and let her make +her supplication as for her bridegroom.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, +in a crestfallen tone, ‘she may do that.’ It was done, +as I had advised, and Christian was set at liberty on +June 11, 1667. He did not bid me good-bye, and did<a class="pagenum" name="Page_238" id="Page_238" title="[Pg 238]"></a> +not even send me a message through the tower-warder +or the boy. His gratitude to the girl was that he +smashed her window that very evening, and made such +a drunken noise in the street, that he was locked up in +the Town-hall cellar.<a name="FNanchor_123" id="FNanchor_123" href="#Footnote_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> He came out, however, on the +following day. His lad Paaske took leave of his +master. When he asked him whether he should say +anything from him to us, he answered, ‘Tell them that I +send them to the devil.’ Paaske, who brought this +message, said he had answered Christian, ‘Half of that +is intended for me’ (for Christian had already suspected +that Paaske had rendered services to the woman). +We had a hearty laugh over this message; for I said +that if Paaske was to have half of it, I should get +nothing. We were not a little glad that we were +quit of this godless man.</p> + +<p>We lived on in repose throughout the year 1668. I +wrote and was furnished with various handiwork, so +that Chresten bought nothing for me but a couple of +books, and these I paid doubly and more than doubly +with candles. Karen remained with me the first time +more than three years; and as her daughter was then +going to be married, and she wished to be at the +wedding, she spoke to me as to how it could be +arranged, for she would gladly have a promise of +returning to me when the woman whom I was to have +in her stead went away. I did not know whether this +could be arranged; but I felt confident that I could +effect her exit without her feigning herself ill. The +prison governor had already then as clerk Peder Jensen +Tötzlöff,<a name="FNanchor_E44" id="FNanchor_E44" href="#Footnote_E44" class="fnanchor">[E44]</a> who now and then performed his duties.<a class="pagenum" name="Page_239" id="Page_239" title="[Pg 239]"></a> +To this man I made the proposal, mentioning at +the same time with compassion the ill health of the +woman. I talked afterwards with the prison governor +himself about it, and he was quite satisfied; for he not +only liked this Karen very much, but he had moreover +a woman in the house whom he wished to place with +me instead.</p> + +<p>Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_17" id="corr_17" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter, left me one evening in 1669, +and a German named Cathrina ——<a name="FNanchor_E45" id="FNanchor_E45" href="#Footnote_E45" class="fnanchor">[E45]</a> came in her place. +Karen took her departure with many tears. She had +wept almost the whole day, and I promised to do my +utmost that she should come to me when the other +went away. Cathrina had been among soldiers from +her youth up; she had married a lieutenant at the time +the prison governor was a drummer, and had stood +godmother to one of his sons. She had fallen into +poverty after her husband’s death, and had sat and +spun with the wife of the prison governor for her food. +She was greatly given to drinking, and her hands +trembled so that she could not hold the cup, but was +obliged to support it against her person, and the soup-plate +also. The prison governor told me before she +came up that her hands occasionally trembled a little, +but not always—that she had been ill a short time +before, and that it would probably pass off. When I +asked herself how it came on, she said she had had it +for many years. I said, ‘You are not a woman fit to +wait upon me; for if I should be ill, as I was a year +or somewhat less ago, you could not properly attend +to me.’ She fell at once down on her knees, wept +bitterly, and prayed for God’s sake that she might +remain; that she was a poor widow, and that she had +promised the prison governor half the money she was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_240" id="Page_240" title="[Pg 240]"></a> +to earn; she would pray heartily to God that I might not +be ill, and that she would be true to me, aye, even die +for me.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that this last was too much of an +exaggeration for me to believe it (she kept her word, +however, and did what I ordered her, and I was not ill +during her time). She did not care to work. She +generally laid down when she had eaten, and drew the +coverlid over her eyes, saying ‘Now I can see nothing.’ +When she perceived that I liked her to talk, she +related whole comedies in her way, often acting them, +and representing various personages. If she began to +tell a story, and I said in the middle of her narrative, +‘This will have a sorrowful ending,’ she would say, +‘No, it ends pleasantly,’ and she would give her story +a good ending. She would do the reverse, if I said +the contrary. She would dance also before me, and +that for four persons, speaking as she did so for each +whom she was representing, and pinching together her +mouth and fingers. She called comedians ‘Medicoants.’ +Various things occurred during her time, which prevented +me from looking at her and listening to her as +much as she liked.<a name="FNanchor_124" id="FNanchor_124" href="#Footnote_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a></p> + +<p>It happened that Walter,<a name="FNanchor_E46" id="FNanchor_E46" href="#Footnote_E46" class="fnanchor">[E46]</a> who in consequence of +Dina’s affair had been exiled from Denmark, came +over from Sweden and remained incognito at Copenhagen. +He was arrested and placed in the tower here, +below on the ground floor. He was suspected of being<a class="pagenum" name="Page_241" id="Page_241" title="[Pg 241]"></a> +engaged in some plot. At the same time a French +cook and a Swedish baker were imprisoned with him, +who were accused of having intended to poison the +King and Queen. The Swede was placed in the Witch +Cell, immediately after Walter’s arrest. Some days +elapsed before I was allowed to know of Walter’s +arrival, but I knew of it nevertheless. One day at +noon, when Walter and the Frenchman were talking +aloud (for they were always disputing with each other), +I asked the prison governor who were his guests down +below, who were talking French. He answered that +he had some of various nations, and related who +they were, but why they were imprisoned he knew not, +especially in Walter’s case.</p> + +<p>The two before-mentioned quarrelled together, so that +Walter was placed in the Witch Cell with the Swede, +and the <a class="corr" name="corr_18" id="corr_18" title="was: Frenchmen">Frenchman</a> was conveyed to the Dark Church, +where he was ill, and never even came to the peep-hole +in the door, but lay just within. I dared not send him +anything, on account of the accusation against him. +Walter was imprisoned for a long time, and the +Frenchman was liberated. When M. Bock came to +me, to give me Christ’s body and blood, I told him +before receiving the Lord’s Supper of Walter’s affair, +which had been proved, but I mentioned to him that +at the time I had been requested to leave Denmark +through <a class="corr" name="corr_19" id="corr_19" title="was: Udrich">Uldrich</a> Christian Gyldenlöve. Gyldenlöve +had sworn to me that the king was at the time not +thoroughly convinced of the matter, and I had complained +that his Majesty had not taken pains to convince +himself; and I requested the priest to ask the +Stadtholder to manage that Walter should now be +examined in Dina’s affair, and that he and I should be +confronted together in the presence of some ministers;<a class="pagenum" name="Page_242" id="Page_242" title="[Pg 242]"></a> +that this could be done without any great noise, for the +gentlemen could come through the secret passage into +the tower. The priest promised to arrange this;<a name="FNanchor_125" id="FNanchor_125" href="#Footnote_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> he +did so, and on the third day after Walter was placed in the +Dark Church, so that I expected for a long time every +day that we should be examined, but it was prevented +by the person whose interest it was to prevent it.<a name="FNanchor_E47" id="FNanchor_E47" href="#Footnote_E47" class="fnanchor">[E47]</a></p> + +<p>Walter remained imprisoned,<a name="FNanchor_126" id="FNanchor_126" href="#Footnote_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> and quarrelled almost +daily with Chresten, calling him a thief and a robber. +(Chresten had found some ducats which Walter had +concealed under a stool; the foolish Walter allowed +the Swede to see that he hid ducats and an ink-bottle +between the girths under the stool, and he afterwards +struck the Swede, who betrayed him.) Chresten slyly +allowed Walter to take a little exercise in the hall of +the tower, and in the meanwhile he searched the stool. +It may well be imagined that at the everlasting scolding +Chresten was annoyed, and he did not procure +Walter particularly good food from the kitchen; so that +sometimes he could not eat either of the two dishes +ordered for him; and when Walter said one day, ‘If +you would give me only one dish of which I could eat, +it would be quite enough,’ Chresten arranged it so +that Walter only received one dish, and often could not +eat of that. (This was to Chresten’s own damage, for he<a class="pagenum" name="Page_243" id="Page_243" title="[Pg 243]"></a> +was entitled to the food that was left; but he was ready +to forego this, so long as he could annoy the others.)</p> + +<p>Once Chresten came to him with a dish of rice-porridge, +and began at once to quarrel with him, so +that the other became angry (just as children do), and +would eat nothing. Chresten carried the porridge away +again directly, and laughed heartily. I said to Chresten, +in the prison governor’s presence, ‘Though God has +long delayed to punish Walter, his punishment is all +the heavier now, for he could scarcely have fallen into +more unmerciful hands than yours.’ He laughed +heartily at this, and the prison governor did the same. +And as there is a hole passing from the Dark Church +into the outer room, those who are inside there can call +upstairs, so that one can plainly hear what is said. So +Walter one day called to the prison governor, and +begged him to give him a piece of roast meat; the prison +governor called to him, ‘Yes, we will roast a rat for +you!’ I sent him a piece of roast meat through +Chresten; when he took it, and heard that I had sent +it to him, he wept.</p> + +<p>Thus the time passed, I had always work to do, and +I wrote also a good deal.<a name="FNanchor_127" id="FNanchor_127" href="#Footnote_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> The priest was tired of +administering the Lord’s Supper to me, and he let me +wait thirteen and fourteen days; when he did come, he +performed his office <i lang="fr">par manière d’acquit</i>. I said +nothing about it, but the woman, who is a German, also +received the Lord’s Supper from him; she made much +of it, especially once (the last time he confessed her); +for then I waited four days for him before it suited him +to come, and at last he came. It was Wednesday, about +nine o’clock. He never greeted us, nor did he wish<a class="pagenum" name="Page_244" id="Page_244" title="[Pg 244]"></a> +me joy to the act I intended to perform. This time +he said, as he shook hands, ‘I have not much time to +wait, I have a child to baptise.’ I knew well that this +could not be true, but I answered ‘In God’s name!’ +When he was to receive the woman’s confession, he +would not sit down, but said ‘Now go on, I have no +time,’ and scarcely gave her time to confess, absolved +her quickly, and read the consecrating service at posthaste +speed. When he was gone, the woman was very +impatient, and said that she had received the holy +communion in the field from a military chaplain, with +the whole company (since they were ready to attack the +enemy on the following day), but that the priest had not +raced through God’s word as this one had done; she +had gained nothing from it.</p> + +<p>I comforted her as well as I could, read and sang to +her, told her she should repent and be sorry for her +sins, and labour to amend her ways, and not be distracted +by the want of devotion in the priest; she could +appropriate to herself Christ’s sufferings and merits for +the forgiveness of her sins, for the priest had given her +his body and blood in the bread and wine. ‘Yes,’ she +answered, ‘I shall, with God’s will, be a better Christian.’ +I said ‘Will you keep what you have promised me?’ +Her vow was, not to drink herself tipsy, as she had +once done. I will not omit to mention this. She received, +as I have before said, half a pint of French wine +at each meal, and I half a measure of Rhine wine. She +could drink both portions without being quite intoxicated, +for at her meal she drank the French wine and +lay down; and when she got up in the afternoon she +drank my wine.<a name="FNanchor_128" id="FNanchor_128" href="#Footnote_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> In the evening she kept my wine for<a class="pagenum" name="Page_245" id="Page_245" title="[Pg 245]"></a> +breakfast, but once she had in her cup both my wine and +her own, so that at noon she had two half-pints of +wine; she sat there and drank it so quietly, and I paid +no attention to her, being at the moment engaged in a +speculation about a pattern which I wanted to knit; at +length I looked at her because it was so long before +she laid down; then she turned over all the vessels, one +after another, and there was nothing in them. I accosted +her and said, ‘How is it? have you drank all the +wine?’ She could scarcely answer. She tried to stand +up, and could not. ‘To bed, you drunken sow,’ said I. +She tried to move, but could not; she was sick, and crept +along by the wall to fetch a broom. When she had +the broom, she could do nothing with it. I told her to +crawl into bed and lie down; she crawled along and fell +with her face on the bed, while her feet were on the +ground. There she was sick again, and remained so +lying, and slept. It is easy to imagine how I felt.</p> + +<p>She slept in this way for a couple of hours, but still +did not quite sleep off her intoxication; for when she +wanted afterwards to clean herself and the room, she +remained for a long time sitting on a low stool, the +broom between her knees and her hair about her ears. +She took off her bodice to wash it, and so she sat with +her bosom uncovered, an ugly sight; she kept bemoaning +herself, praying to God to help her, as she was +nigh unto death. I was angry, but I could scarcely +help laughing at this sad picture. When the moaning +and lamenting were over, I said angrily, ‘Yes, may God<a class="pagenum" name="Page_246" id="Page_246" title="[Pg 246]"></a> +help you, you drunkard; to the guards’ station you +ought to go; I will not have such a drunkard about +me; go and sleep it out, and don’t let me hear you talk +of God when you are not sober, for then God is far +from you and the d——l is near!’ (I laughed afterwards +at myself.) She laid down again, and about four +o’clock she was quite sober, made herself perfectly clean, +and sat quietly weeping. Then she threw herself with +great excitement at my feet, clung to them, howled and +clamoured, and begged for God’s sake that I would +forgive her this once, and that it should never happen +again; said how she had kept the wine &c.; that if I +would only keep her half a year, she would have +enough to purchase her admission into the hospital at +Lübeck.</p> + +<p>I thought I would take good care that she did not +get so much again at once, and also that perhaps if I +had another in her place she might be worse in other +things. Karen could not have come at this time, for +her daughter was expecting her confinement, and I +knew that she would then not be quiet. So I promised +her to keep her for the time she mentioned. She kept +her word moreover, and I so arranged <a class="corr" name="corr_20" id="corr_20" title="was: at">it</a> six weeks +later that she received no more wine, and from this +time the woman received no wine; my wine alone +could not hurt her. She was quite intimate with +Walter. She had known him formerly, and Chresten +was of opinion that he had given her all his money +before he was ill; for he said that Walter had no money +any longer. What there was in it I know not. +Honest she was not, for she stole from me first a brass +knitting-pin, which I used at that time; it was formed +like a bodkin, and the woman never imagined but that +it was gold. As my room is not large, it could soon<a class="pagenum" name="Page_247" id="Page_247" title="[Pg 247]"></a> +be searched, but I looked for three days and could not +find the pin. I was well aware that she had it, for it +is not so small as not to be seen, so I said afterwards, +‘This brass pin is of no great importance; I can get +another for two pence.’ The next day she showed +me the pin, in a large crevice on the floor between the +stones. But when she afterwards, shortly before +she left, found one of my gold earrings which I had +lost, and which undoubtedly had been left on the pillow, +for it was a snake ring, this was never returned, say +what I would about it. She made a show of looking +for it in the dirt outside; she knew I dared not say that +I had missed it.</p> + +<p>The prison governor at this time came up but rarely; +Peder Jensen waited on me.<a name="FNanchor_129" id="FNanchor_129" href="#Footnote_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> His Majesty was ill for +a short time, and died suddenly on February 9, 1670. +And as on the same day at twelve o’clock the palace bell +tolled, I was well aware what this indicated, though the +woman was not. We conversed on the subject, who it +might be. She could perceive that I was sad, and she +said: ‘That might be for the King, for the last time I +saw him on the stairs, getting out of the carriage, he +could only move with difficulty, and I said to myself +that it would soon be over with him. If he is dead, +you will have your liberty, that is certain.’ I was silent, +and thought otherwise, which was the case. About +half-past four o’clock the fire was generally lighted in<a class="pagenum" name="Page_248" id="Page_248" title="[Pg 248]"></a> +the outside stove, and this was done by a lad whom +Chresten at that time employed. I called him to the +door and asked him why the bell had tolled for a whole +hour at noon. He answered, ‘I may not say; I am +forbidden.’ I said that I would not betray him. He +then told me that the King had died in the morning. +I gave free vent to my tears, which I had restrained, at +which the woman was astonished, and talked for a long +time.</p> + +<p>I received all that she said in silence, for I never +trusted her. I begged her to ask Chresten, when he +unlocked the door, what the tolling intimated. She did +so, but Chresten answered that he did not know. The +prison governor came up the same evening, but he did +not speak with me. He came up also the next day at +noon. I requested to speak with him, and enquired +why the bell had sounded. He answered ironically, +‘What is that to you? Does it not ring every day?’ +I replied somewhat angrily: ‘What it is to me God +knows! This I know, that the castle bell is not tolled +for your equals!’ He took off his hat and made me a +bow, and said, ‘Your ladyship desires nothing else?’ +I answered, ‘St. Martin comes for you too.’<a name="FNanchor_E49" id="FNanchor_E49" href="#Footnote_E49" class="fnanchor">[E49]</a> ‘St. +Martin?’ he said, and laughed, and went away and +went out to Walter, standing for a long time whispering +with him in front of the hole; I could see him, as he +well knew.<a name="FNanchor_130" id="FNanchor_130" href="#Footnote_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> He was undoubtedly telling him of the +King’s death, and giving him hope that he would be<a class="pagenum" name="Page_249" id="Page_249" title="[Pg 249]"></a> +liberated from prison. God designed it otherwise. +Walter was ill, and lay for a long time in great misery. +He behaved very badly to Chresten; took the dirt from +the floor and threw it into the food; spat into the beer, +and allowed Chresten to see him do so when he +carried the can away. Every day Chresten received +the titles of thief and rogue, so that it may easily be +imagined how Chresten tormented him. When I sent +him some meat, either stewed or roasted, Chresten +came back with it and said he would not have it. I +begged Chresten to leave it with him, and he would +probably eat it later. This he did once, and then +Chresten showed me how full it was of dirt and filth.<a name="FNanchor_131" id="FNanchor_131" href="#Footnote_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + +<p>When Chresten had to turn Walter in bed, the latter +screamed so pitifully that I felt sympathy with him, +and begged Chresten not to be so unmerciful to him. +He laughed and said, ‘He is a rogue.’ I said, ‘Then +he is in his master’s hands.’ This pleased Chresten +well. Walter suffered much pain; at length God +released him. His body was left in the prison until +his brother came, who ordered it to be buried in the +German Church. When I heard that Karen could +come to me again, and the time was over which I had +promised the other to keep her, Cathrina went down +and Karen returned to me. This was easily effected, +for the prison governor was not well pleased with +Cathrina; she gave him none of her money, as she had +promised, but only empty words in its place, such as that +he was not in earnest, and that he surely did not wish +to have anything from her, &c.<a name="FNanchor_132" id="FNanchor_132" href="#Footnote_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> The prison governor<a class="pagenum" name="Page_250" id="Page_250" title="[Pg 250]"></a> +began immediately to pay me less respect, when he +perceived that my liberation was not expected.</p> + +<p>When the time came at which I was accustomed to +receive the holy communion, I begged the prison +governor that he should manage that I should have +the court preacher, D. Hans Læt, as the former court +preacher, D. Mathias Foss, had come to me on the first +occasion in my prison. The prison governor stated +my desire, and his Majesty assented. D. Hans Læt +was already in the tower, down below, but he was called +back because the Queen Dowager (who was still in the +palace) would not allow it; and the prison governor +sent me word, through Peder Jensen, that the King had +said I was to be content with the clergyman to whom I +was accustomed, so that the necessary preparation for +the Lord’s Supper was postponed till the following day, +when Mag. Buck came to me and greeted me in an +unusual manner, congratulating me in a long oration on +my intention, saluting me ‘your Grace.’ When he was +seated, he said, ‘I should have been glad if D. Hans +Læt had come in my place.’ I replied, ‘I had wished +it also.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I know well why you wished +it so. You wish to know things, and that is forbidden +me. You have already caused one man to lose his employ.’ +I asked him whether I had ever desired to know +anything from him? ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you know well +that you would learn nothing from me; for that reason +you have asked me nothing.’ ‘Does the Herr Mag, +then,’ I said, ‘mean that I desired D. Hans Læt +in order to hear news of him?’ He hesitated a little, +and then said, ‘You wanted to have D. Hans Læt +in order that he might speak for you with the King.’ +I said, ‘There may perhaps be something in that.’ +Upon this he began to swear all kinds of oaths (such<a class="pagenum" name="Page_251" id="Page_251" title="[Pg 251]"></a> +as I have never heard before),<a name="FNanchor_133" id="FNanchor_133" href="#Footnote_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> that he had spoken for +me. (I thought: ‘I have no doubt you have spoken of +me, but not in my favour.’) He had given me a book +which I still have; it is ‘St. Augustini Manuali;’ the +Statholder Gabel had bought it, as he said more than +once, protesting by God that it had cost the Herr Statholder +a rix-dollar. (I thought of the 5,000 rix-dollars +which Gabel received, that we might be liberated from +our confinement at Borringholm, but I said nothing; +perhaps for this reason he repeated the statement so +often.) I asked him whom I had caused to lose his +employ. He answered, ‘Hans Balcke.<a name="FNanchor_134" id="FNanchor_134" href="#Footnote_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> He told you +that Treasurer Gabel was Statholder, and he ought not +to have done so.’ I said, ‘I do not believe that Balcke +knew that he ought not to say it, for he did not tell it +to me as a secret. One might say just as well that +H. Magister had caused Balcke to lose his place.’ +He was very angry at this, and various disputes arose +on the subject. He began again just as before, that I +wanted to have D. Læt, he knew why. I said, ‘I did +not insist specially on having D. Læt; but if not him, +the chaplain of the castle, or another.’ He asked, +‘Why another?’ I replied, ‘Because it is not always +convenient to the Herr Magister. I have been +obliged to wait for him ten, twelve, and even fourteen +days, and the last time he administered his office in +great haste, so that it is not convenient for him to come +when I require him.’ He sat turning over my words,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_252" id="Page_252" title="[Pg 252]"></a> +not knowing what to answer, and at last he said; ‘You +think it will go better with you now because King +Frederick is dead. No, you deceive yourself! It will +go worse with you, it will go worse with you!’ And +as he was growing angry, I became more composed +and I asked gently why so, and from what could +he infer it? He answered, ‘I infer it from the fact +that you have not been able to get your will in desiring +another clergyman and confessor; so I assure you +things will not be better with you. If King Frederick +is dead, King Christian is alive.’ I said: ‘That is a +bad foundation; your words of threatening have no +basis. If I have not this time been able to obtain +another confessor, it does not follow that I shall not +have another at another time. And what have I done, +that things should go worse with me?’ He was more +and more angry, and exclaimed aloud several times, +‘Worse, yes, it will be worse!’ Then I also answered +angrily, ‘Well, then let it come.’</p> + +<p>Upon this he was quite silent, and I said: ‘You +have given me a good preparation; now, in God’s +name!’ Then I made my confession, and he administered +his office and went away without any other +farewell than giving me his hand. I learned afterwards +that before M. Buck came to me he went to +the prison governor, who was in bed, and begged +him to tell Knud, who was at that time page of the +chamber,<a name="FNanchor_E50" id="FNanchor_E50" href="#Footnote_E50" class="fnanchor">[E50]</a> what a sacramental woman I was; how +I had dug a hole in the floor in order to speak +with the doctor (which was an impossibility), and +how I had practised climbing up and looking out on +the square. He begged him several times to tell this<a class="pagenum" name="Page_253" id="Page_253" title="[Pg 253]"></a> +to the page of the chamber: ‘That is a sacramental +woman!’<a name="FNanchor_135" id="FNanchor_135" href="#Footnote_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<p>In the end of April in the same year my door was +opened one afternoon, and the prison governor came in +with some ladies, who kept somewhat aside until he had +said, ‘Here are some of the maids of honour, who are +permitted to speak to you.’ There came in first a +young lady whom I did not know. Next appeared the +Lady Augusta of Glücksburg, whom I recognised at +once, as she was but little altered. Next followed the +Electoral Princess of Saxony, whom I at once recognised +from her likeness to her royal father, and last of all our +gracious Queen, whom I chiefly looked at, and found +the lineaments of her countenance just as Peder Jensen +had described them. I saw also a large diamond on her +bracelet, and one on her finger, where her glove was +cut. Her Majesty supported herself against the folding +table as soon as she had greeted me. Lady Augusta +ran up and down into every corner, and the Electoral +Princess remained at the door. Lady Augusta said: +‘Fye, what a disgusting room this is! I could not live +a day in it. I wonder that you have been able to +endure it so long.’ I answered, ‘The room is such +as pleases God and his Majesty, and so long as God +will I shall be able to endure it.’ She began a conversation +with the prison governor, who was half tipsy, and +spoke with him about Balcke’s marriage, whose wedding +with his third wife was taking place on that very day; +she spoke against marrying so often, and the prison<a class="pagenum" name="Page_254" id="Page_254" title="[Pg 254]"></a> +governor replied with various silly speeches. She +asked me if I was plagued with fleas. I replied that I +could furnish her with a regiment of fleas, if she would +have them. She replied hastily with an oath, and +swore that she did not want them.</p> + +<p>Her question made me somewhat ironical, and I was +annoyed at the delight she exhibited at my miserable +condition; so when she asked me whether I had body +or wall lice, I answered her with a question, and +enquired whether my brother-in-law Hanibal Sehested +was still alive? This question made her somewhat +draw in, for she perceived that I knew her. She made +no answer. The Electoral Princess, who probably +had heard of my brother-in-law’s intrigues with +Lady Augusta,<a name="FNanchor_E51" id="FNanchor_E51" href="#Footnote_E51" class="fnanchor">[E51]</a> went quickly up to the table (the book +lay on it, in which Karen used to read, and which she +had brought in with her), took the book, opened it and +asked whether it was mine. I replied that it belonged +to the woman whom I had taught to read, and as I +gave the Electoral Princess her fitting title of Serene +Highness, Lady Augusta said: ‘You err! You are +mistaken; she is not the person whom you think.’ I +answered, ‘I am not mistaken.’ After this she said no +more, but gave me her hand without a word. The +gracious Queen looked sadly on, but said nothing. When +her Majesty gave me her hand, I kissed it and held it +fast, and begged her Majesty to intercede for me, at any +rate for some alleviation of my captivity. Her Majesty +replied not with words, but with a flood of tears. The +virtuous Electoral Princess cried also; she wept very +sorrowfully. And when they had reached the anteroom +and my door was closed, both the Queen and the +Electoral Princess said, ‘It is a sin to treat her thus!’<a class="pagenum" name="Page_255" id="Page_255" title="[Pg 255]"></a> +They shuddered; and each said, ‘Would to God that +it rested with me! she should not stay there.’ Lady +Augusta urged them to go away, and mentioned it +afterwards to the Queen Dowager, who said that I had +myself to thank for it; I had deserved to be worse +treated than this.</p> + +<p>When the King’s funeral was over, and the Queen +Dowager had left the castle, I requested the prison +governor that he should execute my message and solicit +another clergyman for me, either the chaplain of the +castle or the arsenal chaplain, or the one who usually +attended to the prisoners; for if I could get no other +than M. Buck, they must take the sin on their own +heads, for that I would not again confess to him. A +short time elapsed, but at length the chaplain of the +castle, at that time M. Rodolff Moth, was assigned me. +God, who has ever stood by me in all my adversity, +and who in my sorrow and distress has sent me unexpected +consolation, gave me peculiar comfort in this +man. He consoled me with the Word of God; he was +a learned and conversable man, and he interceded for +me with his Majesty. The first favour which he +obtained for me was, that I was granted another apartment +on July 16, 1671, and Bishop D. Jesper’s postil.</p> + +<p>He afterwards by degrees obtained still greater +favours for me. I received 200 rix-dollars as a gift, to +purchase such clothes for myself as I desired, and anything +I might wish for to beguile the time.<a name="FNanchor_136" id="FNanchor_136" href="#Footnote_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a></p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_256" id="Page_256" title="[Pg 256]"></a> +In this year her Majesty the Queen became pregnant, +and her Majesty’s mother, the Landgravine of Hesse, +came to be with her in her confinement. On September +6 her Serene Highness visited me in my prison, at +first wishing to remain incognito. She had with her a +Princess of Curland, who was betrothed to the son +of the Landgravine; her lady in waiting, a Wallenstein +by birth; and the wife of her master of the household. +The Landgravine greeted me with a kiss, and the +others followed her example. I did not at that time +recognise the wife of the master of the household, but +she had known me formerly in my prosperity at the +Hague, when she had been in the service of the +Countess Leuenstein, and the tears stood in her eyes.</p> + +<p>The Landgravine lamented my hard fate and my +unhappy circumstances. I thanked her Serene Highness +for the gracious sympathy she felt with me, and +said that she might help much in alleviating my fetters, +if not in liberating me from them entirely. The Landgravine +smiled and said, ‘I see well you take me for +another than I am.’ I said, ‘Your Serene Highness’s +deportment and appearance will not allow you to +conceal your rank, were you even in peasant’s attire.’ +This pleased her; she laughed and jested, and said she +had not thought of that. The lady in waiting agreed +with me, and said that I had spoken very justly in +saying that I had recognised her by her royal appearance. +Upon this the Landgravine said, ‘You do not +know her?’ pointing to the Princess of Curland. She +then said who she was, and afterwards who her lady in +waiting was, and also the wife of the master of the +household, who was as I have before mentioned. She +spoke of the pity which this lady felt for me, and +added ‘<span lang="fr">Et moy pas moins</span>.’ I thanked her ‘<span lang="fr">Altesse<a class="pagenum" name="Page_257" id="Page_257" title="[Pg 257]"></a> +très-humblement et la prioit en cette occasion de faire +voir sa généreuse conduite</span>.’ Her Serene Highness +looked at the prison governor as though she would say +that we might speak French too long; she took off +her glove and gave me her hand, pressing mine and +saying, ‘<span lang="fr">Croyez-moy, je fairez mon possible</span>.’ I kissed +her Serene Highness’s hand, and she then took leave +of me with a kiss.</p> + +<p>The virtuous Landgravine kept her word, but could +effect nothing. When her Majesty the Queen was in +the perils of childbirth, she went to the King and +obtained from him a solemn promise that if the Queen +gave birth to a son I should receive my liberty. On +October 11, in the night between one and two o’clock, +God delivered her Majesty in safety of our Crown +Prince. When all present were duly rejoicing at the +Prince’s birth, the Landgravine said, ‘Oh! will not +the captive rejoice!’ The Queen Dowager enquired +‘Why?’ The Landgravine related the King’s promise. +The Queen Dowager was so angry that she was ill. She +loosened her jacket, and said she would return home; +that she would not wait till the child was baptised. Her +coach appeared in the palace square. The King at +length persuaded her to remain till the baptism was over, +but he was obliged to promise with an oath that I should +not be liberated. This vexed the virtuous Landgravine +not a little, that the Queen should have induced her +son to break his promise; and she persisted in saying +that a king ought to keep his vow. The Queen +Dowager answered, ‘My son has before made a vow, +and this he has broken by his promise to your Serene +Highness.’ The Landgravine said at last: ‘If I cannot +bring about the freedom of the prisoner, at least +let her, at my request, be removed to a better place,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_258" id="Page_258" title="[Pg 258]"></a> +with somewhat more liberty. It is not to the King’s +reputation that she is imprisoned there. She is, after +all, a king’s daughter, and I know that much injustice +is done to her.’ The Queen Dowager was annoyed +at these words, and said, ‘Now, she shall not come +out; she shall remain where she is!’ The Landgravine +answered, ‘If God will, she will assuredly come out, +even though your Majesty may will it not;’ so saying, +she rose and went out.</p> + +<p>On October 18 the lady in waiting, Wallenstein, sent +for Peder Jensen Tötzlöff, and delivered to him by +command a book entitled, D. Heinrich Müller’s ‘<span lang="de">Geistliche +Erquickstunden</span>,’<a name="FNanchor_E53" id="FNanchor_E53" href="#Footnote_E53" class="fnanchor">[E53]</a> which he gave me with a gracious +message from the Landgravine. On the same +day I sent her Serene Highness, through Tötzlöff, my +dutiful thanks, and Tötzlöff took the book back to the +lady in waiting, with the request that she would endeavour +to prevail on her Highness to show me the great +favour of placing her name and motto in the book, in +remembrance of her Highness’s generosity and kindness. +I lamented my condition in this also, that from +such a place I could not spread abroad her Serene +Highness’s praise and estimable benefits, and make the +world acquainted with them; but that I would do what +I could, and I would include her Serene Highness +and all her family in my prayers for their welfare both +of soul and body. (This I have done, and will do, so +long as God spares my life.)</p> + +<p>On October 23 I received the book back through +Tötzlöff, and I found within it the following lines, +written by the Landgravine’s own hand:</p> + +<div><a class="pagenum" name="Page_259" id="Page_259" title="[Pg 259]"></a></div> + +<div class="blockquot" lang="fr"> +<p class="center">1671.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ce qui n’est pas en ta puissance<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ne doit point troubler ton repos;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tu balances mal à propos<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Entre la crainte et l’espérance.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Laisse faire ton Dieu et ton roy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et suporte avec passience ce qu’il résoud pour toy.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Je prie Dieu de vous faire cette grâce, et que je vous puisse tesmoigner +combien je suis,</p> + +<p>Madame, vostre très-affectionée à vous servir,</p> + +<p class="right"><img src="images/monogram.png" width="35" height="31" alt="Monogram" /></p> +</div> + +<p>The book is still in my possession, and I sent word +through Tötzlöff to the lady in waiting to request her +to convey my most humble thanks to her Highness; and +afterwards, when the Landgravine was about to start on +her journey, to commend me to her Serene Highness’s +favour.</p> + +<p>In the same year, 1671, Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_21" id="corr_21" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter, left +me on account of ill health. For one night a woman +was with me named Margrete, who was a serf from +Holstein. She had run away from her master. She was +a very awkward peasant woman, so towards evening +on the following day she was sent away, and in her +place there came a woman named Inger, a person of +loose character. This woman gave herself out as the +widow of a non-commissioned officer, and that she had +long been in service at Hamburg, and nursed lying-in +women. It happened with her, as is often the case, that +one seeks to obtain a thing, and that to one’s own vexation. +Chresten had spoken for this woman with the +prison governor, and had praised her before me, but the +prison governor took upon another recommendation the +before-mentioned Margrete. So long as there was hope +that the Landgravine might obtain my freedom, this +woman was very amenable, but afterwards she began by<a class="pagenum" name="Page_260" id="Page_260" title="[Pg 260]"></a> +degrees to show what was in her, and that it was not +for nothing that she resembled Dina.</p> + +<p>She caused me annoyance of various kinds, which I +received with patience, thinking within myself that it +was another trial imposed by God upon me, and Dina’s +intrigues often came into my mind, and I thought, +‘Suppose she should devise some Dina plot?’ (She is +capable of it, if she had only an instigator, as Dina had.) +Among other annoyances, which may not be reckoned +among the least, was this: I was one day not very +well, having slept but little or not at all during the +night, and I had lain down to sleep on the bed in the +day; and she would give me no rest, but came softly +past me in her socks, and in order to wake me teased a +dog which I had,<a name="FNanchor_137" id="FNanchor_137" href="#Footnote_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> so that he growled. I asked her why +she grudged my sleeping? She answered, ‘I did not +know that you were asleep.’ ‘Why, then,’ I said, ‘did +you go by in your stockings?’ She replied, ‘If you +saw that, then you were not asleep,’ and she laughed +heartily by herself. (She sat always in front of my table +with her back turned to me; whether it was because +she had lost one eye that she sat in that position +to the light, I know not.)</p> + +<p>I did not care for any conversation with her, so I +lay still; and when she thought I was asleep, she got +up again and teased the dog. I said, ‘You tax my +patience sorely; but if once my passion rises, you will +certainly get something which will astonish you, you +base accursed thing!’ ‘Base accursed thing,’ she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_261" id="Page_261" title="[Pg 261]"></a> +repeated to herself with a slight laugh. I prayed to +God that he would restrain me, so that I might not lay +violent hands on this base creature. And as I had the +other apartment (as I have before mentioned),<a name="FNanchor_138" id="FNanchor_138" href="#Footnote_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> I went +out and walked up and down between four and five +o’clock. She washed and splashed outside, and spilled +the water exactly where I was walking. I told her +several times to leave her splashing, as she spilled the +water in all directions on the floor, so that I made my +clothes dirty, and often there was not a drop of water +for my dog to drink, and the tower-warder had to fetch +her water from the kitchen spring. This was of no +avail. One day it occurred to her, just as the bell had +sounded four, to go out and pour all the water on the +floor, and then come back again. When I went to the +door, I perceived what she had done. Without saying a +word, I struck her first on one cheek and then on the +other, so that the blood ran from her nose and mouth, +and she fell against her bench, and knocked the skin +from her shin-bone. She began to be abusive, and +said she had never in her life had such a box on her +ears. I said immediately, ‘Hold your tongue, or you +will have another like it! I am now only a little angry, +but if you make me really angry I shall strike you<a class="pagenum" name="Page_262" id="Page_262" title="[Pg 262]"></a> +harder.’ She was silent for the time, but she caused +me all the small annoyance she could.</p> + +<p>I received it all with gentleness, fearing that I might +lay violent hands on her. She scarcely knew what to +devise to cause me vexation; she had a silver thimble +on which a strange name was engraved; she had found +it, she said, in a dust-heap in the street. I once asked +her where she had found some handkerchiefs which she +had of fine Dutch linen, with lace on them, which +likewise were marked with another name; they were +embroidered with blue silk, and there was a different +name on each. She had bought them, she said, at an +auction at Hamburg.<a name="FNanchor_139" id="FNanchor_139" href="#Footnote_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> I thought that the damage she +had received on one of her eyes might very likely have +arisen from her having ‘found’ something of that kind,<a name="FNanchor_E54" id="FNanchor_E54" href="#Footnote_E54" class="fnanchor">[E54]</a> +and as I soon after asked her by what accident she +had injured her eye, she undoubtedly understood my +question well, for she was angry and rather quiet, and +said, ‘What injury? There is nothing the matter with +my eye; I can, thank God, see with both.’ I let the +matter rest there. Soon after this conversation she +came down one day from upstairs, feeling in her +pocket, though she said nothing until the afternoon, +when the doors were locked, and then she looked +through all her rubbish, saying ‘If I only knew where +it could be?’ I asked what she was looking for. ‘My +thimble,’ she said. ‘You will find it,’ I said; ‘only look +thoroughly!’ And as she had begun to look for it in her +pockets before she had required it, I thought she might<a class="pagenum" name="Page_263" id="Page_263" title="[Pg 263]"></a> +have drawn it out of her pocket with some paper which +she used, and which she had bought. I said this, but +it could not be so.</p> + +<p>On the following day, towards noon, she again behaved +as if she were looking for it upstairs; and when the +door was closed she began to give loose to her tongue, +and to make a long story about the thimble, where +it could possibly be. ‘There was no one here, and no +one came in except us two;’ and she gave me to understand +that I had taken it; she took her large box which +she had, and rummaged out everything that was in it, +and said, ‘Now you can see that I have not got it.’ I +said that I did not care about it, whether she had it or +no, but that I saw that she accused me of stealing. +She adhered to it, and said, ‘Who else could have +taken it? There is no one else here, and I have let +you see all that is mine, and it is not there.’ Then for +the first time I saw that she wished that I should let +her see in the same manner what I had in my cardbox, +for she had never seen anything of the work which +I had done before her time. I said, ‘I do not care at +all what you do with your thimble, and I respect myself +too much to quarrel with you or to mind your coarse +and shameless accusation. I have, thank God, enough +in my imprisonment to buy what I require, &c. But +as you perhaps have stolen it, you now imagine that it +has been stolen again from you, if it be true that you +have lost it.’ To this she made no answer, so that I +believe she had it herself, and only wanted by this +invention to gain a sight of my things. As it was the +Christmas month and very cold, and Chresten was +lighting a fire in the stove before the evening meal, I +said to him in her presence, ‘Chresten, you are fortunate +if you are not, like me, accused of stealing, for<a class="pagenum" name="Page_264" id="Page_264" title="[Pg 264]"></a> +you might have found her thimble upstairs without +having had it proclaimed from the pulpit; it was +before found by Inger, and not announced publicly.’</p> + +<p>This was like a spark to tinder, and she went to +work like a frantic being, using her shameless language. +She had not stolen it, but it had been stolen from her; +and she cursed and swore. Chresten ordered her to be +silent. He desired her to remember who I was, and that +she was in my service. She answered, ‘I will not be +silent, not if I were standing before the King’s bailiff<a class="corr" name="corr_22" id="corr_22" title="was: ?">!’</a> +The more gently I spoke, the more angry was she; at +length I said, ‘Will you agree with me in one wish?—that +the person who last had the thimble in her possession +may see no better with her left eye than she sees +with her right.’ She answered with an oath that she +could see with both eyes. I said, ‘Well, then, pray God +with me that she may be blind in both eyes who last +had it.’ She growled a little to herself and ran into the +inner room, and said no more of her thimble, nor did I. +God knows that I was heartily weary of this intercourse.</p> + +<p>I prayed God for patience, and thought ‘This is only +a trial of patience. God spares me from other sorrow +which I might have in its stead.’ I could not avail +myself of the occasion of her accusing me of theft to +get rid of her, but I saw another opportunity not far off. +The prison governor came one day to me with some +thread which was offered for sale, rather coarse, but fit +for making stockings and night-waistcoats. I bought +two pounds of it, and he retained a pound, saying, ‘I +suppose the woman can make me a pair of stockings +with it?’ I answered in the affirmative (for she could +do nothing else but knit). When he was gone, she +said, ‘There will be a pair of stockings for me here +also, for I shall get no other pay.’ I said, ‘That is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_265" id="Page_265" title="[Pg 265]"></a> +surely enough.’ The stockings for the prison governor +were finished. She sat one day half asleep, and made a +false row round the stocking below the foot. I wanted +her to undo it. ‘No,’ said she, ‘it can remain as it is; +he won’t know but that it is the fashion in Hamburg.’<a name="FNanchor_140" id="FNanchor_140" href="#Footnote_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a></p> + +<p>When his stockings were finished, she began a pair +for herself of the same thread, and sat and exulted that +it was the prison governor’s thread. This, it seemed to +me, furnished me with an opportunity of getting rid +of her. And as the prison governor rarely came up, +and she sent him down the stockings by Tötzlöff, I +begged Tötzlöff to contrive that the prison governor +should come up to me, and that he should seat himself +on the woman’s bed and arrange her pillow as if he +wanted to lean against it (underneath it lay her wool). +This was done. The prison governor came up, took +the knitting in his hand, and said to Inger, ‘Is this +another pair of stockings for me?’ ‘No, Mr. Prison +governor,’ she answered, ‘they are for me. You have +got yours. I have already sent you them.’ ‘But,’ said +he, ‘this is of my thread; it looks like my thread.’ +She protested that it was not his thread. As he went +down to fetch his stockings and the scales, she said to +me, ‘That is not his thread; it is mine now,’ and +laughed heartily. I thought, ‘Something more may +come of this.’</p> + +<p>The prison governor came with the scales and his +stockings, compared one thread with the other, and the +stockings weighed scarcely half a pound. He asked +her whether she had acted rightly? She continued to +assert that it was her thread; that she had bought it +in Hamburg, and had brought it here. The prison +governor grew angry, and said that she lied, and called<a class="pagenum" name="Page_266" id="Page_266" title="[Pg 266]"></a> +her a bitch. She swore on the other hand that it was +not his thread; that she would swear it by the Sacrament. +The prison governor went away; such an oath +horrified him. I was perfectly silent during this +quarrel. When the prison governor had gone, I said +to the woman, ‘God forbid! how could you say such +words? Do you venture to swear a falsehood by the +Sacrament, and to say it in my presence, when I know +that it is the prison governor’s thread? What a godless +creature you are!’ She answered, with a half ridiculous +expression of face, ‘I said I would take the +Sacrament upon it, but I am not going to do so.’ +‘Oh Dina!’ I thought, ‘you are not like her for +nothing; God guard me from you!’ And I said, ‘Do +you think that such light words are not a sin, and that +God will not punish you for them?’ She assumed an +air of authority, and said, ‘Is the thread of any consequence? +I can pay for it; I have not stolen it from +him; he gave it to me himself. I have only done what +the tailors do; they do not steal; it is given to them. +He did not weigh out the thread for me.’ I answered +her no more than ‘You have taken it from him; I +shall trouble myself no more about it;’ but I begged +Tötzlöff to do all he could that I should be rid of her, +and have another in her place of a good character.</p> + +<p>Tötzlöff heard that Karen had a desire to return to +me; he told me so. The prison governor was satisfied +with the arrangement. It was kept concealed from +Inger till all was so settled that Karen could come up +one evening at supper-time. When the prison governor +had unlocked the door, and had established himself +in the inner room, and the woman had come out, he +said: ‘Now, Inger, pack your bundle! You are to +go.’ ‘Yes, Mr. Prison governor,’ she answered, and +laughed, and brought the food to me, and told me what<a class="pagenum" name="Page_267" id="Page_267" title="[Pg 267]"></a> +the prison governor had said, saying at the same time, +‘That is his joke.’ ‘I heard well,’ I answered, ‘what +he said; it is not his joke, it is his real earnestness.’ +She did not believe it; at any rate she acted as if she +did not, and smiled, saying, ‘He cannot be in earnest;’ +and she went out and asked the prison governor +whether he was in earnest. He said, ‘Go! go! there +is no time for gossip!’ She came into me again, and +asked if I wished to be rid of her. I answered, +‘Yes.’ ‘Why so?’ she asked. I answered: ‘It would +take me too long to explain; the other woman who is +to remain here is below.’ ‘At any rate,’ said she, +‘let me stay here over the night.’ (‘Ah, Dina!’ I +thought.) ‘Not a quarter of an hour!’ I answered; +‘go and pack your things! That is soon done!’ She did +so, said no word of farewell, and went out of the door.</p> + +<p>Thus Karen came to me for the third time, but she +did not remain an entire year, on account of illness.<a name="FNanchor_141" id="FNanchor_141" href="#Footnote_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a></p> + +<p>In the year 1673 M. Moth became vice-bishop in +Fyn. I lost much in him, and in his place came H. +Emmeke Norbye, who became court preacher, and +who had formerly been a comrade of Griffenfeldt; but +Griffenfeldt did not acknowledge him subsequently, so +that he could achieve nothing for me with Griffenfeldt.<a name="FNanchor_E55" id="FNanchor_E55" href="#Footnote_E55" class="fnanchor">[E55]</a> +He one day brought me as answer (when I sent him +word among other things that his Majesty would be +gracious if only some one would speak for me), ‘It +would be as if a pistol had been placed at the King’s +heart, and he were to forgive it.’</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_268" id="Page_268" title="[Pg 268]"></a> +In the same year my sister Elisabeth Augusta sent +me a message through Tötzlöff and enquired whether +I had a fancy for any fruit, as she would send me some. +I was surprised at the message, which came to me from +my sister in the tenth year of my captivity, and I said, +‘Better late than never!’ I sent her no answer.</p> + +<p>One funny thing I will yet mention, which occurred +in the time of Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_23" id="corr_23" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter. Chresten, who +had to make a fire in the stove an hour before supper +(since it had no flue), so that the smoke could pass +out at the staircase door before I supped, did not come +one evening before six o’clock, and was then quite +tipsy. And as I was sitting at the time near the stove +in the outer apartment on a log of wood, which had +been hewed as a seat, I said it was late to make the +fire, as he must now go into the kitchen. He paid no +attention to my gentle remark, until I threatened him +with hard words, and ordered him to take the wood +out. He was angry, and would not use the tongs to +take the wood out, nor would he permit Karen to take +them out with the tongs; but he tore them out with his +hands, and said, ‘Nothing can burn me.’ And as some +little time elapsed before the wood was extinguished, +he began to fear that it would give little satisfaction if +he so long delayed fetching the meal. He seated himself +flat on the ground and was rather dejected; presently +he burst out and said, ‘Oh God, you who have had +house and lands, where are you now sitting?’ I said, +‘On a log of wood!’ He answered, ‘I do not mean +your ladyship!’ I asked, ‘Whom does your worship<span class="corr" title="removed: ,"></span> +mean, then?’ He replied, ‘I mean Karen.’ I +laughed, and said no more.</p> + +<p>To enumerate all the contemptuous conduct I +endured would be too lengthy, and not worth the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_269" id="Page_269" title="[Pg 269]"></a> +trouble. One thing I will yet mention of the tower-warder +Chresten, who caused me great annoyance at the end +of this tenth year of my imprisonment. Among other +annoyances he once struck my dog, so that it cried. I +did not see it, but I heard it, and the woman told me it +was he who had struck the dog. I was greatly displeased +at it. He laughed at this, and said, ‘It is +only a dog.’ I gave him to understand that he struck +the dog because he did not venture to strike me. He +laughed heartily at the idea, and I said, ‘I do not care +for your anger so long as the prison governor is my +friend’ (this conversation took place while I was at a +meal, and the prison governor was sitting with me, and +Chresten was standing at the door of my apartment, +stretching out his arms.) I said, ‘The prison governor +and you will both get into heavy trouble, if I choose. +Do you hear that, good people?’ (I knew of too many +things, which they wished to hide, in more than one +respect.) The prison governor sat like one deaf and +dumb, and remained seated, but Chresten turned away +somewhat ashamed, without saying another word. He +had afterwards some fear of me, when he was not too +intoxicated; for at such times he cared not what he said, +as regards high or low. He was afterwards insolent to +the woman, and said he would strike the dog, and that I +should see him do so. This, however, he did not do.</p> + +<p>Chresten’s fool-hardiness increased, so that Peder +Tötzlöff informed the prison governor of his bad behaviour, +and of my complaints of the wild doings of the +prisoners, who made such a noise by night that I could +not sleep for it, for Chresten spent the night at his +home, and allowed the prisoners to do as they chose. +Upon this information, the prison governor placed a +padlock upon the tower door at night, so that Chresten<a class="pagenum" name="Page_270" id="Page_270" title="[Pg 270]"></a> +could not get out until the door was unlocked in the +morning. This annoyed him, and he demanded his +discharge, which he received on April 24, 1674; and in +his place there came a man named Gert, who had been +in the service of the prison governor as a coachman.</p> + +<p>In this year, the —— May, I wrote a spiritual +‘Song in Remembrance of God’s Goodness,’ after the +melody ‘<span lang="de">Nun ruhen alle Wälder</span>.’</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">I.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">My heart! True courage find!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God’s goodness bear in mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And how He, ever nigh,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Helps me my load to bear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor utterly despair<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tho’ in such heavy bonds I lie.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">II.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ne’er from my thoughts shall stray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How once I lingering lay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the dark dungeon cell;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My cares and bitter fears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ridicule and tears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And God the Lord upheld me well.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">III.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Think on my misery<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sad captivity<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thro’ many a dreary year!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet nought my heart distresses;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Lord He proves and blesses,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And He protects me even here!<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">IV.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come heart and soul elate!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let me now relate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wonders of God’s skill!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He was my preservation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In danger and temptation,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And kept me from impending ill.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_271" id="Page_271" title="[Pg 271]"></a> +<span class="i6">V.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The end seemed drawing near,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wrung my hands with fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet has He helped me e’er;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My refuge and my guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On Him I have relied,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And He has ever known my care.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">VI.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thanks to Thee, fount of good!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou canst no evil brood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy blows are fatherly;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When cruel power oppressed me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy hand has ever blessed me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Thou has sheltered me!<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">VII.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Before Thee, Lord, I lie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Give me my liberty<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before my course is run;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy Gracious Hands extend<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let my suffering end!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet not my will, but Thine, be done.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In this year, on July 25, his royal Majesty was +gracious enough to have a large window made again in +my inner apartment; it had been walled up when I +had been brought into this chamber. A stove was also +placed there, the flue of which passed out into the square. +The prison governor was not well satisfied at this, +especially as he was obliged to be present during the +work; this did not suit his laziness. My doors were +open during the time; it was twelve days before the +work was finished. He grumbled, and did not wish +that the window should be made as low as it had been +before I was imprisoned here; I persuaded the mason’s +journeyman to cut down the wall as low as it had before +been, which the prison governor perceived from the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_272" id="Page_272" title="[Pg 272]"></a> +palace square, and he came running up and scolded, and +was thoroughly angry. But it was not to be changed, +for the window-frame was already made. I asked him +what it mattered to him if the window was a stone +lower; it did not go lower than the iron grating, and it +had formerly been so. He would have his will, so that +the mason walled it up a stone higher while the +prison governor was there, and removed it again afterwards, +for the window-frame, which was ready, would +not otherwise have fitted.</p> + +<p>In the same year Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_24" id="corr_24" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter, left me for +the third and last time, and in her stead came a woman +named Barbra, the widow of a bookbinder. She is a +woman of a melancholy turn. Her conscience is +aroused sometimes, so that she often enumerates her +own misdeeds (but not so great as they have been, and +as I have found out by enquiry). She had two children, +and it seems from her own account that she was to +some extent guilty of their death, for she says: ‘Who +can have any care for a child when one does not love +its father?’ She left her husband two years before he +died, and repaired to Hamburg, supporting herself by +spinning; she had before been in the service of a +princess as a spinning-maid. Her father is alive, and +was bookbinder to the King’s Majesty; he has just +now had a stroke of paralysis, and is lying very ill. +She has no sympathy with her father, and wishes him +dead (which would perhaps be the best thing for him); +but it vexes me that she behaves so badly to her sister, +who is the wife of a tailor, and I often tell her that in +this she is committing a double sin; for the needy +sister comes from time to time for something to eat. +If she does not come exactly on the evening which she +has agreed upon, she gets nothing, and the food is<a class="pagenum" name="Page_273" id="Page_273" title="[Pg 273]"></a> +thrown away upstairs. When at some length I place +her sin before her, she says, ‘That meat is bad.’ I ask +her why she let it get bad, and did not give it in time +to her sister. To this she answers that her sister is +not worthy of it. I predict evil things which will +happen to her in future, as they have done to others +whom I enumerate to her. At this she throws back +her head and is silent.</p> + +<p>At this time her Majesty the Queen sent me some +silkworms to beguile the time. When they had +finished spinning, I sent them back to her Majesty in +a box which I had covered with carnation-coloured +satin, upon which I had embroidered a pattern with +gold thread. Inside, the box was lined with white +taffeta. In the lid I embroidered with black silk a +humble request that her Majesty would loose my +bonds, and would fetter me anew with the hand of +favour. Her Majesty the virtuous Queen would have +granted my request had it rested with her.</p> + +<p>The prison governor became gradually more sensible +and accommodating, drank less wine, and made no jokes. +I had peace within my doors. The woman sat during +the day outside in the other apartment, and lay there +also in the night, so that I began not to fret so much +over my hard fate. I passed the year with reading, +writing, and composing.</p> + +<p>For some time past, immediately after I had received +the yearly pension, I had bought for myself not only +historical works in various languages, but I had +gathered and translated from them all the famous +female personages, who were celebrated as true, chaste, +sensible, valorous, virtuous, God-fearing, learned, and +steadfast; and in anno 1675, on January 9, I amused +myself with making some rhymes to M. Thomas<a class="pagenum" name="Page_274" id="Page_274" title="[Pg 274]"></a> +Kingo, under the title, ‘To the much-famed Poet M. +Thomas Kingo, a Request from a Danish Woman in +the name of all Danish Women.’ The request was this, +that he would exhibit in befitting honour the virtuous +and praiseworthy Danish women. There are, indeed, +virtuous women belonging to other nations, but I +requested only his praise of the Danish. This never +reached Kingo; but if my good friend to whom I +entrust these papers still lives, it will fall probably into +your hands, my beloved children.</p> + +<p>In the same year, on May 11, I wrote in rhyme a +controversial conversation between Sense and Reason; +entitled, ‘Controversial Thoughts by the Captive +Widow, or the Dispute between Sense and Reason.’</p> + +<p>Nothing else occurred this year within the doors of +my prison which is worth recording, except one event—namely, +when the outermost door of the anteroom was +unlocked in the morning for the sake of sweeping away +the dirt and bringing in fresh water, and the tower-warder +occasionally let it stand open till meal-time and +then closed it again, it happened that a fire broke out +in the town and the bells were tolled. I and the +woman ran up to the top of the tower to see where it +was burning.</p> + +<p>When I was on the stairs which led up to the clock-work, +the prison governor came, and with him was a +servant from the silver-chamber. He first perceived my +dog, then he saw somewhat of the woman, and thought +probably that I was there also; he was so wise as not +to come up the stairs, but remained below at the lowest +holes, from whence one can look out over the town, and +left me time enough to get down again and shut my +door. Gert was sorry, and came afterwards to the door +and told me of his distress. I consoled him, and said<a class="pagenum" name="Page_275" id="Page_275" title="[Pg 275]"></a> +there was nothing to fear. Before the prison governor +opened the door at noon, he struck Gert with his stick, so +that he cried, and the prison governor said with an oath, +‘Thou shalt leave.’ When the prison governor came in, +I was the first to speak, and I said: ‘It is not right in +you to beat the poor devil; he could not help it. The +executioner came up as he was going to lock my door, +and that made him forget to do so.’ He threatened +Gert severely, and said, ‘I should not have minded it +so much had not that other servant been with me.’</p> + +<p>The words at once occurred to me which he had +said to me a long time before, namely that no woman +could be silent, but that all men could be silent (when +he had asserted this, I had thought, if this be so, then +my adversaries might believe that I, had I known of +anything which they had in view, should not have +been able to keep silence). So I now answered him +thus: ‘Well, and what does that signify? It was a +man; they can all keep silence; there is no harm done.’ +He could not help laughing, and said, ‘Well, you are +good enough.’ I then talked to him, and assured him +that I had no desire to leave the tower without the +King’s will, even though day and night all the tower +doors were left open, and I also said that I could have +got out long ago, if that had been my design. Gert +continued in his service, and the prison governor never +told Gert to shut me in in the morning.<a name="FNanchor_142" id="FNanchor_142" href="#Footnote_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a></p> + +<p>At this time I had bought myself a clavicordium, and +as Barbra could sing well, I played psalms and she<a class="pagenum" name="Page_276" id="Page_276" title="[Pg 276]"></a> +sang, so that the time was not long to us. She taught +me to bind books, so far as I needed.<a name="FNanchor_E56" id="FNanchor_E56" href="#Footnote_E56" class="fnanchor">[E56]</a></p> + +<p>My father confessor, H. Emmeke, became a preacher +at Kiöge anno 1676. In the same year my pension was +increased, and I received yearly 250 rix-dollars. It +stands in the order that the 200 rix-dollars were to be +used for the purchase of clothes and the remaining +fifty to buy anything which might beguile the time.<a name="FNanchor_E57" id="FNanchor_E57" href="#Footnote_E57" class="fnanchor">[E57]</a> +God bless and keep his gracious Majesty, and grant +that he may live to enjoy many happy years.</p> + +<p>Brant was at this time treasurer.</p> + +<p>On December 17 in this same year Barbra left me, +and married a bookbinder’s apprentice; but she repented +it afterwards. And as her husband died a year +and a half after her marriage, and that suddenly, <a class="corr" name="corr_25" id="corr_25" title="was: suspipicion">suspicion</a> +fell upon Barbra. She afterwards went to her +brother’s house and fell ill. Her conscience was +awakened, and she sent for Tötzlöff and told almost in +plain terms that she had poisoned her husband, and +begged him to tell me so. I was not much astonished +at it, for according to her own account she had before +killed her own children; but I told Peder Tötzlöff that +he was not to speak of it; if God willed that it should +be made known, it would be so notwithstanding; the +brother and the maid in the house knew it; he was not +to go there again, even if she sent a message to him. +She became quite insane, and lay in a miserable condition. +The brother subsequently had her removed to +the plague-house.</p> + +<p>In Barbra’s place there came to me a woman named +Sitzel, daughter of a certain Klemming; Maren Blocks +had brought about her employment, as Sitzel owed her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_277" id="Page_277" title="[Pg 277]"></a> +money. She is a dissolute woman, and Maren gave +her out as a spinster; she had a white cap on her head +when she came up. Sitzel’s debt to Maren had arisen +in this way: that Maren—since Sitzel could make +buttons, and the button-makers had quarrelled with +her—obtained for her a royal licence in order to free +her from the opposition of the button-makers, under +the pretext that she was sickly. When the door was +locked in the evening, I requested to see the royal +licence which Maren had obtained for her. And when +I saw that she was styled in it the sickly woman, I +asked her what her infirmity was. She replied that +she had no infirmity. ‘Why, then,’ I asked, ‘have you +given yourself out as sickly?’ She answered, ‘That +was Maren Block’s doing, in order to get for me the +royal licence.’ ‘In the licence,’ I said, ‘you are spoken +of as a married woman, and not as a spinster; have +you, then, been seduced?’ She hung her head and +said softly, ‘Yes.’</p> + +<p>I was not satisfied. I said, ‘Maren Block has +obtained the royal licence for you by lies, and has +brought you to me by lies; what, then, can I expect +from your service?’ She begged my pardon, promised +to serve me well, and never to act contrary to my +wishes. She is a dangerous person; there is nothing +good in her; bold and shameless, she is not even +afraid of fighting a man. She struck two button-makers +one day, who wanted to take away her work, +till they were obliged to run away. With me she had +no opportunity of thus displaying her evil passions, +but still they were perceptible in various ways. One +day I warded off a scuffle between her and Maren +Blocks; for when Maren Blocks had got back the +money which she had expended on the royal licence<a class="pagenum" name="Page_278" id="Page_278" title="[Pg 278]"></a> +for Sitzel, she wanted to remove her from me, and to +bring another into her place; but I sent word to Maren +Blocks that she must not imagine she could send me +another whom I must take. It was enough that she +had done this time.<a name="FNanchor_143" id="FNanchor_143" href="#Footnote_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<p>In the place of H. Emmeke Norbye, H. Johan +Adolf Borneman became palace-preacher; a very +learned and sensible man, who now became my father +confessor, and performed the duties of his office for the +first time on April 10, 1677.</p> + +<p>On October 9, in the same year, my father +confessor was Magister Hendrich Borneman, dean of +the church of Our Lady (a learned and excellent man), +his brother H. Johan Adolf Borneman having accompanied +the King’s Majesty on a journey.</p> + +<p>I have, thank God, spent this year in repose: +reading, writing, and composing various things.</p> + +<p>Anno 1678 it was brought about for me that my +father-confessor, H. Johan Adolf Borneman, should +come to me every six weeks and preach a short +sermon.</p> + +<p>In this year, on Easter-Day, Agneta Sophia Budde +was brought to the tower. Her prison was above my +innermost apartment. She was accused of having +designed to poison the Countess Skeel; and as she was +a young person, and had a waiting-woman in her +attendance who was also young, they clamoured to +such an extent all day that I had no peace for them. +I said nothing, however, about it, thinking she would +probably be quiet when she knew that her life was at<a class="pagenum" name="Page_279" id="Page_279" title="[Pg 279]"></a> +stake. But no! she was merry to the day on which +she was executed!<a name="FNanchor_144" id="FNanchor_144" href="#Footnote_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a></p> + +<p>In the same year, on the morning of July 9, the +tower-warder Gert was killed by a thief who was +under sentence of death, and to whom he had allowed +too great liberty. I will mention this incident somewhat +more in detail, as I had advised Gert not to give +this prisoner so much liberty; but to his own misfortune +he paid no attention to my advice. This +thief had broken by night into the house of a clergyman, +and had stolen a boiling-copper, which he had +carried on his head to Copenhagen; he was seized +with it at the gate in the morning, and was placed here +in the tower. He was condemned to be hanged (he +had committed various other thefts). The priest +allowed the execution to be delayed; he did not wish +to have him hanged. Then it was said he was to go +to the Holm; but he remained long in prison. At +first, and until the time that his going to the Holm<a class="pagenum" name="Page_280" id="Page_280" title="[Pg 280]"></a> +was talked of, he was my neighbour in the Dark +Church; he behaved quite as a God-fearing man, read +(apparently) with devotion, and prayed to God for +forgiveness of his sins with most profound sighs. The +rogue knew that I could hear him, and I sent him +occasionally something to eat. Gert took pity on him, +and allowed him to go by day about the basement +story of the tower, and shut him up at night again.</p> + +<p>Afterwards he allowed him also at night to remain +below. And as I had seen the thief once or twice +when my door stood open, and he went past, it seemed +to me that he had a murderous countenance; and for +this reason, when I heard that the thief was not placed +of an evening in the Dark Church, I said to Gert that +he ventured too far, in letting him remain below at +night; that there was roguery lurking in him; that +he would certainly some day escape, and then, on his +account, Gert would get into trouble. Gert was not of +opinion that the thief wished to run away; he had no +longer any fear of being hanged; he had been so +delighted that he was to go to the Holm, there was no +danger in it. I thought ‘That is a delight which does +not reach further than the lips,’ and I begged him that +he would lock him up at night. No; Gert feared +nothing; he even went farther, and allowed the thief +to go up the tower instead of himself, and attend to the +clock-work.</p> + +<p>Three days before the murder took place, I spoke +with Gert, when he unlocked my door in the morning, +of the danger to which he exposed himself by the +liberty he allowed the thief, but Gert did not fear it. +Meanwhile my dog placed himself exactly in front of +Gert, and howled in his face. When we were at +dinner, the dog ran down and howled three times at<a class="pagenum" name="Page_281" id="Page_281" title="[Pg 281]"></a> +the tower-warder’s door. Never before had I heard +the dog howl.</p> + +<p>On July 19 (as I have said), when Gert’s unfortunate +morning had arrived, the thief came down from the +clock-work, and said that he could not manage it +alone, as the cords were entangled. The rogue had +an iron rod ready above, in order to effect his project. +Gert went upstairs, but was carried down. The thief +ran down after Gert was dead, opened his box, took +out the money, and went out of the tower.</p> + +<p>It was a Friday, and the bells were to be rung for +service. Those whose duty it was to ring them +knocked at the tower door, but no one opened. Tötzlöff +came with the principal key and opened, and +spoke to me and wondered that Gert was not there at +that time of the day. I said: ‘All is not right; this +morning between four and five I was rather unwell, +and I heard three people going upstairs and after a +time two coming down again.’ Tötzlöff locked my +door and went down. Just then one of the ringers +came down, and informed them that Gert was lying +upstairs dead. When the dead man was examined, +he had more than one wound, but all at the back of +the head. He was a very bold man, courageous, and +strong; one man could not be supposed to have done +this to him.</p> + +<p>The thief was seized the same evening, and confessed +how it had happened: that, namely, a prisoner who +was confined in the Witch Cell, a licentiate of the +name of Moritius, had persuaded him to it. This same +Moritius had great enmity against Gert. It is true +that Gert took too much from him weekly for his food. +But it is also true that this Moritius was a very godless +fellow; the priest who confesses him gives him no<a class="pagenum" name="Page_282" id="Page_282" title="[Pg 282]"></a> +good character. I believe, indeed, that Moritius was +an accessory, but I believe also that another prisoner, +who was confined in the basement of the tower, had a +hand in the game. For who should have locked the +tower-door again after the imprisoned thief, had not +one of these done so? For when the key was looked +for, it was found hidden above in the tower; this could +not have been done by the thief after he was out of +the tower. The thief, moreover, could not have unlocked +Gert’s box and taken his money without the +knowledge of Moritius. The other prisoner must also +have been aware of it. It seems to me that it was +hushed up, in order that no more should die for this +murder; for the matter was not only not investigated +as was befitting, but the thief was confined down +below in the tower. He was bound with iron fetters, +but Moritius could speak with him everyday: and for +this reason the thief departed from his earlier statement, +and said that he alone had committed the +murder. He was executed on August 8, and Moritius +was taken to Borringholm, and kept as a prisoner +there.<a name="FNanchor_E55B" id="FNanchor_E55B" href="#Footnote_E55B" class="fnanchor">[E55b]</a></p> + +<p>In Gert’s place a tower-warder of the name of +Johan, a Norwegian, was appointed—a very simple +man. The servants about court often made a fool of +him. The imprisoned young woman and her attendant +did so the first time after his arrival that the attendant +had to perform some menial offices upstairs. The +place to which she had to go was not far from the door +of their prison. The tower-warder went down in the +meanwhile, and left the door open. They ran about +and played. When they heard him coming up the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_283" id="Page_283" title="[Pg 283]"></a> +stairs, they hid themselves. He found the prison +empty, and was grieved and lamented. The young +woman giggled like a child, and thus he found her +behind a door. Johan was glad, and told me the +story afterwards. I asked why he had not remained +with them. ‘What,’ he answered, ‘was I to remain at +their dirty work?’ There was nothing to say in reply +to such foolish talk.</p> + +<p>I had repose within my doors, and amused myself +with reading, writing and various handiwork, and began +to make and embroider my shroud, for which I had +bought calico, white taffeta, and thread.</p> + +<p>On April 7 a young lad escaped from the tower, +who had been confined on the lower story with iron +fetters round his legs. This prisoner found opportunity +to loosen his fetters, and knew, moreover, that the +booby Johan was wont to keep the tower key under +his pillow. He kept an iron pin in readiness to unlock +the door of the room when the tower-warder was +asleep; he opened it gently, took the key, locked in +the booby again, and quitted the tower. The simple +man was placed in confinement, but after the expiration +of six weeks he was set at liberty.</p> + +<p>In his place there came a man named Olle Mathison, +who was from Skaane; he had his wife with him in the +tower. Towards the end of this year, on December +25, I became ill of a fever, and D. Mynchen received +orders to visit me and to take me under his care—an +order which he executed with great attention. He is a +very sensible man, mild and judicious in his treatment. +Ten days after I recovered my usual health.</p> + +<p>In the beginning of the year 1680 Sitzel, Klemming’s +daughter, was persuaded by Maren Blocks to betroth +herself to one of the King’s body-guard. She left me<a class="pagenum" name="Page_284" id="Page_284" title="[Pg 284]"></a> +on November 26. In her place I had a woman named +Margrete. When I first saw her, she appeared to me +somewhat suspicious, and it seemed to me that she +was with child; however, I made no remark till the +last day of the month of January. Then I put a +question to her from which she could perceive my +opinion. She answered me with lies, but I interrupted +her at once; and she made use of a special trick, which +it is not fit to mention here, in order to prove her false +assertion; but her trick could not stand with me, and +she was subsequently obliged to confess it. I asked +her as to the father of the child (I imagined that it +was the King’s groom of the chamber, who had been +placed in arrest in the prison governor’s room, but I did +not say so). She did not answer my question at the time, +but said she was not so far advanced; that her size +was owing rather to stoutness than to the child, as it +was at a very early stage.</p> + +<p>This woman, before she came to me, had been in the +service of the prison governor’s wife, and the prison +governor had told me she was married. So it happened +that I one day asked her of her life and doings; upon +which she told me of her past history, where she had +served, and that she had had two bastards, each by a different +father; and pointing to herself, she added: ‘A +father shall also acknowledge this one, and that a +brave father! You know him well!’ I said, ‘I have seen +the King’s groom of the chamber in the square, but I +do not know him.’ She laughed and answered (in her +mother-tongue), ‘No, by God, that is not he; it is the +good prison governor.’ I truly did not believe it. She +protested it, and related some minute details to me.</p> + +<p>I thought I had better get rid of her betimes, and I +requested to speak with the prison governor’s wife, who<a class="pagenum" name="Page_285" id="Page_285" title="[Pg 285]"></a> +at once came to me. I told her my suspicion with regard +to the woman, and on what I based my suspicion; but +I made no remark as to what the woman had confessed +and said to me. I begged the prison governor’s wife to +remove the woman from me as civilly as she could. +She was surprised at my words, and doubted if there +was truth in them. I said, ‘Whether it be so or not, +remove her; the sooner the better.’ She promised +that it should be done, but it was not. Margrete +seemed not to care that it was known that she was +with child; she told the tower-warder of it, and asked +him one day, ‘Ole, how was it with your wife when +she had twins?’ Ole answered: ‘I know nothing +about it. Ask Anne!’ Margrete said that from certain +symptoms she fancied she might have twins.</p> + +<p>One day, when she was going to sew a cloth on the +arms of my arm-chair, she said, ‘That angel of God is +now moving!’ And as the wife of the prison governor +did not adhere to her word, and Margrete’s sister often +came to the tower, I feared that the sister might secretly +convey her something to remove the child (which +was no doubt subsequently the case), so I said one +day to Margrete: ‘You say that the prison governor is +your child’s father, but you do not venture to say so to +himself.’ ‘Yes!’ she said with an oath, ‘as if I would +not venture! Do you imagine that I will not have +something from him for the support of my child?’ +‘Then I will send for him,’ I said, ‘on purpose to +hear what he will say.’ (It was at that time a rare +occurrence for the prison governor to come to me.) She +begged me to do so; he could not deny, she said, that he +was the father of her child. The prison governor came +at my request. I began my speech in the woman’s +presence, and said that Margrete, according to her<a class="pagenum" name="Page_286" id="Page_286" title="[Pg 286]"></a> +own statement, was with child; who the father was, he +could enquire if he chose. He asked her whether she +was with child? She answered, ‘Yes, and you are +the father of it.’ ‘O!’ he said, and laughed, ‘what +nonsense!’ She adhered to what she had said, protested +that no other was the child’s father, and related +the circumstances of how it had occurred. The prison +governor said, ‘The woman is mad!’ She gave free +vent to her tongue, so that I ordered her to go out; +then I spoke with the prison governor alone, and begged +him speedily to look about for another woman for me, +before it came to extremities with her. I supposed he +would find means to stop her tongue. I told him the +truth in a few words—that he had brought his paramour +to wait on me. He answered, ‘She lies, the malicious +woman! I have ordered Tötzlöff already to look about +for another. My wife has told me what you said to +her the other day.’ After this conversation the prison +governor went away. Peder Tötzlöff told me that an +English woman had desired to be with me, but could +not come before Easter.</p> + +<p>Four days afterwards Margrete began to complain +that she felt ill, and said to me in the forenoon, ‘I +think it will probably go badly with me; I feel so ill.’ +I thought at once of what I had feared, namely of +what the constant visits of her sister indicated, and I +sent immediately to Peder Tötzlöff, and when he came +to me I told him of my suspicion respecting Margrete, +and begged him to do his utmost to procure me the +English woman that very day. Meanwhile Margrete +went up stairs, and remained there about an hour and +a quarter, and came down looking like a corpse, and +said, ‘Now it will be all right with me.’ What I +thought I would not say (for I knew that if I had<a class="pagenum" name="Page_287" id="Page_287" title="[Pg 287]"></a> +enquired the cause of her bad appearance she would +have at once acknowledged it all, and I did not want +to know it), so I said, ‘If you keep yourself quiet, all +will be well. Another woman is coming this evening.’ +This did not please her; she thought she could now +well remain. I paid no regard to this nor to anything +else she said, but adhered to it—that another woman +was coming. This was arranged, and in the evening +of March 15 Margrete left, and in her place came an +English woman, named Jonatha, who had been married +to a Dane named Jens Pedersen Holme.</p> + +<p>When Margrete was gone, I was blamed by the wife +of the prison governor, who said that I had persuaded +Margrete to affirm that her husband was the father of +Margrete’s child.</p> + +<p>Although it did not concern me, I will nevertheless +mention the deceitful manner in which the +good people subsequently brought about this Margrete’s +marriage. They informed a bookbinder’s apprentice +that she had been married, and they showed both him +and the priest, who was to give them the nuptial benediction, +her sister’s marriage certificate.<a name="FNanchor_145" id="FNanchor_145" href="#Footnote_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></p> + +<p>In the same year, on the morning of Christmas Day, +God loosened D. Otto Sperling’s heavy bonds, after +he had been imprisoned in the Blue Tower seventeen +years, eight months, twenty-four days, at the age of +eighty years minus six days. He had long been ill, +but never confined to his bed. Doctor München +twice visited him with his medicaments. He would +not allow the tower-warder at any time to make his +bed, and was quite angry if Ole offered to do so, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_288" id="Page_288" title="[Pg 288]"></a> +implied that the doctor was weak. He allowed no one +either to be present when he laid down. How he +came on the floor on Christmas night is not known; +he lay there, knocking on the ground. The tower-warder +could not hear his knocking, for he slept far +from the doctor’s room; but a prisoner who slept on +the ground floor heard it, and knocked at the tower-warder’s +door and told him that the doctor had been +knocking for some time. When Ole came in, he +found the doctor lying on the floor, half dressed, with +a clean shirt on. He was still alive, groaned a good +deal, but did not speak. Ole called a prisoner to help +him, and they lifted him on the bed and locked the +door again. In the morning he was found dead, as I +have said.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1682, in the month of April, I was sick and +confined to my bed from a peculiar malady which had +long troubled me—a stony matter had coagulated and +had settled low down in my intestines. Doctor München +used all available means to counteract this weakness; +but he could not believe that it was of the nature +I thought and informed him; for I was perfectly aware +it was a stone which had settled in the duct of the +intestines. He was of opinion, if it were so, that the +medicaments which he used would remove it.<a name="FNanchor_146" id="FNanchor_146" href="#Footnote_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> At +this time the doctor was obliged to travel with his +Majesty to Holstein. I used the remedies according to +Doctor München’s directions, but things remained just +as before. It was not till the following morning that +the remedies produced their effect; and then, besides +other matter, a large stone was evacuated, and I struck<a class="pagenum" name="Page_289" id="Page_289" title="[Pg 289]"></a> +a piece out of it with a hammer in order to see what it +was inside; I found it to be composed of a substance +like rays, having the appearance of being gilded in some +places and in others silvered. It is almost half a finger +in length and full three fingers thick, and it is still in +my possession. When Doctor München returned, I +sent him word how it was with me. He was at the +time with the governess of the royal children, F. Sitzele +Grubbe. Doctor München desired Tötzlöff to request +me to let him see the stone. I sent him word that if +he would come to me, he should see it. I would not +send it to him, for I well knew that I should never get +it again.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1682, June 11, I wrote the following spiritual +song.</p> + +<p>It can be sung to the melody, ‘<span lang="da">Siunge wii af Hiærtens-Grund</span>.’<a name="FNanchor_E59" id="FNanchor_E59" href="#Footnote_E59" class="fnanchor">[E59]</a></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">I.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What is this our mortal life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Otherwise than daily strife?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What is all our labour here,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The servitude and yoke we bear?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are they aught but vanity?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Art and learning what are ye?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a vapour all we see.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">II.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Why, then, is thy anxious breast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Filled with trouble? Be at rest!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why, then, dost thou boldly fight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The phantoms vain that mock thy sight?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is there any, small or grand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who can payment duly hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the creditor’s demand?<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_290" id="Page_290" title="[Pg 290]"></a> +<span class="i6">III.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Naked to the world I came,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I leave it just the same;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Lord has given and He takes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is well whate’er He makes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the Lord all praises be;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will trust Him heartily!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And my near deliverance see.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">IV.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One thing would I ask of Thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That Thy House I once may see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And once more with song and praise<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May my pious offering raise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And magnify Thy grace received,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all that Jesus has achieved<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For us who have in Him believed.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">V.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If Thou sayest unto me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">‘I have no desire in thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There is no place for thee above;’<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh Jesus! look Thou down in love!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can I not justly to Thee say<br /></span> +<span class="i0">‘Let me but see Thy wounds, I pray:’<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God’s mercy cannot pass away.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>On June 27, the Queen sent me some silk and silver, +with the request that I would embroider her a flower, +which was traced on parchment; she sent also another +flower which was embroidered, that I might see how +the work should be done, which is called the golden +work. I had never before embroidered such work, for +it affects the eyes quickly; but I undertook it, and said +I would do it as well as I could. On July 9, I sent the +flower which I had embroidered to the governess of +the royal children, F. Sitzele Grubbe, with the request +that she would present it most humbly to her Majesty +the Queen. The Queen was much pleased with the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_291" id="Page_291" title="[Pg 291]"></a> +flower, and told her that it excelled the others which +certain countesses had embroidered for her.</p> + +<p>I afterwards embroidered nine flowers in silver and +silk in this golden work, and sent them to the Queen’s +mistress of the robes, with the request that she would +present them most humbly to her Majesty the Queen. +The mistress of the robes assured me of the Queen’s +favour, and told me that her Majesty was going to give +me two silver flagons, but I have not heard of them +yet. In the same year I embroidered a table-cover +with floss silk, in a new design devised by myself, and +I trimmed it with taffeta and silver fringe; this also I +begged Lady Grubbe, the governess of the King’s children, +to present most humbly to her Majesty, and it was +graciously received. On November 29, I completed +the work which I had made for my death-gear. It +was embroidered with thread. On one end of the +pillow I worked the following lines:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Full of anxiety and care, in many a silent night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This shroud have I been weaving with sorrowful delight!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>On the other end I embroidered the following: (N.B. +The pillow was stuffed with my hair).</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When some day on this hair my weary head will lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My body will be free and my soul to God will fly.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>On the cloth for the head I embroidered:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I know full well, my Jesus, Thou dost live,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And my frail body from the dust wilt give,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And it with marvellous beauty will array<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To stand before Thy throne on the great day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fulfilled with heavenly joy I then shall be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Thee, great God, in all Thy splendour see.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor unknown wilt Thou to mine eyes appear!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Help Jesus, bridegroom, be Thou ever near!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_292" id="Page_292" title="[Pg 292]"></a> +Her Majesty the Queen was always gracious to me, +and sent me again a number of silkworms that I might +amuse myself with feeding them for her, and I was to +return what they spun. The virtuous Queen also +sent me sometimes oranges, lemons, and some of the +large almanacs, and this she did through a dwarf, who +is a thoroughly quick lad. His mother and father had +been in the service of my deceased sister Sophia +Elizabeth and my brother-in-law Count Pentz.</p> + +<p>The governess of the royal children, F. Sitzel +Grubbe, was very courteous and good to me, and sent +me several times lemons, oranges, mulberries, and +other fruits, according to the season of the year.</p> + +<p>A young lady, by birth a Donep, also twice sent me +fruit.</p> + +<p>The maids of honour once sent me some entangled +silk from silkworms, which they wanted to spin, and +did not rightly know how to manage it; they requested +me to arrange it for them. I had other occupation on +hand which I was unwilling to lay aside (for I was +busy collecting my heroines), but nevertheless I acceded +to their wish.<a name="FNanchor_E60" id="FNanchor_E60" href="#Footnote_E60" class="fnanchor">[E60]</a> My captivity of nearly twenty +years could not touch the heart of the Queen Dowager +(though with a good conscience I can testify before +God that I never gave her cause for such inclemency). +My most gracious hereditary King was gracious enough +several times in former years to intercede for me with +his royal mother, through the high ministers of the +State. Her answer at that time was very hard; she +would entitle them ‘traitors,’ and, ‘as good as I was,’ +and would point them to the door. All the favours +which the King’s majesty showed me—the outer apartment, +the large window, the money to dispose of for<a class="pagenum" name="Page_293" id="Page_293" title="[Pg 293]"></a> +myself—annoyed the Queen Dowager extremely; and +she made the King’s majesty feel her displeasure in the +most painful manner. And as she had also learned (she +had plenty of informers) that I possessed a clavicordium, +this annoyed her especially, and she spoke very angrily +with the King about it; on which account the prison +governor came to me one day and said that the King +had asked him how he had happened to procure me +a clavicordium. ‘I stood abashed,’ said the prison +governor, ‘and knew not what to say.’ I thought +to myself, ‘You know but little of what is happening +in the tower.’ I did not see him more than three +times a year. I asked who had told the King of the +clavicordium. He answered: ‘The old Queen; she +has her spies everywhere, and she has spoken so +hardly to the King that it is a shame because he +gives you so much liberty;’ so saying, he seized the +clavicordium just as if he were going to take it away, +and said, ‘You must not have it!’ I said, ‘Let it alone! +I have permission from his Majesty, my gracious Sovereign, +to buy what I desire for my pastime with the +money he graciously assigns me. The clavicordium is +in no one’s way, and cannot harm the Queen Dowager.’ +He pulled at it nevertheless, and wanted to take it +down; it stood on a closet which I had bought. I +said, with rather a loud voice, ‘You must let it remain +until you return me the money I gave you for it; then +you may do with it what you like.’ He said, ‘I will +tell the King that.’ I begged him to do so. There +was nothing afterwards said about it,<a name="FNanchor_147" id="FNanchor_147" href="#Footnote_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> and I still have +the clavicordium, though I play on it rarely. I write,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_294" id="Page_294" title="[Pg 294]"></a> +and hasten to finish my heroines, so that I may have +them ready, and that no sickness nor death may prevent +my completing them, nor the friend to whom I +confide them may leave me, and so they would never +fall into your hands, my dearest children.</p> + +<p>On September 24, M. Johan Adolf, my father confessor, +was promoted; he became dean of the church +of Our Lady. He bade me a very touching farewell, +having administered the duties of his office to me for +nearly six years, and been my consolation. God +knows how unwillingly I parted with him.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of this year H. Peder Collerus +was my father confessor; he was at the time palace-preacher. +He also visited me with his consolatory +discourse every six weeks. He is a learned man, but +not like Hornemann.</p> + +<p>On April 3, an old sickly dog was sent to me in the +Queen’s name. I fancy the ladies of the court sent it, +to be quit of the trouble. A marten had bit its jaw in +two, so that the tongue hung out on one side. All the +teeth were gone, and a thin film covered one eye. It +heard but little, and limped on one side. The worst, +however, was, that one could easily see that it tried to +exhibit its affection beyond its power. They told me +that her Majesty the Queen had been very fond of the +dog. It was a small ‘King Charles;’ its name was +‘Cavaillier.’ The Queen expressed her opinion that it +would not long trouble me. I hoped so also.<a name="FNanchor_E66B" id="FNanchor_E66B" href="#Footnote_E66B" class="fnanchor">[E66b]</a></p> + +<p>On August 12 of this year I finished the work I had +undertaken, and since my prefatory remarks treated +of celebrated women of every kind, both of valiant +rulers and sensible sovereigns, of true, chaste, God-fearing,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_295" id="Page_295" title="[Pg 295]"></a> +virtuous, unhappy, learned, and steadfast +women, it seemed to me that all of these could not be +reckoned as heroines; so I took some of them out and +divided them into three parts, under the title, ‘The +Heroines’ Praise.’ The first part is to the honour of +valiant heroines. The second part speaks of true and +chaste heroines. The third part of steadfast heroines. +Each part has its appendix. I hope to God that this +my prison work may come into your hands, my dearest +children. Hereafter I intend, so God will, to collect +the others: namely, the sensible, learned, god-fearing, +and virtuous women; exhibiting each to view in the +circumstances of her life.<a name="FNanchor_E61" id="FNanchor_E61" href="#Footnote_E61" class="fnanchor">[E61]</a></p> + +<p>I will mention from her own statement somewhat of +Jonatha, who now attended on me. I will pass over +the long story of how she left her mother; the fact is, +that against her mother’s will she married a Danish +merchant, named Jens Pedersen Holme. But her +life and doings (according to her own statement) are so +strange, that it may be worth while to record somewhat +of them. After they were married, she says, it vexed +her, and was always in her mind that she had made +her mother angry, and had done very wrong. Her +mother had sent her also a hard letter, which distressed +her much; and she behaved refractorily towards her +husband, and in many ways like a spoilt unreasonable +child, sometimes even like one who had lost her reason +and was desperate.</p> + +<p>It seems also that her husband treated her as if her +mind was affected, for he had her looked after like a +child, and treated her as such. She told him once that +she was intending to drown herself in the Peblingesö,<a name="FNanchor_E62" id="FNanchor_E62" href="#Footnote_E62" class="fnanchor">[E62]</a><a class="pagenum" name="Page_296" id="Page_296" title="[Pg 296]"></a> +and at another time that she would strike him dead. +The husband feared neither of these threats; still he had +her watched when she went out, to see which way she +took. Once she had firmly resolved to drown herself +in the Peblingesö, for this place pleased her; she +was even on her way there, but was brought back. +She struck her husband, too, once after her fashion. +He had come home one day half intoxicated, and had +laid down on a bed, so that his legs rested on the floor. +She says she intended at the time to strike him dead; +she took a stick and tried to see if he were asleep, +talking loudly to herself and scolding, and touching +him softly on the shinbone with the stick. He behaved +as if he were asleep. Then she struck him a little +harder. Upon this he seized the stick and took it +away from her, and asked what she had in her mind. +She answered, ‘To kill you.’ ‘He was grieved at +my madness,’ she said, ‘and threw himself on his +knees, praying God to govern me with His good spirit +and give me reason.’ The worst is that it once came +into her mind not to sleep with her husband, and she +laid down on a bench in the room. For a long time +he gave her fair words, but these availed nothing. At +last he said, ‘Undress yourself and come and lie +down, or I shall come to you.’ She paid no attention +to this; so he got up, undressed her completely, slapped +her with his hand, and threw her into bed. She protested +that for some days she was too bruised to sit; +this proved availing, and she behaved in future more +reasonably.</p> + +<p>Little at peace as she was with her husband when +she had him with her, she was greatly grieved when +he left her to go to the West Indies. He sent by<a class="pagenum" name="Page_297" id="Page_297" title="[Pg 297]"></a> +return vessels all sorts of goods to sell, and she thus +maintained herself comfortably.</p> + +<p>It happened at last that the man died in the West +Indies, and a person who brought her the news stated +that he had been poisoned by the governor of the place +named ——, at an entertainment, and this because +he was on the point of returning home, and the +governor was afraid that Holme might mention his +evil conduct. These tidings unsettled her mind so, +that she ran at night, in her mere night-dress, along +the street, and squabbled with the watchmen. She +went to the admiral at the Holm, and demanded justice +upon the absent culprit, and accused him, though she +could prove nothing.</p> + +<p>Thus matters went on for a time, until at last she +gained repose, and God ordained it that she came +to me. My intercourse with her is as with a frail +glass vessel, for she is weak in many respects. She +often doubts of her salvation, and enumerates all +her sins. She laments especially having so deeply +offended her mother, and thus having drawn down a +curse upon her. When this fear comes upon her, I +console her with God’s word, and enter fully into the +matter, showing her, from Holy Scripture, on what a +repentant sinner must rely for the mercy of God. +Occasionally she is troubled as to the interpretation of +Holy Scripture, as all passages do not seem to her to +agree, but to contradict each other. In this I help her +so far as my understanding goes, so that sometimes +she heartily thanks God that she is come to me, where +she finds rest and consolation.</p> + +<p>After she had been with me for a year or two, she +learned that the governor, whom she suspected, had +come to Copenhagen. She said to me, ‘I hear the<a class="pagenum" name="Page_298" id="Page_298" title="[Pg 298]"></a> +rogue is come here; I request my dismissal.’ I asked +her why. ‘Because,’ she replied, ‘I will kill him.’ I +could scarcely keep from laughing; but I said, ‘Jesus +forbid! If you have any such design, I shall not let +you go.’ And as she is a person whose like I have +never known before—for she could chide with hard +words, and yet at the same time she was modest and +well-behaved—I tried to make her tell me and show +me how she designed to take the governor’s life. (She +is a small woman, delicately formed.) Then she acted +as if her enemy were seated on a stool, and she had a +large knife under her apron. When he said to her, +‘Woman, what do you want?’ she would plunge the +knife into him, and exclaim, ‘Rogue, thou hast deserved +this.’ She would not move from the place, she would +gladly die, if she could only take his life. I said, +‘Still it is such a disgrace to die by the hand of the +executioner.’ ‘Oh, no!’ she replied, ‘it is not a +disgrace to die for an honourable deed;’ and she had +an idea that any one thus dying by the hand of the +executioner passed away in a more Christian manner +than such as died on a bed of sickness; and that it was +no sin to kill a man who, like a rogue, had murdered +another. I asked her if she did not think that he +sinned who killed another. ‘No,’ she replied, ‘not +when he has brought it upon himself.’ I said, ‘No one +may be his own judge, either by the law of God or +man; and what does the fifth commandment teach us?’<a name="FNanchor_E63" id="FNanchor_E63" href="#Footnote_E63" class="fnanchor">[E63]</a> +She answered as before, that she would gladly die if +she could only take the rogue’s life. (I must add that +she said she could not do it on my account, for I would +not let her out.) She made a sin of that which is no sin,<a class="pagenum" name="Page_299" id="Page_299" title="[Pg 299]"></a> +and that which is sin she will not regard as such. She +says it is a sin to kill a dog, a cat, or a bird; the innocent +animals do no harm; in fact, it is a still greater +sin to let the poor beasts hunger. I asked her once +whether it was a sin to eat meat. ‘No,’ she answered; +‘it is only a sin to him who has killed the animal.’ +She protested that if she were obliged to marry, and had +to choose between a butcher and an executioner, she +would prefer the latter. She told me of various +quarrels she had had with those who had either killed +animals or allowed them to hunger.</p> + +<p>One story I will not leave unmentioned, as it is very +pretty. She sold, she said, one day some pigs to +a butcher. When the butcher’s boy was about to bind +the pigs’ feet and carry them off hanging from a pole, +she was sorry for the poor pigs, and said, ‘What, will +you take their life? No, I will not suffer that!’ and +she threw him back his money. I asked her if she did +not know that pigs were killed, and for what reason she +thought the butcher had bought them. ‘Yes,’ she +replied, ‘I knew that well. Had he let them go on +their own legs, I should have cared nothing about it; +but to bind the poor beasts in this way, and to hear +them cry, I could not endure that.’ It would take too +long to enumerate all the extravagant whims which she +related of herself. But with all this she is not foolish, +and I well believe she is true to any one she loves. +She served me very well, and with great care.</p> + +<p>The above-mentioned governor<a name="FNanchor_E64" id="FNanchor_E64" href="#Footnote_E64" class="fnanchor">[E64]</a> was killed by some +prisoners on board the vessel, when he was returning +to the West Indies. By a strange chance the vessel +with the murderers came to Copenhagen. (They were<a class="pagenum" name="Page_300" id="Page_300" title="[Pg 300]"></a> +sentenced to death for their crime.) Jonatha declared +that the governor had had only too good a death, and +that it was a sin that any one should lose his life on +account of it. I practise speaking the English language +with Jonatha. She has forgotten somewhat of her mother +tongue, since she has not spoken it for many years; +and as she always reads the English Bible, and does +not at once understand all the words, I help her; for I +not only can perceive the sense from the preceding and +following words, but also because some words resemble +the French, though with another accent. And we +often talk together about the interpretation of Holy +Scripture. She calls herself a Calvinist, but she does +not hold the opinions of Calvinists. I never dispute +with her over her opinions. She goes to the Lord’s +Supper in the Queen’s church<a class="corr" name="corr_26" id="corr_26" title="added footnote anchor"></a><a name="FNanchor_E65" id="FNanchor_E65" href="#Footnote_E65" class="fnanchor">[E65]</a>. Once, when she came +back to me from there, she said she had had a conversation +upon religion with a woman, who had told her +to her face that she was no Calvinist. I asked her of +what religion the woman imagined that she was. She +replied: ‘God knows that. I begged her to mind +her own business, and said, that I was a Christian; I +thought of your grace’s words (but I did not say them), +that all those who believe on Christ and live a Christian +life, are Christians, whatever name they may give to +their faith.’</p> + +<p>In this year 1684 I saw the Queen Dowager fall from +the chair in which she was drawn up to the royal +apartment. The chair ran down the pulleys too +quickly, so that she fell on her face and knocked her +knee. During this year her weakness daily increased, +but she thought herself stronger than she was. She +appeared at table always much dressed, and between +the meals she remained in her apartments.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_301" id="Page_301" title="[Pg 301]"></a> +I kept myself patient, and wrote the following:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Contemplation on Memory and Courage, recorded to the honour of God +by the suffering Christian woman in the sixty-third year of her life, +and the almost completed twenty-first year of her captivity.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The vanished hours can ne’er come back again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still may the old their youthful joys retain;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The past may yet within our memory live,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And courage vigour to the old may give.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet why should I thus sport with Memory’s truth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And harrow up the fairer soil of youth?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No fruit it brings, fallow and bare it lies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the dry furrow only pain supplies!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In my first youth, in honourable days<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon such things small question did I raise.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then years advanced with trouble in their train,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spite of show my life was fraught with pain.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The holy marriage bond—my rank and fame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Increased my foes and made my ill their aim.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go! honour, riches, vanish from my mind!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye all forsook me and left nought behind.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">’Twas ye have brought me here thro’ years to lie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus can man’s envy human joy deny!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My God alone, He ne’er forsook me here,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My cross He lightened, and was ever near;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when my heart was yielding to despair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He spoke of peace and whispered He was there.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He gave me power and ever near me stood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all could see how truly God was good.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What Courage can achieve I next will heed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He who is blessed with it, is blest indeed.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the tired frame fresh power can Courage give,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Raising the weary mind anew to live;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I mean that Courage Reason may instil<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not the foolhardiness that leads to ill.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far oftener is it that the youth will lie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Helpless, when Fortune’s favours from him fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than that the old man should inactive stay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who knows full well how Fortune loves to play.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fresh Courage seizes him; from such a shield<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rebound the arms malicious foes may wield.<br /></span> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_302" id="Page_302" title="[Pg 302]"></a> +<span class="i0">Courage imparts repose, and trifles here,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beneath its influence, as nought appear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But a vain loan, which we can only hold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Until the lender comes, and life is told.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Courage pervades the frame and vigour gives,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a fresh energy each part receives;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With appetite and health and cheerful mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And calm repose in hours of sleep we find,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So that no visions in ill dreams appear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spectre forms filling the heart with fear.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Courage gives honied sweetness to our food<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And prison fare, and makes e’en death seem good.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">’Tis well! my mind is fresh, my limbs are sound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And no misfortune weighs me to the ground.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Reason and judgment come from God alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the five senses unimpaired I own.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The mighty God in me His power displays,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore join with me in a voice of praise<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And laud His name: For Thou it is, oh God,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who in my fear and anguish nigh me stood.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Almighty One, my thanks be ever thine!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let me ne’er waver nor my trust resign.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take not the courage which my hope supplies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till my soul enters into Paradise.<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>Written on February 28, 1684, that is the thirty-sixth +anniversary since the illustrious King Christian the +Fourth bade good-night to this world, and I to the +prosperity of my life.</p> + +<p>I have now reached the sixty-third year of my age, +and the twentieth year, sixth month, and fifteenth day +of my imprisonment. I have therefore spent the third +part of my life in captivity. God be praised that so +much time is past. I hope the remaining days may not +be many.</p> + +<p>Anno 1685, January 14, I amused myself with +making some verses in which truth was veiled under +the cloak of jest, entitled: ‘A Dog, named Cavaillier, +relates his Fate.’</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_303" id="Page_303" title="[Pg 303]"></a> +The rhymes, I suppose, will come into your hands, +my dearest children.<a name="FNanchor_E66" id="FNanchor_E66" href="#Footnote_E66" class="fnanchor">[E66]</a></p> + +<p>On February 20, the Queen Dowager Sophia +Amalia died. She did not think that death would +overtake her so quickly; but when the doctor warned +her that her death would not be long delayed, she +requested to speak with her son. But death would +not wait for the arrival of his Majesty, so that the +Queen Dowager might say a word to him. She was +still alive; she was sitting on a chair, but she was +speechless, and soon afterwards, in the same position, +she gave up her spirit.</p> + +<p>After the death of this Queen I was much on the +lips of the people. Some thought that I should obtain +my liberty; others believed that I should probably be +brought from the tower to some other place, but should +not be set free.</p> + +<p>Jonatha, who had learned from Ole the tower-warder, +some days before the death of the Queen, that prayers +were being offered up in the church for the Queen (it +had, however, been going on for six weeks, that this +prayer had been read from the pulpit), was, equally with +Ole the tower-warder, quite depressed. Ole, who had +consoled himself and her hitherto with the tidings from +the Queen’s lacqueys, that the Queen went to table and +was otherwise well, though she occasionally suffered +from a cough, now thought that there was danger, +that death might result, and that I, if the Queen +died, might perhaps leave the prison. They did their +best to conceal their sorrow, but without success. They +occasionally shed secretly a few tears. I behaved as if +I did not remark it, and as no one said anything to me<a class="pagenum" name="Page_304" id="Page_304" title="[Pg 304]"></a> +about it, I gave no opportunity for speaking on the subject. +A long time previously I had said to Jonatha (as +I had done before to the other women) that I did not +think I should die in the tower. She remembered this +and mentioned it. I said: ‘All is in God’s hand. He +knows best what is needful for me, both as regards soul +and body; to Him I commend myself.’ Thus Jonatha +and Ole lived on between hope and fear.</p> + +<p>On March 15, the reigning Queen kept her Easter. +Jonatha came quite delighted from her Majesty’s +church, saying that a noble personage had told her +that I need not think of getting out of the prison, +although the Queen was dead; she knew better and +she insisted upon it. However often I asked as to who +the personage was, she would not tell me her name. I +laughed at her, and said, ‘Whoever the personage may +be, she knows just as much about it as you and I do.’ +Jonatha adhered to her opinion that the person knew it +well. ‘What do you mean?’ I said; ‘the King himself +does not know. How should others know?’ ‘Not the +King! not the King!’ she said quite softly. ‘No, not +the King!’ I answered. ‘He does not know till God +puts it into his heart, and as good as says to him, +“Now thou shalt let the prisoner free!”’ She came +somewhat more to herself, but said nothing. And as +she and Ole heard no more rumours concerning me, +they were quite comforted.</p> + +<p>On March 26, the funeral of the Queen Dowager +took place, and her body was conveyed to Roskild.</p> + +<p>On April 21, I supplicated the King’s Majesty in the +following manner. I possessed a portrait engraving of +the illustrious King Christian the Fourth, rather small +and oval in form. This I illuminated with colours, and<a class="pagenum" name="Page_305" id="Page_305" title="[Pg 305]"></a> +had a carved frame made for it, which I gilded myself. +On the piece at the back I wrote the following words:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">My grandson, and great namesake,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Equal to me in power and state;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vouchsafe my child a hearing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And be like me in mercy great!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Besides this, I wrote to his Excellency Gyldenlöve, +requesting him humbly to present the Supplique to +the King’s majesty, and to interest himself on my +behalf, and assist me to gain my liberty. His +Excellency was somewhat inconvenienced at the time +by his old weakness, so that he could not himself +speak for me; but he begged a good friend to present +the engraving with all due respect, and this was done +on April 24.<a name="FNanchor_E67" id="FNanchor_E67" href="#Footnote_E67" class="fnanchor">[E67]</a></p> + +<p>Of all this Jonatha knew nothing. Peder Jensen +Tötzlöff was my messenger. He has been a comfort +to me in my imprisonment, and has rendered me +various services, so that I am greatly bound to him. +And I beg you, my dearest children, to requite him in +all possible ways for the services he has rendered me.</p> + +<p>On May 2, it became generally talked of that I +should assuredly be set at liberty, and some asked the +tower-warder whether I had come out the evening +before, and at what time; so that Ole began to fear, +and could not bear himself as bravely as he tried to +do. He said to me in a sad tone: ‘My good lady! +You will certainly be set at liberty. There are some +who think you are already free.’ I said, ‘God will +bring it to pass.’ ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘but how will it fare +with me then?’ I answered, ‘You will remain +tower-warder, as you now are.’ ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘but<a class="pagenum" name="Page_306" id="Page_306" title="[Pg 306]"></a> +with what pleasure?’ and he turned, unable to restrain +his tears, and went away. Jonatha concluded that my +deliverance was drawing near, and endeavoured to conceal +her sorrow. She said, ‘Ole is greatly cast down, +but I am not.’ (And the tears were standing in her +eyes.) ‘It is said for certain that the King is going +away the day after to-morrow. If you are set at +liberty, it will be this very day.’ I said, ‘God knows.’ +Jonatha expressed her opinion that I was nevertheless +full of hope. I said I had been hopeful ever since the +first day of my imprisonment; that God would at +last have mercy on me, and regard my innocence. +I had prayed to God always for patience to await +the time of His succour; and God had graciously +bestowed it on me. If the moment of succour had +now arrived, I should pray to God for grace to +acknowledge rightly His great benefits. Jonatha +asked if I were not sure to be set free before the King +started for Norway; that it was said for certain that +the King would set out early on the following morning. +I said: ‘There is no certainty as to future things. +Circumstances may occur to impede the King’s journey, +and it may also happen that my liberty may be prevented, +even though at this hour it may perhaps be +resolved upon. Still I know that my hope will not be +confounded. But you do not conceal your regret, and +I cannot blame you for it. You have cause for regret, +for with my freedom you lose your yearly income and +your maintenance.<a name="FNanchor_148" id="FNanchor_148" href="#Footnote_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> Remember how often I have told +you not to throw away your money so carelessly on +your son. You cannot know what may happen to you +in your old age. If I die, you will be plunged into<a class="pagenum" name="Page_307" id="Page_307" title="[Pg 307]"></a> +poverty; for as soon as you receive your money, you +expend it on the apprenticeship of your son, who +returns you no thanks for it.<a name="FNanchor_149" id="FNanchor_149" href="#Footnote_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> You have yourself told +me of his bad disposition, and how wrongly he has answered +you when you have tried to give him good +advice. Latterly he has not ventured to do so, since I +read him a lecture, and threatened that I would help to +send him to the House of Correction. I fear he +will be a bad son to you.’ Upon this she gave free +vent to her tears, and begged that if I obtained my +liberty I would not abandon her. This I promised, +so far as lay in my power; for I could not know what +my circumstances might be.</p> + +<p>In this way some days elapsed, and Jonatha and Ole +knew not what the issue might be.</p> + +<p>On May 19, at six o’clock in the morning, Ole +knocked softly at my outer door. Jonatha went to it. +Ole said softly, ‘The King is already gone; he left at +about four o’clock.’ I know not if his hope was great; +at any rate it did not last long. Jonatha told me +Ole’s news. I wished the King’s Majesty a prosperous +journey (I knew already what order he had given), and +it seemed to me from her countenance she was to some +extent contented. At about eight o’clock Tötzlöff +came up to me and informed me that the Lord Chancellor +Count Allefeldt had sent the prison governor a +royal order that I was to be released from my imprisonment, +and that I could leave when I pleased. (This +order was signed by the King’s Majesty the day before +his Majesty started.)</p> + +<p>His Excellency had accompanied the King. Tötzlöff +asked whether I wished him to lock the doors, as I was<a class="pagenum" name="Page_308" id="Page_308" title="[Pg 308]"></a> +now free. I replied, ‘So long as I remain within the +doors of my prison, I am not free. I will moreover leave +properly. Lock the door and enquire what my sister’s +daughter, Lady Anna Catharina Lindenow, says, +whether his Excellency<a name="FNanchor_E68" id="FNanchor_E68" href="#Footnote_E68" class="fnanchor">[E68]</a> sent any message to her (as +he promised) before he left. When Tötzlöff was gone, +I said to Jonatha, ‘Now, in Jesus’ name, this very +evening I shall leave. Gather your things together, +and pack them up, and I will do the same with mine; +they shall remain here till I can have them fetched.’ +She was somewhat startled, but not cast down. She +thanked God with me, and when the doors were +unlocked at noon and I dined, she laughed at Ole, who +was greatly depressed. I told her that Ole might well +sigh, for that he would now have to eat his cabbage +without bacon.</p> + +<p>Tötzlöff brought me word from my sister’s daughter +that his Excellency had sent to her to say that she +was free to accompany me from the tower, if she +chose. It was therefore settled that she was to come +for me late the same evening.</p> + +<p>The prison governor was in a great hurry to get rid of +me, and sent the tower-warder to me towards evening, +to enquire whether I would not go. I sent word that +it was still too light (there would probably be some +curious people who had a desire to see me).</p> + +<p>Through a good friend I made enquiry of her +Majesty the Queen, whether I might be allowed the +favour of offering my humble submission to her Majesty +(I could go into the Queen’s apartment through the +secret passage, so that no one could see me). Her +Majesty sent me word in reply that she might not +speak with me.</p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_309" id="Page_309" title="[Pg 309]"></a> +At about ten o’clock in the evening, the prison governor +opened the door for my sister’s daughter. (I had +not seen him for two years.) He said, ‘Well, shall we +part now?’ I answered, ‘Yes, the time is now come.’ +Then he gave me his hand, and said ‘Ade!’ (Adieu). +I answered in the same manner, and my niece laughed +heartily.</p> + +<p>Soon after the prison governor had gone, I and my +sister’s daughter left the tower. Her Majesty the Queen +thought to see me as I came out, and was standing on +her balcony, but it was rather dark; moreover I had a +black veil over my face. The palace-square, as far as +the bridge and further, was full of people, so that we +could scarcely press through to the coach.</p> + +<p>The time of my imprisonment was twenty-one years, +nine months, and eleven days.</p> + +<p>King Frederick III. ordered my imprisonment on +August 8, <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1663; King Christian V. gave me my +liberty on May 18, 1685. God bless my most gracious +King with all royal blessing, and give his Majesty +health and add many years to his life.</p> + +<p>This is finished in my prison.</p> + +<p>On May 19, at ten o’clock in the evening, I left my +prison. To God be honour and praise. He graciously +vouchsafed that I should recognise His divine benefits, +and never forget to record them with gratitude.</p> + +<p>Dear children! This is the greatest part of the +events worth mentioning which occurred to me within +the doors of my prison. I live now in the hope that +it may please God and the King’s Majesty that I +may myself show you this record. God in His mercy +grant it.</p> + +<p>1685. Written at Husum<a name="FNanchor_E69" id="FNanchor_E69" href="#Footnote_E69" class="fnanchor">[E69]</a> June 2, where I am +awaiting the return of the King’s Majesty from Norway<span class="corr" title="added: :">:</span></p> + +<p><a class="pagenum" name="Page_310" id="Page_310" title="[Pg 310]"></a> +<span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1683. New Year’s Day. To Myself.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Men say that Fortune is a rare and precious thing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And they would fain that Power should homage to her bring.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet Power herself is blind and ofttimes falleth low,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rarely to rise again, wherefore may Heaven know.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To-day with humorous wiles she holds her sovereign sway,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And could one only trust her, there might be goodly prey.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet is she like to Fortune, changeful the course she flies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And both, oh earthly pilgrim, are but vain fraud and lies.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The former is but frail, the other strives with care,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And both alas! are subject to many a plot and snare.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou hast laid hold on Fortune with an exultant mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Affixed perhaps to-morrow the fatal <i>mis</i> we find;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then does thy courage fail, this prefix saddens thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wert thou thyself Goliath or twice as brave as he.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thou who art so small—already grey with care—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou know’st not whether evil this year thy lot may share.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For Fortune frolics ever, now under, now above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Emerging here and there her varied powers to prove.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that is earthly comes and vanishes again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore I cling to that which will for aye remain.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>On March 14, 1683, I wrote the following:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">True is the sentence we are sometimes told:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A friend is worth far more than bags of gold.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet would I gladly ask, where do we find<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A friend so virtuous that he is well inclined<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To help another in his need and gloom<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Without a thought of recompense to come?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Naught is there new in this, for selfish care<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To every child of Eve has proved a snare.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each generation hears the last complain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And each repeats the same sad tale again;—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the oppressed by the wayside may lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When naught is gained but God’s approving eye.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">See, at Bethesda’s pool, how once there came<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The halting impotent, some help to claim<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Among those thousands. Each of pity free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Had no hand for him in his misery<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To bring him to the angel-troubled stream.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Near his last breath did the poor sufferer seem,<br /></span> +<a class="pagenum" name="Page_311" id="Page_311" title="[Pg 311]"></a> +<span class="i0">Weary and penniless; when One alone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who without money works His wise own<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Will, turned where the helpless suppliant lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And gently bade him rise and go his way.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Children of grief, rejoice, do not despair;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This Helper still is here and still will care<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What He in mercy wills. He soothes our pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And He will help, asking for naught again.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in due time He will with gracious hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unloose thy prison bars and iron band.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1684. The first day. To Peder Jensen Tötzlöff.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Welcome, thou New Year’s day, altho’ thou dost belong<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To those by Brahe reckoned the evil days among,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Declaring that whatever may on this day begin<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can never prosper rightly, nor true success can win.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now I will only ask if from to-day I strive<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The evil to avoid and henceforth good to live,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Will this not bring success? Why should a purpose fail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Altho’ on this day made? why should it not prevail?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh Brahe, I believe, when we aright begin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To-day or when it be, and God’s good favour win,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The issue must be well, and all that matters here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is to commend our ways to our Redeemer dear.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Begin with Jesus Christ this as all other days.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pray that thy plans may meet with the Almighty’s praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So may’st thou happy be, and naught that man can do<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can hinder thy designs, unless God wills it so!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May a rich meed of blessing be on thy head bestow’d,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Lord Jesus Christ protect thee on thy road<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With arms of grace. Such is my wish for thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Based on the love of God; sure, that He answers me.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<hr class="chapbreak" /> + +<p class="center">LONDON: PRINTED BY<br /> +SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br /> +AND PARLIAMENT STREET</p> + + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h2><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES</h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i lang="fr">Le Comte d’Ulfeld, Grand Maistre de Danemarc.</i> <i lang="fr">Nouvelle historique</i>, +i.-ii. Paris, 1678. 8vo. An English translation, with a supplement, appeared +1695: <i>The Life of Count Ulfeldt, Great Master of Denmark, and +of the Countess Eleonora his Wife.</i> Done out of French. With a supplement. +London. 1695. 8vo. +</p><p> +Another novel by the same author, called <i>Casimir King of Poland</i>, is +perhaps better known in this country, through a translation by F. Spence +in vol. ii. of <i>Modern Novels</i>, 1692.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> It is by a slip of memory that Mr. Birket Smith, in his first Danish +edition of Leonora Christina’s memoir of her life in prison, describes +this work under the name of <i lang="la">De feminis eruditis</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> La Valette’s account of his participation in the Thirty Years’ War is +entirely fictitious, as almost all that he tells of Ulfeldt’s travels, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> See <i lang="la">Caroli Ogerii Ephemerides sive, Iter Danicum, Svecicum, Polonicum, +&c.</i> Paris, 1656. 8vo. p. 36, 37, 40, by D’Avaux’s secretary, Ogier.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> La Valette’s account of a lawsuit instituted by the King against Kirstine +Munk, in which she was defended by Ulfeldt—of Ulfeldt’s duel +with Hannibal Sehested, afterwards his brother-in-law, &c.—is entirely +fictitious. No such things took place.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> This autobiographical sketch is written in the form of a letter to Dr. +Otto Sperling the younger, the son of Corfits Ulfeldt’s old friend, who +was for some years Leonora’s fellow-prisoner in the Blue Tower.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> It is curious that Leonora seems for a long time to have been +under a mistake as to the date of her birthday. The right date is +July 18, new style.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> On the South Coast of Norway.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Count Christian Pentz, to whom Sophia was married in 1634.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Hannibal Sehestedt afterwards married Leonora’s younger sister +Christiana; he became a powerful antagonist of Ulfeldt, and is mentioned +often in the following Memoir.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Frantz Albrecht, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, the same who in the +Thirty Years’ War alternately served the Protestants and the Imperialists. +In the battle of Lützen he was near Gustav Adolf when he fell, and +he was regarded by many as the one who treacherously fired the fatal +shot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> That is, the King’s eldest son Christian, who was elected his successor, +but died before him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> In the margin the following addition is inserted: ‘She had at that +time an unusual memory. She could at one and the same time recite +one psalm by heart, write another, and attend to the conversation. +She had tried this more than once, but I think that she has thereby +spoilt her memory, which is not now so good.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Namely, Magdalena Sybilla of Saxony, then newly married (October +5, 1634) to Prince Christian, the eldest son and elected successor of +Christian IV. M. Sophia’s wedding to Chr. Pentz was celebrated on the +10th of the same month.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15" id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> V.R. probably stands for Viceroy, by which term Leonora no doubt +indicates the post of Governor of Copenhagen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16" id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The old friend is Dr. Otto Sperling, sen., a physician in extensive +practice at Copenhagen, and intimate friend of Ulfeldt. Mr. Biel... +signifies most probably a certain Christian Bielke, whose portrait +still exists at Rosenborg Castle, in Copenhagen, with an inscription that +he was killed in a duel by Bartram Rantzau on Easter eve 1642. If this +date is true, Bielke cannot have accompanied Leonora’s brother Count +Valdemar on his journey to Russia, as this journey only took place in +1643. Count Valdemar was to marry a Russian princess, but it was +broken off on his refusing to join the Greek church.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17" id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Dr. Otto Sperling, senior.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18" id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Prince Ruprecht, Duke of Cumberland, nephew of Charles I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19" id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Namely, the process against Dina. <i>See</i> Introduction.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20" id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Ulfeldt had not really the permission of the King to leave the country +in the way he did. These words must therefore be understood to mean +that the favourable termination of the trial concerning Dina’s accusations +had liberated Ulfeldt from the special obligation to remain in Copenhagen, +which his position in reference to that case imposed upon him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21" id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> That is, Ebbe Ulfeldt,—a relative of Corfitz who left Denmark in 1651 +and afterwards lived in Sweden.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22" id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> This date is erroneous; the journey took place in November and +December 1656.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23" id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> U.C. Gyldenlöve, illegitimate son of Christian IV. and half-brother +of Leonora.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24" id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Probably Povl Tscherning, a well-known man of the time, who held +the office of Auditor-General.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25" id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> In order to understand how she could wait for ten days at Apenrade, +it must be borne in mind that the duchy of Slesvig was at that time +divided into several parts, of which some belonged to the King, others to +the Duke of Gottorp. Haderslev and Flensborg belonged to the King, +but Apenrade to the Duke; in this town, therefore, she was safe from +the pursuit of the Danish authorities.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26" id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> The governor of Flensborg at that time was Detlef v. Ahlefeld, the +same who in 1663 was sent to Königsberg to receive information from the +court of Brandenburg on the last intrigues of Ulfeldt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27" id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> The clerk Holst was shortly after, when the Swedes occupied Flensborg, +put to a heavy ransom by Ulfeldt, in punishment of his conduct to +Leonora. Documents which still exist show that he applied to the +Danish Government for compensation, but apparently in vain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28" id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Count Jakob Casimir de la Gardie, a Swedish nobleman. Count +Wrangel was the Swedish General.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29" id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> The funeral took place with great pomp in the church of St. Knud, at +Odense, on June 23, 1658, together with that of Sophia Elizabeth, Leonora’s +sister, who is mentioned in the beginning of the Autobiography.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30" id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> The young lady was Birgitte Rantzau, who was engaged to Korfits +Trolle, a Danish nobleman, who had been very active in preparing the +intended rising of the citizens of Malmöe against the Swedes. Ulfeldt +was accused of having favoured and assisted this design (<i>see</i> the Introduction), +and he had brought Trolle’s bride over to Copenhagen, or accompanied +them thither.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31" id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Wolf and Kield were servants of Ulfeldt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32" id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> The person alluded to is a Bartholomæus Mikkelsen, who was executed +as ringleader of the conspiracy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33" id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Bornholm. (<i>See</i> the Introduction.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34" id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> She refers no doubt to a servant who accompanied them of the name +of Pflügge.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35" id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> The original of this letter to the King exists still.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36" id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> It will be remembered from the Introduction that Fuchs was killed +two years after by one of Leonora’s sons at Bruges.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37" id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> This account of what happened during their imprisonment at Hammershuus, +written by Leonora herself, is also mentioned in her Record of +her prison-life in the Blue Tower. But no copy of it has yet come to +light. Uhlfeldt’s so-called apology contains much information on this +subject.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38" id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Fuchs’ own report on this subject still exists, and in it he estimates +the iron employed at three tons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39" id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> The precise date was June 15, 1661, but the order for their separation +is dated already on the 4th of April.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40" id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Leonora alludes to the wife of the then Duke of York, afterwards +James II., who was the daughter of Lord Edward Clarendon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41" id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> The apology of Uhlfeldt contains an account of this whole transaction. +He states that when he asked his wife through the window +whether they ought to sign and live rather than die in prison, which +would otherwise be their lot, Leonora answered with the following +Latin verse:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rebus in adversis facile est contemnere mortem,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fortius ille facit, qui miser esse potest.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Accidit in puncto, quod non speratur in anno.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42" id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Ellensborg was the ancient seat of the Ulfeldt family, which had been +sold to Ellen Marsvin, Leonora’s grandmother, and Leonora inherited it from +her mother. It is now called Holckenhavn, and the seat of Count Holck.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43" id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Namely Casetta, a Spanish nobleman, who afterwards married their +daughter Anna Katherine, but both he and their children died soon. (<i>See</i> +the Introduction.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44" id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Charles the Second’s Grandmother, Anna, the Queen of James I. was +sister of Leonora Christina’s father, Christian IV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45" id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Sir Henry Bennet, afterwards Lord Arlington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46" id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> A certain Mr. Mowbray.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47" id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Elsewhere she writes the name Broughton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48" id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Sir George Askew.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49" id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Compare with this account the following extracts in the <i>Calendar of +State Papers</i>, domestic series, 1663, 1664, pp. 196, 197<span class="corr" title="added: ,">,</span> 200:—</p> + +<p>1663—<i>July 8.</i>—Warrant to Captain Strode, governor of Dover Castle, to +detain Elionora Christiana, Countess of Uhlfeldt, with her husband, if he +be found with her, and their servants; to keep her close prisoner, and +secure all her papers, according to instructions to be given by Thos. +Parnell.</p> + +<p><i>July 8.</i>—Warrant to Thos. Parnell to observe the movements of the +said Countess of Uhlfeldt; to seize her should she attempt to embark at +Gravesend with her papers, and to detain her close prisoner.</p> + +<p>(<i>July</i>).—Instructions (by Sec. Bennet) to Thos. Parnell, to go to Dover +Castle to deliver instructions, and assist in their execution, relative to a +certain lady (the Countess of Uhlfeldt), who is not to be permitted to +depart, whether she have a pass or not; but to be invited, or if needful +compelled, to lodge at the castle, where the best accommodation is to be +provided for her. It is suspected that her husband lies concealed in the +kingdom, and will also try to pass with his lady, but he also is to be detained, +and her servants also.</p> + +<p><i>July 11.</i>—Thos. Parnell to Williamson. ‘Found the Countess (of Uhlfeldt) +at Dover, and by the aid of the Lieut.-Governor sent the searcher to +her inn, to demand her pass. She said she had none, not knowing it would +be wanted. She submitted patiently to be taken to the castle, and lodged +there till a message was sent to town. The Regent’s gentleman, the bearer +will give an account of all things.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50" id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Several letters written by Leonora during her imprisonment at Dover +to Charles II., Sir Henry Bennet, &c., are printed in a Danish periodical, +<i lang="da">Danske Samlinger</i>, vol. vi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51" id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Reckoning the patacoon to 4s. 8d., this claim would be nearly 5,000<i>l.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52" id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Leonora did not know that the governor of the castle was in the plot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53" id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Additional light is thrown on the arrest of Leonora Christina at Dover +by the following extracts in the <i>Calendar of State Papers</i>, p. 224, +225:—</p> + +<p><i>August 1</i>, <i>Whitehall</i>.—(Sec. Bennet) to Capt. Strode. The King is +satisfied with his account of the lady’s escape and his own behaviour; +continue the same mask, of publishing His Majesty’s displeasure against +all who contributed to it, especially his lieutenant, and this more particularly +in presence of M. Cassett, lest he may suspect connivance. +Cassett is to continue prisoner some time. The Danish Resident is satisfied +with the discretion used, but says his point would not have been +secured had the lady gone to sea without interruption.</p> + +<p><i>August 1</i>?—Account (proposed to be sent to the Gazette?) relative to +Count Uhlfeldt—recording his submission in 1661, the present sentence +against him, his further relapse into crime after a solemn recantation, also +signed by his wife who was his accomplice, though her blood saved her +from sharing his sentence, but who has now betrayed herself into the hands +of the King of Denmark. She was in England when the conspiracy +against the King of Denmark’s life was detected. The King of England +had her movements watched, when she suddenly went off without a pass, +for want of which she was stayed by the Governor of Dover Castle, who +accommodated her in the castle. The Resident of Denmark posted to +Dover, and secured the master of a ship then in the road, with whom he +expected her to tamper, which she did, escaped through the castle window, +and entering a shallop to go on board, was seized and conveyed to Denmark. +With note (by Lord Chancellor Clarendon) that he is not satisfied +with this account, but will prepare a better for another week.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54" id="Footnote_54" href="#FNanchor_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘As I now hope that what I write may +come into your hands, my captivity during the last three years also +having been much lightened.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55" id="Footnote_55" href="#FNanchor_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> A pen has afterwards been drawn through this paragraph, but the +observations occur in the manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56" id="Footnote_56" href="#FNanchor_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> The conclusion of the Preface, from the words ‘Meanwhile let the +will of God,’ etc. has afterwards been erased, when the manuscript +was continued beyond the date assigned in the Preface; and the following +paragraphs, ‘I bear also in mind,’ etc. were intended to form a +new conclusion, but do not seem to have been properly worked in.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57" id="Footnote_57" href="#FNanchor_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Afterwards altered to anno 1685, the 19th of May.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58" id="Footnote_58" href="#FNanchor_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘I had a ring on with a table-diamond worth +200 rix-dollars. I bit this out, threw the gold in the sea, and kept the +stone in my mouth. It could not be observed by my speech that there +was anything in my mouth.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59" id="Footnote_59" href="#FNanchor_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> That is the <span class="sic" title="[sic]">Aulefeldt</span> mentioned in the Preface under the name of +Anfeldt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60" id="Footnote_60" href="#FNanchor_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> <a class="corr" name="corr_27" id="corr_27" title="was: in">In</a> the margin is added: ‘The sorrow manifested by many would far +rather have depressed me; for several people, both men and women, +shed tears, even those whom I did not know.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61" id="Footnote_61" href="#FNanchor_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> This paragraph was afterwards struck out, the contents being transferred +to the Preface.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62" id="Footnote_62" href="#FNanchor_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> This passage was afterwards altered thus: ‘God blinded their eyes +so that they did not perceive my earrings, in each of which there is a +large rose diamond, and from which I have now removed the stones. +The gold, which is in form of a serpent, is still in my ears. They also +did not perceive that something was fastened round my knee.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63" id="Footnote_63" href="#FNanchor_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> That is, give information.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64" id="Footnote_64" href="#FNanchor_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> In the margin the following explanatory note is added: ‘When +his Majesty (Christian IV.) was dead, there was no prince elected, +so that the States were free to choose the king whom they desired, +wherefore the Duke of Holstein, Duke Frederick, promised my deceased +lord that if he would contrive that he should be elected king, the land of +Fyen should belong to him and a double alliance between his children +and ours should be concluded. But my lord rejected this proposal and +would not assist in dispossessing the son of Christian IV. of the kingdom. +The prince had obtained several votes, but my lord contested them.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65" id="Footnote_65" href="#FNanchor_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> It had happened as I thought. There were some in the council who +refused to sign, some because they had not been present at the time of +the procedure, and others because they had not seen on what the sentence +was founded; but they were nevertheless compelled to sign with the +others, on the peril of the king’s displeasure. [Marginal note.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66" id="Footnote_66" href="#FNanchor_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> In the margin is added, ‘and asked whether I was permitted to appeal +against this sentence. All were silent.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67" id="Footnote_67" href="#FNanchor_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> In the margin: ‘The feather-bed had an old cover, and was fresh +filled when I was lying in the roads; the needle, in the hurry, had therefore +been left in.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68" id="Footnote_68" href="#FNanchor_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> In the margin: ‘I myself heard this conversation.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69" id="Footnote_69" href="#FNanchor_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> When I took my meals, the woman had opportunity of talking with +the three men. The coachman helped the tower-warder Rasmus to +bring up the food. [Marginal note.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70" id="Footnote_70" href="#FNanchor_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> I could not see when she spoke with any one, for she did so on the +stairs. [Marginal note.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71" id="Footnote_71" href="#FNanchor_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘There was none.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72" id="Footnote_72" href="#FNanchor_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Did not this accord well with the statement that my lord had offered +the kingdom of Denmark to two potentates? [Marginal note.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73" id="Footnote_73" href="#FNanchor_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘I had never seen La Rosche nor his companion +till I did so at Dover.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74" id="Footnote_74" href="#FNanchor_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The prison governor told the woman about +the magnificence of the festivity and Peder also told her of it, so that it +seemed to her that I could know somewhat from customs of former times.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75" id="Footnote_75" href="#FNanchor_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> The Queen wished that this wooden statue should be brought into my +outer chamber, and so placed in front of the door that it would tumble into +me when my inner door was opened; but the King would not permit it. +[Addition in the margin.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76" id="Footnote_76" href="#FNanchor_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> In the margin is this note: ‘Once when I asked the prison governor for +some scissors to cut my nails, he answered, and that loudly, “What! +what! her nails shall grow like eagles’ claws, and her hair like eagles’ +feathers!” I know well what I thought—if I had only claws and wings!’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77" id="Footnote_77" href="#FNanchor_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> I removed my nails with the needle, scratching them till they came +away. I let the nail of the little finger of my right hand grow, in order to +see how long it would become; but I knocked it off unawares, and I still +have it. [Marginal note.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78" id="Footnote_78" href="#FNanchor_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> The prison cell is outside that in which the doctor is immured. It is +quite dark where he is. [Note in the margin.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79" id="Footnote_79" href="#FNanchor_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘When the prison governor was singing to +himself on those first days, he said, “You must sing, my bird; where is +your velvet robe?” laughing at the same time most heartily. I inferred +from that song who it was.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80" id="Footnote_80" href="#FNanchor_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘In order to grieve the Doctor and to +frighten him, the prison governor unlocked his cell early on the morning +after sentence had been passed, and behaved as if the priest were coming +to him.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81" id="Footnote_81" href="#FNanchor_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> That is, give information.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82" id="Footnote_82" href="#FNanchor_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Peder had some time before thrown into +me eight ducats in a paper, saying, as he closed the door, “Your maid!” +And as the woman knew it, I gave her one of them and Peder one. I +know not whether my maid had given him more; she had many more +concealed on her person.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83" id="Footnote_83" href="#FNanchor_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘As my linen was washed in the servants’ +hall, it once happened that a maid there must unawares have forgotten +a whole skein of thread in a clean chemise, at which I said to the +woman: “You see how the ravens bring me thread!” She was angry +and abused me; I laughed, and answered her jestingly.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84" id="Footnote_84" href="#FNanchor_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘I wrote different things from the Bible +on the paper in which the sugar was given me. My ink-bottle was made +of the piece of pewter lid which the woman had found, the ink was +made from the smoke of the candle collected on a spoon, and the pen +from a fowl’s feather cut by the piece of glass. I have this still in my +possession.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85" id="Footnote_85" href="#FNanchor_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The prison governor told me afterwards +that the clay things were placed in the King’s art-cabinet, besides a rib of +mutton, which I used as a knife, which he also gave to the King; +hoping (he said) in this way to obtain a knife for me.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86" id="Footnote_86" href="#FNanchor_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The day that the prison governor had taken +away the clay things the woman was very angry with me, because I gave +him a small jug which I had made; she said it was made in ridicule +of her, the old slut with the jug! I ought to have given him the cat which +I had also made. I said, “I can still do so.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87" id="Footnote_87" href="#FNanchor_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘At first when the prison governor’s fear was +so great, he did not venture to be alone in the outer room. Peder and +the tower warder were not allowed both to leave him at the same time. I +did not know the reason for this.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88" id="Footnote_88" href="#FNanchor_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Some time after this dispute I had a +quarrel with her about some beer, which she was in the habit of emptying +on the floor, saying, “This shall go to the subterraneous folk.” I had +forbidden her to do so, but she did it again, so I took her by the head and +pushed it back with my hand. She was frightened, for this feels just as if +one’s head was falling off. I said, “That is a foretaste.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89" id="Footnote_89" href="#FNanchor_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘I made the snuffers serve as scissors. When +Balcke came to me and brought me at my desire material for drawers, and +requested to know the size, I said I could make them myself. He +laughed, and said, “Who will cut them out?” I replied I could do it +myself with the snuffers. He begged to see me do it, and looked on +with no little astonishment.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90" id="Footnote_90" href="#FNanchor_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘While Balcke filled the place of prison +governor, he drank my wine at every meal, which had formerly fallen to +the tower warder, the coachman, or the prisoner Christian, when the old +prison governor had not wished for it, so that this also contributed to +Balcke’s dismissal.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91" id="Footnote_91" href="#FNanchor_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> In the margin: ‘It is indeed a bad flight of stairs to the place +where the basin was emptied.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92" id="Footnote_92" href="#FNanchor_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Gabel had said (I was afterwards informed) +that I was frightened at the appearance of the man, and thought it was +the executioner. I did not regard him as such, but as a poor cavalier, +and I imagined he was to undertake the duties which Peder the coachman +performed.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93" id="Footnote_93" href="#FNanchor_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> In the margin: ‘Balcke has waited upon me for twenty weeks, +and he was accused of having told me what happened outside. In +proof of this it was alleged that he had told me that Gabel had been +made Statholder, to whom I afterwards gave this title in M. Buck’s hearing. +Balcke one day could not restrain himself from laughing, for while +he was standing and talking with me, the woman and the man were +standing on the stairs outside, chuckling and laughing; and he said, +“Outside there is the chatter market. Why does not Peder so arrange +it that it is forbidden? You can get to know all that goes on in the +world without me.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94" id="Footnote_94" href="#FNanchor_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘While Balcke waited on me, a folding table +was brought in for the bread and glasses, and also for the woman’s +food, which she did not take till the doors had been locked. There was +nothing there before but the night-stool to place the dishes on: that was +the woman’s table.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95" id="Footnote_95" href="#FNanchor_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘At that time there was a large double window +with iron grating, which was walled up when I was brought here; +and Christian told me afterwards how the maids in the store-room had +supplied him with many a can of beer, which he had drawn up by a cord.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96" id="Footnote_96" href="#FNanchor_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> In the margin is this note: ‘Christian had at that time given me some +pieces of flint which are so sharp that I can cut fine linen with them by +the thread. The pieces are still in my possession, and with this implement +I executed various things.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97" id="Footnote_97" href="#FNanchor_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Such is his character.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98" id="Footnote_98" href="#FNanchor_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘These rope-dancers did things that I had +never seen before. One had a basket attached to each leg, and in each +basket was a boy of five years of age, and a woman fell upon the rope and +jumped up again. But during the time of the other woman, I saw a man +suspended by his chin and springing back upon the rope.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99" id="Footnote_99" href="#FNanchor_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘This was the priest who attended to the +prisoners, and as he confessed her in the anteroom, I heard every word said +by him, but not her replies.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100" id="Footnote_100" href="#FNanchor_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Her child.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101" id="Footnote_101" href="#FNanchor_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘She was in every respect a malicious +woman, and grudged a little meat to any prisoner. A poor sacristan +was my neighbour in the Dark Church, and I gave her a piece of meat +for him. She would not take it to him, which she could easily have +done without anyone seeing. When I saw the meat afterwards, I found +fault with her. Then she said, “Why should I give it to him? He has +never given me anything. I get nothing for it.” I said, “You give nothing +of your own away.” This sacristan was imprisoned because he had taken +back his own horse, the man to whom he had sold it not having paid him. +He sang all day long, and on Sunday he went through the service like +a clergyman, with the responses, &c.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102" id="Footnote_102" href="#FNanchor_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘She had begged Chresten, for more than +half a year before she left, to tell the prison-governor that her life hung on +a thread; that I had a ball of clay in my handkerchief, and that I had +threatened to break her head to pieces with it (I had said one day that +a person with a ball of that kind could kill another). She invented +several similar lies, as I subsequently heard.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103" id="Footnote_103" href="#FNanchor_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The pins I had obtained some time ago from +the first woman. She had procured them with some needles, and, thinking +to hide them from me, she carried them in her bosom in a paper and forgot +them. In the evening when she dropped her petticoat to go to bed, +the paper fell on the floor. I knew from the sound what it was. One +Saturday, when she went upstairs with the night-stool, I took the pins out +of her box, and she never ventured to ask for them; she saw me using them +afterwards, and said nothing about them.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104" id="Footnote_104" href="#FNanchor_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘I said one day to the woman, “Were it not +for the Queen, who would make the King angry with me, I would retaliate +upon the prison governor for having decoyed Doctor Sperling. I would +take the keys when he was sleeping, and wait for Chresten to come with the +cups, and then I would go up the King’s stairs and take the keys to the +King, just as the lacquey did with the old prison-governor. But I should +gain nothing from this King, and perhaps should be still more strictly +confined.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105" id="Footnote_105" href="#FNanchor_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘At first, when this Karen did not know the +prison governor, she did not venture so boldly to the prisoners in the Dark +Church to give them anything, for she said, “The prison governor stares at +me so.” I said, “It is with him as with little children; they look staring +at a thing, and do not know what it is.” It is the case with him, he does +not trouble himself about anything.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106" id="Footnote_106" href="#FNanchor_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The hinges of my outer door are so far +from the wall that they are open more than a hand’s breadth, so that I have +got in large things between them; and above they are still more open, and +when I put my arm through the peep-hole of the inner door and stretch it +out, I can reach to the top of the outer one, though the woman cannot.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107" id="Footnote_107" href="#FNanchor_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> In the margin: ‘She has a curious manner of spelling. She cannot +spell a word of three syllables; for when she has to add the two syllables +to the third, she has forgotten the first. If I urge her, however, she can +read the word correctly when she has spelt the first syllable. She spells +words of two syllables and reads those of four.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108" id="Footnote_108" href="#FNanchor_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> In the margin: ‘Once she asked me whether she could not get a book +in which there was neither <i>q</i> nor <i>x</i>, for she could not remember these +letters. I answered, “Yes, if you will yourself have such a book printed.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109" id="Footnote_109" href="#FNanchor_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> In the margin of the MS. is added: ‘When this Karen came to me +she left me no peace till I allowed her to clean the floor; for I feared +that which happened, namely that the smell would cause sickness. In +one place there was an accumulation of dirt a couple of feet thick. When +she had loosened it, it had to remain till the door was opened. I went to +bed, threw the bed-clothes over my head, and held my nose.’<a name="FNanchor_E38" id="FNanchor_E38" href="#Footnote_E38" class="fnanchor">[E38]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110" id="Footnote_110" href="#FNanchor_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘On the stick there was a tin candlestick, +which was occasionally placed at the side of my bed. I used it for fixing +my knitting.’<a name="FNanchor_E39" id="FNanchor_E39" href="#Footnote_E39" class="fnanchor">[E39]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111" id="Footnote_111" href="#FNanchor_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> In the margin: ‘The girl was a prostitute to whom he had promised +marriage, and the tower-warder—both the former one and Chresten—let +her in to Christian, went out himself, and left them alone.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112" id="Footnote_112" href="#FNanchor_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> In the margin: ‘In the time of his good humour he had procured me, +for money and candles, all that I desired, so that I had both knife and +scissors, besides silk, thread, and various things to beguile the time. This +vexed him afterwards.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113" id="Footnote_113" href="#FNanchor_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> In the margin: ‘Immediately after the girl had been in Skaane, he gave +her a box full of pieces of wax, on which were the impressions of all the +tower keys; and amongst them was written, “My girl will have these made +in Skaane.” I had this from the woman, who was just then carrying up the +night-stool, and on the following Saturday I gave the box back with many +thanks, saying I did not care to escape from the tower in this way. This +did not please him, as I well saw.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114" id="Footnote_114" href="#FNanchor_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘At this time there was a peasant imprisoned +in the Dark Church for having answered the bailiff of the manor with +bad language. I sent him food. He was a great rogue. I know not +whether he were incited by others, but he told Karen that if I would write +to my children, he would take care of the letter. I sent him word that I +thanked him; I had nothing to say to them and nothing to write with. +The rogue answered, “Ah so! Ah so!”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115" id="Footnote_115" href="#FNanchor_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> In the margin: ‘It was wonderful that the governor did not hear the +noise which Christian made. He was telling me, I remember, at the time, +how he had frightened one of the court servants with a mouse in a box.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116" id="Footnote_116" href="#FNanchor_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘He enticed the prison governor to throw a +kitten that I had down from the top of the tower, and he laughed at me +ironically as he told the woman of his manly act, and said, “The cat was +mangy! the cat was mangy!” I would not let him see that it annoyed me.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117" id="Footnote_117" href="#FNanchor_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘1666. While Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_28" id="corr_28" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter, waited +on me, a Nuremberger was my neighbour in the Dark Church; he was +accused of having coined base money. She carried food to him every day. +He sang and read day and night, and sang very well. He sang the psalm +‘Incline thine ear unto me, O Lord,’ slowly at my desire. I copied it, and +afterwards translated it into Danish. And as he often prayed aloud at +night and confessed his sins, praying God for forgiveness and exclaiming +again and again, ‘Thou must help me, God! Yes, God, thou must help +me, or thou art no God. Thou must be gracious;’ thus hindering me from +sleep, I sent him word through Karen to pray more softly, which he did. +He was taken to the Holm for some weeks, and was then set at liberty.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118" id="Footnote_118" href="#FNanchor_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> In the MS. this date ‘1667’ is in the <i>margin</i>, not in the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119" id="Footnote_119" href="#FNanchor_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘This very hymn was afterwards the cause of +Christian’s being again well-behaved, as he subsequently himself told me, +for he heard me one day singing it, and he said that his heart was +touched, and that tears filled his eyes. I had at that time no other writing-materials +than I have before mentioned.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120" id="Footnote_120" href="#FNanchor_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> What he meant by it I know not; perhaps he meant that I should die +in misery, and that he should live in freedom. That anticipation has been +just reversed, for his godless life in his liberty threw him subsequently +into despair, so that he shot himself. Whether God will give me freedom +in this world is known to Him alone.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121" id="Footnote_121" href="#FNanchor_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘He could not prevent his boy Paaske from +having a piece of meat placed for him in front of the door.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122" id="Footnote_122" href="#FNanchor_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The bride had supplicated for me at +Nykjöbing, but had not gained her object. This was thought to be dangerous +both for the land and people.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123" id="Footnote_123" href="#FNanchor_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘It was a Sunday; this was the honour he +showed to God. He went into the wine-house instead of into God’s +house. He came out about twelve o’clock.<span class="corr" title="added: ’">’</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124" id="Footnote_124" href="#FNanchor_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘A few months after she had come to me, she +had an attack of ague. She wept, and was afraid. I was well satisfied +with her, and thought I would see what faith could do, so I wrote something +on a slip of paper and hung it round her neck. The fever left her, +and she protested that all her bodily pains passed all at once into her legs +when I hung the paper round her neck. Her legs immediately became +much swollen.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125" id="Footnote_125" href="#FNanchor_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘When the priest left me, he spoke with +Walter in front of the grated hole, told him of my desire, and its probable +result. Walter laughed ironically, and said, “My hair will not stand on +end for fear of that matter being mooted again. The Queen knows that +full well. Say that too!” While Walter was in the Witch Cell hole, he +had written to the Queen, but the King received the paper.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126" id="Footnote_126" href="#FNanchor_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘I looked through a hole in my outermost +door at the time that Walter was brought up in the Dark Church. He +wept aloud. I afterwards saw him once in front of the hole of the door +of his cell. He was very dirty, and had a large beard full of dirt, very +clotted.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127" id="Footnote_127" href="#FNanchor_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘From books which had been secretly lent +me, and I did so with the pen and ink I have before mentioned, on any +pieces of paper which I happened to procure.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128" id="Footnote_128" href="#FNanchor_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘Chresten was not well satisfied with the +woman, for in her time he never received a draught of wine, so that he +once stole the wine from her can and substituted something impure in its +place; at this she made a great noise, begged me for God’s sake to give +her leave to strike Chresten with the can. She did not gain permission +to do so; she told Chresten afterwards that she had not dared to do it, +for my sake. She had a great scar on one cheek, which a soldier had once +given her for a similar act.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129" id="Footnote_129" href="#FNanchor_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘At this time I had six prisoners for my +neighbours. Three were peasants from Femeren, who were accused of +having exported some sheep; the other three were Danish. They were +divided in two parties, and as the Danes were next the door, I gave them +some food; they had moreover been imprisoned some time before the +others. When the Danes, according to their custom, sang the morning +and evening psalms, the Germans growled forth with all their might +another song in order to drown their voices; they generally sang the +song of Dorothea.’ <a name="FNanchor_E48" id="FNanchor_E48" href="#Footnote_E48" class="fnanchor">[E48]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130" id="Footnote_130" href="#FNanchor_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘As I was to receive clothes, I asked for +mourning clothes. Then the prison governor asked me for whom I wished +to mourn, and this in a most ironical manner. I answered: “It is not for +your aunt; it is not for me to mourn for her, although your aunt has been +dead long. I think you have as good reason for wearing mourning as +I.” He said he would report it. I did not receive them at once.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131" id="Footnote_131" href="#FNanchor_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Chresten showed me once some bread, from +which Walter had taken the crumb, and had filled it full of straw and dirt, +in fact, of the very worst kind.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132" id="Footnote_132" href="#FNanchor_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> In the margin is added; ‘The prison governor also severely reprimanded +the woman because she had told me that the King was dead; that it would +not go as well with me as I thought. She gave him word for word.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133" id="Footnote_133" href="#FNanchor_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Among his terrible curses was one that his +tongue might be paralysed if he had not spoken for me. The following +year God struck him with paralysis of the tongue; he had a stroke from +anger, and lived eight days afterwards; he was in his senses, but he was +not able to speak, and he died; but he lived to see the day when another +clergyman administered the holy communion to me.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134" id="Footnote_134" href="#FNanchor_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘I saw now that this was the cause of Balcke’s +dismissal.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135" id="Footnote_135" href="#FNanchor_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Chresten, who was ill satisfied both with +Karen and with me, gave us a different title one day, when he was saying +something to one of the house-servants, upon which the latter asked him +who had said it? Chresten answered, ‘She who is kept up there for her.’ +When I was told of this, I laughed and said, ‘That is quite right, we are +two “shes.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136" id="Footnote_136" href="#FNanchor_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘Some of my money I expended on books, +and it is remarkable that I obtained from M. Buck’s books (which were +sold by auction) among others the great Martilegium, in folio, which he +would not lend me. I excerpted and translated various matters from +Spanish, Italian, French, and German authors. I especially wrote out +and translated into Danish the female personages of different rank and +origin, who were mentioned with praise by the authors as valiant, true, +chaste and sensible, patient, steadfast and scholarly.’ <a name="FNanchor_E52" id="FNanchor_E52" href="#Footnote_E52" class="fnanchor">[E52]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137" id="Footnote_137" href="#FNanchor_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘This dog was of an Icelandic breed, not +pretty, but very faithful and sagacious. He slept every afternoon on the +stool, and when she had fallen asleep, she let her hands hang down. Then +the dog would get up and run softly and bite her finger till the blood came. +If she threw down her slippers, he would take one and sit upon it. She +never got it back again without a bloody finger.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138" id="Footnote_138" href="#FNanchor_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> In the margin is this note: ‘In the year 1672, on the 4th May, one +of the house-servants was arrested for stealing. Adam Knudt, at that +time gentleman of the chamber, himself saw him take several ducats early +one morning from the King’s trousers, which were hanging against the +walls. He was at first for some hours my neighbour in the Dark Church. +He was then placed in the Witch Cell, and as he was to be tortured, he +received secret warning of it (which was forbidden), so that when the executioner +came he was found to have hung himself. That is to say, he +was said to have hung himself, though to all appearance this was not +possible; he was found with a cloth round his neck, which was a swaddling-cloth +belonging to one of Chresten, the tower-warder’s, children. +Chresten became my neighbour, and was ostensibly brought to justice, +but he was acquitted and reinstated in his office.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139" id="Footnote_139" href="#FNanchor_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘She was so proud of her knowledge of German +that when she sang a morning hymn (which, however rarely happened) +she interspersed it with German words. I once asked her if she +knew what her mother’s cat was called in Danish, and I said something +at which she was angry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140" id="Footnote_140" href="#FNanchor_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘There was no similar row on the other +stocking. The prison governor never mentioned it.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141" id="Footnote_141" href="#FNanchor_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘I must remember one thing about Karen, +<a class="corr" name="corr_29" id="corr_29" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter. When anything gave her satisfaction, she would take +up her book directly and read. I asked her whether she understood what +she read. “Yes, of course,” she answered, “as truly as God will bless you! +When a word comes that I don’t understand, I pass it over.” I smiled a +little in my own mind, but said nothing.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142" id="Footnote_142" href="#FNanchor_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> In the margin is noted: ‘At my desire the prison governor gave me a +rat whose tail he had cut off; this I placed in a parrot’s cage, and gave it +food, so that it grew very tame. The woman grudged me this amusement; +and as the cage hung in the outer apartment, and had a wire grating +underneath, so that the dirt might fall out, she burned the rat with a candle +from below. It was easy to perceive it, but she denied it.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143" id="Footnote_143" href="#FNanchor_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> In the margin stood originally the following note, which has afterwards +been struck out: ‘In this year, 1676, the prison governor married for +the third time; he married a woman who herself had had two husbands. +Anno 1677, Aug. 9, died my sister Elisabeth Augusta.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144" id="Footnote_144" href="#FNanchor_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> On a piece of paper which is fastened to the MS. by a pin is the +following note referring to the same matter: ‘On March 4, in the same +year 1678, a woman named Lucia, who had been in the service of Lady +Rigitze Grubbe, became my neighbour. She was accused by Agneta +Sophia Budde, as the person who at the instigation of her mistress had +persuaded her to poison Countess F. Birrete Skeel, and that Lucia had +brought her the poison. There was evidence as to the person from whom +Lucia had bought the poison. This woman was a steady faithful servant. +She received everything that was imposed upon her with the greatest +patience, and held out courageously in the Dark Cell. She had two men +as companions, both of whom cried, moaned and wept. From the +Countess Skeel (who had to supply her with food) meat was sent her +which was full of maggots and mouldy bread. I took pity on her (not +for the sake of her mistress, for she had rendered me little good service, +and had rewarded me evil for the benefits of former times, but out of sympathy). +And I sent her meat and drink and money that she might soften +Gert, who was too hard to her. She was tortured, but would not confess any +thing of what she was accused, and always defended her mistress. She +remained a long time in prison.<a name="FNanchor_E58" id="FNanchor_E58" href="#Footnote_E58" class="fnanchor">[E58]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145" id="Footnote_145" href="#FNanchor_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Ole the tower-warder was cudgelled on his +back by the prison governor when Margrete was gone, and he was charged +with having said what Margrete had informed him respecting her size.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146" id="Footnote_146" href="#FNanchor_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘Other natural matter was evacuated, but +the stone stuck fast in the duct, and seemed to be round, for I could not +gain hold of it with an instrument I had procured for the purpose.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147" id="Footnote_147" href="#FNanchor_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The prison governor told me afterwards that +the King laughed when he had told his Majesty my answer about the +clavicordium, and had said, “Yes, yes.”’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148" id="Footnote_148" href="#FNanchor_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> In the margin is added: ‘The woman who attended on me received +eight rix-dollars monthly.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149" id="Footnote_149" href="#FNanchor_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> In the margin: ‘She had him learn wood-carving.’</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h2><a name="ENDNOTES" id="ENDNOTES"></a>ENDNOTES</h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E1" id="Footnote_E1" href="#FNanchor_E1"><span class="label">[E1]</span></a> This journey really took place in November and December, +1656.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E2" id="Footnote_E2" href="#FNanchor_E2"><span class="label">[E2]</span></a> This man was a German by birth, but settled in Denmark, +where he was nobilitated under the name of Lövenklau. +His bad conduct obliged him to leave the country, and he +went to Sweden, where he had lived before he came to +Denmark, and where Ulfeldt, then in Sweden, procured him +an appointment as a colonel in the army. This kindness he +repaid by informing the Danish Government against Ulfeldt +in 1654, in consequence of which he was not only allowed to +return to Denmark, but even obtained a lucrative office in +Norway. Here he quarrelled with the viceroy, Niels Trolle, +and tried to serve him as he had served Ulfeldt; but he +failed to establish his accusations against Trolle, and was +condemned into the forfeiture of his office and of his patent +of nobility. He then left Denmark at least for a season, and +how he came to apply to Leonora Christina for assistance is +not known, as she has omitted to mention it in the Memoir +itself, though she evidently intended to do so.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E3" id="Footnote_E3" href="#FNanchor_E3"><span class="label">[E3]</span></a> This Count Rantzow was the same who had negotiated +the compromise with Ulfeldt and Leonora at Bornholm +in 1661, and in fact brought it about. It was currently reported +in Copenhagen at the time that he had received a large +sum of money from Ulfeldt on that occasion, and he afterwards +showed his friendly disposition towards him by promising +him to intercede with the King for Christian Ulfeldt when +the latter had killed Fuchs. Leonora, however, speaks of him +as an enemy probably because he presided in the High Court +of Appeal which condemned Ulfeldt as a traitor. But the facts +of the case left him scarcely any other alternative than that +of judging as he did, nor would it have been surprising if +Ulfeldt’s last conduct had altered Rantzow’s feelings towards +him. Rantzow also presided in the commission which examined +Leonora in the Blue Tower.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E4" id="Footnote_E4" href="#FNanchor_E4"><span class="label">[E4]</span></a> Abel Catharina is mentioned in the Memoir itself as the +person who searched Leonora when she first entered her +prison, and did so in a very unbecoming manner; she acted, +however, under the orders of the Mistress of the Robes, M. v. +Haxthausen. Abel Catharina is otherwise chiefly known as +the founder of a charity for old women in Copenhagen, which +still bears her name.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E5" id="Footnote_E5" href="#FNanchor_E5"><span class="label">[E5]</span></a> This name is mis-spelt for Ahlefeldt. This officer received +Leonora on her arrival at Copenhagen, as she relates herself. +He had distinguished himself in the siege of Copenhagen in +1659, and died as a Lieutenant-General.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E6" id="Footnote_E6" href="#FNanchor_E6"><span class="label">[E6]</span></a> Christoffer Gabel is mentioned several times in the Autobiography. +He was an influential man at the time, in great +favour at court, and he had a great part in effecting the release +of Ulfeldt from the prison at Bornholm, for which he, +according to Leonora’s statement, received 5,000 dollars from +Ulfeldt. Both he and Reedtz were members of the court +which condemned Ulfeldt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E7" id="Footnote_E7" href="#FNanchor_E7"><span class="label">[E7]</span></a> The passage alluded to occurs in Epictet’s Encheiridion, +chap. 43 (in some editions chap. 65), where he says: ‘Every +matter has two handles, one by which it may be carried (or +endured), the other by which it cannot be carried (or endured). +If thy brother has done thee injury, do not lay hold of this +matter from the fact that he has done thee an injury, for this +is the handle by which it cannot be carried (or endured); but +rather from this side: that he is thy brother, educated with +thee; and thou wilt lay hold of the matter from that side from +which it may be managed.’ It is easily seen how Leonora +makes use of the double meaning of the Greek word [Greek: phorêtos], +which is equally well used of an object which can be carried +in the literal physical sense, and of a matter which can be +endured or borne with.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E8" id="Footnote_E8" href="#FNanchor_E8"><span class="label">[E8]</span></a> Birgitte Speckhans was the wife of Frants v. Speckhans, +master of ceremonies, afterwards Privy Councillor, &c. She +had formerly been in the service of Leonora Christina, who +was then at the height of her position, and ever afterwards +proved herself a friend of her and Ulfeldt. It was in her +house that they stayed after escaping from Malmöe, and she +kept some of their movable goods for them during their +imprisonment at Hammershuus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E9" id="Footnote_E9" href="#FNanchor_E9"><span class="label">[E9]</span></a> Birgitte Ulfeldt was a younger sister of Corfitz, who, in +a letter to Sperling, declares her to be his and Leonora’s +bitterest enemy. What is known of her life is certainly not +to her advantage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E10" id="Footnote_E10" href="#FNanchor_E10"><span class="label">[E10]</span></a> This is the famous Jos. Borro or Burrhus, physician and +<span class="sic" title="[sic]">alchymist</span>. He is often mentioned in books of the seventeenth +century, on account of his wonderful cures and alleged knowledge +of the art of making gold. In 1667 he came to Denmark, +where King Fredrik III. spent considerable sums on +the establishment of large laboratories for him, in a building +which is still known as ‘The Gold-house.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E11" id="Footnote_E11" href="#FNanchor_E11"><span class="label">[E11]</span></a> D’Aranda was one of the most influential families in +Bruges. One of them, by name Bernard, was some time in +the Danish army, afterwards secretary to Corfitz Ulfeldt, and +employed by him in diplomatic missions. He died in 1658, +but when Ulfeldt came to Bruges in 1662 he lived for some +time with one of Bernard’s brothers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E12" id="Footnote_E12"></a><a name="Footnote_E12B" id="Footnote_E12B"></a><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_E12">[E12]</a><br /><a href="#FNanchor_E12B">[E12b]</a></span> H. Bielke was Admiral of the realm; his wife was an +Ulfeldt, and it was he who procured Corfitz Ulfeldt his leave +of absence in 1662, of which he made such regretable use. +He, too, was one of the judges that convicted him. Oluf +Brokkenhuus was Corfitz Ulfeldt’s brother-in-law; Elizabeth +Parsbjerg was the widow of his elder brother Lauridts Ulfeldt. +Marie Ulfeldt was sister of Corfitz.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E13" id="Footnote_E13" href="#FNanchor_E13"><span class="label">[E13]</span></a> Charles de Goutant, Duc de Biron, a celebrated French +General, some time favourite of Henry IV. King of France, +was found guilty of conspiring against his master with the +courts of Spain and Savoy. Henry IV. forgave him, but he +recommenced his intrigues. It is supposed that the King +would have forgiven him a second time if he had confessed +his crime; but he refused to do so, and was beheaded in 1602.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E14" id="Footnote_E14" href="#FNanchor_E14"><span class="label">[E14]</span></a> This lady is known under the name of Haxthausen; +and Schaffshausen is probably a mistake on Leonora’s part, +although of course she may have been married to an officer of +this name before she married N. v. Haxthausen. She was a +German by birth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E15" id="Footnote_E15" href="#FNanchor_E15"><span class="label">[E15]</span></a> Elizabeth Augusta, a younger sister of Leonora, married +Hans Lindenow, a Danish nobleman, who died in the siege +of Copenhagen, 1659.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E16" id="Footnote_E16" href="#FNanchor_E16"><span class="label">[E16]</span></a> That Leonora here speaks of her husband as her ‘late +lord,’ is due only to the fact that the Memoir was not written +till after his death; at the time of these events he was still +alive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E17" id="Footnote_E17" href="#FNanchor_E17"><span class="label">[E17]</span></a> When the sentence on Ulfeldt had become publicly known, +the most absurd rumours circulated in Copenhagen, and +found their way to foreign newspapers. For instance <i>the +kingdom’s</i> Intelligencer, No. 33, Aug. 10-17, 1663, says, in a +correspondence from Hamburg: ‘They say the traitors intended +to set <a class="corr" name="corr_30" id="corr_30" title="was: Copenagen">Copenhagen</a> on fire in divers places, and also the +fleet, to destroy the King and family, to blow up the King’s +palace, and deliver the crown over to another.’ The Government +itself, on hearing of Ulfeldt’s plots, made great military +preparations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E18" id="Footnote_E18" href="#FNanchor_E18"><span class="label">[E18]</span></a> The sentence on Ulfeldt was given on July 24, but probably +not published till a few days later.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E19" id="Footnote_E19" href="#FNanchor_E19"><span class="label">[E19]</span></a> A line has been drawn in the MS. through the two last +paragraphs, and their contents transferred to the continuation +of the Preface.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E20" id="Footnote_E20" href="#FNanchor_E20"><span class="label">[E20]</span></a> Leonora refers to the betrothal of Prince Johan George +of Saxony and Anna Sophia, the eldest daughter of +Fredrik III., of which an account occurs in the sequel.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E21" id="Footnote_E21" href="#FNanchor_E21"><span class="label">[E21]</span></a> A copy of the fragments which had been recovered of this +letter is still in existence.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E22" id="Footnote_E22" href="#FNanchor_E22"><span class="label">[E22]</span></a> Ulfeldt received this present probably in 1647, when in +France as ambassador, on which occasion Queen Anna is +known to have presented to Leonora a gold watch set with +diamonds of great value.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E23" id="Footnote_E23" href="#FNanchor_E23"><span class="label">[E23]</span></a> The lady alluded to is Helvig Margaretha Elizabeth +Rantzow, widow of the famous General Josias Rantzow, who +died as a maréchal of France. She had become a Romanist, +and took the veil after her husband’s death. Subsequently +she founded the new order of the Annunciata. In 1666 the +first convent of this order, of which she was abbess, removed +to Hildesheim, where she died in 1706.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E24" id="Footnote_E24" href="#FNanchor_E24"><span class="label">[E24]</span></a> Margrete Rantzow was the sister of that Birgitte Rantzow +to whom there is an allusion in the Autobiography of +Leonora, where she relates the examination to which she +was subjected at Malmöe. Margrete’s husband was Ove +Thott, a nobleman in Skaane, who had taken an important +part in the preparations for a rising against the Swedes, in +which Corfitz Ulfeldt was implicated.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E25" id="Footnote_E25" href="#FNanchor_E25"><span class="label">[E25]</span></a> The book in question is probably Philip Sidney’s work, ‘The +Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia,’ a famous book of its time, +which Leonora, who does not seem to have known it, has +understood to be a book by the Countess of Pembroke. It is +true, however, that Philip’s sister, Mary Sidney, Countess of +Pembroke, had translated a French play, Antonius (1592, +and again 1595).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E26" id="Footnote_E26" href="#FNanchor_E26"><span class="label">[E26]</span></a> La Roche Tudesquin had some time been in the Danish<span class="corr" title="removed: ,"></span> +army, but had returned to France when Hannibal Sehested, +while in Paris as Ambassador from the King of Denmark, +received information from a certain Demoiselle Langlois that +La Roche was implicated in a conspiracy for surrendering the +principal Danish fortresses to a foreign prince. He and a friend +of his, Jaques Beranger, were arrested in Brussels in September +1663, but not, as Leonora says, immediately brought to +Copenhagen. The Spanish Government did not consent to their +extradition till the following year, and they were not placed +in the Blue Tower till June 1664. La Roche seems to have +been guilty of peculation while in the Danish service, but the +accusation of treason seems to have been unfounded.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E27" id="Footnote_E27" href="#FNanchor_E27"><span class="label">[E27]</span></a> In the MS. a pen is drawn through this paragraph, of +which the contents were to form part of the Preface. The date +of Count Rantzow is moreover not correctly given; he died +on November 8, five days before the execution of Ulfeldt’s +effigy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E28" id="Footnote_E28" href="#FNanchor_E28"><span class="label">[E28]</span></a> The execution took place on November 13. The King’s +order concerning it to the prison governor, Jochum Waltpurger, +exists still. It is to this effect: ‘V. G. T., Know that you +have to command the executioner in our name, that to-day, +November 13, he is to take the effigy of Corfitz, formerly +called Count of Ulfeldt, from the Blue Tower where it is now, +and bring it on a car to the ordinary place in the square in +front of the castle; and when he has come to the place of +justice, strike off the right hand and the head, whereafter he +is to divide the body into four parts on the spot, and carry +them away with him, whilst the head is to be placed on a +spike on the Blue Tower for remembrance and execration.’ +The order was afterwards altered in this particular, that the +head was to be placed on the town hall, and the four parts of +the body one at each of the gates of the city. The executioner +was subsequently ordered to efface the arms of Corfitz and his +wife wherever they occurred in the town; for instance, on their +pews in the churches. Leonora states in her Autobiography that +the prison governor some time after told her that the Queen +had desired that the effigy should be placed in the antechamber +of Leonora’s prison, and that she should be ordered +to see it there; but that the king refused his consent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E29" id="Footnote_E29" href="#FNanchor_E29"><span class="label">[E29]</span></a> The date of Ulfeldt’s death is variously given as the +20th or the 27th of February, 1664. The latter date is given +in a letter from his son Christian to Sperling, and elsewhere, +(for instance, in a short Latin Biography of Ulfeldt called +‘<span class="la">Machinationes Cornificii Ulefeldii</span>,’ published soon after); but +the better evidence points to the earlier date. Christian +Ulfeldt was not, it seems, at Basle at the time, and may have +made a mistake as to the date, though he indicates the right +day of the week (a Saturday), or he may have had reason for +purposely making a misleading statement. In Copenhagen +the report of his death was long suspected to be a mere trick.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E30" id="Footnote_E30" href="#FNanchor_E30"><span class="label">[E30]</span></a> Ulfeldt and Leonora had twelve children in all, of which +seven were alive when Corfitz died; and it so happened as, +explained before, that the youngest, Leo, was the only one +who continued the name. It is from him that Count Waldstein, +the owner of the MS., is descended.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E31" id="Footnote_E31" href="#FNanchor_E31"><span class="label">[E31]</span></a> This hymn-tune is still in use in the Danish Church.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E32" id="Footnote_E32" href="#FNanchor_E32"><span class="label">[E32]</span></a> Dr. Otto Sperling, the elder, is often alluded to in the +<a class="corr" name="corr_31" id="corr_31" title="was: Autobiograpy">Autobiography</a> of Leonora as ‘<span lang="fr">notre vieillard</span>;’ he was a faithful +friend of Ulfeldt, and in 1654 he settled in Hamburg, where +he educated Corfitz’s youngest son Leo. He was implicated +in Ulfeldt’s intrigues, and a compromising correspondence +between them fell into the hands of the Spanish Government, +which placed it at the disposal of Hannibal <a class="corr" name="corr_32" id="corr_32" title="was: Schested">Sehested</a> when he +passed through the Netherlands on his way home from his +mission to France in 1663. In order to obtain possession of +Sperling’s person, the Danish authorities used the ruse of sending +a Danish officer to his house in Hamburg, and request +him to visit professionally a sick person just across the Danish +frontier, paying in advance a considerable fee. Sperling, who +did not suspect the transaction, was arrested immediately on +crossing the boundary, and brought to Copenhagen. He was +condemned to death July 28, 1664; but the sentence was +commuted, and he died in the Blue Tower December 25, +1681. Otto Sperling, jun., to whom Leonora sent the MS. +of her Autobiography, and who often visited her at Maribo, +was his son.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E33" id="Footnote_E33" href="#FNanchor_E33"><span class="label">[E33]</span></a> The name of this judge was Villum Lange, and it is a +curious coincidence that a letter from him of a somewhat later +time (1670), has been found in one of the archives, in which +he speaks of this very affair, and in which he expresses himself +very much in the sense here indicated.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E34" id="Footnote_E34" href="#FNanchor_E34"><span class="label">[E34]</span></a> The words ‘under the bottom ... to ... Auguste,’ inclusive, +have been struck out in the MS., and it has been impossible +to read more than what here is rendered. In the +Autobiography, where the same occurrence is related, Leonora +says that she put on it the names both of the King and of the +Queen; that on the bottom she wrote to the Queen, and that +it was the Queen who discovered the inscription; from which +it would appear that the Queen at all events was included in +her ingeniously contrived supplique.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E35" id="Footnote_E35" href="#FNanchor_E35"><span class="label">[E35]</span></a> This book was doubtless the German translation of Conr. +Lycosthenes’ work, ‘<span class="la">Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum Chronicon</span>.’ +It is an amusing illustrated volume, much read in its time. +The translation in question appeared in Basle, 1557.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E36" id="Footnote_E36" href="#FNanchor_E36"><span class="label">[E36]</span></a> This custom of congratulating persons who intend to +communicate, or just have done so, is still retained by many +of the older generation in Denmark.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E37" id="Footnote_E37"></a><a name="Footnote_E37B" id="Footnote_E37B"></a><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_E37">[E37]</a><br /><a href="#FNanchor_E37B">[E37b]</a></span> It was a Colonel Hagedorn that entrapped and arrested +Dr. Sperling, and Jäger played only a subordinate part in +that transaction. He is stated to have been a cousin of Gabel, +and to have been formerly a commander in the navy. He +was appointed prison governor on June 12, 1665, and Balcke +therefore doubtless only held the appointment provisionally.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E38" id="Footnote_E38" href="#FNanchor_E38"><span class="label">[E38]</span></a> ‘Anno 1666, soon after Karen, <a class="corr" name="corr_33" id="corr_33" title="was: Nil’s">Nils’</a> daughter, came to me, +we first discovered that there was a stone floor to my prison +chamber, as she broke loose a piece of rubbish cemented +together, and the stones were apparent. I had before thought +it a loam floor. The former Karen, Ole’s daughter, was one +of those who spread the dirt but do not take it away. This +Karen tormented me unceasingly, almost daily, that we must +remove it everywhere, and that at once—it would soon be +done. I was of opinion that it would make us ill if it was +done all at once, as we required water to soften it, and the +stench in this oppressive hole would cause sickness, but that +it would be easier and less uncomfortable to remove one piece +after another. She adhered to her opinion and to her desire, +and thought that she could persuade the prison governor and +the tower-warder to let the door remain open till all had been +made clean. But when the tower-warder had brought in a +tub of water, he locked the door. I went to bed and covered +my face closely, while she scraped and swept up the dirt. +The quantity of filth was incredible. It had been collecting +for years, for this had been a malefactors’ prison, and the floor +had never been cleaned. She laid all the dirt in a heap in +the corner, and there was as much as a cartload. It was left +there until evening at supper-time, when the doors were +opened. It was as I feared: we were both ill. The woman +recovered first, for she could get out into the air, but I remained +in the oppressive hole, where there was scarcely light. +We gained this from it, that we were tormented day and night +with numbers of fleas, and they came to her more than to me, +so much so that she was often on the point of weeping. I +laughed and made fun of it, saying that she would now have +always something to do, and would have enough to beguile +the time. We could not, however, work. The fleas were +thick on our stockings, so that the colour of the stockings +was not to be perceived, and we wiped them off into the +water-basin. I then discovered that one flea produces another. +For when I examined them, and how they could swim, I +perceived that some small feet appeared behind the flea, and +I thought it was a peculiar kind. At last I saw what it was, +and I took the flea from which the small one was emerging on +my finger, and it left behind evidences of birth: it hopped +immediately, but the mother remained a little, until she +recovered herself, and the first time she could not hop so far. +This amusement I had more than once, till the fleas came to +an end. Whether all fleas are born in this manner I cannot +tell, but that they are produced from dirt and loam I have +seen in my prison, and I have observed how they become +gradually perfect and of the peculiar colour of the material +from which they have been generated. I have seen them pair.’ +</p><p> +It is scarcely necessary to say that, as far as natural history +is concerned, Leonora has committed a mistake.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E39" id="Footnote_E39" href="#FNanchor_E39"><span class="label">[E39]</span></a> Leonora alludes to an anecdote told by ‘Cicero in +Tuscul. Quæst. lib. i. c. 43.’ He recounts that the cynic +Diogenes had ordered that his body should not be buried after +his death but left uninterred. His friends asked, ‘As a prey +to birds and wild beasts?<span class="corr" title="added: ’">’</span> ‘Not at all,’ answered Diogenes; +place a stick by me, wherewith I may drive them away.’ +‘But how can you?’ rejoined these; ‘you won’t know!’ ‘But +what then,’ was his reply, ‘concern the attacks of the wild +beasts me, when I don’t feel them?’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E40" id="Footnote_E40" href="#FNanchor_E40"><span class="label">[E40]</span></a> This sister was Hedvig, who married Ebbe Ulfeldt, a +relative of Corfitz Ulfeldt. He was obliged to leave Denmark +in 1651, on account of irregularities in the conduct of +his office, and went to Sweden, where he became a major-general +in the army. He is the person alluded to in the +Autobiography. Several of Leonora’s children lived in Sweden +with their relatives after the death of Corfitz Ulfeldt; but in +1668 the Danish Government obtained that they were forbidden +the country.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E41" id="Footnote_E41" href="#FNanchor_E41"><span class="label">[E41]</span></a> The title ‘Herr’ was then only given to noblemen and +clergy. Master means ‘magister,’ and was an academical +title.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E42" id="Footnote_E42" href="#FNanchor_E42"><span class="label">[E42]</span></a> The original has here an untranslatable play upon words. +<i>Leth</i> is a family name; and the woman says ‘I am one of +the Letter (the Leths),’ but laughter is in Danish ‘Latter.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E43" id="Footnote_E43" href="#FNanchor_E43"><span class="label">[E43]</span></a> The newspapers in question were probably German papers +which were published in Copenhagen at that time weekly, +or even twice a week; the Danish <i>Mercurius</i> (a common +title for newspapers) was a monthly publication.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E44" id="Footnote_E44" href="#FNanchor_E44"><span class="label">[E44]</span></a> His name was Torslev; see the Introduction and the +Autobiography.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E45" id="Footnote_E45" href="#FNanchor_E45"><span class="label">[E45]</span></a> The name is in blanco; she was probably the Catharina +Wolf which is mentioned in the Preface.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E46" id="Footnote_E46" href="#FNanchor_E46"><span class="label">[E46]</span></a> Walter’s participation in the plot of Dina is mentioned +in the Introduction. He was then ordered to leave the +country, but afterwards obtained a pardon and permission to +return. He does not seem to have availed himself of this till +the year 1668; but his conduct was very suspicious, and he +was at once arrested and placed in the Blue Tower, where he +died towards the end of April 1670.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E47" id="Footnote_E47" href="#FNanchor_E47"><span class="label">[E47]</span></a> Leonora alludes, no doubt, to the Queen Sophia Amalia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E48" id="Footnote_E48" href="#FNanchor_E48"><span class="label">[E48]</span></a> The song of St. Dorothea exists in many German and +Danish versions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E49" id="Footnote_E49" href="#FNanchor_E49"><span class="label">[E49]</span></a> The feast of St. Martin is supposed the proper time for +killing pigs in Denmark. It is reported that when Corfitz +Uldfeldt, in 1652, had published a defence of his conduct +previously to his leaving Denmark the year before, he sent +a copy to Peder Vibe, one of his principal adversaries, with +this inscription:—</p> + +<div class="poem" lang="fr"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Chaque pourceau a son St. Martin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tu n’échapperas pas, mais auras le tien.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E50" id="Footnote_E50" href="#FNanchor_E50"><span class="label">[E50]</span></a> This Knud was the favourite of King Christian V., Adam +Levin Knuth, one of the many Germans who then exercised +a most unfavourable influence on the affairs of Denmark.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E51" id="Footnote_E51" href="#FNanchor_E51"><span class="label">[E51]</span></a> Hannibal <a class="corr" name="corr_34" id="corr_34" title="was: Schested">Sehested</a> was dead already in 1666, as Leonora +was no doubt well aware. The whole passage seems to +indicate that he is supposed to have had some love-intrigue +with the duchess. Nothing has transpired on this subject +from other sources, but it is certain that her husband, Duke +Ernst Gynther, for some time at least, was very unfriendly +disposed to Hannibal <a class="corr" name="corr_35" id="corr_35" title="was: Schested">Sehested</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E52" id="Footnote_E52" href="#FNanchor_E52"><span class="label">[E52]</span></a> The Martilegium was probably a German history of Martyrs, +entitled ‘<span lang="de">Martilogium (<span lang="en">for</span> <a class="corr" name="corr_36" id="corr_36" title="was: matyrologium">martyrologium</a>) der Heiligen</span>’ (Strasburg +1484, fol.). The extracts to which she refers were no +doubt her earliest collections for her work on Heroines.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E53" id="Footnote_E53" href="#FNanchor_E53"><span class="label">[E53]</span></a> ‘Hours of Spiritual Refreshment.’ This very popular +book of devotion was first published in 1664, and had an extraordinary +run both in Germany and, through translations, in +Denmark. The last Danish extract of it was published in +1846, and reached the third edition in 1856.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E54" id="Footnote_E54" href="#FNanchor_E54"><span class="label">[E54]</span></a> It was a common superstition that persons who understood +the art of showing by magic the whereabouts of stolen +goods, had the power, by use of their formulas alone, to deprive +the thief of an eye.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E55" id="Footnote_E55"></a><a name="Footnote_E55B" id="Footnote_E55B"></a><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_E55">[E55]</a><br /><a href="#FNanchor_E55B">[E55b]</a></span> Griffenfeldt, who was then at the height of his power, +was the son of a wine-merchant, by name Schumacher, but +had risen by his talents alone to the highest dignities. He +was ennobled under the name of Griffenfeldt, and was undoubtedly +the ablest statesman Denmark ever possessed. +Eventually he was thrust from his high position by an intrigue +set on foot by German courtiers and backed by foreign influence. +He was accused of treason and kept in prison from +1676 to 1698, the year before he died, to the great, perhaps +irreparable damage, of his native country. The principal witness +against him was a German doctor, Mauritius, a professional +spy, who had served the Danish Government in this capacity. +The year after the fall of Griffenfeld, he was himself arrested +on a charge of perjury, forgery, and high treason, and placed +in the Blue Tower; he was convicted and conducted to Bornholm, +where he died. But Griffenfeldt, who had been convicted +on his false testimony, was not liberated. Griffenfeldt’s +ability and patriotism cannot be doubted, but his personal +character was not without blemish; and it is a fact that in his +prosperity he disclaimed all connection with his earlier friends, +and even his near relations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E56" id="Footnote_E56" href="#FNanchor_E56"><span class="label">[E56]</span></a> The MS. itself is bound in a very primitive manner, which +renders it probable that Leonora has done it herself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E57" id="Footnote_E57" href="#FNanchor_E57"><span class="label">[E57]</span></a> It appears from the State accounts that ever since the +year 1672 a sum of 250 dollars a year had been placed at +her disposal. It would seem, therefore, that somehow or +other a part of them had been unlawfully abstracted by someone +during the first years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E58" id="Footnote_E58" href="#FNanchor_E58"><span class="label">[E58]</span></a> The acts of this famous trial are still in existence. +Originally the quarrel arose out of the fact that the Countess +Parsberg (born Skeel) had obtained a higher rank than Lady +Grubbe, and was further envenomed by some dispute about a +window in the house of the latter which looked down on the +courtyard of the Countess’s house. Regitze Grubbe (widow +of Hans Ulrik Gyldenlöve, natural son of Christian IV. and +half-brother of Ulrik Christian Gyldenlöve, as well as of +Leonora Christina), persuaded another noble lady, Agnete +Budde, through a servant, to poison Countess Parsberg. Miss +Budde was beheaded, the girl Lucie was exiled, and Lady +Grubbe relegated for life to the island of Bornholm.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E59" id="Footnote_E59" href="#FNanchor_E59"><span class="label">[E59]</span></a> This tune is still in use in Denmark; it is known in the +Latin church as ‘<span class="lang">in natali Domini</span>.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E60" id="Footnote_E60" href="#FNanchor_E60"><span class="label">[E60]</span></a> ‘I have in my imprisonment also gained some experience +with regard to caterpillars. It amused me at one time to +watch their changes. The worms were apparently all of one +sort, striped alike, and of similar colour. But butterflies did +not come from all. It was quite pretty to see how a part +when they were about to change, pressed against something, +whatever it might be, and made themselves steady with a +thread (like silkworm’s silk) on each side, passing it over the +back about fifty times, always at the same place, and often +bending the back to see if the threads were strong enough; +if not, they passed still more threads round them. When +this was done, they rapidly changed their form and became +stout, with a snout in front pointed at the end, not unlike the +fish called knorr by the Dutch; they have also similar fins on +the back, and a similar head. In this form they remain for +sixteen days, and then a white butterfly comes out. But of +some caterpillars small worms like maggots come out on both +sides, whitish, broad at one end and pointed at the other. +These surround themselves with a web with great rapidity, +each by itself. Then the worm spins over them tolerably +thickly, turning them round till they are almost like a round +ball. In this it lies till it is quite dried up; it eats nothing, +and becomes as tiny as a fly before it dies. Twelve days +afterwards small flies come out of the ball, and then the ball +looks like a small bee-hive. I have seen a small living worm +come out of the neck of the caterpillar (this I consider the +rarest), but it did not live long, and ate nothing. The +mother died immediately after the little one had come out.’ +</p><p> +It is perhaps not unnecessary to add that this observation, +which is correct as to facts, refers to the habits of certain +larvæ of wasps which live as parasites in caterpillars.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E61" id="Footnote_E61" href="#FNanchor_E61"><span class="label">[E61]</span></a> It has been stated already that a copy of the first part +of this work is still preserved. Amongst the heroines here +treated of are modern historical personages, as Queen Margaret +of Denmark, Thyre <span class="sic" title="[sic]">Danobod</span> who built the Dannevirke, +Elizabeth of England, and Isabella of Castilia, besides mythical +and classic characters, as Penthesilea, Queen of the +Amazons, Marpesia, Tomyris, Zenobia, Artemisia, Victorina, +etc. There existed not a few works of this kind—we need +only mention Boccacio’s ‘Donne Illustri,’ in which many of +these last personages also occur.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E62" id="Footnote_E62" href="#FNanchor_E62"><span class="label">[E62]</span></a> The Peblingesö is one of three lakes which surround +Copenhagen on the land-side, in a semicircle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E63" id="Footnote_E63" href="#FNanchor_E63"><span class="label">[E63]</span></a> The Lutheran Church has retained the division of the +Commandments used in the Roman Church; and the Commandment +against murder is therefore here described as the +fifth, whilst in the English catechism it is the sixth.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E64" id="Footnote_E64" href="#FNanchor_E64"><span class="label">[E64]</span></a> The name of this governor, which is not mentioned by +Leonora, was Jörgen Iversen, the first Danish governor of +St. Thomas. In 1682 he returned to the colony from Copenhagen +on board a vessel which was to bring some prisoners +over to St. Thomas. Very soon after their departure, some +of the prisoners and of the crew raised a mutiny, killed the +captain and some of the passengers, amongst them the +ex-governor Iversen. But one of the prisoners who had +not been in the plot afterwards got the mastery of the +vessel, and returned to Copenhagen. The vessel struck on +a rock, near the Swedish coast, but the crew were saved +and sent home to Copenhagen by the Swedish Government, +and the murderers were then executed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E65" id="Footnote_E65" href="#FNanchor_E65"><span class="label">[E65]</span></a> The Queen’s church was a room in the castle where service +was held according to the Calvinist rite.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E66" id="Footnote_E66"></a><a name="Footnote_E66B" id="Footnote_E66B"></a><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_E66">[E66]</a><br /><a href="#FNanchor_E66B">[E66b]</a></span> This poem still exists, and is printed in the second volume +of Hofman’s work on Danish noblemen. It is intended +to convey an account of her own and her husband’s fate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p> repeated note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E67" id="Footnote_E67" href="#FNanchor_E67"><span class="label">[E67]</span></a> This picture is still preserved at the Castle of Rosenbourg, +in Copenhagen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E68" id="Footnote_E68" href="#FNanchor_E68"><span class="label">[E68]</span></a> The Excellency alluded to is Ulrik Frederik Gyldenlöve, +a natural son of Frederik III. Anna Catharina Lindenow +was daughter of Leonora’s sister, Elizabeth Augusta, who +married Hans Lindenow.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E69" id="Footnote_E69" href="#FNanchor_E69"><span class="label">[E69]</span></a> This Husum is a village just outside Copenhagen, where +Leonora remained for some months before she went to Maribo, +as is proved by a letter from her dated Husum, September +18, 1685. Of course the last paragraphs must have been +added after she left her prison, and the passage ‘This +is finished in my prison’ refers, at any rate, only to what +precedes.</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="trnote"> +<h2><a name="trcorrections" id="trcorrections"></a>Transcriber’s corrections</h2> +<ul> +<li><a href="#corr_1">p. 53</a>: length the good-for-nothing[good-for nothing] fellow came down, and</li> +<li><a href="#corr_2">p. 55</a>: there for ten days[25] a letter from Gul...[Gl...] which he</li> +<li><a href="#corr_3">p. 56</a>: patacoon[patacon] to those who were to restrain her, saying,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_4">p. 59</a>: came to see her, no one in consequence[consequenec] consoled her,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_5">p. 61</a>: When the lawyer had said that they[t hey] had now taken</li> +<li><a href="#corr_6">p. 64</a>: lose in Dan...[Den...].</li> +<li><a href="#corr_7">p. 67</a>: It was necessary[neccessary] to descend the rampart into the</li> +<li><a href="#corr_8">p. 92</a>: he persuaded[pursuaded] me to undertake the English journey,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_9">p. 106</a>: with my attendant. I answered nothing else than[then] that</li> +<li><a href="#corr_10">p. 114</a>: silk camisole[camisolle], in the foot of my stockings there were</li> +<li><a href="#corr_11">p. 132</a>: Castle[Cstale], I had sent a good round present for those in</li> +<li><a href="#corr_12">p. 135</a>: sad day, and I begged them, for Jesus’[Jesu’s] sake, that</li> +<li><a href="#corr_13">p. 137</a>: decree? I only beg for Jesus’[Jesu’s] sake that what I say</li> +<li><a href="#corr_14">p. 172</a>: might easily injure herself with one.’[[76]]</li> +<li><a href="#corr_15">p. 174</a>: Synge’[[E31]]:—</li> +<li><a href="#corr_16">p. 230</a>: of listening to reason, for she at once exclaimed ‘Ach[!]</li> +<li><a href="#corr_17">p. 239</a>: Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter, left me one evening in 1669,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_18">p. 241</a>: and the Frenchman[Frenchmen] was conveyed to the Dark Church,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_19">p. 241</a>: through Uldrich[Udrich] Christian Gyldenlöve. Gyldenlöve</li> +<li><a href="#corr_20">p. 246</a>: her word moreover, and I so arranged it[at] six weeks</li> +<li><a href="#corr_21">p. 259</a>: In the same year, 1671, Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter, left</li> +<li><a href="#corr_22">p. 264</a>: silent, not if I were standing before the King’s bailiff![?][’]</li> +<li><a href="#corr_23">p. 268</a>: in the time of Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter. Chresten, who</li> +<li><a href="#corr_24">p. 272</a>: In the same year Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter, left me for</li> +<li><a href="#corr_25">p. 276</a>: and a half after her marriage, and that suddenly, suspicion[suspipicion]</li> +<li><a href="#corr_26">p. 300</a>: Supper in the Queen’s church[[E65]]. Once, when she came</li> +<li><a href="#corr_27">p. 311</a>: [60] In[in] the margin is added: ‘The sorrow manifested by many would far</li> +<li><a href="#corr_28">p. 311</a>: [117] In the margin is added: ‘1666. While Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter, waited</li> +<li><a href="#corr_29">p. 311</a>: Nils’[Nil’s] daughter. When anything gave her satisfaction, she would take</li> +<li><a href="#corr_30">p. 311</a>: to set Copenhagen[Copenagen] on fire in divers places, and also the</li> +<li><a href="#corr_31">p. 311</a>: Autobiography[Autobiograpy] of Leonora as ‘notre vieillard;’ he was a faithful</li> +<li><a href="#corr_32">p. 311</a>: which placed it at the disposal of Hannibal Sehested[Schested] when he</li> +<li><a href="#corr_33">p. 311</a>: [E38] ‘Anno 1666, soon after Karen, Nils’[Nil’s] daughter, came to me,</li> +<li><a href="#corr_34">p. 311</a>: [E51] Hannibal Sehested[Schested] was dead already in 1666, as Leonora</li> +<li><a href="#corr_35">p. 311</a>: disposed to Hannibal Sehested[Schested].</li> +<li><a href="#corr_36">p. 311</a>: entitled ‘Martilogium (for martyrologium[matyrologium]) der Heiligen’ (Strasburg</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF LEONORA CHRISTINA***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 38128-h.txt or 38128-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/1/2/38128">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/2/38128</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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