The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-08


table covered with books and papers
Between the throne and the cores
ponding side of the room stood block.
with n black vail thrown over it, and
near to it lay an ak. No one in all
tins assembly seemed to take any
notice OF the presence of Charles and
his companions, who, on their entrance,
heard a low murmur of voices. Then
the Oldest among the Judges who APP
pearcd to fill the functions of president,
arose, and struck three times on n
book placed before him A deep ST.
lence followed, and the door facing
Charles being opened, the monarch
saw several fine-looking young men
enter the saloon, richly dressed, but
with their hands tied behind their
backs. They carried themselves
haughtily and with firm countenanccs.
Behind them walked large muscular
man clothed in a coat of brown leather
and III his hands he held the ends Of
the cord which bound the young men.
The one who led the way, and who
seemed to be of the most consequence
among the prisoners, stopped when he
reached the middle of the saloon, and
gave a proud look at the block. The
corpse then appeared to become agita-
ted, as If IN pain, and some light-col-
ored blood issued from wound The
young man bent his knee and bowed
his head; the AK flashed in the air and
fell with heavy sound. The head
rolled on the ground until it reached
the feet of Charles, whose shoes were
sprinkled with the blood. The King
until then had stood in dumb amaze
ment, but this CHASTITY spectacle I'M
loosed his tongue, and advancing n
few steps towards the phantom in the
official cloak of an administrator. he
exclaimed: IF you come from God
speak; but if from hell, depart, and
leave us in peace" The phantom re-
piled, with slow emphasis: 'Kiug
Charles, it IS not in thy reign that this
blood shall flow; but after five success
i've reigns, woe shall follow upon woe
to the blood of Vasa.
The members of this numerous as
sembly then faded into pale tinted
shadows; these again gradually disap-
peared; the lights went out, and the
lanterns Of the King aud his atten-
dants alone remained, casting dim
reflection on the old tapestry gently
stirring in the wind After a while
melodious sounds We're heard. The
apparition had lasted about ten min
utes. The black drapeiies, the severed
head, the flowing blood, had all van
ished with the phautoms; but on the
Kings slipper dry stain remained, as
If in souvenir of the extraordinary
scene.
Charles, on retiring to his cabinet,
caused the whole of the circumstances
to be immediately written down, and
added his own signature to that of his
attendants. This document still exists,
and its authenticity has never been
disputed. Its conclusion is especially
remarkable:
"And if that which l have stated,
says the King, be not tie exact truth,
| renounce all hope of better life to
come, which may have merited in
virtue of some few good deeds but
above all, for my zeal in advancing the
happiness of my people and defending
the interests of religion"
II we turn to the life of Gustayus
Vasa, and to the condemnation of
Ankarstroem, his assassin, we shall
find more than one coinciding link
between these facts and this singular
prophecy. The young man beheaded
was Ankerstroem; the corpse crowned
represented Gustayus Ill the child is
his son Gustayus Adolphus ". The
old man must be the Due de Suder-
mamie, the uncle of Gustavus ", who
was Regent of the kingdom. and then
King, after the deposition of his nep-
hew.