The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-10-05
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

Z 6fs
Leonora Christiana, Countess Ulfeldt, who en-
dured Imprisonment for twenty two years.
The countess gives her, own, narrative In the
form of diary, and it is now published for the
first time, with an introduction by Herr Zieg-
Ter, the editor Of the volume The events de-
scribed took place nearly tive centuries ago,
but they have never been fully known till now.
The long captivity of the countess, it appears,
was owing to the personal spite Of Sophia
Amelia, the wife of Frederick III, king of
Denmark. Whether,it be that this queen en-
We'd the beauty and accomplishments Of the
Countess Ulfeldt, and her husbands influence
with the king, or that the Countess Ulfeldt, as
a Danish historian states, had offended the
queen by trying on crown that was being
made for her, and letting it fall on the floor 50
that one of the large jewels was broken, the
conduct of the queen can bear but one inter-
pretation The Danish historian who records
the anecdote about the crown, says, that it
shows the queen was not so bitter against the
countess without cause, although it must be
admitted that her anger was carried too far.
The rage of the queen when she found that
her son had promised to set the countess tree
after only eight years Imprisonment, and the
exercise OF her influence, by which she was able
to prolong the Imprisonment till her own death.
betray the existence of some personal motive.
ters of Christian. the Fourth, king of Den
mark, by a morganatc marriage. She became
the wife of Corftz Ulfeldt son of Chancellor
Ulfeldt, who, after stormy youth. passed in
various countries and services, had taken a
high position in the Danish court. The pros
perity of Ulfeldt and his wife was not disturbed
for some time after the accession of Frederick
the Third. But though the new king had full
confidence in the former favorite, the new
queen began from the first to intrigue against
him. The -4then9am, SUMS up the narrative
thus: A plot was organized by her means ia
order to accuse Corftz and his wife OF Intend
ing to poison the king. and though the accusa-
tion recoiled on the heads of the subordinate
instruments, some suspicion remained. The
king was gradually estrapged from Cor6tz Ill
feldt one difference led to another, and finally
Ulfeldt resigned his Office and left the country.
His estates were at once con6scated, and he
was deprived of all his dgnties: while in re-
venge for such treatment he went to Stock
holm, where his services were gladly accepted
by Queen Christina.
For some time after this Cor6tz UIfeldt
proved dangerous enemy to Denmark. AT
his instigation the successor of Queen Christina
made war on Denmark, and the daring march
of the Swedes on the ice across the Great
Belt which led to the peace of Roeskilde, was
entirely suggested by Ulfeldt. BY this peace
the Danes had to surrender twelve ships, of
war, besides several pieces of territory, and
one of the articles of the treaty was, that all
Count Ulfedt's estates were to be restored
The victory however, bore no lasting fruits.
The Danes were naturally incensed with Ul-
feldt, and Queen Sophia Amelia managed to
insti Suspicion into the mind of the king Of
Sweden. sst ID -
Some time afterward charges of treachery
were brought against him by the Swedes, he
was confined in the fortress and tried for high
treason. Acquitted of this, he was secretly
informed by his Danish enemies that the ver
dict was adverse to him, and under this im-
preston he fled from Sweden to Denmark,
where he and his wife we're instantly impris-
oned The amnesty granted them at Roeskiide
was set at naught, and it was not till after SIX
months of cruel and brutal treatment. that
they regained their liberty by an absolete sub
mission Released from prison with the loss
of most of his estates and with enfeebled
health, Count Ulfeldt received permission to
travel in Germany, where he died. -, ,s.,...r
Leonora Christina in the meanwhile had
been sent by her husband to England to seek
for aid from Charles the Second During his
own exile the restored king had been nader
great obligations to Count Ulfeldt, and was
still Indebted to him in large sum of money.
But it was not easy to get at Charles; and al
though when Countess Ulfeldt had an inter-
view with him he was very friendly, and prom
ised to pay his debt. he did not keep his word.
After waiting q long time without any result,
the countess started for the continent, but be-
fore this the Danish government had heard of
her being in England. and had made applica-
| ton to Charles for her arrest
As this seemed the most convenient way of
paying his debt, and as, moreover, he had given
the countess safe conduct Charles got rid at
once of his obligation aud his promise, and al
lowed the Danish ambassador to take her In
custody. She was sent to Copenhegan, and
! confined in the blue tower Of the royal palace,
where she remained for twenty-tw0 years.
With this her diary begins and it continued
through her captivity. 1t Is remarkable tQr
| the minute detail in which oil the events OF
daily life are narrated, and for the extreme
frankness with which countess and daughter
of a king enters into matters which. are gen.
erallv kept secret The insults to which
Countess Ulfeldt was exposed, the occupations
she devised for herself, her relations with those
who waited on her,, her occasional peeps from
the window, and her vague impressions of
/ what was passing in the outer world, occupy
almost the whole record '.o1@-' we 'Spse
j A CURIOUS OLD GENTLEMAN.-MountV Ver-
non Und.) has an interesting "old citizen
The Democrat says y" He will attend church
and listen tn fho s..rmon, and thnf nirht he will