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reception. [Here he enumerates all the provincial dignitaries who were hurried together.]... They proceeded straightway to Gjedesbye, and took all the hackney coaches, private carriages, and horses that were in the town, to place them at the Czar's service; the towncrier went through, summoning all the inhabitants to meet in parade at his entry; and all the best housewives in Nykjöbing had to repair to the castle to cook his dinner. He arrived the following forenoon at eleven o'clock, yet not in a coach, but in a kind of little open chaise which he had with him, drawn by two horses. He was driven to the castle, but waxed wroth thereat, having designed to take his dinner at an inn; and, finding his cook on the steps of the castle, he gave him a sound thrashing. At length, however, he consented to abide where he was, but insisted on dining alone, so that the Danish lords had to withdraw. He looked like a sergeant, or rather hangman. He was tall of stature, wore a dirty blue cloth coat with brass buttons, had a big broad cutlass like a hangman's sword at his side in a leathern sword-belt outside his coat, great boots on his legs, a little velvet cap on his head, a middling-sized moustache, and a long cane in his hand; but did not look so much amiss after all. He did not sit long at dinner, and, as soon as he had done, he went down with his lords to the smithy, where he had ordered a boat to be got ready. On the road from the castle two or three of the townsfolks, who had ventured too near, got a taste of his stick; and, as he could not get into the boat dryshod, Claus Wendt had to carry him out to it, for which he gave him eight skillings [about twopence]. As soon as he and his lords had embarked, they pushed from land, but, coming to the pier, he got ashore again to take a look at the position. He then sailed to Haselöe and further, to fetch the galleys in which he had come from Mecklenburg: now these were not to be counted for number, for he had on board an army of 36,000 men. He then returned to Nykjöbing, about five or six

his lords. Yet would he not sup in the castle, where everything had been got ready, but went to the house of the postmaster, Iver Rosenfeldt, and there caused himself to be served with both rye and wheaten bread, butter, Dutch cheese, strong ale, brandy, and wine; and there was in particular some Dantzig liquor which he greatly liked; other than that they had not to place before him. Now some of the townsfolks, and myself among the number, managed to slip into Rosenfeldt's house to see the Czar sup, which indeed he did with much elegance, for every time he buttered himself a piece of bread he licked the butter clean off the knife again. At my parent's house there were a number of his suite, who were served in a like fashion. As soon as the galleys arrived, all the crews came ashore, so that every street and house was so crowded that nobody could stir; and in a few hours there was not a bit of bread, nor any bacon, butter, eggs, beer, or spirits to be found in the town. Towards night the Czar and his lords went back to the galleys, and on a signal given the rest had also to retire on board. Early in the morning we saw some thousands of camp-kettles on the beach, with fire underneath, to feed which the soldiers stole whatever would burn; and then they gathered all the nettles and hemlock and other green things that they could find, and chopped them up quite small, and threw them into the kettles. The next thing was to cut one salt herring into little bits to each kettle, after which, when the whole came a-boil, the kale was ready, which they ate as fast as they could, and then went on board again with their kettles. The Czar immediately set the fleet under sail towards Guldborg, and thence to Copenhagen, so that by noon not a galley was to be seen. The Czar's consort came here a few days after his departure: she had travelled from Mecklenburg, through Holstein and Laaland. When she arrived in the ferry-boat, the governor and sheriff were standing on the landing-place to receive her, but she was not very gracious to

perceived among the spectators the late Reverend Ole Lund, of Weyerlöse, who, being an old, grey-headed man, had a venerable aspect, she bent low out of the chaise to salute him, thinking most likely that he was the patriarch of the country. She liked her quarters in Nykjöbing Castle well enough, for she remained five days, and the goodwives of the place had to take their turns in going up to the castle to cook for her. She was very well pleased, too, with all their cookery, and with the rare wines and such like that were rummaged together for her entertainment. Then she proceeded to Copenhagen, to her consort.

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In 1717, the elder Seidelin took his son to Copenhagen, and placed him as apprentice with the court apothecary, Herr Becker. One of the first events that struck him there was the bicentenary festival of the Reformation, which was celebrated for three days together with an enthusiasm of velvet coats and embroidered breeches on the part of kings, knights, and nobles, such as the Reformation seems little likely ever to evoke again. Lutheranism drove to court in those days in a gorgeous equipage, with six horses, and six lackeys, all in fine new liveries, covered with lace, besides outriders and runners; was escorted by the guards in their gala uniform; was thundered at with military honours by all the troops that could be crowded together; was speechified to by Rector Magnificus and the other learning of the kingdom; attended divine service under a perfect flutter of gold lace, and plumes, and ermine; and banqueted royally to the clatter of silver and blaze of gold.

"Anno 1718, the health of the late King Frederick IV.'s queen Louisa began to be very delicate, so much so that she had to keep her bed, and a new doctor, called Gaulcke, was sent for from Germany. He was immediately appointed her physician, and abode continually beside her in her palace, where he caused a little laboratory to be fitted up, in which he himself prepared sundry medicines for the queen's

master's, he conceived so great a favour for me that he begged my master to let me attend upon him at the palace to help him in these preparations. Sometimes he took me with him in his carriage along with the necessary drugs, vases, and instruments; on which occasions I had the honour to make up his prescriptions-powder, or whatever else it might be in the queen's ante-room, in presence of all the ladies and gentlemen; and, as soon as it was ready, he took a dose of it and went in with it to the queen But Dr. Gaulcke could not succeed in bringing back the queen's health, for it pleased God, anno 1719, to call her away. Whereupon, King Frederick caused a magnificent castrum doloris to be laid out for her remains in the palace church, and had the funeral conducted to Roeskilde with all possible royal pomp, the Crown Prince, with Prince Charles, and other members of the royal family, accompanying it; but the king went not himself, though the state mourning coach paraded in its proper place with all usual signs of sorrow as if the king had been sitting in it. On the other hand, on the day following, whilst the funeral train was yet in Roeskilde, His Majesty did cause his former mistress, Countess Anna Sophia Reventlow, who had already for some years been called Duchess of Schleswig, to hold her progress publicly in an equipage hung with black from her own mansion to the palace, where, that same evening, he was married to her, in presence of a few of her friends, by the German chaplain, Herr Clausen. So that the royal children, on their return from Roeskilde, found that they had got a new mother and the king a new consort. A fortnight later, a great solemnity was ordered at Fredericksberg, to which the king invited both his own and the foreign ministers, the higher clergy, the magistrates, and professors, &c. and caused the queen's crown, on a red velvet cushion, embroidered with gold, to be borne into the audience chamber by the wife of the grand chancellor and the Countess Lan vig.

reception. [Here he enumerates all the provincial dignitaries who were hurried together.]... They proceeded straightway to Gjedesbye, and took all the hackney coaches, private carriages, and horses that were in the town, to place then at the Czar's service; the towncrier went through, summoning all the inhabitants to meet in parade at his entry; and all the best housewives in Nykjöbing had to repair to the castle to cook his dinner. He arrived the following forenoon at eleven o'clock, yet not in a coach, but in a kind of little open chaise which he had with him, drawn by two horses. He was driven to the castle, but waxed wroth thereat, having designed to take his dinner at an inn; and, finding his cook on the steps of the castle, he gave him a sound thrashing. At length, however, he consented to abide where he was, but insisted on dining alone, so that the Danish lords had to withdraw. He looked like a sergeant, or rather hangman. He was tall of stature, wore a dirty blue cloth coat with brass buttons, had a big broad cutlass like a hangman's sword at his side in a leathern sword-belt outside his coat, great boots on his legs, a little velvet cap on his head, a middling-sized moustache, and a long cane in his hand; but did not look so much amiss after all. He did not sit long at dinner, and, as soon as he had done, he went down with his lords to the smithy, where he had ordered a boat to be got ready. On the road from the castle two or three of the townsfolks, who had ventured too near, got a taste of his stick; and, as he could not get into the boat dryshod, Claus Wendt had to carry him out to it, for which he gave him eight skillings [about twopence]. As soon as he and his lords had embarked, they pushed from land, but, coming to the pier, he got ashore again to take a look at the position. He then sailed to Haselöe and further, to fetch the galleys in which he had come from Mecklenburg: now these were not to be counted for number, for he had on board an army of 36,000 men. He then returned to Nykjöbing, about five or six

his lords. Yet would he not sup in the castle, where everything had been got ready, but went to the house of the postmaster, Iver Rosenfeldt, and there caused himself to be served with both rye and wheaten bread, butter, Dutch cheese, strong ale, brandy, and wine; and there was in particular some Dantzig liquor which he greatly liked; other than that they had not to place before him. Now some of the townsfolks, and myself among the number, managed to slip into Rosenfeldt's house to see the Czar sup, which indeed he did with much elegance, for every time he buttered himself a piece of bread he licked the butter clean off the knife again. At my parent's house there were a number of his suite, who were served in a like fashion. As soon as the galleys arrived, all the crews came ashore, so that every street and house was so crowded that nobody could stir; and in a few hours there was not a bit of bread, nor any bacon, butter, eggs, beer, or spirits to be found in the town. Towards night the Czar and his lords went back to the galleys, and on a signal given the rest had also to retire on board. Early in the morning we saw some thousands of camp-kettles on the beach, with fire underneath, to feed which the soldiers stole whatever would burn; and then they gathered all the nettles and hemlock and other green things that they could find, and chopped them up quite small, and threw them into the kettles. The next thing was to cut one salt herring into little bits to each kettle, after which, when the whole came a-boil, the kale was ready, which they ate as fast as they could, and then went on board again with their kettles. The Czar immediately set the fleet under sail towards Guldborg, and thence to Copenhagen, so that by noon not a galley was to be seen. The Czar's consort came here a few days after his departure: she had travelled from Mecklenburg, through Holstein and Laaland. When she arrived in the ferry-boat, the governor and sheriff were standing on the landing-place to receive her, but she was not very gracious to

perceived among the spectators the late Reverend Ole Lund, of Weyerlöse, who, being an old, grey-headed man, had a venerable aspect, she bent low out of the chaise to salute him, thinking most likely that he was the patriarch of the country. She liked her quarters in Nykjöbing Castle well enough, for she remained five days, and the goodwives of the place had to take their turns in going up to the castle to cook for her. She was very well pleased, too, with all their cookery, and with the rare wines and such like that were rummaged together for her entertainment. Then she proceeded to Copenhagen, to her consort."

In 1717, the elder Seidelin took his son to Copenhagen, and placed him as apprentice with the court apothecary, Herr Becker. One of the first events that struck him there was the bicentenary festival of the Reformation, which was celebrated for three days together with an enthusiasm of velvet coats and embroidered breeches on the part of kings, knights, and nobles, such as the Reformation seems little likely ever to evoke again. Lutheranism drove to court in those days in a gorgeous equipage, with six horses, and six lackeys, all in fine new liveries, covered with lace, besides outriders and runners; was escorted by the guards in their gala uniform; was thundered at with military honours by all the troops that could be crowded together; was speechified to by Rector Magnificus and the other learning of the kingdom; attended divine service under a perfect flutter of gold lace, and plumes, and ermine; and banqueted royally to the clatter of silver and blaze of gold.

"Anno 1718, the health of the late King Frederick IV.'s queen Louisa began to be very delicate, so much so that she had to keep her bed, and a new doctor, called Gaulcke, was sent for from Germany. He was immediately appointed her physician, and abode continually beside her in her palace, where he caused a little laboratory to be fitted up, in which he himself prepared sundry medicines for the queen's

his

master's, he conceived so great a favour for me that he begged my master to let me attend upon him at the palace to help him in these preparations. Sometimes he took me with him in his carriage along with the necessary drugs, vases, and instruments; on which occasions I had the honour to make up prescriptions-powder, or whatever else it might be in the queen's ante-room, in presence of all the ladies and gentlemen; and, as soon as it was ready, he took a dose of it and went in with it to the queen... But Dr. Gaulcke could not succeed in bringing back the queen's health, for it pleased God, anno 1719, to call her away. Whereupon, King Frederick caused a magnificent castrum doloris to be laid out for her remains in the palace church, and had the funeral conducted to Roeskilde with all possible royal pomp, the Crown Prince, with Prince Charles, and other members of the royal family, accompanying it; but the king went not himself, though the state mourning coach paraded in its proper place with all usual signs of sorrow as if the king had been sitting in it. On the other hand, on the day following, whilst the funeral train was yet in Roeskilde, His Majesty did cause his former mistress, Countess Anna Sophia Reventlow, who had already for some years been called Duchess of Schleswig, to hold her progress publicly in an equipage hung with black from her own mansion to the palace, where, that same evening, he was married to her, in presence of a few of her friends, by the German chaplain, Herr Clausen. So that the royal children, on their return from Roeskilde, found that they had got a new mother and the king a new consort. A fortnight later, a great solemnity was ordered at Fredericksberg, to which the king invited both his own and the foreign ministers, the higher clergy, the magistrates, and professors, &c. and caused the queen's crown, on a red velvet cushion, embroidered with gold, to be borne into the audience chamber by the wife of the grand chancellor and the Countess Lan vig.

placed it on the head of his consort, and those two ladies, her sisters, had to fasten it, as that it might not fall; whereupon he publicly declared her Queen of Denmark and Norway, and conducted her to the royal table, where she dined with the crown on her head. Again, a fortnight later, she held her public entry into Copenhagen as queen, with great splendour and all wonted ceremony; at night, there were illuminations and all the tokens of joy which, in the short time, could be got in readiness."

This was the second marriage of Frederick IV. to Countess Anna Sophia Reventlow. After carrying her off from her family, notwithstanding the strongest opposition from her mother, he formally married her in 1712, during the life-time of his first queen, so that, for nine years, he had two wives. After his death, his son banished Anna Sophia to Jutland, where she spent the rest of her days, but not till she had been forced to give up several estates and a good deal of jewellery, given or left to her by the late king.

Having served the period of his apprenticeship and a year to boot, it was time for Seidelin to think about his Wanderjahre. He left his native land at Easter, 1722, and, after marvelling sufficiently at the wonders of Lübeck and Hamburgh, accepted, "in the name of God," the offer of a situation at Nordhausen in Thuringia, where, however, his employer starved him so painfully on mashed turnips and "salad leaves, with a little soup poured over them, made of smoked bacon, chopped up with an egg and sour vinegar”— giving him" a decent roast of meat all the time" and, what was worse, crept about the house at night on felt slippers to make sure that the shop-boys were stealing nothing, that Seidelin was not slow in seeking other quarters. These he found in Berlin, again in the house of a court apothecary, and entered upon his functions on New Year's Day, 1723.

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"There was always a large garrison in Berlin, and at Michaelmas of every

fifteen or sixteen regiments, horse and foot, whose fine accurate drill it was a pleasure to behold. When the review was over the troops would march in perfect order, the one regiment behind the other, into Berlin by one gate, past the palace, and out by another gate to the camp again. All which, being extremely remarkable, I neglected not, on fitting occasion, to observe and consider. . . . . The princes of the royal house, with their consorts and families, such as the Markgraves Albert and Louis, item, the Dowager Markgravine Philip with her family, resided constantly in Berlin; but the king and queen, with their numerous family, resided for the most part at Potsdam, where the king had built a fine palace, with offices, and laid out a garden. Nay, he had caused his generals, ministers, and other high office-bearers, to build a town there, as each of them required a mansion to reside in while attending court. He had also erected three or four splendid churches; and it was at Potsdam, moreover, that for his own especial diversion he kept his big grenadiers, a corps of 2,000 men or upwards, all of them uncommonly tall, strong fellows, whom he had been collecting for a great many years at much trouble and expense. Nevertheless the king was wont to come to Berlin once a week by the space of two or three days, and then he came for the most part on horseback, attended by two pages, but never resided in the principal part of the palace. On the contrary he had caused to be fitted up for himself two rooms on the ground floor, with a bed in one of them; and this lodging, which was close to the street, was surrounded by an ordinary railing, but strongly guarded by a number of sentries at ten paces from each other. For in one of these rooms was the stair which led down to his treasure-chamber-a place consisting of several massive vaults with iron doors, full of all kinds of gold and silver coins in neat strong sacks and bags, regularly arranged on shelves from floor to ceiling, and with a label on each

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