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without their knowledge or advice, convoked the Council only at rare intervals in three years, to decide questions of law, or to go through the form of signing his decisions, and even went so far as to appoint a generalissimo, to send troops out of the country, and almost to declare war, before the Council was informed or consulted.

together in a long file, and the horses were
then whipped to the top of their speed
down the steep hills. Once, Charles found
a peasant's sledge laden with wood, and
with two or three companions mounted it,
and set off down a steep which had bee.
made like glass with several coats of ice.
It was impossible to steer the sledge, and
they came up against a heavy stake at the
bottom.
bottom. His companions were severely
injured; he remained unhurt.

The military sports were, if possible, still more dangerous. As under Peter's direc

were carried on with pasteboard handgrenades, and frequently cost many lives. In taking a snow intrenchment, the King had his clothes nearly torn off him, and many others were seriously injured. Sometimes there were sea-fights of a peculiar character. The boats were armed with fire-engines, and the crews with large squirts with which they fought. On one occasion, Arvid Horn, one of Charles's great friends, stripped himself to his shirt, rowed away from his yacht in a small-boat, and attacked the King and his suite. He was repelled with such vigor that his boat soon filled with water, and began to sink. Jumping out, Horn swam once around the yacht. Charles at last asked him if swimming were

The education of Charles was naturally at an end. What time he could spare from his duties as a ruler was devoted to military exercises and to field sports. The more dangerous the amusement, the greater attractions it had for him. He took up the ideation in Russia, the sham fights in Sweden that it was cowardly to attack beasts with fire-arms, and went bear-hunting armed with nothing but pikes and cutlasses. Soon the victory seemed to him too easily gained even in this way, and he forbade the use of cold steel as well as of fire-arms, and all were armed with strong wooden forks. The sport was to wait until the bear rose on his hind legs, catch him in the neck with the fork and throw him over backward, when the huntsmen sprang out and wound a net around his hind legs. Charles rode fast and furiously, up and down hill, through forest and stream. Frequently his horse fell with him, and he returned black and blue. Once, the snow was so deep that his horse fell upon him: he could not move, and as he had far outstripped his com-difficult. "No," said Horn, "if one is not panions, he was nearly frozen when rescued. At another time, he rode up the side of a cliff so steep that both horse and rider'fell backward, and it was considered a miracle that his life was saved. On another occasion, starting out from the palace at four o'clock in the morning, attended only by a page and a captain of his guards, he came to one of the gulfs near Stockholm, which was covered with a sheet of ice so thin from the spring rains that even foot passengers scarcely dared to trust themselves upon it. In spite of the remonstrances of his attendants, he ventured upon it, and found at the other side a clear space of water fifteen feet wide. He could not go back, plunged in, and luckily reached the shore. Finally, the old equerry, Hord, summoned up courage to remonstrate with him, and told him that God had saved his life twice in such dangers, and would be excused if, the third time, He did not interpose. "God has created beasts for the service of men, but not to help them break their own necks." In winter he amused himself with sledging parties of the most dangerous character. Sometimes the sledges were fastened

Horn

afraid," at which the King immediately
jumped into the water, but found that
courage did not make up for want of skill,
and would have drowned had not Horn
caught him by the clothes and brought him
a long distance to land. Another day, the
guards were divided into two parties, led by
Charles and Horn. The horses were not
allowed to be saddled, and the men were
armed with nothing but stout hazel sticks.
No one was spared. The blows given by
Horn were so vigorous that Charles, in a
moment of excitement, aimed a blow at his
face, and hit a boil on his cheek.
fell fainting to the ground, and the pain and
the heat combined threw him into a violent
fever, which nearly cost him his life. Charles
repented, frequently visited him, and gave
him two thousand thalers for his cure, prom-
ising to repeat the prescription as often as
he was again wounded. All this Charles
did, not for amusement alone, but in order
to harden and inure himself to the fatigues
of real war. He would frequently rise from
bed, and sleep the rest of the night half-
naked on the bare floor. One December,
he slept three consecutive nights without un-

dressing, on the hay in the stables. NothNothing annoyed him so much as his delicate skin and fair complexion. He used every means to get sunburned, so as to appear manly, and took a childish pride in some pock-marks on his face. He dressed simply; he wore a wig until his first campaign in Denmark, when he threw it aside forever. He ate but little, and always plain and coarse dishes. Wine he gave up after finding its effects too strong for his self-control.

Cold of temperament, of love Charles knew nothing, and cared little for the society of ladies. Six princesses sought his hand in vain, and the very mention of marriage distressed him.

The freaks of Charles, even when not dangerous, were disagreeable to those about him. Their worst point was reached during the visit of his cousin Frederick III., Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, who came to Stockholm in 1698 to marry the Princess Hedwiga Sophia. The Duke was as foolhardy as his brother-in-law, and soon acquired great influence over him. Then began what was called the "Gottorp Fury." They rode races till they had broken down several horses; they coursed a hare in the parliament-house; for days they practiced on beheading sheep in order to see which had the greater force of hand, and the greater knack with the sword-all this, too, in the private apartments of the palace, till the floors and staircases were running with blood. This was to the great astonishment of the passers-by, for the bleeding heads were thrown out of the windows.* They sallied into the streets at night, and broke the windows of the peaceful citizens. In broad daylight they made cavalcades from the palace with no costume save their shirts, and with drawn sabers in their hands. They jerked off the hats and wigs of all who came near them. At dinner, when they had tired of snapping cherry-stones into the faces of the privy-councilors, they would knock the dishes out of the servants' hands, and then break all the furniture and throw the fragments through the closed windows, carrying glass and frame with them. They broke all the benches in the

It is impossible to avoid comparing the occupations and amusements of the three strong men of that time: Charles riding horses to death and beheading sheep and bullocks; Augustus the Strong, with his 260 illegitimate children, straightening horseshoes and rolling up silver plates with one hand; Peter hammering out iron bars, filling fireworks, and building ships.

palace chapel, so that the congregation had to hear service standing. Fortunately, the Duke was unable to lead Charles to acts of immorality. The people began to murmur. They accused the Duke of wishing to bring the King to his death, in order that, as the next heir, he might inherit the crown. Things got to such a pass that, on one Sunday morning, three clergymen preached on the same text: "Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child." This remonstrance seemed to affect Charles, who was sincerely pious. When the Duke went away he entirely changed his manner of life, became quiet and reflective, and devoted himself with renewed ardor to his duties as a ruler.

The

A year later, in consequence of his war with Denmark, the Duke came again to Stockholm. The follies of the preceding year were not repeated, but in their turn were masquerades, balls, and festivities of all sorts. The court of Stockholm, renewing the traditions of the reign of Christina, became suddenly the most brilliant in Europe, except that of Louis XIV., and, of course, at enormous expense. There were balls which cost forty thousand thalers each, given with so much elegance that foreigners declared they were unsurpassed in Paris. A French company played the works of Molière, Corneille, and Racine during the whole winter, and the King was nearly always a spectator. There were processions of masks through the streets, which were covered with blue cloth. All the lords and gentlemen followed the example of the court, not even excepting the clergy. pastor of the great city church, Iser, gave such a sumptuous dinner that every one went home with the headache. The King took no part in the drunken bouts, but danced sometimes until nine or ten o'clock in the morning, which necessitated several changes of clothes. Tessin, who arranged. the court festivities with such taste, was rewarded with a title of nobility, and frequently went home with his pockets stuffed with gold by an unseen hand. Again this manner of life was broken by a sermon. When the court clergy did not dare to speak, Svedberg persuaded the palace chaplain to let him occupy his pulpit, and delivered a thundering sermon against the project of having a masked ball on a Sunday evening. The ball was given up. Just then came the news of the invasion of Livonia by Augustus, and the festivities were forever at an end.

This intelligence arrived when Charles | taken even from this. Not enough remained was hunting bears at his favorite country- in the treasury of the state to pay all seat of Kungsör. It seemed to make little the expenses of his sister's marriage, and impression on him at the time, for he turned Charles wished to raise a loan by pledgto the French embassador, and smilingly ing Pomerania or Bremen. Now that said: "We will make King Augustus go money was still more necessary for war, it back by the way he came," and the sport became imperative to re-impose the war continued. When it was over, Charles tax, which had been abolished by Charles returned to Stockholm, looking firm and XI. This brought in a million thalers, but severe. He said to the assembled Council: as it was insufficient, the King called for "I have resolved never to begin an unjust voluntary contributions. Piper, Wrede, and war, but also never to end a just one with- Stenbock gave among them twenty thouout overcoming my enemy"; and on an- sand thalers, though this example found other occasion: "It is curious that both my few followers. The citizens of Stockholm cousins" (for Augustus as well as King contributed thirty thousand thalers. Frederick IV. of Denmark was cousin to order to excite enthusiasm among the Charles) "wish to make war on me. nobility, Charles finally decided to cancel it be! But King Augustus has broken his any further proceedings under the "Reducword. Our cause is then just, and God tion" laws of his father. This important will help us. I intend first to finish with edict was signed on the 23d of April, 1700, one, and then I will talk with the other." and on the same evening the King took leave of his grandmother and his sisters, in order, as he said, to go for some time to Kungsör. In the night, he quietly left the palace, and turned southward. He never again saw Stockholm, his grandmother, or his elder sister.

Let

Military preparations were pushed on with great vigor both by land and sea. The clergy and the civil officials were each ordered to furnish a regiment of dragoons, the burghers of Stockholm a regiment of infantry. A few of the higher nobility followed the old custom of arming single companies. The fleet in Karlskrona was fitted for sea, and all the vessels in Stockholm were seized on behalf of the Government for the transport service. The financial difficulty was the greatest. There was no money. Charles XI. had collected a large treasure for military purposes, and had left more than four and a half millions of thalers. All this Charles XII. had spent in two years by the extravagance of his court, by his lavish generosity to the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, to his friends and favorites, and even to families of the nobility who had been impoverished by the "Reduction." Even all the plate in the " Elephant Vault" had been melted down. During the " Gottorp Fury," Charles had spent twenty thousand thalers of pocket-money in four days, and no one knew what had become of it. Besides large sums which he gave openly as presents, he had a habit, in order to escape thanks, of secretly filling with money the pockets of his favorites. A chest filled with jewels, which had stood for years in the "Elephant Vault," was brought to Charles's bed-chamber and was speedily emptied. There had been left in the military chests of the fortresses and regiments, by the economy of Charles XI., savings to the amount of six hundred and seventy thousand thalers. Great sums had been

In

There would have been no need of a war with Denmark had it not been that Charles had promised the Duke of HolsteinGottorp, when he came to him for protection in 1699, that he would right him, even though it cost him his crown. This agreement was greatly blamed by all the King's counselors, but too late-the King's word had been given. Every one disliked the Holstein-Gottorp family, and all feared the cost of a war. What the disputes were between Denmark and Holstein-Gottorp it is difficult and unnecessary to explain. The King of Denmark knew that the forts in Slesvig were occupied by Swedish garrisons, and he knew, too, the Swedish threats of interference in case he attacked the Duke. Nevertheless, in conjunction with Poland and Russia, he had resolved to run the risk.

Now that war was come, in consequence of Charles's rash promise, it was certainly wiser to finish with Denmark, the nearer and more dangerous foe, before attacking King Augustus. After leaving Stockholm, Charles made a hasty journey through the southern provinces, to assure himself of the military preparations. The fleet immediately set sail and occupied the sound in connection with the fleets of England and Holland, who had also guaranteed the peace between Denmark and Holstein. Charles resolved now to cross over to Zealand, and

and esteem of the population of Zealand. (who still remembered his mother with affection). He recrossed the sound to Sweden on the 2d of September.

[graphic]

CHAPTER XIII.

PATKUL.

make an attack on Copenhagen while the Danish King was occupied with the siege of Tönning. This plan was successful. With six thousand men, which were all the troops at that time collected at Malmö, Charles crossed the straits on the 3d of August, 1700, waded ashore at the head of his men, under the enemy's fire, and secured a firm position between Copenhagen and Elsinore. The next day was stormy, and had the troops and militia of Copenhagen attacked the Swedes, they might have given them a severe check. But the time passed, and, on the next day, which was clear, seven to eight thousand more men crossed, and made the force of Charles too large for the little Danish army to resist. The assault on Tönning by the Danish troops was unsuccessful, and the King hastened back to protect his capital. He saw himself powerless, and signed a peace at Travendal, on the 18th of August, in which he agreed to recognize the sovereignty of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and to pay him a war indemnity of two hundred and sixty thousand thalers. In two weeks from the crossing of the straits, this almost bloodless war was over. Charles for a moment thought of carrying on an independent war on his own account against the Danes; but for once the last time if not the first time of his life-he listened to good counsel and desisted. He won more fame by this than he would have done by taking Copenhagen. By the manner in which he had treated them he had already secured the respect

THE BATTLE OF NARVA.

THE great object of Peter in making war upon Sweden was to obtain possession of the provinces of Ingria and Karelia on the Finnish gulf, which had once belonged to Russia, but had been seized by Sweden during the Troublous Times. Ingria, or, as the Swedes called it, Ingermanland, known in the old Russian chronicles as the land of Izhóra, was a comparatively narrow strip of country extending along the southern coast of the gulf from the Neva to the Naróva. Karelia included the country between the gulf and Lake Ládoga, as far as Kexholm and Viborg. The possession of this region would give to Russia the river Neva, and, besides the possibility of having a sea-port, would furnish Nóvgorod with free access to the Baltic by the way of the river Vólkhof, Lake Ládoga, and the Neva, and would also enable an easy communication, for the most part by water, to be made between the Gulf of Finland and Archangel. The annexation of Narva, the frontier fortress of Esthonia, was not included in Peter's plans, but he believed, especially at the time when war was declared, that the surest way for him to secure the coveted territory was to attack and capture Narva, by which means the communications of Livonia and Esthonia with the Neva would be entirely cut off. Near Narva the Russian boundary was only about twenty miles from the sea.

The orders to march on Narva were much to the distaste of Patkul, and of Baron Langen, the envoy of King Augustus. Langen wished these provinces to come to his master; Patkul, as a Livonian, did not wish his country to be conquered by any one, especially by the Russians, and hoped that, as the result of the war, it would gain a position of semi-independence.

The command-in-chief of the troops was given to Theodore Golovín, admiral and embassador, now created field-marshal, and who was actually as Minister of Foreign Affairs. There were three divisions, respectively under Ávtemon Golovín, Adam Weyde, and Nikita Répnin. Altogether, including a force of Cossacks, 63,520 men

were assigned to this expedition. The Tsar himself, as an officer of the Preobrazhénsky regiment, accompanied the advance. At Tver, he received a message from Augustus, that King Charles with eighteen thousand men would soon land at Pernau, from which he would be within striking distance both of Narva and Riga. The news was premature, but it caused Peter great perplexity, because, if true, it meant that the Danes had been beaten, and that the Swedes had finished with one ally and were free to deal with the others. Orders were given to stop the advance, but as Peter became convinced by the examination of prisoners that the garrison of Narva was small, and that no troops had yet arrived from Sweden, he resolved to prosecute the war, and arrived at Narva on the 4th of October. With the assistance of General Hallart, who had been sent by King Augustus, he immediately began preparations for a siege. Peter now found that, even although he had begun the war late, he had not made sufficient preparations for it. The roads were in a fearful state, and every one who knows what a Russian road is now can imagine what they were in a rainy autumn, when chaussées were unknown. The means of transport were utterly insufficient. No provisions had been made except to seize the horses and carts in the towns and villages through which the troops passed. There was no artillery harness, the carts were all bad, and the horses broke down with the bad roads and the heavy service. Peter kept sending , urgent summonses from his camp before Narva, and Golovín did his utmost to hurry them on, but it was not until October 29th that the troops from Moscow and Novgorod arrived, suffering from cold, hunger, and exposure. The division of Répnin, which had come from the Volga country, was far behind, and the Cossacks did not make their appearance. In all, there were rather less than forty thousand men.

Narva (called also in old Russian chronicles Rugodív), which was built by the Danes in the thirteenth century, on the right bank of the river Naróva, eight miles from its mouth, was then a sea-port of considerable importance for the trade coming from Nóvgorod and Pskof. In the flourishing times of the Hanseatic League it was not unknown, but it suffered so terribly from the frequent border wars that its trade at that time received no great development. The city was surrounded by a stout wall, consisting, on the land side, of six bastions,

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built of earth and partly faced with stone, and of a wall and three bastions of stone on the river side. At the southern end, on a half-detached hill, was the citadel, with its old tower, still known as Der lange Hermann. Connected by a good stone bridge was the old and still picturesque castle of Ivángorod, built by the Russians in 1492 to overawe Narva, but at this time forming part of the defenses of the town. The fortress was well armed, but the garrison, under the command of Rudolph Horn, was small, consisting of thirteen hundred infantry, two hundred cavalry, and about four hundred armed citizens. In appearance, Narva was like many an old German town, and even now, from the public garden, the old brick gables rising above the trees and walls have a picturesque and thoroughly un-Russian air. The political and social importance of Narva has now diminished, but the foreign trade is still not inconsiderable, and the rapids of the Naróva, just above the town, furnish water-power for large cloth and linen factories.

The Russian line of circumvallation, which was entirely on the left or western side of the river, extended from near the

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