The Virginia Gazette

ANECDOTES of JOHN REINHOLD PATKUL, now first printed from a manuscript account, written by the Lutheran clergyman who attended him in his preparation for his death, and at his execution.

JOHN REINHOLD PATKUL was born of a noble family in Livonia, a northern province belonging to the Crown of Sweden. The Livonians having been stripped of their privileges, and great part of their estates, by Charles XI. Patkul was deputed to make their complaint, which he did with such eloquence and courage that the King, laying his hand upon his shoulder, said, You have spoken for your country as a brave man should, and I esteem you for it.

Charles, however, who added the baseness of hypocrisy to the ferocity of a tyrant, was determined to punish the zeal and honesty which he thought fit to commend, and a few days afterwards caused Patkul to be declared guilty of high treason, and condemned to die. Patkul, however, found means to escape into Poland, where he continued until Charles was dead. He hoped that his sentence would have been then reversed, as it had been declared unjust, even by the tyrant that procured it; but being disappointed in this expectation, he applied to Augustus King of Poland, and solicited him to attempt the conquest of Livonia from the Swedes, which he said might be easily effected, as the people were ready to shake off their yoke, and the King of Sweden was a child incapable of compelling their subjection.

Augustus possessed himself of Livonia in consequence of this proposal, and afterwards, when Charles XII. entered the province to recover it, Patkul commanded in the Saxon army against him. Charles was victorious, and Patkul, some time afterwards, being disgusted at the haughty behaviour of General Fleming, Augustus's favourite, entered into the service of the Czar, with whom Augustus was in strict alliance, and a little before Charles compelled Augustus to abdicate the throne of Poland, and his subjects to elect Stanislaus in his stead. The Czar sent Patkul, with the title of his Ambassador, into Saxony, to prevail with Augustus to meet him at Grodno, that they might confer on the state of their affairs.

This conference took place, and immediately afterwards the Czar went from Grodno to quell a rebellion in Astracan. As soon as the Czar was gone, Augustus, to the surprise of all Europe, ordered Patkul, who was then at Dresden, to be seized as a state criminal.

By this injurious and unprecedented action Augustus at once violated the law of nations and weakened his own interest, for Patkul was not only an Ambassador, but an Ambassador from the only power that could afford him protection. The cause, however, was this: Patkul had discovered that Augustus's ministers were to propose a peace to Charles upon any terms, and had therefore formed a design to be beforehand with him, and procure a separate peace between Charles and his new master the Czar. The design of Patkul was discovered, and to prevent its success Augustus ventured to seize his person, assuring the Czar that he was a traitor, and had betrayed them both.

Augustus was soon after reduced to beg a peace of Charles at any rate, and Charles granted it upon certain conditions, one of which was that he should deliver up Patkul. This condition reduced Augustus to a very distressful dilemma; the Czar, at this very time, reclaimed Patkul as his Ambassador, and Charles demanded, with threats, that he should be put into his hands.

Augustus, therefore, contrived an expedient by which he hoped to satisfy both: He sent some guards to deliver Patkul, who was prisoner in the castle of Konigstein, to the Swedish troops; but by secret orders, privately despatched, he commanded the Governor to let him escape. The Governor, though he received this order in time, yet disappointed its intention by his villainy and his avarice; he knew Patkul to be very rich, and, having it now in his power to suffer him to escape with impunity, he demanded of Patkul a large sum for the favour: Patkul refused to buy that liberty which he made no doubt would be gratuitously restored in consequence of the Czar's requisition and remonstrance; and in the mean time the Swedish guards arrived with the order for his being delivered up to them.

By this party he was first carried to Charles's head quarters at Altranstadt, where he continued three months bound to a stake with a heavy chain of iron; he was then conducted to Casimir, where Charles ordered him to be tried, and he was by his judges found guilty. His sentence depended upon the King, and after having been kept a prisoner some months, under a guard of Mayerfeldt's regiment, uncertain of his fate, he was on the 8th of September 1707, towards the evening, delivered into the custody of a regiment of dragoons, commanded by Colonel Nicholas Elm. On the next day, the 29th, the Colonel took the Chaplain of his regiment aside, and telling him that Patkul was to die the next day, ordered him to acquaint him with his fate, and prepare him for it. About this very time he was to have been married to a Saxon Lady of great quality, virtue, and beauty, a circumstance which renders his case still more affecting. What followed, in consequence of the Colonel's order to the minister, will be related in his own words.

Immediately after evening service I went to his prison, where I found him lying on his bed. The first compliments over, I entered upon the melancholy duty of my profession, and turning to the officer who had him in charge told him the Colonel's orders were that I should be alone with his prisoner.

The officer having withdrawn, Patkul grasping both my hands in his, cried out, with most affecting anxiety and distress, My dear pastor! what are you to declare? What am I to hear?

I bring you, replied I, the same tidings that the prophet brought to King Hezekiah, Set thine house in order, for thou must die. To-morrow, by this time, thou shalt be no longer in the number of the living! At this terrible warning he bowed himself upon his bed, and burst into tears,

I attempted to comfort him, by saying that he must without all doubt have often meditated on this subject. Yes. (cried he) I know, alas! too well that we must all die; but the death prepared for me will be cruel, and insupportable.

I assured him that the manner of his death was to me totally unknown; but, believing that he would be prepared for it, I was sure his soul would be received into the number of happy spirits.

Here he rose up, and folding his hands together, Merciful Jesus! let me then die the death of the righteous! A little after, with his face inclined to the wall, where stood his bed, he broke out into this soliloquy: Augustus! O Augustus! what must be thy lot one day? Must thou not answer for all the crimes thou hast committed?

He then observed that he was driven out from his country, by a sentence against his life pronounced for doing what the King himself encouraged him to do, saying to him one day, in terms of much kindness, Patkul, maintain the rights of your country like a man of honour, and with all the spirit you are capable of.

That flying into an enemy's country was also unavoidable, as the country of an ally would not have afforded him protection; but that he was in Saxony a wretched exile, not a counsellor or adviser; that before his arrival every thing was already planned, the alliance with Muscovy signed, and the measures with Denmark agreed upon.

My inclinations, said he, after a pause, were always to serve Sweden, though the contrary opinion has prevailed. The Elector of Brandenburg owed his title of King of Prussia to the services I did him, and when, in recompense, he would have given me a considerable sum of money, I thanked him, and rejected the offer; adding, that the reward I most wished for was to regain the King of Sweden's favour by his intercession. This he promised, and tried every possible method to succeed, but without success. After this I laboured so much for the interest of the late Emperor, in his Spanish affairs, that I brought about what scarce any other man could have effected. The Emperor, as an acknowledgment, gave me an assignment for 50,000 crowns, which I humbly laid at his feet, and implored his Imperial Majesty's recommendation of me to my King's favour. This request he immediately granted, and gave his orders accordingly, but in vain. Yet, not to lose any opportunity, I went to Moscow while the Swedish Ambassadors were at that Court, but even the mediation of the Czar had no effect. After that I distributed among the Swedish prisoners at Moscow at least 100,000 crowns, to show the ardent desire I had, by all ways, to regain the favour of their sovereign. Would to Heaven I had been equally in earnest to obtain the grace of God ! At these words another shower of tears fell from his eyes, and he remained for some moments silent, and overwhelmed with grief.

I used my best endeavours to comfort him, with the assurance that this grace would not be denied him, provided he spent the few hours still left in earnestly imploring it; for the door of Heaven's mercy was never shut, though that of men might be cruelly so. This (replied he) this is my consolation; for thou art God, and not man to be angry for ever.

He then inveighed bitterly against Augustus, and reproached himself for having any connection with a wretch who was wholly destitute of all faith and honour, an atheist, without piety, and without virtue.

While he was at Warsaw, said he, and heard the King was advancing to attack him, he found himself extremely distressed. He was absolutely without money, and therefore obliged to dismiss some of his troops. He had recourse to my assistance, and entreated me, for the love of God, to borrow whatever sum I could. I procured him 400,000 crowns, 50,000 of which, the very next day, he squandered on trinkets and jewels, which he gave in presents to some of his women. I told him plainly my thoughts of the matter, and by my importunity prevailed that the Jews should take back their toys and return the money they had been paid for them. The Ladies were enraged, and he swore that I should one time or other suffer for what I had done; there indeed he kept his word. Would to God he had always done so with those he employed !

I now left him for a short time, and at even in the evening I returned; and the officer being retired, he accosted me, with a smiling air, and an appearance of much tranquillity. Welcome, dear Sir, the weight that lay heavy on my heart is removed, and I already feel a sensible change wrought in my mind. I am ready to die; death is more eligible than the solitude of a long imprisonment. Would to Heaven only that the kind of it were less cruel. Can you, my dear Sir, inform me in what manner I am to suffer? I answered, that it had not been communicated to me: but that I imagined it would pass over without noise, as only the Colonel and myself had heard of it.

That, replied he, I esteem as a favour; but have you seen the sentence? Or must I die without being either heard or condemned? My apprehensions are of being put to intolerable tortures.

I comforted him in the kindest manner I could; but he was his own best comforter from the word of God, with which he was particularly acquainted, quoting, among many other passages, the following, in Greek, We must enter into the kingdom of Heaven through many tribulations.

He then called for pen and ink, and entreated me to write down what he should dictate. I did so, as follows :

Testamentum, or, my last will, as to the disposition of my effects after my death.

I. His Majesty King Augustus, having first examined his conscience thoroughly, will be so just as to pay back to my relations the sum he owes me, which being liquidated will amount to 50,000 crowns; and as my relations are here in the service of Sweden, that monarch will probably obtain it for them.

At this he said let us stop here a little ; I will quickly return to finish this will, but now let us address ourselves to God by prayer. Prayers being ended, Now (cried he) I find myself yet better, yet in a quieter frame of mind. Oh ! were my death less dreadful, with what pleasure would I expiate my guilt by embracing it!

Yet (cried he, after a pause) I have friends in different places, who will weep over my deplorable fate. What will the mother of the King of Prussia say ? What will be the grief of the Countess Levolde, who attends on her ? But what thoughts must arise in the bosom of HER to whom my faith is plighted ? Unhappy woman! the news of my death will be fatal to her peace of mind.

My dear pastor, may I venture to beg one favour of you ? I assured him he might command every service in my power. Have the goodness then (said he, pressing my hand) the moment I am no more, to write—alas how will you set about it!—a letter to Madam Eineideler, the Lady I am promised to. Let her know that I die hers; inform her fully of my unhappy fate! end her my last and eternal farewell! My death is in truth disgraceful, but my manner of meeting it will, I hope, by Heaven's and your assistance, render it holy and blessed. This news will be her only consolation. Add farther, dear Sir, that I thank her with my latest breath for the sincere affection she bore me. May she live long and happy. This is my dying wish. I gave him my hand, in promise that I would faithfully perform all he desired.

Afterwards he took up a book. This (said he) is of my own writing. Keep it in remembrance of me, and as a proof of my true regard for religion. I could wish it might have the good fortune to be presented to the King, that he might be convinced with what little foundation I have been accused of atheism.

Taking it from his hand, I assured him that my Colonel would not fail to present it, as soon as opportunity offered.

The rest of his time was employed in prayer, which he went through with a very fervent devotion.

On the 30th of September I was again with him, at four in the morning, The moment he heard me he arose, and rendering thanks to God assured me he had not slept so soundly for a long time. We went to prayers, and in truth his piety and devout frame of mind were worthy of admiration.

About six he said he would begin his confession, before the din and clamour of the people without could rise to disturb his thoughts. He then kneeled down, and went through his confession in a manner truly edifying

The sun beginning to appear above the horizon, he looked out of the window, saying, Salve et audies! this is my wedding day. I looked, alas! for another, but this is the happier; for today shall my soul be introduced by her heavenly bridegroom into the assembly of the blessed.

He then asked me whether I yet knew in what way he was to die : I answered that I did not. He conjured me by the sacred name of Jesus not to forsake him; for that he should find in my company some consolation, even in the midst of tortures.

Casting his eye on the paper that lay on the table, This will. (said he) can never be finished. I asked him whether he would put his name to what was already written. No (replied he, with a deep sigh) I will write that hated name no more. My relations will find their account in another place; salute them from me.

He then addressed himself again to God in prayer, and continued his devotions until the Lieutenant entered to conduct him to the coach. He wrapped himself up in his cloak, and went forward a great pace, guarded by 100 horsemen. Being arrived at the place of execution, we found it surrounded by 300 foot soldiers; but at the sight of stakes and wheels his horror is not to be described. Clasping me in his arms, Beg of God (he exclaimed) that my soul may not be thrown into despair, amidst these tortures!

I comforted, I adjured him to fix his thoughts on the death of Jesus Christ, who for our sins was nailed to a cross.

Being now on the spot where he was to suffer, he bid the executioner to do his duty well, and put into his hands some money which he got ready for that purpose. He then stretched himself out upon the wheel; and while they were stripping him naked he begged me to pray that God would have mercy on him, and bear up his soul in agony. I did so; and turning to all the spectators, said to them, "Brethren, join with me in prayer for this unhappy man." Yes (cried he) assist me all of you with your supplications to Heaven.

Here the executioner gave him the first stroke. His cries were terrible. O Jesus! Jesus! have mercy upon me. This cruel scene was much lengthened out, and of the utmost horror; for as the headsman had no skill in his business, the unhappy victim received upwards of 15 several blows, with each of which were intermixed the most piteous groans, and invocations of the name of God.

At length, after two strokes given on the breast, his strength and voice failed him. In a faltering dying tone he was just heard to say, Cut off my head! and the executioner still lingering, he himself placed his head on the scaffold. After four strokes with a hatchet the head was separated from the body, and the body quartered. Such was the end of the renowned Patkul, and may God have mercy on his soul !

Lorens Hagar,
Chaplain of a Regiment.