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18 MARGARET OF NORWAY.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
» Of At So A Time Much Like Discussion T...
feet in length ., and accompanied tlie gift hy an insulting recommendation to sharpen her scissors and needles upon itinstead of
, meddling with the sceptres that men only were competent to wield . To these insults the Queen opposed a dignified silence , and
despatched her legions by way of reply . The two armies came in sight , shortly after , at a place called Nyckelangen ' , near Falcoping
in Sweden . King Albert commanded in person on the one side , and Eric Wasa , a brave and experienced Norwegian general , on
the other . The Germans came to the field accompanied by all the pomp and panoply of war . Being chiefly young men , hot-headed
and over-confident , they fancied they had but to draw their swords and conquer , and boasted that every German would kill two Swedes
that day . But Eric Wasa , instead of wasting the precious moments in idle vapouringhastened to post his troops , so that they were
, protected by a morass in front and a hill on one side , which was the best position to be had on the ground and rendered him almost
invincible . Here he drew up and waited in . order of battle , never supposing , however , that the enemy would dare to attack him at so
great a disadvantage . But Albert had been flattered by one Gerard Snakenborg and others of the headstrong youths about his
person , till he was almost beside himself with vanity . They persuaded him that he was born to conquerand , eager as he was for
, vengeance , he but too readily believed them . Disregarding the warnings of the elder men and urged on by the younger , he then
knighted the said Gerard on the field , gave the word to charge , and dashed forward with all his cavalry into the morass . A frightful
scene ensued . Encumbered by their , armour , assailed by clouds of arrows , and sinking deeper into the swamp at every step , men and
horses were alike panic-stricken , and plunged about in an agony of bewilderment . Seeing this , the rear-guard fell into disorder , and
Gerard Snakenborg was the first to fly . The Swedes then rushed in to slay , pursue , and conquer ; and Albert , who was running wildly
hither and thither , was taken captive , as well as his son , Prince Erik , and the chief nobles of his staff .
" Alas ! old man , " said the unhappy King , meeting one of those who had warned him in the morning , and who was now a prisoner
like himself , " had I but heeded thee ! Had I but heeded thee ! " It was now Margaret ' s turn to triumph , and triumph she did , to
the uttermost . Worthier of her greatness would it have been had she scorned to return insult for insult , and spared the captive though
she despised the King . But the age was still barbarous , and even lier natural magnanimity was not proof against prosperity . Being
then at Lodose , she caused the prisoners to be brought before her in fetters , and greeted them with bitter mockeries . Among other
_px'actical jokes , she reminded Albert of his arrogant vow , and , as he had not yet achieved the right to wear his hat , caused a gigantic
fool ' s-cap to be placed upon his head , and so exposed him to the
18 Margaret Of Norway.
18 MARGARET OF NORWAY .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1859, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031859/page/18/
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