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250
ODENSE.
Chap. XLVII.
porters, wild men not yet moulted, well coated with
hair—hair, however, we all know, will not last for ever,
and the savages of the Danish arms have, like the rest
of the world, become bald.
Before we close the list of royalty, observe that
velvet coffin—plain, simple coffin—a Duchess’s coronet,
C. M. the initials—worthless Christina Munk. We have
visited her birthplace, assisted at her marriage, her
disgrace, her death, and now she lies interred, or
rather exposed, in the chapel of St. Knud’s church of
Odense—requiescat in pace! Christina had the good
luck to die at the moment when Ulfeld and his wife
were at the height of their power—so on her death-bed
she was attended by the Hof-Preacher of General
Wrangel, as well as by the king’s doctor. Her coffin
was brought to Odense, met outside the town by the
nobility, and buried in the presence of her children
and grandchildren all arrayed in white clothing. So
after all she was interred as a countess, and not as
Mrs. Christina of Boiler.
We will first enter the splendid chapel of the Counts
of Ahlefeldt, * a really noble dormitorium. Look at
the banners—the armour—the coffins—all gilt and
engraved; nothing in death and dust can be more
magnificent. Thirteen warriors of this house fell in
right an armed knight presenting in his hand a lay-figure to the lion,
who forms the left side supporter. The houses of Austria, Carafa, and
many others, have adopted this story of the smudge, but without any
right.
* The Ahlefeldts of more modern date derive their descent from the
daughter of King Christian and poor bullied Vibeke Kruse. Very
well brought up, too, she was; for Dr. Laurits Jacobsen, in his
Journal, notes, 29th April, 1647, “ Have I this day, by the king’s
order, examined Miss Lisbeth in her catechismand later the king
expressed his good pleasure at her grounding in her Christianities.
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