| Citation |
BNL.714.009
26 Jul-2 Aug 1714:11,12 (537)
Berlin, November 29. There lately fell out a comical
adventure which is now the subject matter of publick
discourse and entertainment, and is as follows. On the 16th
instant a German, who has an employment in this country, and
an Italian residing here, went to Wusterhauzen, one of the
King's pleasure houses, where his Majesty then was. Each of
them had drawn up a scheme to bring money into the King's
coffers by new impositions. 'Tis said, that one of the
projects proposed by the first, was to stop 5 per cent on
all the salaries and pensions of his Majesty's officers and
servants; but having presented that scheme to the King, his
Majesty, after having perused the same, rejected it with
disdain, telling him, that he had been obliged for the
publick good, and by the necessity of his affairs to bring
down several heads of expence, but that he was resolved to
make no further abatements, nor could he do it without
taking the bread from his servants. Such a repulse ought to
have made the projector withdraw; but he on the contrary,
press'd the matter so hard, that at length the King being
offended at his importunity, caused him to be secured; and
then ask'd such of his officers as were about him, what
chastisement a man deserved who intruded upon his sovereign
to give him pernicious advice? They being all unanimous,
that he deserved to wear the Spanish cloak, a punishment
used in several courts of Germany, is a sort of wooden case,
round at bottom, and of a conic figure, like a modern
petticoat, bound with iron hoops, and consequently very
heavy, which hangs on the shoulders by means of a sort of
iron collar that is at the top of it, so that the head is
out; and this machine reaches from the neck to the mid-leg.
In that equipage the project-monger was exposed for some
hours, after which he was obliged to trudge it on foot back
to Berlin, the road being that day cover'd with snow. The
German's ill luck deterr'd the Italian from presenting the
memorial he had ready about him, containing projects of
impositions and duties levied in Italy, but hitherto unknown
in Germany. However, that did not exempt him from the
punishment he was adjudg'd to deserve, for bearing the other
company; but he came off with what is called the fiddle or
violin, with which he was gagg'd and bridled, without
omitting the little bell, an ornamental piece of that
instrument after which he was dismiss'd. It is not likely
that either of them, or any body else will in haste, offer
projects unask'd. Be that as it will, this adventure
affords master to bless and extol his Majesty's justice, and
his love for his people.
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