This most atrocious and audacious undertaking of Count Brandt cannot be regarded otherwise than as an open attack on the king's person, and the greatest crime of high treason, which deserves the punishment attached to such a crime in art. 1, 4th chapter of the 6th book of the Danish law.
We, therefore, consider ourselves justified in condemning Count Brandt, and passing the following sentence:—
Count Enevold Brandt shall have forfeited honour, life, and property, and be degraded from his dignity of count, and all the other honours conferred on him; his coat of arms shall be broken by the executioner on the scaffold; his right hand cut off while he is still alive; then the head; his body quartered and exposed on the wheel; but his head and hand stuck on a pole.
The Commission at the Christiansborg Palace, this 25th April, 1772.
- J. K. JUELL-WIND.
- H. STAMPE. LUXDORPH.
- KOFOD ANCHER.
- F. E. SEVEL.
- G. A. BRAËM.
- A. G. CARSTENS.
- J. E. E. SCHMIDT.
- O. GULDBERG.
The royal confirmation of the sentence was to the following effect:—
We hereby approve in all points the sentence passed by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by us at the Christiansborg Palace, which declares that Enevold Brandt, for his most atrocious and audacious design and assault on our own person, shall have forfeited honour, life, and property, and that he shall be degraded from his dignity as count, and all the other honours conferred on him; that his coat of arms shall be broken by the executioner on the scaffold; after that his right hand be cut off while he is alive; and then his head; and that the body shall be quartered and exposed on the wheel; but the head and hand stuck on a pole. Whereupon those whom it concerns are ordered to act accordingly.
Given at our Palace of Christiansborg, this April 27, 1772.
CHRISTIAN.
O. THOTT.
LUXDORPH. A. SCHUMACHER.
DONS. HOYER.