As the governor had behaved to the queen so as to merit her Majesty's confidence and esteem, she entrusted him with a letter for the king, which he promised faithfully to deliver into his Majesty's own hands. It must have been very moving, as the king was observed to shed tears on reading it.[42]
At six in the evening of May 30, Caroline Matilda proceeded in a royal Danish boat on board the English frigate. Her suite consisted of Colonel Keith, who would accompany her to Göhrde, and of Count Holstein zu Ledreborg, his wife, Lady-in-waiting von Mösting, and Page of the Chamber von Raben, who were ordered to convey her Majesty as far as Stade, and then return by land. When the anchor was apeak, the fortress, and the Danish guardship in the Sound, gave a salute of twenty-seven guns.
The queen remained on deck, her eyes immovably directed toward the fortress of Kronborg, which contained her child, who had so long been her only source of comfort, until darkness intercepted the view. The vessel having made but little way during the night, at daybreak she observed with fond satisfaction that the fortress was still visible, and could not be persuaded to enter the cabin so long as she could obtain the faintest glimpse of the battlements.
Among Sir R. M. Keith's papers was found the following copy of verses, whose title speaks for itself. Unfortunately, there is no positive proof that they were written by the queen herself, beyond the care that Sir Robert took of them:—
WRITTEN AT SEA BY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK,
ON HER PASSAGE TO STADE, 1772.
At length, from sceptred care and deadly state,
From galling censure and ill-omened hate,
From the vain grandeur where I lately shone,
From Cronsberg's prison and from Denmark's throne,
I go!