and Taste of Learning from what the World has at present It seems as ridiculous to take Patterns for the gentile Learning of this Age from the old fashion'd Learning of the Times wherein the University Statutes were compiled as it would be for one who would appear well dress'd at Court to make his Cloaths after the Mode in Henry the VIII's day But 't is of infinitely worse consequence for the Prejudices and wrong Notions the stiffness and positiveness in Opinion the litigiousness and wrangling all which the old Philosophy breeds besides the narrow Spiritedness and not enduring of Contradiction which are generally contracted by a Monastick Life require a great deal of time to get rid of and until they be filed off by Conversation in the World abroad a Man's Learning does but render him more useless and unfit for Society I dare appeal to common Experience whether those excellent Men that of late Years have been preferred in our Church then which Set of Divines England scarce ever knew a better be not for the most part such as have been very conversant with the World and if they have not all travell'd out of this Kingdom have at least spent the best part of their days in this Epitom of the World the City of London where they have learnt Christian Liberty as well as other Christian Vertues The great difference between these and others of narrow Opiniastre Tempers caus'd by their Monk-like Education is discernable by every Body and puts it out of all doubt that such who have seen most of what Profession soever they be prove the most honest and virtuous Men and fittest for Humane Society these embrace better Notions relating to the Publick weigh Opinions before they adhere to them have a larger Stock of Charity a clearer Manner of distinguishing between Just and Unjust understand better the Laws of our own Land as well as the Priviledges and Frailties of Human Nature And all this in a degree far excelling the most zealous learned religious Person who has been brought up in his Cell and is therefore what we call a Bigot stiff in an Opinion meerly because he has been used to it and is ashamed to be thought capable of being deceived Lawyers whose manner of Breeding is much abroad in the World and who are used to promiscuous Conversation have been observed in most places to be great Favourers of Liberty because their knowledge of ancient Practice and the just Title which the People have to their Priviledges which they meet with every where in their course of Reading makes them less scrupulous of committing what some Divines miscal a Sin in those that endeavour to preserve or recover them the Oversights of some few Gentlemen of this honourable Profession are therefore the less excusable for I must confess among other things that Motto A Deo Rex à Rege Lex wherein the Divine Right of the impious Will of a Tyrant is as strongly asserted as could be in the compass of a Ring has occasioned frequent Reflections not much in favour of those that made use of it Thus I have touch'd upon the Manner of Education necessary to the beginning and finishing a Gentleman who is to be useful to his Country which I suppose ought to be the principal end of it And I can't but believe if in our Schools our Youth were bred up to understand the Meaning of the Authors they are made to read as well as the Syntax of the Words If there were as much care taken to inculcate the good Maxims and recommend the noble Characters the old Historians are so full of as there is to hammer into their Heads the true Grammar of them and the fineness of the Phrase If in our Universities a proportionable Care were taken to furnish them with noble and generous Learning If after this they were duly informed in the Laws and Affairs of their own Country trained up in good Conversation and useful Knowledge at home and then sent abroad when their Heads began to be well settled when the heat of Youth was worn off and their Judgments ripe enough to make Observation I say I cannot but believe that with this manner of Institution a very moderate Understanding might do wonders and the coming home fully instructed in the Constitutions of other Governments would make a Man but the more resolute to maintain his own For the advantage of a free Government above its contrary needs no other help to make it appear then only to be exposed to a considerate View with it The difference may be seen written in the very Faces of the several People as well as in their manner of Living and when we find nothing but Misery in the fruitfullest Countries subject to Arbitrary Power but always a Face of plenty and Chearfulness in Countries naturally unfruitful which have preserv'd their Liberties there is no further room left for Argument and one cannot be long in determining which is most eligible This Observation is so obvious that 't is hard for any that Travels not to make it therefore 't is a sufficient reason why all our Gentry should go abroad An English Man should be shewn the Misery of the enslaved Parts of the World to make him in Love with the Happiness of his own Country as the Spartans exposed their drunken Servants to their Children to make them in love with Sobriety But the more polish'd and delicious Countries of France Spain or Italy are not the places where this Observation may be made to greatest advantage the Manner of Living Goodness of the Air and Diet the Magnificence of the Buildings Pleasantness of the Gardens pompous Equipage of some great Persons dazzle the Eyes of most Travellers and cast a disguise upon the Slavery of those Parts and as they render this Evil more supportable to the Natives so they almost quite hide it from the view of a Cursory Traveller amusing him too much from considering the Calamities which accompany so much Splendour and so many Natural Blessings or from reflecting how much more happy the Condition of the People would be with better usage But in the Northern Kingdoms and Provinces there appears little or nothing to divert the Mind from contemplating Slavery in its own Colours without any of its Ornaments And since for that reason few of our Gentlemen find temptation enough to Travel into those Parts and we have hardly any tolerable Relation of them extant though we have frequent occasions of being concerned with them I thought it might be of use to publish the following Account of Denmark which I took care to be informed of upon the place with the greatest Exactness possible and have related fairly and impartially which may save the Curious the labour and expence of that Voyage That Kingdom has often had the Misfortune to be govern'd by French Counsels At the time when Mr. Algernoon Sydney was Ambassador at that Court Monsieur Terlon the French Ambassador had the Confidence
les Admiraux le General Commissaire de l'Armée les Colonels des Gardes du Corps ou Trabans 2. Les Brigadiers 3. Le Maréchal de la Cour. VIII 1. Les Conseillers de la Chancellerie Les Envoyez Extraordinaires du Roy le Maistre des Ceremonies 2. Les Conseillers de la Chambre des Comptes le Procureur General 3. Les Conseillers de Guerre 4. Les Conseillers de l'Admirauté 5. Les Conseillers de Commerce IX 1. Le sur Intendant de Séelande 2. Le Confesseur du Roy. 3. Le Recteur de l'Accademie l'année qu'il est Recteur le President de la Ville de Copen X. 1. Les Colonels des Regimens des Gardes à Cheval à Pied les Vice-Admiraux les Colonels de l'Artillerie 2. Les autres Colonels de Cavalerie ou d'Infanterie 3. Les Lieutenans Colonels des Gardes du Corps ou Trabans apres eux les Bailliffs XI 1. Les Gentilshommes de la Chambre du Roy de la Reine 2. Le Maistre de l'Ecurie 3. Le Veneur du Roy. 4. Le Secretaire de la Chambre du Roy. 5. Le Secretaire de la Milice 6. Le Grand Payeur XII 1. Les assesseurs de la haute Justice les Conseillers d'Assistance en Norwegue les sur Intendans des autres Provinces 2. Les Juges Provinciaux XIII 1. Les Generaux Auditeurs les Maistres Generaux des quartiers 2. Les Lieutenans Colonels Scoutbynachts Maiors des Gardes du Corps a Trabans XIV 1. Les Assesseurs de la Chancelerie de la Justice de la Cour de Norwegue 2. Les Assesseurs du Consistoire les Bourgmeisters de Copenhague le Medicin du Roy. 3. Les Assesseurs de la Chambre des Comptes aprés eux les Commissaires des Provinces 4. Les Assesseurs du College de Guerre 5. Les Assesseurs du College de l'Admirauté 6. Les Assesseurs du College du Commerce XV. Les Maistres de Cuisine les Gentilshommes de la Cour les Generaux Adjutans les Maiors les Capitains des Gardes a Cheval les Capitaines Commandeurs des Vaisseaux XVI 1. Les Secretaires de la Chancellerie de la Justice 2. Le Secretaire de la Chambre des Comptes 3. Le Secretaire du College de Guerre 4. Le Secretaire de l'Admirauté 5. Le Secretaire du Commerce Ilya à observer que quand plusiers charges sont nommées ensemble Et qu'elles ne sont pas distinguées de quelque numero à part Ils prendront le rang entre eux selon qu'ils sont premiers en charge Les Ministres du Roy qui possedent quelques charges qui ne sont pas nommées dans cette Ordonnance retiendront même rang qu'ils ont eu Jusques icy Ceux à qui le Roy a déja donné ou donnera le Rang deConseiller Privé jouiront du même Rang que s'ils l'Etoint effectivement Ceux qui possedent effectivement quelques charges auront le Rang avant ceux qui en ont seulement le titre ne font point de fonction Ceux que le Roy dispense de ne plus exercer leur charges retiendront pourtant le même Rang qu'ils avoient eu exercant leurs charges si quelqu'un prand une autre charge de moindre Rang que sa premiere n'étoit il retiendra pourtant le Rang de la premiere Les Femmes se regleront ainsi qu'apres les Comtesses suivront les Gouvernantes Demoiselles de la Chambre de la Cour pendant qu'elles sont en service aprez elles les Femmes de Conseillers Privez qui tiennent Rang avec eux ensuite les Baronesses autres Femmes selon la Condition de leurs maris tant de leur vivant qu'aprez leur mort pendant quelles demeurent veufves La Noblesse qui n'a point de charge les Capitaines de Cavalerie d'Infanterie autres Persones Ecclesiastiques Seculiers tiendront le pas entre eux comme ils ont fait auparavant Surquoy tous auront a se Régler souspeine de la perte de la faveur Royale Et si quelqu'n contre toute Esperance se trouve de propre Authorité qui face quelque chose contre cette Ordonnance payera tout aussitost qu'il sera Convaincu d'un tel Crime l'amande de mille Reicsthalers Et outre sera poursuive par le General fiscal du Roy comme violateur des Ordres Royaux fait à Copenhag le 31 Decembre 1680. CHAP. XII The Disposition and Inclinations of the King of Denmark towards his Neighbours THE Kingdoms and States which border upon the King of Denmark are towards the North and Northeast the Territories belonging to Sweden towards the South the Duke of Holstein's part of Sleswick and Holstein the City of Hamburg and the Dutchy of Bremen Towards the West and Southwest England and Scotland which are separated from them by the main Ocean Towards the South-east the Dukedoms of Saxe Lawenburg of Mecklenburg and of Lunenburg The Dominions of Brandenburgh c. lye also this way not far distant from them Between the King of Denmark and most of these Neighbours it may be said in general that there always is a reciprocal Jealousy and Distrust which often breaks out into open Hostilities with those nearer more frequently with the remoter more seldom according as the occasions of quarrel or revenge do happen The interposition of a vast Ocean has hitherto kept the Danes in pretty good terms with England and Scotland and the Trade they have with those Kingdoms is very considerable to them their Maritime Forces are in no measure sufficient to cope with us and others concern'd otherwise they have had a good mind to challenge the sole right of the Groenland Whale-fishing as pretending that Countrey to be a discovery of theirs and therefore to belong to them Since the present Wars with France and our strict Union with the Hollanders they have shown themselves extreme jealous of our Greatness at Sea fearing lest we should ingross and command the whole Trade of the World and therefore have favoured France on all occasions as much as they durst furnishing it with Naval Stores and other Commodities which it wants And for this reason notwithstanding their scarcity of Money they will hardly be persuaded either to lend or sell any more Forces to the Confederates Neither is it to be doubted but that as well to keep the balance of the Sea Power even as to secure the liberty of their Commerce which brings them in great Gains they will leave no Stone unturned to do us a Mischief in order to humble us to such a degree as may put them out of fears that we shall give law to the Ocean To this end they have entred into stricter Alliances with Sweden of late for a mutual Vindication of open Commerce
vindicating the Honour of the Crown of England which was engaged as Guarrantee and securing the Peace of the North in order to the procuring the Assistance of one or both of those Princes towards the humbling the common Enemy This he effectually did for the Danes immediately afterwards sent by Treaty seven thousand Soldiers which are yet in his Majesty's Pay and the Swedes remain at liberty to continue such of their Troops in the Dutch Service as formerly were stipulated for and which had a War broken out they might have been forced to recall CHAP. XIV The Interests of Denmark in relation to other Princes IN treating of the Interests of the King of Denmark in relation to other Princes or States which do not confine upon his Dominions and of his Affections towards them it will not be necessary to observe strictly the order and rank which those Princes hold in the World I shall therefore take them as they come indifferently With the Emperor the King of Denmark is obliged to keep always a good outward Correspondence he being himself a Prince of the Empire as Duke of Holstein and the Emperour having it often in his Power to do him several Kindnesses or Dis-kindnesses The King has a great desire to establish a Toll at Glucstadt upon the River Elb and although the Emperour's consent would not absolutely secure the business for him there being many other Princes together with all those who are concerned in the Trade of Hamburg that would obstruct it yet it would strike a great stroke and must always be a necessary Preliminary He keeps therefore very fair with his Imperial Majesty and when pressed by the Ministers sends for valuable considerations some Troops to serve in Hungary against the Turks notwithstanding which he is inwardly troubled at the Power of the House of Austria and the Increase of its Dominions being jealous as most of the other German Princes are that the Greatness of that Family may one day turn to the detriment of the Liberty of Germany and therefore is not displeased at the Successes of the French or of the Turks He has been heard to complain of the neglect which the Imperial Court shows of him and its partiality for the Swedes this occasioned the Emperour's sending a Minister lately to Reside at Copenhagen as well as at Stockholm since which he seems to be better satisfied But at the bottom it is to be supposed that the Dane is no true Friend of the Emperour's because he thinks his Imperial Majesty favours some Interests opposite to his in conniving at the Lunenburgers forcible possession of the Dukedom of Saxe-Lawenburg and bestowing the Electoral Dignity on that Family the confirmation of which the King of Denmark opposes with all his Power With Poland the King of Denmark has at present little occasion either of Friendship or Enmity there being but small Correspondence between them yet he will rather chuse to keep that Crown his Friend than otherwise because it may one day stand him in stead against the Swedes And for this reason it is that the Elector of Brandenburg whose Interest in that particular is much the same with Denmark's maintains a good Correspondence and Entertains a constant Minister at Warsaw Besides the Port of Dantzick is convenient for all that Trade in the Baltick and the Danes bring Corn as well as other Merchandize from thence They keep likewise good Amity with the other Hans Towns The King is upon fair terms with the Duke of Courland who has permitted him to raise Men in his Countrey the Commander of which one Poteamer is Brother to that Duke's prime Minister and the Soldiers are the best able to live hardily and to endure Fatigue of any in the World It is the Interest of Denmark to be well with the Dutch above all other Princes in Europe because of the great Revenue it receives from their Traffick and the Toll which they pay in the Sound Because also in case of a quarrel with Sweden or any other extremity the King of Denmark is certain of the Assistance of the Hollanders which is always sufficient and ready to protect him as has been experienced in the former Wars between the Northern Crowns for the Dutch will never suffer the Balance of the North to lean too much to one side their Interest in the Trade of the Baltick being so considerable but will take care to assist the weaker with proportionable Succours which the conveniency of their Situation and their Naval Force permits them to do with greater ease than any other Notwithstanding all which Considerations there are frequent Occasions of Quarrel between the Dutch and Danes and the Friendship which the latter have for the former especially since this War with France and the Convention made with England for the Interruption of all Commerce with that Kingdom is very weak and unstable for besides that an Absolute Monarchy for other Reasons can never throughly love a Republick the Danes are envious at the great Trade of the Dutch and count it a Disparagement that Merchants as they call them should have it in their Power to give Law to a Crowned Head However at the bottom Denmark would not be pleased that Holland should sink under the Force of its Enemies but would use its best Endeavours to prevent it though possibly not before Matters were reduced to so great an Extremity as it might be beyond the Ability of the Danes to afford a timely Remedy The King of Denmark loves the Alliance of France and keeps a stricter Correspondence with that Crown than with any other though it be most certain that the Maxims which he has learnt from thence and the Practices which followed those Maxims have been the principal Occasion of that Kingdom 's present ill condition But the King of France by fair Words large Promises and a little Money seasonably bestowed has had the knack to amuse this Court and to make it act as he pleases notwithstanding the many Affronts the ill Successes and the universal Misery which through his means have attended it The Emissaries of France are thick sown here nothing pleases that is not according to the French Pattern either in Dress Military Discipline or Politicks and it is certain that a fitter could not be followed by any Arbitrary Prince provided a due regard were had to the force and strength to perform in proportion to the Design undertaken But the want of this Consideration has been fatal to Denmark France had told this King that Soldiers are the only true Riches of Princes and this has made him raise more than he knows what to do with unless he disturb his Neighbours which generally he does for the Interests of France though at last it turns to his loss So that Denmark resembles in this point a Monster that is all Head and no Body all Soldiers and no Subjects and whenever a General Peace comes to be established in Europe
We send them abroad Children and bring them home great Boys and the returns they make for the Expences laid out by their Parents are suitable to their Age That of the Languages is the very best but the most common is an affected Foppishness or a filthy Disease for which they sometimes exchange their Religion Besides the Pageantry Luxury and Licentiousness of the more Arbitrary Courts have bribed them into an Opinion of that very Form of Government Like Ideots who part with their Bread for a glittering piece of Tinsel they prefer gilded Slavery to coarse domestick Liberty and exclaim against their old fashion'd Country-men who will not reform their Constitution according to the new foreign Mode But the Travelling recommended here is that of Men who set out so well stock'd with the Knowledge of their own Country as to be able to compare it with others whereby they may both supply it where they find it wanting and set a true value on 't where it excels with this help such Travellers could not fail of becoming serviceable to the Publick in contributing daily towards the bettering of our Constitution though without doubt it be already one of the best in the World For it were as fond to imagine we need not go abroad and learn of others because we have perhaps better Laws and Customs already then Forreigners as it were not to Trade abroad because we dwell in one of the plentifullest Parts of the World But as our Merchants bring every day from barren Countries many useful things which our own good one does not produce so if the same care were taken to supply us with exact Accounts of the Constitutions Manners and Condition of other Nations we might without doubt find out many things for our purpose which now our meer Ignorance keeps us from being sensible that we want The Athenians Spartans and Romans did not think themselves too wise to follow this Method they were at great Expence to procure the Laws of other Nations thereby to improve their own and we know they throve by it since few Governments are so ill constituted as not to have some good Customs We find admirable Regulations in Denmark and we read of others among the Savage Americans fit to serve for Models to the most civilized Europeans But although the Constitution of our Government were too perfect already to receive any Improvement yet the best Methods conducing to the peaceable Conservation of its present Form are well worth every English Man's enquiry neither are these so easily to be found in this Age which were judged so difficult if not altogether impracticable by the greatest of Politicians in his time 'T is true the Wisdom of our Ancestors or their good Fortune has hitherto made these our Kingdoms an Exception to his general Maxim yet we all know how many grievous Tempests which as often threatned Shipwrack this Vessel of our Commonwealth has undergone The perpetual Contests between the Kings and the People whilst those endeavour'd to acquire a greater Power than was legally due and these to preserve or recover their just Liberties have been the contending Billows that have kept it afloat so that all we pretended to by the late Revolution bought with so great Expence yet not too dearly paid for was to be as we were and that every one should have his own again the effecting of which may be called a piece of good Luck and that 's the best can be said of it But must frequent Blood-lettings be indispensibly necessary to preserve our Constitution Is it not possible for us to render vain and untrue that Sarcasm of Forreigners who object to us that our English Kings have either too little Power or too much and that therefore we must expect no settled or lasting Peace Shall we for ever retain the ill Character they give us of the most mutable and inconstant Nation of the World Which however we do not deserve no more than England does that of Regnum Diabolorum so common in unconsidering Forreigners Mouths Methinks a Method to preserve our Commonwealth in its legal State of Freedom without the necessity of a Civil War once or twice every Age were a benefit worth searching for though we went to the furthest Corners of the World in quest of it Besides the Knowledge of the present State of our Neighbour Nations which is best acquired by Travel is more incumbent on the Gentlemen of England than any others since they make so considerable a part of our Government in Parliament where foreign Business comes frequently under Consideration and at present more then ever 'T is none of the smallest Advantages which his Majesty has procured us by his accession to the Crown that we make a greater Figure in the World than formerly we have more foreign Alliances are become the Head of more than a Protestant League and have a right to intermeddle in the Affairs of Europe beyond what we ever pretended to in any of the preceding Reigns For 't is a true though but a Melancholy Reflexion that our late Kings half undid us and bred us up as narrow spirited as they could made us consider our selves as proscribed from the World in every sence toto divisos orbe Britannos And indeed they had withdrawn us from the World so long till the World had almost overlooked us we seldom were permitted to cast an Eye farther than France or Holland and then too we were carefully watched But at present Matters are otherwise we have a Prince that has raised us to our natural Station the Eyes of most part of the World are now upon us and take their Measures from our Councils We find every day occasion to inform our selves of the Strength and Interests of the several Princes of Europe And perhaps one great reason why we live up no better to the mighty Post we are advanced to nor maintain our Character in it with great Reputation is because our Education has been below it and we have been too much lock'd up at home when we should have been acquainting our selves with the Affairs of the World abroad We have lately bought the Experience of this Truth too dear not to be now sensible of it 'T is not very long ago since nothing was more generally believed even by Men of the best Sence then that the Power of England was so unquestionably establish'd at Sea that no Force could possibly shake it that the English Valour and Manner of Fighting was so far beyond all others that nothing was more desirable than a French War Should any one have been so regardless of his Reputation as at that time to have represented the French an overmatch for the united Forces of England and Holland or have said that we should live to see our selves insulted on our own Coasts and our Trade indanger'd by them that we should be in Apprehensions every Year of an Invasion and a French Conquest such a venturesome Man must have expected
Situation for Trade is one of the best in the World because of the excellency of its Port so that without doubt were Copenhagen a free City it would be the Mart and Staple of all the Traffick of the Baltick This Port is inclosed by the Bulwarks of the Town the entrance into it being so narrow that but one Ship can pass at a time which entrance is every Night shut up with a strong Boom the Citadel on one side and a good Block-house well furnished with Cannon on the other Commands the Mouth of it Within this Haven rides the Navy Royal every Ship having his place assigned to it a wooden Gallery ranges round the whole Inclosure where the Fleet lies laid over the Water in such manner that all the Ships may be viewed near at hand as easily and commodiously as if they lay on dry Land This Harbour is capacious enough to hold 500 Sail where neither Wind nor Enemies can do them the least mischief The Road without is very good and safe being fenced from the Sea by a large Sand Bank on the Points of which float always a couple of Buoys to direct all Ships that come in or go out Here are no Tides to fear But always a sufficient depth of Water Sometimes indeed according as the Winds blow in or out of the Baltick there sets a Current but 't is not frequent nor dangerous To conclude this Port may justly be reckoned in all respects one of the best in the whole World The Town is strong being situated in a flat Marish Soil not commanded by any height the Air is bad by reason of the stink of the Channels which are cut through it The Works of it are only of Earth and Sodds yet raised according to the Rules of Modern Fortification and in tollerable good Repair The Buildings both in this City and elsewhere are generally very mean being Cage-work and having the Intervals between the Timbers filled up with Brick 'T is observable that all the good Publick Buildings in it such as the Change Arsenal Round-Steeple c. were built by King Christian the Fourth the present King's Grandfather and a very brave though not a Fortunate Prince who did more with less Revenues than all the succeeding Princes the Monarchy being at that time neither Hereditary nor Absolute He used often to say That he knew the Purses of his Subjects would be always open for his and the Kingdoms just Occasions and that he had rather they were his Cash-keepers than a High-Treasurer who might abuse him Although the principal Decorations of this Town are owing to him yet he either forgot or delay'd the Building of a Palace for himself and his Successors and no Body has undertaken it since though certainly in no Kingdom is there greater occasion this King's House of Residence being for Situation Meanness and Inconvenience the worst in the World and as singular for badness as the Port is for goodness Several of the Noblemen as his High Excellency Guldenlieu the great Admiral Juel with others being infinitely better lodged than the whole Royal Family Yet to make amends for this his Majesty has near him an excellent Stable of Horses and handsome large Gardens with a good Garden-House called Rosenburg some distance from the Palace at the other end of the Town CHAP. III. Of the Sound THIS Passage or Streight called the Sound or Ore-sound which has so great a Reputation in these Northern Parts of the World lies between this Island of Zealand and the firm Land of Schonen On Denmark side where it is narrowest stands the Town of Elsinore and the strong Fortress of Cronenburg near which is a tollerable good Road for Ships On Sweden side is the Town of Helsinburg with a demolished Castle whereof only one old Tower remains sufficient to hold half a dozen great Guns to repay the Salutes of Men of War which pass through Betwixt these two do pass and repass all Vessels that Trade into the Baltick so that next that of Gibraltar one may justly reckon this Streight the most important and frequented of any in Europe The loss of Schonen though it was considerable in regard of the largeness and fruitfulness of the Province yet it was more so in respect to the Dominion of this great Passage for although the Danes by the Treaty of Peace have expresly retained their Title to it and receive Toll from all Ships that pass except Swedes yet they do not esteem the Security of that Title so firm as they would wish for being not Masters of the Land on both sides they may have the Right but not the Power to assert it upon occasion and seem only to enjoy it at present according to their good Behaviour their stronger Neighbour the Swede being able to make use of the first Opportunity given him to their Prejudice This Toll being very considerable and of late years occasioning many Disputes which are not yet determined I thought it might not be amiss to set down in this place what I have learnt of the Original and Nature of it after having made as strict Enquiry as was possible from the most ancient and most understanding Persons I could meet with The most rational Account then is That it was at first laid by the Consent of the Traders into the Baltick who were willing to allow a small matter for each Ship that passed towards the maintaining of Lights on certain places of that Coast for the better direction of Sailers in dark Nights Hereupon this Passage of the Sound became the most practised that other of the Great Belt being in a little time quite neglected as well because of the great Conveniency of those Lights to the Shipping that passed in and out of the East-Sea as because of an Agreement made that no Ships should pass the other way to the end that all might pay their shares it being unreasonable that such Ships should have the benefit of those Lights in dark or stormy Winter Nights who avoided paying towards the maintaining of those Fires by passing another way Besides if this manner of avoiding the Payment had been allowed the Revenue would have been so insignificant considering the small Sum which each Ship was to pay that the Lights could not have been maintained by it and the Danes were not willing to be at the Charge solely for the use and benefit of their own Trading Ships in regard they were Masters of so few as made it not worth their while the Lubeckers Dantzickers and Merchants of other Hans-Towns being the greatest Traders at that time in the Northern Parts of Europe by which they arrived to a great height of Power and Riches But there being no fixed Rule or Treaty whereby to be governed with regard to the different Bulk of the Ships belonging to so many several Nations the Danes began in process of time to grow Arbitrary and exacted more or less Sums according to the strength or weakness of those they
And herein Norway exceeds the other Dominions of the King of Denmark that it affords Commodities for Exportation which none of the rest do in any quantity The Inhabitants are a hardy laborious and honest sort of People they are esteemed by others and esteem themselves much superiour to the Danes whom they call upbraidingly Jutes Island and Feroe are miserable Islands in the North Ocean Corn will scarce grow in either of them but they have good stocks of Cattle No Trade is permitted them but with the Danes the Inhabitants are great Players at Chess It were worth some curious Mans enquiry how such a studious and difficult Game should get thus far Northward and become so generally used The King of Denmark's Factories in the East and West-Indies and in Guinea are esteemed of very little worth and consideration yet I have seen several East-India Ships return home to Copenhagen well laden with the Merchandize of those Countries and there is an East-India Company lately set up whereof most of the Men of Quality are Members and Adventurers But whether the Lading of those Ships I mentioned were the lawful Product of Trade or acquired by other means will in time be worth the inquiry of those Kingdoms and States whose Interest it is to preserve in the Indians and Persians a good Opinion of the honesty and fair dealing of the Europeans And thus I have said as much as I think requisite touching the Situation Extent and Qualities of the Lands and Dominions belonging to the King of Denmark which amounts in general to this that they are very large disjoined and intermixt producing but a moderate Plenty of Necessaries for the Inhabitants but few Commodities for the Merchant and no Manufactures if we except a little Iron Whether these Defects in Countries well situated and indifferent fertile be altogether natural or partly accidental will better appear when I treat of the Form of the Government and the present Condition Customs and Manners of the Natives but because these last do in a manner depend upon and are influenced by the former I shall choose to begin with it CHAP. VI. Of their Form of Government THE Ancient Form of Government here was the same which the Goths and Vandals established in most if not all Parts of Europe whither they carried their Conquests and which in England is retained to this day for the most part 'T is said of the Romans That those Provinces which they Conquer'd were amply recompenced for the loss of their Liberty by being reduced from their Barbarity to Civility by the Introduction of Arts Learning Commerce and Politeness I know not whether this manner of Arguing hath not more of Pomp than Truth in it but with much greater reason may it be said that all Europe was beholding to these People for introducing or restoring a Constitution of Government far excelling all others that we know of in the World 'T is to the ancient Inhabitants of these Countries with other neighbouring Provinces that we owe the Original of Parliaments formerly so common but lost within this last Age in all Kingdoms but those of Poland Great Britain and Ireland Denmark therefore was till within these Two and Thirty years governed by a King chosen by the People of all sorts even the Boors had their Voices which King Waldemar the Third acknowledged in that memorable answer of his to the Popes Nuncio who pretended to a great power over him Naturam habemus à Deo regnum à subditis Divitias à parentibus Religionem à Romana Ecclesia quam si nobis invides renuntiamus per praesentes The Estates of the Realm being convened to that intent were to Elect for their Prince such a Person as to them appeared Personable Valiant Just Merciful Affable a Maintainer of the Laws a Lover of the People Prudent and Adorned with all other Vertues fit for Government and requisite for the great Trust reposed in him yet with due regard had to the Family of the preceding Kings If within that Line they found a Person thus qualified or esteemed to be so they thought it but a piece of just Gratitude to prefer him before any other to this high Dignity and were pleased when they had reason to choose the Eldest Son of their former King rather than any of the younger as well because they had regard to Priority of Birth when all other Vertues were equal as because the greatness of his Paternal Estate might put him above the reach of Temptations to be covetous or dishonest and inable him in some degree to support the Dignity of his Office But if after such a Choice they found themselves mistaken and that they had advanced a Cruel Vitious Tyrannical Covetous or Wasteful Person they frequently Deposed him oftentimes Banished sometimes Destroyed him and this either formally by making him Answer before the Representative Body of the People or if by ill Practices such as making of Parties levying of Soldiers contracting of Alliances to support himself in opposition to the Peoples Rights he was grown too powerful to be legally contended with they dispatched him without any more Ceremony the best way they could and Elected presently a better Man in his room sometimes the next of Kin to him sometimes the Valiant Man that had exposed himself so far as to undertake the Expulsion or the killing of the Tyrant at other times a private Person of a good Reputation who possibly least dreamt of such an Advancement Frequent Meetings of the Estates was a part of the very Fundamental Constitution In those Meetings all Matters relating to good Government were transacted good Laws were enacted all Affairs belonging to Peace or War Alliances disposal of great Offices Contracts of Marriages for the Royal Family c. were debated The imposing of Taxes or demanding of Benevolences was purely accidental no constant Tribute being ever paid nor any Money levied on the People unless either to maintain a necessary War with the advice and consent of the Nation or now and then by way of Free-gift to help to raise a Daughters Portion the King 's ordinary Revenue at that time consisting only in the Rents of his Lands and Demesnes in his Herds of Cattle Forests Services of Tenants in manuring and cultivating his Grounds c. Customs upon Merchandize being an Imposition of late crept into this part of the World so that he lived like one of our Modern Noblemen upon the Revenues of his own Estate and eat not through the Sweat of his Subjects Brows His business was to see a due and impartial Administration of Justice executed according to the Laws nay often to sit and do it himself to be watchful and vigilant for the welfare of his People to Command in Person their Armies in time of War to encourage Industry Religion Arts and Learning and it was his Interest as well as Duty to keep fair with his Nobility and Gentry and to be careful of the Plenty and Prosperity
President had so well performed their Parts and urged the necessity of speedily executing what had been resolved the day before that all time was judged lost which was not employed in putting it in practice they immediately agreed to go to the Council-House and there propound to the Nobility their design desiring their Concurrence in such a necessary Work for the welfare of the Kingdom They marched through the Streets with great Gravity and Silence by Couples as before whilst the Mobb by repeated Shouts applauded what they were going to do And thus they came to the House where the Nobles were assembled who had scarce warning sufficient to receive them The President Nanson made a short Harangue setting forth that they had considered the state of the Nation and that they found the only Remedy for the many Disorders which afflicted it was to make the Crown Hereditary and to give more Power to the King than hitherto he had enjoyed that this Resolution was already taken by the Commons and Clergy in which if the Nobility should think fitting to concur they were ready to accompany them to the King and make him a tender of an Hereditary and Soveraign Dominion if not that they were going themselves and the matter should be done without them That a speedy Resolution was necessary for they had already sent word to the Court of their coming and his Majesty expected them in the Hall of his Palace therefore desired to be informed in few words what they resolved to do The suddenness of such a Proposition and briskness in the manner of its delivery caused a general astonishment in the Nobles one might have seen those who but the day before carried it so proudly in an instant fall to an excess of Complacency and betray their Fear by their Speeches and Countenances as they formerly had done their Arrogance The Mischief no sooner appeared to them but they saw it was unavoidable there was no leisure allowed them to consult and to deny their compliance or even to delay it was dangerous To give up at once their beloved Power and submit their Necks to a heavy Yoak was an intolerable Grievance But they saw they were no longer the Masters the Commons were armed the Army and Clergy against them and they found now too late that that which the day before they had considered only as the Effort of an unconstant giddy Multitude was guided by wiser Heads and supported by Encouragements from Court nay possibly by some of their own Body They suspected each other and no Man knew whether his next Neighbour was not in the Plot against the Publick Liberty It is easie to imagine what distracted thoughts afflicted them on a sudden they were altogether unprepared for such a dismal stroke But some Answer must be given and that speedily Such a one as they had a mind to give they durst not for they were assembled in a Fortified Town remote from their several Countries and Interests where they had governed like so many Princes in the power of those who could and certainly would be revenged in case they proved refractory The best way therefore was to seem to approve of what they could not hinder They answer that the Proposition made to them by the Commons was not displeasing but the manner of it wanted the requisite Formalities that previous deliberation was necessary to an Affair of so great moment that they could not but take it ill a Resolution of such Consequence should be concluded on by the Commons without the least acquainting of the Nobility with it who were the Chief Estate of the Realm That they also aspired to the Honour of bearing their part in bestowing such a material Gift on the King and his Posterity but desired that the Matter might be proceeded on with that gravity and solemnity which the nature of it required That it was not fit such a weighty Transaction should have the appearance of a Tumult and seemed forced rather than a free Choice The Conclusion of all was That they hoped the Commons would a little defer the putting in Execution their Design and in the mean time consult with them till the Affair were done orderly and with unanimous Approbation as well as to mutual Advantage This was with great vehemency by the President denied He replied These were Shifts only to gain time that the Nobles might be in a Condition to frustrate the Intention of the Commons that the Point was already agreed and the Resolution taken that they came not thither to consider but to act if the Nobles would join with them they were ready if not they would do what was to be done alone and doubted not but his Majesty would make his use of it During these Disputes the Nobility had privily sent some of their Body to Court to acquaint the King that the Commons were now at their House and had made them sudden Proposals out of form but such as they should rather concur with than be averse to that they were ready to join with them in offering an Hereditary Crown to his Majesty and the Heirs Males of his Family for ever which they hoped his Majesty would accept in good part But desired to proceed in the usual Methods which such weighty Affairs merited viz. by Conferences and Deliberations that it night appear rather an effect of their just Sentiments of his Majesty's Valour and Conduct than the sudden Motions of a Tumultuous Assembly The King with a great deal of mildness as if he had been wholly unconcerned and passive in the Case replied That he was obliged to them for their Designs in favour of Him and the Royal Family that he hoped what they were about would tend to the benefit of the Nation but that a Crown intailed only on the Heirs Males could not be so acceptable to him as if it were given without that Limitation that the Government of Females had neither been a new thing at home nor unprosperous in Neighbouring Countries That they might consider of it and since it was their Gift he would not prescribe but it could not be accepted by him unless it were more general In the mean time the Commons grew impatient the Answer given them was not satisfactory and the Nobles had not yet resolved on an entire Compliance nor were ready to accompany them because they had not yet an account of the Success of their Members sent to sound the Mind of the Court The Clergy and Burgers therefore led on by their Bishop and President proceed without them to the Palace and were met by the prime Minister and conducted by him to the Hall of Audience whither after some short time the King came to them The Bishop makes a long Speech setting forth the Praises of his Majesty and the Cause of their waiting on him concluding with an offer in the name of themselves the two most numerous and if he pleased most powerful Estates of an Hereditary and Absolute Dominion together
and began to waver very much in his Resolutions so that their Liberties seem purely lost for want of some to appear for them From the Theatre those that had done Homage went to the Council-House where the Nobles were called over by Name and ordered to Subscribe the above-mentioned Declaration which they all did Thus this great Affair was finished and the Kingdom of Denmark in Four Days time changed from an Estate little differing from Aristocracy to as absolute a Monarchy as any is at present in the World The Commons have since experienced that the little Finger of an Absolute Prince can be heavier than the Loins of many Nobles Theonly comfort they have left them being to see their former Oppressors in almost as miserable a Condition as themselves whilst all the Citizens of Copenhagen have by it obtained the insignificant Priviledge of wearing Swords So that at this day not a Cobler or Barber stirs abroad without a Tilter at his side let his Purse be never so empty The Clergy who always make sure Bargains were the only Gainers in this Point and are still much encouraged by the Court as the Instruments that first promoted and now keep the People in a due Temper of Slavery the Passive Obedience Principle riding Triumphant in this unhappy Kingdom It was but Justice that the Court should pay well the principal Contrivers of this great Revolution and therefore notwithstanding the general want of Money Hannibal Seestede had a Present of 200000 Crowns Swan the Superintendent or Bishop was made Archbishop and had 30000 Crowns The President or Speaker Nanson 20000 Crowns And to the People remained the Glory of having forged their own Chains and the Advantage of Obeying without reserve A happiness which I suppose no English Man will ever envy them CHAP. VIII The Condition Customs and Temper of the People ALL these do so necessarily depend upon and are influenced by the Nature and Change of Government that 't is easily imagined the present Condition of these People of all Ranks must be most deplorable at least it appears so to an English Man who sees it possibly more than to them that suffer it For Slavery like a sickly Constitution grows in time so habitual that it seems no Burden nor Disease it creates a kind of laziness and idle despondency which puts Men beyond hopes and fears It mortifies Ambition Emulation and other troublesome as well as active qualities which Liberty and Freedom beget and instead of them affords only a dull kind of Pleasure of being careless and insensible In former Times and even till the late Alteration in the Government the Nobility or Gentry for they are here the same thing lived in great Affluence and Prosperity their Country Seats were large and magnificent their Hospitality extraordinary because their Plenty was so too they lived for the most part at home and spent their Revenues among their Neighbours and Tenants by whom they were considered and respected as so many petty Princes In times of Convention of the Estates which ordinarily happened once a year they met their King with Retinues almost as large as his they frequently eat and drank at the same Table with him and in the debate of Publick Affairs their Suffrages were of greatest weight and usually carried the Point For the Commons were willing in a great measure to be directed by them because they much depended on them In process of time this Excess of Power as you have heard made most of them grow insolent which was the chief occasion of their fall together with the loss of the Liberties of the whole Country So that now they are sunk to a very low Condition and diminish daily both in Number and Credit their Estates scarce paying the Taxes imposed on them Which makes them grind the Faces of their poor Tenants to get an Overplus for their own Subsistance Nay I have been assured by some Gentlemen of good Repute who formerly were Masters of great Estates that they have offered to make an absolute Surrender to the King of large Possessions in the Island of Zealand rather than pay the Taxes which offer though pressed with earnestness would by no means be accepted And upon my further enquiry into the Reason of it I have been informed that Estates belonging to those Gentlemen who made this offer lying in other places which had the good Fortune to be taxed less than the full value of the Income were liable to pay the Taxes of any other Estate appertaining to the same Person in case that other Estate were not able so that some have been seen with a great deal of joy declaring that the King had been so gracious as to take their Estates from them Through these and several other means many of the ancient Families are fallen to decay their Country Habitations which were like Palaces being ruinous they are forced to live meanly and obscurely in some corner of them Unless it be their good Fortune to procure an Employment Civil or Military at Court which is the thing they are most Ambitious of it being indeed necessary to secure to their Families any tolerable Subsistance or to afford them some shelter from the Exactions and Injustices of the Collectors The Civil Employments are in no great number nor of great value as they seldom are in a poor Country governed by an Army so that few are provided for this way The greatest part patiently enduring their Poverty at home where in a short time their Spirits as well as their Estates grow so mean that you would scarce believe them to be Gentlemen either by Discourse or Garb. Ancient Riches and Valour were the only Title to Nobility formerly in this Country the Nobles and Gentry being as I said before the same thing None took either their Degree or Patents of Honour from the King But of late years to supply the want of Riches some few Titles of Baron or Count and nothing higher have been given to Favourites who enjoy not the same Priviledges by those Titles as our Lords in England do but content themselves with a few Airy insignificant ones which distingush them from the Common People there are not many even of this kind of Nobility I believe fifteen or twenty are the most these are such who are most easie in their Fortunes and are obliged that they may preserve them to keep in with the Court by all manner of ways as indeed all are who have a mind to live and eat Bread 'T is only this kind of Nobility with Titles that have liberty to make a Will or Testament and thereby to dispose of any Estate otherwise than as the Law has already determined that it shall fall of course Unless such Will be during the Life of the Testator approved of and signed by the King and then it shall be of force and valid 'T is almost needless to mention that there is no buying or selling of Land here for where an Estate is a
Last according to the Ships burden    Custom  RD Stiv. A Mast for a Ship of 28 Palms long pays 30 00 of 21 Palms 11 00 of 13 Palms 01 24 Between 12 and 8 Palms per dozen 02 24 Under 5 Palms per dozen 00 12 The rest proportionably    Consumption or Excise  RD Stiv. One Doe-skin undressed 00 02 dressed 00 04 Ten Calves-skins 00 02 Ten Sheep-skins 00 01 One Ox-hide 00 02 Tanned 00 04 Ten Hides of English Leather 00 24 One Barrel of Rye ground for 00 16 Bread pays to the King for the grinding ground for Brandy 00 32 One Barrel of Wheat ground for flower 00 40 of Malt for a Brewer 00 32 for a private House 01 00 of Oats for Grout 00 08 A Rix Dollar is something short of an English Crown in value a Stiver is more than an English Penny 48 Stivers make a Rix Dollar One Lispound is the same with that we call a Stone One Ship-pound is 20 Lispound A Danish Ell is a third less than an English or thereabouts There are publick Mills appointed and farmed to certain persons by the King where all the Inhabitants of Copenhagen are bound to grind upon a Penalty and to pay the Sums above-mentioned for grinding it being not permitted to any private Person or Brewer to grind his own Mault nor Baker his own Bread-corn I need say no more of the Tax for Marriage Licences or that for the use of mark'd Paper in Bonds and Contracts than has been already mention'd Those of the second sort viz. Land-Tax House-Tax Poll-Money and Fortification-Money which are sometimes laid high and sometimes low can have no settled estimate made of them however I shall endeavour to compute them in the summing up the total of the Revenue according to what they have yielded of late years which was pretty high and according to the utmost they can bear at present or may probably for the future Some years ago since the last War with Sweden the King caused a Valuation and a Register to be made of all the Houses in the Cities and Burroughs within his Dominions as likewise an admeasurement of all Lands in the Country that he might the better proportion the Taxes he should have occasion to levy These are now applotted and raised according to the very utmost of the Peoples Abilities neither do I believe that in case of a War or other exigency they could possibly bear a greater burden for in the Country the Gentleman and Peasant are in a manner ruined in the Cities and Burroughs Houses pay yearly for Ground-Tax four per Cent. of the whole value that the Ground is rated at if it were to be purchased and this is estimated by Commissioners appointed for that purpose according to the quantity of the Ground or the conveniency of the Station moreover for every hundred Rix Dollars which the Ground of any House is rated at the Inhabitants are obliged to quarter one Souldier Thus a Rhenish-Wine Vintner at Copenhagen and he none of the richest has the Ground of his House valued at 900 Rix Dollars he consequently pays 36 Rix Dollars yearly for Ground-tax and quarters nine Soldiers upon the account of his House and three more upon the account of his Trade The like proportion is observ'd towards all others with respect to their Houses and Trades Here is commonly one Poll-Tax at least every year or if it chance to miss one year it is usually doubled the next The lowest Assessment is according to the following proportion vi z a Burgher esteemed worth eight or ten thousand Rix Dollars pays for himself four Rix Dollars for his Wife four Rix Dollars for every Child two Rix Dollars for every Servant one Rix Dollar for every Horse one Rix Dollar An ordinary Alehouse-keeper pays for himself one Rix Dollar for his Wife one Rix Dollar for every Child 24 Stivers for every Servant 16 Stivers About two years ago there was a Poll-Tax higher than ordinary and at that time this proportion was observed One of the Farmers of the Customs paid for himself 24 Rix Dollars for his Wife 16 Rix Dollars for her Maid two Rix Dollars for every other Servant one Rix Dollar A Burger esteemed worth six or eight thousand Rix Dollars paid for himself six Rix Dollars for his Wife four Rix Dollars for every Child two Rix Dollars for every Servant one Rix Dollar and thus did others according to their several Abilities The Fortification Schatt is a Tax with a witness in that which was levied in the Year 91 these were the Rules for payment All the King's Servants paid 20 per Cent. of their yearly Salaries All the Officers of the Army beginning with Captains and so upwards 30 per Cent. of their Pay These used to be freed from former Taxes of this kind The Nobility and Gentry paid in proportion to their Rank and Estate The highest as Count Guldenlieu c. from seven hundred to one thousand Rix Dollars each Burgers were taxed according to their supposed Abilities the richer sort from one hundred to four hundred Rix Dollars each the middle sort of Merchants worth six or eight thousand Rix Dollars paid forty Rix Dollars an Apothecary sixty eight Rix Dollars a Vintner fifty five Rix Dollars ordinary Burgers eight or ten Rix Dollars each the poorer sort one or two Rix Dollars and so forth This sort of Tax has been accounted equal with another called the Kriegs Sture imposed at the beginning of the War and that amounted to near seven hundred thousand Rix Dollars in all But 't is most certain the People are not now able to pay it as they were then and consequently it will not be so much by a great deal When the King 's only Daughter was about to be married to the present Elector of Saxony a Marriage-Tax was intended and had certainly been levied in case the Marriage had gone forward but the one as well as the other is now no more spoken of though no Kingdom in Europe can boast of a more deserving Princess I suppose by this time an English Reader has taken a Surfeit of this Account of Taxes which the Subjects of Denmark do pay but it ought to be a great Satisfaction to him to reflect that through the Happiness of our Constitution and the Prudence and Valour of our King the People of this Nation though enjoying ten times more natural and acquired Advantages than the Danes which causes more than ten times their affluence do not for all that pay towards the carrying on the most necessary and just War the third part in proportion to what the King of Denmark's Subjects do in time of a profound Peace Pax servientibus gravior est quam liberis bellum Tacit. Lib. An. 10. The second Head from whence proceeds a considerable Branch of this King's Revenue is the Customs or Toll paid by Foreigners These pay something more for imported Goods than the Natives and Burgers and
fifth at Hamburg by the weekly Advices of whom the others do for the most part regulate all their Deliberations The King in this Council determines all Affairs deliberates of Peace or War of Alliances and other Treaties of Taxes Fortifications Trade c. without the intervention of any other Person unless it be the Secretaries of State who are yet esteemed here rather as Ministerial Officers and Assistants than principal Counsellors There are four of these Secretaries that are not Secretaries of State in the sense that ours in England are that is to say Prime Ministers but carry the Pen and have the management of the business relating to their several Provinces the first is the Secretary for the Affairs of Denmark and is at present Monsieur The second for the Affairs of Norway is Monsieur Mote Brother to the King's Mistress the Countess of Samsoe The third for Foreign Affairs is Monsieur Jessen and the fourth who is Secretary at War is Monsieur Harboe When any thing which concerns the Province of any of these is debated at Council the Secretary it belongs to is to be present but Monsieur Jessen never misses because there is always business relating to Foreign Affairs and the usual times of the sitting of the Council being after the Posts come in his Employment is to read all the Letters and to make Remarks on them This renders his Office more considerable than that of the other Secretaries and makes him enter into the Secrets of the Cabinet which pass for the most part through his sole management He has also liberty to speak his Sentiments and because he has been bred a Latin Scholar that as well as his Employment entitles him to the penning of all Treaties with Foreign Ministers Therefore he is constantly one of the Commissioners appointed to treat with them and to whom they are to have recourse almost as necessarily as to the Prime Minister who suffers himself to be in a great measure guided by this Secretary He is about forty of a civil behaviour and humility even to affectation speaks four or five Languages very well and very much whereby he sometimes gives advantages to those that have business with him He has but a moderate reputation for Sincerity or Parts yet so much used to the Road of Publick Affairs that he cannot be wanted because they have no fitter Man to put in his place He is Son-in-Law to Monsieur Ehrenschild by whom he is much governed and of the same Inclinations as to France This Affinity is a great support to his Fortune as long as that old Gentleman lives and his diligence in his Employment if there were nothing else will secure to him his Post and his Princes Favour provided always that he keep fair with the Prime Minister as at present he does and act in concert with him The ordinary Diversions of the Court are Progresses which are made once a year at least to Sleswick or Holstein either to make a review of some Troops or to see the Fortifications at Rendsburg besides smaller Journies to Laland and elsewhere up and down the Countrey These are of no Expence to the Treasury because the travelling Wagons and Horses are found by the Boors who are also to pay their Personal Attendance and be ready for all necessary Services During five or six Weeks every Summer the Court removes to Jagersburg a small Hunting-House situated upon a little Lake within four English Miles of Copenhagen and not far from the Sea and for five or six Weeks more it resides at Fredericksburg the chief Countrey Palace of the Kings of Denmark about twenty English Miles from Copenhagen began by Christian the Fourth and finished by this King's Father Frederick the Third this is that House which the Danes boast so much of and tell wonders of the quantity of Money it cost in building It is seated in the midst of a Lake the Foundations of it being laid in the Water which probably occasioned the greatest part of the Expence you pass into it over several Draw Bridges This watry Situation is so moist and cold a Countrey cannot be approved by the Critical in Seats especially when the rising Grounds about this Lake which are clothed with fine Woods afforded much better places both for health and prospect but it is the humour of all this Kingdom to build in the midst of Lakes which I suppose was at first practised upon the score of Security This Palace notwithstanding the great cost they talk of is far from being magnificent or well contrived for the Rooms are low the Apartments ill disposed the fine Chappel much too long in proportion to its breadth and has a Gallery over it which has one of the worst contrived Entrances that can be imagined In fine it falls far short of many of our Noblemens Countrey-Houses in England yet is esteemed by the Danes as a None-such There is indeed a fine Park about it well filled with Red Deer having large Ponds high Trees in great quantity a good Bathing-House and other Countrey Embellishments so that it is by far to be preferred to all the rest of the King's Houses which except these two last mentioned are for the most part out of repair that of the Fortress of Cronenburg near Flsignor and of Coldingen in Jutland with others being scarce habitable even during one Fortnight in the Summer Quarter At Fredericksburg the Court spends most of its time in Stag-hunting for there are few Fallow-Deer in Denmark during which Sport the King allows great freedom to his Domesticks and Ministers who commonly do all accompany him whereever he goes insomuch that he seems to lay aside all Majesty and the Formalities of it for that Season they eat and drink together the latter sometimes to Excess after a hard days hunting when as soon as Dinner is done they adjourn to the Wine-Cellar About five or six in the Afternoon the Hunting-Assizes are solemnly held in the great Court before the Palace the Stag is drawn into the midst of it by the Huntsmen who are all cloathed in Red having their great Brass Hunting-horns about their Necks and 't is there broken up with great Ceremony whilst the Hounds attend with much Noise and Impatience One that is likeliest to give a good Gratuity to the Huntsmen is invited to take Essay and presented with the Deer's foot Then Proclamation is made if any can inform the King who is both Supreme Judge and Executioner of any Transgression against the known Laws of Hunting that day committed let him stand forth and accuse the accused is generally found guilty and then two of the Gentlemen lead him to the Stag and make him kneel down between the Horns turning down his Head with his Buttocks up and remove the Skirts of his Coat which might intercept the blows then comes his Majesty and with a small long Wand gives the Offender some Lashes on his Posteriors whilst in the mean time the Huntsmen with their
than the natural Animosities between those Northern Crowns did seem to admit of but the present apparent necessity of restraining within Bounds our growing united Power at Sea works more prevalently with them both than the ancient hatred which they retain for each other and which may break out again as soon as they are out of fear of us For Sweden is the most powerful most dreaded and nearest Neighbour of Denmark the Territories of that King lye as it were at the Gates of Copenhagen the Capital City and may be seen from the very Bedchamber of this King ever since the Danes lost three of their best Provinces on the other side the Baltick so that as well the Resentment of past Injuries as the dread of future Mischiefs from the greatness of Sweden on the one side the consciousness of being violent possessors of anothers Right the certainty of their being hated and envied for those Acquisitions the fear of losing them in case Denmark grow powerful on the other are unsurmountable Obstacles to any firm Friendship between these two Crowns The ancient Quarrel like a Wound ill healed is but skinned over and festers at the bottom altho our equally disobliging them in the interruption of their Traffick has made a greater step towards their mutual Reconciliation than was thought to be practicable But whenever we please to caress the one at the expence of the other this seeming Knot will discover the weakness of its contexture and probably dissolve of it self Neither is the Alliance by the King of Sweden's having married the other's Sister of any moment towards a good Correspondence but rather the contrary The King of Sweden tho a very virtuous Prince shews coldness and indifference enough upon this account as it is thought towards his Queen who is a very accomplished Princess and either has or thinks he has reason to avoid a further Matrimonial Tye with the Dane therefore he chose rather to Contract his only Daughter with the young Prince of Holstein Gottorp whose Estates are in a manner wasted and ruined than with the Prince Royal of Denmark for having but one Son in case of whose death this Daughter would be Heiress of his Crown he thinks it not prudence to leave it to so near a hazard and probability that the Dane may be one day Master of both Kingdoms Upon the Foundation of this mutual Jealousy are built the Friendships and Enmities which each of them but especially Denmark have with most of their other Neighbours and the rest of the German Princes And upon this account it is principally that the Animosity is so great between this Crown and the Princes of Lunenburg with whom on the contrary the Swede has always kept a good Correspondence that upon occasion of any Attack made on his Territories in the Circle of Lower Saxony or in Pomerania which are looked upon by the rest of the German Princes with an evil Eye he may secure to himself the Assistance of that powerful Family against the Dane or Brandenburger therefore the neighbourhood of the Lunenburg Princes will always be grievous to and suspected by Denmark which will obstruct by all means it can the Accessions either of Territories or Honours to that Family So that it is not to be supposed that the Dane will quietly sit down with the Duke of Zell's thrusting himself into the possession of the Dutchy of Saxe Lawenburg which borders immediately upon Holstein nor with the determination of the Imperial Diet in favour of the Ninth Electorate conferred on the Duke of Hannover On the other hand it is thought that the Swede in order to the further curbing of Denmark will uphold the Lunenburg Family in its Acquisitions in the matter of the Electorate openly and above-board in the other of Saxe Lawenburg secretly because of the invalidity of the Title of that Family to that Dutchy which seems to be no longer good than it can be maintained by force or connivance The Princes of Lunenburg have also hitherto seconded the Swedes Intentions in being the Guardians of Hamburg upon which City the King of Denmark casts a longing Look and has made frequent Attempts His pretensions to it as part of his Dutchy of Holstein are none of the weakest but his Arms and Councils in order to the Reduction of it under his Power have been unsuccessful He encourages his new Town of Altena which is built close under its Walls as a Rival and which one day may be a curb to it And in truth this rich City has great reason to be jealous of such a Neighbour whose chiefest Ambition is to destroy its Liberty and render himself its Master But the Duke of Zell whose Territories lye next has always some Forces posted near enough to prevent the King of Denmark's Designs upon it therefore this City pays a great deal of respect to those Princes whom it looks on as its best Protectors With the other German Princes it keeps also as good a Correspondence as possible and they on their part shew an affection to the Liberty of that City the Reduction of which under the Power of the Danes would be extremely inconvenient to them as well upon the score of the Trade of great part of Germany whereof it is the Seat and Principal Mart by its convenient Situation on the River Elb as upon the score of the great Addition such a Conquest would make to the Power of the Danes who are usually ill Neighbours when they are weak but would be insupportable were their Force proportionable to their Inclinations Nor would the Brandenburgers wish that this City or the Town of Lubeck should have any Master but would endeavour to their utmost to frustrate Attempts upon them and yet the Elector of Brandenburg is esteemed the firmest Ally the King of Denmark has for their common interest to prevent the Greatness of the Swedes whereof they are equally jealous and fearful unites these two Princes stronger than any tye of Blood could do The Ducal Prussia and that part of Pomerania which belongs to Brandenburg lies open to the Swedes and the least transport of Forces from Sweden to Germany side of the Baltick gives a terrible Alarm to all the Neighbours They cannot forget the strange Successes of Gustavus Adolphus nor the Encroachments of Sweden in the late Wars neither can they be otherwise persuaded but that there is always impending danger of the like Attempts from the same Nation abounding in Soldiers and ruled by a frugal diligent and active young King So that as I said before their common danger makes them strangely concur in this design of keeping the Swede within his due Bounds altho in other matters some disagreement may happen between them as may be more particularly instanced in the Affair of St. Thomas's Island and in the Brandenburgers endeavours to force the Dane to a Restitution of the Duke of Holstein Gotorp to his Countrey which was so happily
which shall set open Foreign Trade and consequently spoil all the Advantages that his Country enjoys at present I cannot see what will become of the Publick Affairs here for the Soldiers when disbanded being most of them Strangers will return to their respective Homes and the Revenues of these Kingdoms must sink extreamly through the want of People and their Poverty It seems therefore no less than madness for the least and poorest Kingdom of Europe to think of emulating with Success the richest greatest and the most populous and to take its Measures from thence as if there were no difference between King and King So have I heard that the little Republick of St. Marino in Italy which consists but of one small Town with the Mountain it stands upon and is scarce taken notice of by Travellers takes occasion to write to the Republick of Venice sometimes and to stile it Our Sister with as much Gravity and Pride as if it equalled the other in Power But the vanity of these poor Italians proceeds no farther than words which does them no harm But the true Reasons which renders it the Interest of Denmark to keep well with France and they are no weak ones are first because they look upon that Crown as the sole Ballance against the Grandeur of the Emperour and the House of Austria whose Power as I said before is looked on by all the Princes of Germany with a very jealous Eye the late Addition of the Crown of Hungary to it with its other Conquests on that side from the Turks the probability of the Spanish Dominions falling to some active Branch of it and the remembrance what havock the Emperour Charles the Fifth and his Successor made among the German Princes when possess'd of the like Advantages makes the Danes as well as the others reflect seriously upon what may happen hereafter should France be reduced to too low an ebb A second reason is because they know no other Naval Force able to contest the intire Dominion of the Seas with the English and Dutch and they are willing to keep the dispute about that Dominion undetermin'd between the French and us that no Laws may be laid upon Traffick but that they may reap their share of the Trade of the World which they think would be but small should that Point be once finally decided to our Advantage A third Reason and the most forcible is the Subsidies which the King of Denmark draws from time to time from France a little ready money among a necessitous People carrying irresistable Charms with it And this has been the drift of the French Policy in advising that King to a greater Charge than he was able to bear under pretence that they consulted his Honour and Grandeur whereas they only consulted their own ends being sure after they had rendred him and his Countrey Poor that they could buy him when they pleased Yet whenever the French Treasure shall come so far to be exhausted that a fairer bidder appears this piece of Policy will not only fail the French but turn to their disadvantage With the Kings of Spain and Portugal the Dane is in a state of indifferency Their Dominions are so far asunder and the business so little which they have with each other that there happen few or no occasions either of a Quarrel or Friendship between them Yet the Danes have some small Trade for Salt and Wine with each of these Princes Subjects and during this War make some benefit of their Neutrality by transporting in their Ships the Effects of French English and Dutch from one Port to another They have indeed some Pretensions on the Spaniard for Arrears of Subsidies owing to them ever since the Danes took the part of the Confederates against France in the former War but they despair of obtaining them unless some unforeseen Accident put them in a way of getting that Debt the Accompts of which have hardly ever been adjusted between them With the late Elector of Saxony the King of Denmark kept a very good correspondence the Elector having married one of the King's Sisters that Affinity produced as amicable effects as could be desired insomuch that it begat a Resolution of a nearer Union of the two Families in a Match between the present Elector then Prince and the King 's only Daughter this proceeded as far as a formal Contract and the usual Marriage presents were Solemnly exchanged in order to Consummation when on a sudden the old Elector died last year as he was leading an Army towards the Rhine against the French for the common cause of Europe the Death of this Prince among other Alterations produced this that his Successor the present Elector being thereby become at his own disposal and having been formerly very much in love with another Lady who is the present Electress refused to compleat his Marriage with the Daughter of Denmark and sent back the Presents which were given at the time of the Contract This Action of his highly disgusted the King Queen and the whole Danish Court however there was no Remedy but patience the Elector was too remote to fear any Effects of the Danes displeasure and resolved to pursue his own Inclinations in the choice of a Wife let the World say and do what it would Accordingly he presently courted and married where he fancied leaving the Danes to digest this Affront as well as they could which they will scarce forget this great while So that it is to be supposed the ancient Knot between the King and the Electoral Family of Saxe is hereby very much loosened yet not so far as to proceed to any open Breach the Elector's Excuses for this Action having been received and acccepted of as some sort of satisfaction With the Bishop of Munster the King of Denmark lives in good Amity by reason of his Neighbourhood to the Counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst and for the most part has a Minister residing in that Court The like Friendship is between him and the other Princes of Germany particularly with the Landtgrave of Hesse Cassel who is Brother to his Queen and extreamly beloved by her The King of Denmark has one Brother viz. Prince George born 1653. and married to her Royal Highness the Princess Ann Sister to her Majesty of England And four Sisters viz. Anna Sophia the Widow of the late Elector of Saxony Frederica Emilia the Wife of the Duke of Holstein Guillimetta Ernestina Widow of the Palatine of the Rhine Ulrica Eleonora Sabina the Queen of Sweden CHAP. XV. Of the Laws Courts of Justice c. SOME Naturalists observe that there is no Plant or Insect how venomous or mean soever but is good for something towards the use of man if rightly applied in like manner it may be said That several useful Lessons may be learnt conducing to the benefit of Mankind from this Account of Denmark provided things be taken by the right handle Hitherto we have indeed met
with many things in it to be avoided and little deserving imitation but being now to speak of the Danish Laws I must needs begin with this good Character of them in general That for justice Brevity and perspicuity they exceed all that I know in the World They are grounded upon Equity and are all contained in one Quarto Volume written in the Language of the Country with so much plainness that no Man who can write and read is so ignorant but he may presently understand his own Case and plead it too if he pleases without the Assistance of Counsel or Attorney Here is none of that Chicane to be found which destroys and raises so many great Estates in England a very few Advocates do the business of all the Litigious Persons in these Kingdoms Neither are their Fees arbitrary or exorbitant no Suit of what importance soever hangs in suspence longer than one Year and a Month since a Man may go through all the Courts and have Execution done within that time unless he be wanting to himself It may be replied to this That the scarcity of Money may be the principal occasion of few Law-Suits and Lawyers It is not denied and perhaps a right sence of this was the first cause of so good a Regulation of Justice for since the King was resolved to empty the Pockets of his Subjects it was not for his advantage to permit others to do it and share the Gains with him However thus much may with certainty be averred That the like Regulation would not only agree with but consummate the happiness of a rich Country and this Instance of Denmark makes it evident that such a Regulation is practicable But to return to our purpose In Denmark in the ordinary Proceedings between Man and Man there are three Courts every one of which has power to give a definitive Sentence and must either Acquit or Condemn Yet there lies an Appeal from the lower to the higher and if the inferior Judge has wilfully varied from the positive Law the Party wronged has Damages given him both from the Judge and his Adversary Here is no removal of Actions from one Court to another where the Parties may begin all again but by way of ordinary procedure from the lower to the higher The three Courts are these first In Cities and Towns the Byfoghts Court to which in the Country does answer the Herredsfougds Court. Secondly From thence lyes an Appeal to the Landstag or general head Court for the Province Thirdly From thence to the Court called the Highright in Copenhagen where the King himself sometimes sits in Person and it is always composed of the prime Nobility of the Kingdom The Judges in the two former Courts are constituted indeed by the King's Letters Patents durante beneplacito but are punishable for any misdemeanors committed and condemned to make Reparation to the Party injured for any Injustice by them done The City of Copenhagen has this particular Privilege that the Sentences past in the Byfoghts Court instead of passing through the Provincial Court are tried by the Burgomaster and Common Council and so proceed to the highest Court which resembles so far our High Court of Chancery that if any matter happen so fall in debate for the decision of which there is not a positive Article to be found in the Law which rarely happens it is there determined by the King or by the others present who are as it were the Keepers of the King's Conscience and all this were very well were it not that the first Article of the Law reserves to the King the Privilege of explaining or altering it at his pleasure In Matters relating to the Revenue the Rent-Chamber in Denmark resembles our Court of Exchequer which has also a Paymaster General belonging to it and sometimes there is a Court composed of some Members of this Rent-Chamber the Admiralty and the Colledge of Commerce before which lyes the Appeals of Merchants whose Goodshappen to be seiz'd for not having paid the King's Duties The Sentences passed in the inferiour Courts are sometimes biassed and partial but not often for fear of the highest Court where great regard is had to Justice insomuch that I knew a Judge who very hardly escaped being fined for a Sentence passed against an English Merchant which Sentence was presently reversed Indeed whilst Monsieur Griffinfeldt and Monsieur Wibbe were Chancellors there were mutterings that the High Court Sentences were not altogether up to the rigour of the Law but this is very rare now unless when a Courtier or Favourite is interessed in such a Sentence in which case or in matters wherein the King is concerned you are to expect little Justice especially if it relate to Money The Salaries of the Judges are but small they are paid out of the Exchequer and do not consist in Fees The Byfogd may have about one hundred Rix Dollars yearly and he pays himself out of the Fines of Delinquents In the Country the Herredfogds have each of them the Rent that is due to the King for a Farm that stands rated at ten Tuns of Hard-corn he has besides from the Plaintiff and Defendant for the Sentence he passes ten Stivers from each And the Byfogd or Judge in Cities and Towns double as much Moreover the contesting Parties are bound to pay the Clerk so much a sheet for the Paper in which is set down at large the whole proceeding and the Allegations of each Party whether they be Verbal or by Libel and at the close of all the Sentence it self At the Byfogds Court and the Landstag the Judge inserts the Law and adds the Reasons upon which his Judgment is founded but in the High Right no Reason is given at all or but very seldom And that no Clerk may have it in his power to pick any Man's Pocket by filling up many Sheets of Paper there are Limits set beyond which no man is obliged to pay Every one may plead his own Cause that pleases however it is the King's Order that the Magistrates take care to have one or more Advocates such as they approve of who are to plead for the Poor and for such as cannot plead for themselves upon the whole matter the Charges of the Law are very easie since a complaint may go through the three Courts for fifty Rix Dollars which is less then twelve pound Sterling unless the Sum in question be very great and more than ordinary Evidences to be written on Sealed Paper These Laws are so equitable and expeditious that they are extreamly commended by Merchants and Strangers who have occasion to have recourse to them Neither is the smalness of the Expence any Encouragement to those that love going to Law for the Laws themselves provide effectually against this Mischief and take away the very Root of Litigiousness being so plain and clear that a troublesome Person never finds his Account in promoting vexatious Suits but meets with all the Disappoiutments one
was that their Philosophers were deservedly look'd upon as Supports of the State they had their dependance wholly upon it and as they could have no Interest distinct from it they laid out themselves towards the advancing and promoting the good of it insomuch that we find the very good Fortune of their Commonwealths often lasted no longer than they did The managers of our modern Education have not been quite so publick Spirited for it has been as I have shewn for the most part in the hands of Men who have a distinct Interest from the publick therefore 't is not to be wondred at if like the rest of the World they have been byassed by it and directed their principal Designs towards the advancing their own Fortunes Good Learning as well as Travel is a great Antidote against the Plague of Tyranny The Books that are left us of the Ancients from whence as from Fountains we draw all that we are now Masters of are full of Doctrines Sentences and Examples exhorting to the Conservation or Recovery of the publick Liberty which was once valued above Life The Hero's there celebrated are for the most part such as had destroyed or expelled Tyrants and though Brutus be generally de claimed against by modern School-boys he was then esteemed the true Pattern and Model of exact Vertue Such was Cato of Utica with others of like stamp The more any person is conversant with good Books the more shall he find the practices of these Great Men in this particular founded upon Reason Justice and Truth and unanimously approv'd of by most of the succeeding Wise-men which the World has produc'd But instead of Books which inform the Judgment those are commonly read in the Schools abroad wherein an Elegancy of Latin and Greek Style is more sought after than the matter contained in them So that such as treat a little boldly of publick Liberty occur to the reading of few and those grown Men rather through Chance or their Curiosity than the recommendation of their Instructors 'T was not to learn Forreign Languages that the Graecian and Roman Youths went for so long together to the Academies and Lectures of their Philosophers 'T was not then as now with us when the Character of a Scholar is to be Skilled in Words when one who is well versed in the dark Terms and Subtilties of the Schools passes for a profound Philosopher by which we seem so far to have perverted the Notion of Learning that a Man may be reputed a most extraordinary Scholar and at the same time be the most useless Thing in the World much less was it to learn their own Mother Tongues the Greek and Latin which we hunt after so eagerly for many Years together not as being the Vehicles of good Sence but as if they had some intrinsick Virtue 'T was to learn how and when to speak pertinently how to act like a Man to subdue the Passions to be publick Spirited to despise Death Torments and Reproach Riches and the Smiles of Princes as well as their Frowns if they stood between them and their Duty This manner of Education produced Men of another stamp than appears now upon the Theatre of the World such as we are scarce worthy to mention and must never hope to imitate till the like manner of Institution grows again into Reputation which in Enslaved Countries 'tis never likely to do as long as the Ecclesiasticks who have an opposite Interest keep not only the Education of Youth but the Consciences of old Men in their Hands To serve by-ends and because Priests thought they should find their own account in it they calculated those unintelligible Doctrines of Passive Obedience and Jus Divinum that the People ought to pay an absolute Obedience to a limited Government fall down and worship the work of their own Hands as if it dropt from Heaven together with other as profitable Doctrines which no doubt many are by this time ashamed of tho' they think it below them to condescend so far as to confess themselves to have been in the wrong For this Notion of Jus Divinum of Kings and Princes was never known in these Northern Parts of the World till these latter Ages of Slavery Even in the Eastern Countries though they adore their Kings as Gods yet they never fancied they received their Right to Reign immediately from Heaven The single Example in Scripture so much insisted on viz. the Reign of Saul over the Jews and Samuel's Description of what a King would be not what he lawfully might be proves either nothing at all or the contrary to what some would have it for besides that there are many Relations of Fact in the Old Testament not condemned there which it would not be only inconvenient but sinful for us to imitate Whoever peruses the whole Story of Saul and his Successor will therein find more substantial Arguments against the Jus Divinum and Non-Resistance than for it But we shall leave this both as being too large an Argument for the compass of a Preface and as being already fully handled by more able Pens All Europe was in a manner a free Country till very lately insomuch that the Europaeans were and still are distinguish'd in the Eastern Parts of the World by the name of Franks In the beginning small Territories or Congregations of People chose valiant and wise Men to be their Captains or Judges and as often Deposed them upon Mis-management These Captains doing their Duty well and faithfully were the Originals of all our Kings and Princes which at first and for a long time were every where Elective According to their own Warlike Temper or that of the People which they govern'd they upon the Score of Revenge Ambition or being overthronged with Multitudes at home encroached upon their Neighbours till from petty Principalities their Countries waxed to mighty Kingdoms Spain alone consisting of twelve or thirteen till t'other day and one part of our Island of no less than seven Each of these was at first made through an Union of many petty Lordships Italy from several small Commonwealths was at length swallowed up by the Emperors Popes Kings of Spain Dukes of Florence and other lesser Tyrants Yet 't is to be remark'd that the ancient State of Europe is best preserved in Italy even to this day notwithstanding the Encroachments which have been there made on the Peoples Liberties of which one Reason may be that the Republicks which are more in number and quality in that Spot of Ground than in all Europe besides keep their Ecclesiasticks within their due bounds and make use of that natural Wit which Providence and a happy Climate has given them to curb those who if they had Power would curb all the World Every one ought to know how great the Rights of the People were very lately in the Elective Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark how Germany was freer than any other part of Europe till at length 't was Lorded by
Captains which in process of time grew Princes and Electors and by Bishops with Temporal Authority who may thank Charles the Great a very bigotted Prince for their double Sword of Flesh and Spirit If it be objected that Princes have acquired a Right to be absolute and arbitrary where the Subjects have given up their Liberties there are some in the World who venture to answer That no People in their right Wits that is not guided by Fear or Tumult can be supposed to confer an absolute Dominion or to give away the Freedom of themselves and their Posterity for all Generations that such a Donation ought to be esteemed of no greater validity than the Gift of an Estate by a Child or a Mad-man from his lawful Successor that the People can no more part with their legal Liberties then Kings can alienate their Crowns That nothing which even the Representative Body of the People does which shall afterwards tend to the detriment of the Universality can then be obligatory because many things good and profitable at the time of making those Laws may be the quite contrary afterwards and as soon as any Law grows apparently mischievous to the whole Body that made it or their Successors it ought by them to be repealed and would certainly be so in Countries where frequent free Assemblies of the States are in use That if these Assemblies be hindred or corrupted by sinister Practices the obliging quality of such a Law determines of it self through its own nature it being supposed that the true Representatives of the People would have annull'd it had they been permitted to meet and act freely That the Acts of one general Parliament though a free one are not perpetually obliging since that as well as particular Persons is liable to mistakes but the Acts of an eternal Succession of Parliaments who make confirm change or repeal Laws at their pleasure These are hard Sayings in the Opinion of many but thus much we are sure of whoever goes about to destroy or diminish the Right of the People in the disposal of the Crown at the same time subverts their Majesty's Title to it 'T is therefore seasonable now or never to assert both notwithstanding the prevarication of those who dare act under and receive benefit by this Revolution which they contributed nothing to but which the People through God's Assistance procured for themselves yet will not dive into the Merits of the Cause nor own the Lawfulness of the Fact but either cautiously avoid the Argument or if it comes cross their way mumble it as tenderly as the Ass did the Thistle which caused the Philosopher to laugh who never did it in his Life but that once so this manner of Behaviour would move both the Laughter and Indignation of all understanding Persons Lovers of their Countries legal Liberties for none are forced to fall under greater Absurdities or to make more terrible Blunders in Divinity Politicks and good Sence than such as would fain reconcile present Interest to their old beloved Maxims res est ridicula nimis jocosa Catull. But Heaven be praised the Nation is almost freed from the gross Error of that slavish Doctrine in spite of the Endeavours of such as would keep it alive like hot Embers cover'd over with Ashes ready to be blown up again into a flame upon the first occasion In Russia and Muscovy the Government is as Tyrannical as in any of the more Eastern Monarchies the Priests there have very much contributed both to make and keep it so To the end that the People may be kept in the requisite Temper of Obedience none are permitted to Travel upon pain of Death except such as have special License which are exceeding few neither are any Gentlemen of those Countries to be met with abroad but publick Ministers and their Retinue The Cause of this severe Prohibition is least such Travellers should see the Liberty of other Nations and be tempted to covet the like for themselves at home which might occasion Innovations in the State The same reason which induces Tyrants to prohibit Travelling should encourage the People of free Countries to practice it in order to learn the Methods of preserving that which once lost is very difficultly recover'd for Tyranny usually steals upon a State by degrees and is as a wise Man said like a hectick Fever which at first is easie to be cured but hardly can be known after 't is throughly known it becomes almost incurable Now travel best of all other Methods discovers at least expence the Symptoms of this pernicious Disease as well as its dismal Effects when grown to a head and 't is certainly of greater Importance to understand how to preserve a sound Constitution than how to repair a crazed one though this also be a beneficial piece of Knowledge In our own Universities which are without controversie the best in the World whether we consider their Revenues their Buildings or their Learning there are travelling Fellowships establish'd which in a Country where the Clergy's Interest is not distinct from that of the Laity is so far from being prejudicial to the legal Liberties of the People that it tends to the Conservation of them for such worthy Men as are employ'd abroad may bring home generous Notions of Liberty and make admirable Remarks on the contrary State which being inculcated from the Pulpit and enforced by the learned Arguments of able Divines must needs overthrow those servile Opinions which of late have been too much back'd by God's Authority almost to the ruin of a Free People I do not hereby mean to reflect on the Order which generally has the government of our Youth we have had the Experience of many among them who have given proof of a freer Education and useful Learning And without question the chief Posts of the Gown of both kinds were never better fill'd than at present I only lament the ill Contrivance of their Constitution for while Interest draws one way and Honesty another when a Man may make his Fortune by forgetting his Duty to his Country but shall always stick at Mark while he serves it 't is scarcely to be hoped Men should hold out against such Temptations unless they be more gifted with Honesty than the generality of Mankind are And since they continue still upon the same bottom it must be expected the same or other as mischievous Doctrines will every day be broach'd whereas if they were once set upon the same foot the Philosophers of old were if Honesty and the Duty to their Country were made their private Interest and the way to thrive we should soon see them shift hands and the Spirit of those Philosophers revive again in them The Constitution of our Universities as to Learning seems as unfortunately regulated as it is to Politicks We receive the directions of our Studies there from Statutes made by those who understood nothing of the Matter who had a quite different Notion