Denmark Uindicated BEING AN ANSVVER To a late Treatise called An ACCOUNT of Denmark As it was in the Year 1692. Sent from a Gentleman in the Country to his Friend in London Corn. Nep. Haec praecipienda videntur lectoribus ne alienos mores ad suos referant neve ea quae ipsis leviora sunt pari modo apud caeteros fuisse arbitrentur Terent. Faciunt nâ—â— intelligendo ut nihil intelligant LONDON Printed for Tho. Newborough at the Golden-Ball and Ed. Mory at the 3 Bibles in St. Paul's Church-yard 1694. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The Most Illustrious PRINCE GEORGE Only Brother to His MAJESTY the Present King of Denmark May it please Your Royal Highness AS true History transmits to posterity the good and bad Counsels not only but also the most Famous Actions of Great Men so Princes and Men of the first Rank seem more particularly concern'd in maintaining its Sacred Laws against such as prompted either by their Vanity or Malice endeavour too frequently to pervert the same I having undertaken in this present Treatise to vindicate in some measure the KINGDOM of DENMARK against a nameless Author who as much as in him lays has endeavoured to misrepresent the State of your R. H's Native Country and the most antient Rights of your Royal Family in Denmark I thought I should appear to the World to be wanting in my Duty to your R. Highness and to deviate from that profound Veneration which I have always paid to your R. H's most eminent Vertues of Valour Moderation and Love of Truth it if I should have committed this Work to the protection of another which I was sensible ought to implore no other but that of your Royal Highnesses My chief aim in this Undertaking has been to undeceive such as being not acquainted with the true State of Denmark might be apt to mistake fair shining appearances for the Truth it self wherein as I have soughtmore for the Satisfaction of being approved of by the most understanding sort than the multitude whose applauses I never sought nor valued So if I have been able to contribute any thing in this Matter which may meet with the least Approbation from a PRINCE who by his BIRTH and exquisite KNOWLEDG of the Constitutions of his Native Country and the Prerogatives of his Royal Ancestors is the most unquestionable judge of this Vindication I shall always esteem it as the greatest honour which I could pretend to in this undertaking Pompous words the common ingredient of our new-fashion'd Dedications being the Scorn of great Souls ought not to be brought into your R. H's Presence But instead of these I will offer my fervent Prayers to Heaven for the Prosperity of your R. H. and your most illustrious Family humbly intreating your R. H. graciously to accept of this as an unfeigned Testimony of my constant Zeal for your R. H's Service and begging leave to call my self Your Royal Highness's Most Humble and Devoted Servant J. C. A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN in the Country TO HIS FRIEND in LONDON SIR NExt to the most acceptable News of your health nothing could at this time have been more welcome to me in my retirement than the Book you sent me concerning the present State of Denmark which as it has with pleasure revived in me the remembrance of such Matters as formeâ—ly I had observed in those Northern Countries so the reading of it at such intervals as were free from the usual jollities of the Christmas Holy-Days has afforded no small variety to me when tir'd with the diversions this Season particularly allows us in the Country I had some days before I received yours heard a most advantageous Character of the said Book from some Gentlemen who being Fellows if not the Heads of a State-Reforming Society in London were come partly to pass the Holy-Days in the Country partly to communicate to their Friends here the Results of their grave Debates in their several London Clubs and had among other State Censuring Pamphlets as I understood recommended this Treatise as a singular piece fit to improve the Knowledge of all such as desired to be instructed in State Affairs The Truth is knowing these Gentlemen to be of a Society the Members whereof I know not by what antient Title which they deduce even from the times of the Romans claim a prerogative of Censuring not only foreign States but also our own in particular as often as Matters do not fully answer the ends of their wise Consultations I had a more than common Curiosity to peruse a Treatise which they seemed to be so fond of even to admiration But as soon as I found the Title Page not only without the Author's Name which seems so requisite to give an Authority to Historical Treatises that I do not see how any body can challenge a belief from his judicious Reader without it but also the Printer's omitted the work seem'd to me at the very first sight to carry with it a shrewd suspicion if not of downright falshood at least of an unanswerable partiality And to speak freely when immediately after in the Preface so disproportionable both to the nature and â—igness of the Treatise there appeared to me every where the foot-steps of a conceited Home-breeding and every Leaf almost stuft up with the Praise of This and the Diminution and Undervaluing of other Countries confirmed with far fetch'd Arguments devised on purpose rather to amuse and ensnare than impartially to instruct the Readerâ— I did conclude that our unknown Author's intenâ—ion was to give us a Novel such as the Turkish Spy or the like wherein of late years some have taken a priviledge to intermingle Truth with their own Inventions accommodating the whole more to their own Fancies or else to the Humors of such as they seek to please than to the sacred Laws of History but not a true and impartial Account of the present State of Denmark When soon after my Curiosity did lead me to make a true comparison betwixt the most remarkable passages related in this Treatise and such Matters as either my memory or observations which I had made some years ago when conversant in those Countries as also the correspondence of my Friends from thence had furnished me withal I was sufficiently convinced that in the most concerns of Moment our Author had endeavoured by an affected Stile rather to adapt the whole to his Conceits in the Preface than the Preface to the Work The gross and unaccountable Comparison especially made betwixt the Northern parts of the World and the Turkish Government nay even the preferring the latter before the others may I think serve as an undeniable Argument to all unbyass'd Persons That the Author did not intend to give us a just account of those Countries but under a Romantick Cover of Arbitrary Power to represent Tyranny in its worst shape to the English Nation And as this is plainly apparent out of several passages of the said Book so it
their Custom of Governing for Laws they had none were according their wild Inclinations and Savage Habitations But to deduce the Orginals of Parliaments used in the best regulated Governments of Europe from the Barbarous and Irregular Conventions of a Savage People when we may have them from better Hands I must confess is a way that savours a little to much of a conceit of unknown Antiquity I see no reason why wemight not with the same Right or perhaps more affirm that the Cosarcks upon the Frontiers of Poland the Rascians in Bosnia and Morlacks in Dalmatia have their Parliaments since it is certain they are as free as ever the Germans were and have their way of consulting together under their Heads as well and that more orderly than those had in antient times Nevertheless it can scarce be denied but that Spain and France which were the first places whither those barbarous Nations extended their Conquests have been very Instrumental in first shewing to the other Nations in Europe the Parliamentary way These two Nations being a great deal sooner and more known to the Romans than the Germans we have receiv'd a more perfect and authentick Account concerning them And as they were sooner and better Civiliz'd than the Germans in those Times so their Government was more regular and coming a great deal nearer to these most excellent Conventions afterwards called Parliaments The Spaniards were it 's true divided into a great many Commonwealths or separate Governments but these were more Aristocratical than Democratical having sometimes their petty Kings Princes or Senate and as they had a great many well fortified Cities Towns and Sea-ports so had the most Civilized Provinces their Capital Cities where the Prince that governed the rest together with their Principals did reside and had a great though limited Power over them Of this is a very remarkable Instance related by Livy from whence may be conjectured in how great a Veneration the Name and Authority of Kings was among these People when they would have proclaimed Scipio a King which he refusing says the Historian they were surprised how he could refuse the highest Degree of Dignity which all the rest of Mortals were so covetous of The ancient Gauls adjoining on one side to Spain as they were not unacquainted with the Spaniards serving sometimes there under the Carthaginians sometimes under the Romans and having even extended their Conquest thither as may be seen by the Celtiberians who came out of France into Spain so they had questionless a great part of their Policy from thence it being evident that they had their Kings Princes Senate and Nobility who did Command over such several distinct Commonwealths as they were divided into And as they according to the Method of the Spaniards had their well regulated Councils consisting of their principal Men so they had their fortified Towns where their Kings Princes and Magistrates generally resided who had a Power much beyond what was usual then in Germany nay even of Life and Death and were not depending on the Popularicy but some of them according to their Laws and Constitutions were Hereditary How much more polish'd these People were than the Germans and how much more regular their Councils Caesar has left us a notable Instance concerning the Helvetians in his Commentaries Where he tells us That after the Defeat of the Helvetians there was a Register found written in the Grecian Tongue in their Camp wherein was contained a most exact Account of the Names and Number of such as according to the Agreement of the Grand Council of the several Helvetian Commonwealths were come to settle themselves in those parts of France where they were defeated by Caesar. And much to the same purpose he speaks afterwards concerning those People in France which were then called Belgae and inhabited those parts of the Netherlands Normandy and Picardy which are opposite to our shoar though at the same time he reckons them the least civiliz'd of all the French Any body that will take the pains duly to compare what Caesar Livy and Tacitus have left behind them concerning the ancient Spaniards French and Germans will soon be convinc'd how far the well regulated Policy of the two former in their Cities and Councils exceeded those confused Meetings of the Germans without Order or Command and which of these may justly claim that Prerogative of having been the Original of these Conventions of the States since called Parliaments What some object that these Nations being subdu'd by the Romans had before the Germans came thither lost together with their Liberty their ancient Constitutions of Government is very insignificant Since it may easily be proved that as all of them did not lose their Liberty so they retain'd their Constitutions Who can be ignorant that a great many Commonwealths both in Spain and France were not Conquer'd by the Romans but were receiv'd as Allies and proved very instrumental in subduing the rest And yet among these also that were subdu'd it was a common Custom among the Romans to let them enjoy their Laws and even to confirm their Kings and Princes Caesar call'd the French that inhabited the Neighbouring Provinces of the Rhine the Allies of the Romans and said that France according to the Decree of the Senate ought to enjoy its Liberty and Laws And when he afterwards returned the second time out of Britanny and had occasion to lay his Army into Winter quarters among the Belgas or Armoricans subdu'd by him before he call'd a general Council together of these several Common-wealths where he intended to divide his Forces into Winter quarters And that some of these Common-wealths retain'd their Liberty and Constitutions about 150 Years after Caesar's time Tacitus has left as a particular Observation concerning some of them that lived near the Rhine It would be too tedious to relate all that the Ancients have left behind them in their Monuments concerning this Point out of what has been said I think it may easily be seen that as the Constitution of Government among the ancient Spaniards and French being composed out of their Kings the Nobility and principal Men of the Cities did come a great deal nearer to the Parliamentary way of consulting in latter Times than the irregular Proceedings of the Germans in those times So those that will throughly peruse the ancient Histories will be sufficiently convinc'd that the same Form of Government was never extinguish'd in all parts of those Kingdoms but preserved even till the time when the Goths Vandals Suevians Franks and others setled themselves in those parts So that it may be said that we owe the first Rudiments of Governing by consent of the Estates to those Countries which were Conquered afterwards by the Germans but that the same should have been establish'd by them when they were so many hundred Years before in use there is what scarce any body who is not
Deputies of the Provinces who are chosen by the Nobility being only called together when Matters of the highest Moment are to be consulted or concluded These were in former Times never to meet but in case of agreeing to a new Tax resolved before-hand in the Senate but within these Hundred Years or thereabouts their Power is so much increased that they claim a Right to be consulted with in all Publick Matters of great Moment The Senate of the Kingdom which is the constant Council of the King the Members whereof as I have said are constituted by the King ad Vitam consists first of the two Archbishops of the Kingdom of whom the Archbishop of Guiesen is Primate of Poland having the Power of Administring the Kingdom in Absence or in case of the Death of the King After these are the Bishops and some Abbots Thirty Four Governours of Provinces called Palatines Eighty Three Governours of Castles or Deputy-Lieutenants of the Palatines called Castellans and Ten of the Great Officers of State who are in all computed to amount to near an Hundred and Fifty in Number And are always chosen out of the Nobility The Clergy among these though the least in Number yet having more Possessions than both the King and Nobility and in no ways depending on them has the greatest Sway and the two Chancellors and Vicechancellors also a great Power of Signing and Dispatching Things without the King's consent and refusing also his Orders if they do not think convenient to obey them Three of these Four being generally Ecclesiasticks When with their Advice the King has resolved to call together the Dyet he orders a Convention of all the Nobility to be had in every particular Diocese or Government at a certain Time and customary Place where being convened the Palatine Castellans and other Senators having explained to them the Reasons why the King intended to call a Dyet and what Time the same was to be held the Nobility of each Diocese after Prayers finish'd choose their Deputies to whom they give Instructions concerning the Propositions made to them by the Senators though sometimes they also allow them a larger Authority which however expires with one and the same Dyet which is not to last above Six Weeks and seldom continued much longer These particular Conventions being over there are two more Conventions to be held which they call General Conventions one whereof is always in Great Poland the other in Little Poland in which two Places all the Deputies and such of the Nobility as are pleased to come being again Convened at a certain Time they there confer together concerning the Propositions made by the King and what Instructions they have received thereupon from their several Provinces Thus prepared they come to the Dyet where the Senate being seated in a Theatre the Deputies and Clerks standing by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor proposes in the Name of the King such Matters as they are to consult upon This done the Archbishops and Bishops and so all the rest of the Senate having given their Votes the Deputies ask Leave from the King to withdraw and to consult concerning the Propositions made to them Their Consultation being over they repair again to the Senate and having given their Opinion concerning the Business in Agitation they also propose such Matters as they think fit to be consulted about Which Matters being agreed unto by common Consent of the Senate and Deputies the King gives his Consent last of all which done it has the Force of a Decree of the Dyet But if one of the Deputies makes his Protestation against any Thing as done in Prejudice of the Liberties and Prerogatives of the Nobility or the Constitutions of the Kingdom the whole Proceeding becomes thereby void and of no Force From hence may be collected what Difference there is betwixt the Dyets in Poland and our Meeting of Parliaments as well in their Fundamental Constitutions as Manner of Proceedings And if we consider how all the Cities and Commons in Poland except the City of Cracaw and a few more in Prussia are excluded not only from the Dyet but also all Places of Note nay that even in the most of them the Magistracy and whole Corporations are depending on either the Clergy or Nobility and what prodigious Prerogatives◠they have acquired to themselves as by Example That a Noble-man Killing a Commoner shall pay but a small Fine but if a Commoner Kills a Noble-man it shall be Capital That a Malefactor being a Noble-man and taken in the Fact shall not be judged by the Magistrates of that City or Corporation where he is taken That the Bishops as well as other Noble-men have their Strong Castles Garrison'd by themselves and a great many the like of dangerous Consequence These I say duely considered by an English-man will I am apt to believe put him very much out of Conceit of Polish Parliaments and both the King as also the Cities Corporations and Commons of England will have but little Reason to thank this Gentleman for his comparing the same with ours especially since he might have found out other Countries and that nearer at hand where the Meeting of the Estates come a great deal nearer to our Parliaments But leaving to our Author the Advantages of his Ancient Gothick and New Polish Parliaments we must go on to see what he says in this same Chapter concerning the Form of Government in Denmark in particular These are his Words Denmark therefore was till within these Thirty Two Years govern'd 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 Pope's 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 adorn'd 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 esteem'd 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 enable him in some degree to support the Dignity of his Office But after such a Choice if they found themselves mistaken
of pains to perswade us And whether this long and constant Succession in one Family were Anciently depending from a free choice or not will be worth our enquiring into Canute Surnamed the Hardy 1044. having no Issue had by Compact Resigned the Crown of Denmark after his death to Magnus King of Norwegan who by force of Arms taking Possession of the same was opposed by Sueno Canute's Sister Son till Magnus after a Reign of Eight Years coming to dye of a fall from his Horse He was declared King of Denmark tho' in no ways beloved of the Danish Nobility as having Waged continually War against them in the time of Magnus yet being the only one that was left of the Ancient Race of the Danish Kings was received as King of Denmark Afterwards when in the Year 1250. Abel had caused his Brother Eric V. King of Denmark to be murthered tho' the States abominated the Fact yet Eric having left no Children and he being the Eldest among the Brothers that were left was made King of Denmark being Preferred before his Younger Brother Christopher who Reigned after him How the States did promise the Crown to John the deposed Christiern II's Son after the death of Frederick I. has been said before and how in our Age the States of this Kingdom set Frederick III. the present King of Denmark Father upon the Throne in spite of a Faction that were for Advancing his Younger Brother begotten of another Mother and the Second Wife of Christiern the IV. to the Royal Dignity cannot be out of the Memory of such as are acquainted with the Transactions of these Countries Besides these undeniable Examples there are also obvious amongst the Historians Testimonies sufficient to convince any Body that is not prepossess'd with a vain conceit of his own opinion That the Succession was not Anciently depending from the will of the States but that their Kings had and did claim a Right to the same for themselves and their Heirs both Males and Females When after the death of Waldemar the States declared Olaus Haquin and Margarets King and Queen of Norway Son King of Denmark the Danish Historiographer gives this among others for a Reason because he was from his Mothers side the next to the Kingdom And in the same Book he has given us an Extract out of the Records wherein the said Margaret Mother to this Olaus and Daughter of King Waldemar is called Queen of Norway and Sweden and the true Heiress of Denmark That noted Historian Crantius speaks much to the same purpose both of Olaus and his Mother Margaret He says that the two Kingdoms of Denmark are Hereditary to Olaus and that after the Decease of him there being no Male Heirs left all was fall'n to Queen Margaret The same Author calls Siwald the First Heir and Successor to his Father King Ungrin in the Kingdom of Denmark and speaks much to the same purpose of Broderick Son of Yarmerick King of Denmark And truly the Name of Heir of Denmark is so frequent in the ancient Histories of Denmark especially before the Times of Charles the Great that it would be infinite to mention them here since even in latter Times the same has not been out of date there Meursius does not only call Christiern Son to Christiern Heir of that Kingdom but also bestows the same Title upon John the Son of the deposed Christiern the II. And here I cannot but insert the Reasons which were alledged by the States of Denmark among others in their Proclamation for the declaring Frederick I. King of Denmark after they had renounced all Obedience to Christiern II. Their Reasons are these Because he was the Heir of Norway and had his Off-spring out of the most glorious Family of the Danish Kings That He was born a Kings Christiern I's Son and that therefore this Honour did belong to him in his own Right before any other Prince and that he ought to have a Portion or Patrimonial Share out of his Fatherly Kingdom From hence I think may be easily understood that the States of Denmark even in latter Times did not assume to themselves the free disposal of the Crown and that the Succession was not precarious and as our Author would have it according to good Behaviour This will appear more clear to us if we consider that the same Right of Succession has not only in former but also latter Times ever since the Oldenburg Family has sway'd the Scepter in that Kingdom been deprived not only to the next Male Heirs though Minors but also to the Females and their Off-spring Of the Female Succession we have Two Instances since the Oldenburg Family came to the Crown The first is That it was agreed by Marriage Contract betwixt Christiern II. and Isabel Sister to the Emperor Charles V. That if they should leave no Male-Heirs behind them the eldest Daughter should suceed in the Throne of Denmark And when afterwards the same Isabella followed her Husband in his Exile after he was deposed the States did not only recall her but also promis'd her Obedience nay they did declare by a publick Proclamation That if she would return to the Kingdom they would acknowledge her for their Queen and Sovereign Lady Which Proffer however though never so advantageous she refused to accept of Of the Female Succession the Danish ancient History furnishes us with a remarkable Example in Margaret Daughter to King Waldemar IV. who being married to Haquin King of Norway after the Decease of her Husband and Son Olaus succeeded them in both the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway and reigned for about Thirty Years about the Year 1400. And of several Kings of Denmark who came to that Crown by Right of the Female Succession there are several Examples in their Histories Sueno III. about the Year 1155 succeeded Canute IV. he being born from Margaret the Sister of Canute surnamed The Great and not much beloved by the Danes as having to his Father one Ulpho an Englishman yet being the only One that was left of the Royal Family was therefore declared King of Denmark So was Olaus Son to Haquiâ—â— and Margaret King and Queen of Norway declared King of Denmark because from his Mother's side he came from the Race of the Danish Kings she being Daughter to Waldemar IV. King of Denmark This was about the Year 1340. And not long after viz. about the Year 1417. Eric the same Margaret's Sister's Son succeeded here in the Kingdom upon the same Pretensions having been by her recieved as a Consort in the Danish Empire before As for the Succession of the next Heirs of the Royal Family in their Minority several Instances also may be found in the ancient Histories of Denmark as well as these of latter times Eric about the Year 855. succeeded his Father Siward in the Kingdom of Denmark being a very Child from whence he was surnamed Barn which
in the Danish Tongue signifies a Child Waldemar I. being constituted King of Denmark about the Year 1157. when he was scarce nine Years of Age is another instance in this kind Eric VII also Son of King Christopher I. and Olaus Son of Queen Margaret were both declared and crowned Kings of Denmark before they were come to the Age of Eleven the first about the Year 1260. the second about the Year 1340. And Eric Queen Margaret's Sister's Son was by her made Consort in the Government when he was a Child Neither has the Succession and Declaration of the next Heirs though Minors ceased since the Oldenburg Family had the Government of this Kingdom Christiern I. had his Son John declared King in his Life time when he was about the Age of Twelve Likewise had King John his Son Christiern declared his Successor when he was not above Six Years of Age. And Christiern IV. was at the Age of Seven declared Successor to his Father King Frederick then living and having received Homage from the States actually succeeded him after his Death before he was quite Eleven Out of the History of the continual Succession of the next Heirs belonging to the Royal Family of Denmark both Males and Females and that also in their Minority it will be no difficult matter to judge how great the Rights were of the Danish Royal Family in the Succession of the Crown but when I shall have demonstrated that they also had a right of adopting not only but also by Testament to appoint their Successor and even dividing the Kingdom among their Heirs it will then I think be evident that scarce ever any Kings in these very Kingdoms which have been esteemed ways heredittry could pretend to a greater prerogative An Example of Adoption for the Danish Crown we have in the often before mentioned Queen Margaret who after the Death of her Son Olaus being without Heirs did not only constitute Eric her Sisters Son her Consort and Successor in the Danish Empire but also to make his Title the more firm did adopt him and he was as such receiveâ— after her Death by the Estates of Denmark An Example of disposing of thâ— Crown by Testament Albert Krantâ— that Ancient and Celebrated Historian has given us in the Danish King Haldan who left by his last Will the Kingdom to Unguin which being confirmed by the Estates is mentioned by this Author as an Act without a Precedent in Denmark at that time As for the Division of the Kingdom of Denmark there are several Examples extant in their Histories Canute I. sirnamed the great being King of England Denmark and Norway divided in his life-Life-time about the Year 1030 the three Kingdoms without consulting the Estates between his three Sons giving to the Eldest Harald England to Canute Denmark and Norway to Sueno And having the two Crowns of England and Norway in his Possession by right of Conquest yet he used the same Power in appointing his Successor in the Kingdom of Denmark The second Instance of dividing the Kingdom is in the Reign of Waldemar about the Year 1170 Who having called together the Estates at Samsoâ— he had his Son Waldemar crowned King of Denmark After which another Son being born to him who 's Name was Eric he declared him Duke of Sleswick and to Canute another Son of his he assigned Laland But Waldemar the younger not long after his Coronation happening to die by a Mischance which he got in Hunting King Waldemar made a new Division among the rest of his Sons and before he died exhorted them to Unity alledging that to the best of his Power he had equitably divided the Kingdom among them And the several Provinces so assigned by King Waldemar to his Son were afterwards devolved to their Children and Grandchildren before they were reunited into one Kingdom There is one remarkable Instance more in the Danish History of this Kingdom being divided into three Parts betwixt Waldemar Canute and Sueno For aftere the Death of Eric sirnamed the Lamb during the Minority of Waldemar I. who was declared King before contended for the Crown of Denmark Sueno and Canute the first having on his side the Zealanders and Inhabitants of Schonen the latter the Jutlanders being at last tired by the Wars the Decision was referred to Waldemar I. who dividing the Kingdom into three Parts assigned to himself Jutland to Canute Zealand and Funen and to Sueno Schonen Halland and Blekingen and that all three should be called Kings And even since that time that the Family of Oldenburg has ruled in Denmark Christiern I dying Anno 1482. at Copenhagen divided the Kingdom and that by Testament betwixt his two Sons John and Frederick giving to the Eldest the Kingdoms and to the Youngest the Dukedoms And it is remarkable that when afterwards both Frederick and the Holsteiners urged the Execution of Christiern I's Will it was alledged for a reason by them that since John the Eldest had for his share two Kingdoms it was no more than reason that the Dukedom should come to Frederick in recompensation of what John had obtained Truly if the Succession of Denmark had been precarious Sweedland being then already faln off from Denmark this would have been a foolish reason since the Dukedoms being hereditary and very considerable in themselves the Younger would have had much the better share And that the said Christiern I had a right of disposing the same among his Children the States afterwards did confess themselves in their Proclamation wherein having published their reasons for refusing to obey Christiern II and receiving Frederick I. for their King they alledged as one main reason for Frederick that there was due unto him his patrimonial share out of his Father's Kingdom As out of what I have related here it will easily appear how ill grounded our Author's Assertions are concerning the Danish Government so he that will be so curious as to make a thorough search into the Danish History will be the better convinced that the Ancient Kings enjoyed and exercised the same Prerogatives which are acknowledged to appertain to other hereditary Kingdoms in Europe It is not to be denied that in this as well as other Kingdoms either during the Minority of some Kings or else by the Division of the Kingdom betwixt several Heirs and other Accidents many Irregularities Contests Wars and Slaughters have happened but to draw these into Consequence and to attribute the villanous Acts of exasperated Parties to the whole Government is to overturn the whole frame of History and at once to charge all Governments with the blackest Villanies that can be imagined since none have been free of them And I verily believe if a due Comparison were made there would be as few to be found of this Kind in the Danish History as in any in Christendom Let but any Body who is not byass'd by his own Opinions look into
those grave Men who instructed him were not so sensible as he describes them in his first Chapter But it is time also to see what he says concerning Holstein these are among others his Words The Country meaning Holstein is very fruitful and pleasant excellently well seated for Trade lying between the two Seas and having the advantage of the Neighbourhood of the River Elbe and of Hamburgh c. Stormar and Ditmarsh he says lie the nearest to the River Elbe and are for the most part low and rich Countries the soil being fat and in many places resembling Holland as well in its fertility as manner of improvement c. This is all the Account the Author gives us of Holstein besides what he says of its being divided into several Branches which Country considering the ancientness and number of its Nobility the variety and fertility of Ground number and consequence of its Cities and Towns would have deserved also a more particular Description But since he has told us in the First Chapter That he did include in this Account the Dutchy of Sleswick as part of Denmark but not the Dutchy of Holstein because the former was a Fâ—ef of that Crown the latter of the Empire and our Remarks being limited by the Account he has given of Denmark we will only add That Holstein being divided into Four Principal Parts viz. Ditmarsen Holstein properly so called Stormar and Wageren the Author has not mentioned the last of all though that famous City of Lubeck lies in the same as that of Hamburg is situated in Stormaren each of which would deserve a particular Description if the Nature and Bounds of these Remarks would permit us to undertake it What he has said concerning the Country of Oldenburgh is not much to be said to only to remember that it is not only that sort of Cream-coloured Coach-Horses he speaks of that abound there but that there is also in that Country so excellent a breed of all sorts of Horses introduced some Years ago by Anthony Gunter the last Count of Oldenburgh that I much question whether the like both in number and qualityâ— can be found in Europe in so small a spot of Ground Concerning Norway the Author having given a pretty regular account we will say no more of it but that it is not destitute of Corn since Tellemarch Hemarch and Gouldbrands Daal afford considerable Quantities of Corn. The like is also to be found about Druntheim and when I have once more put him in mind that the City of Bergen in Norway is one of those which are much better than our Town of St. Albans and is capable of harbouring Ships of a much greater Burthen than 200 Tuns I will take my leave of him as far as he describes the Territories of Denmark and go on to the following Chapters where he treats of the Form of Government and other Matters Yet before I conclude I cannot but mention here that as out of what has been said in these Remarks upon the foregoing Chapters it is evidentâ— that Denmark is generally a fertile Country abounding in Corn and pasture grounds for the feeding of Oxen and Horses of both which kind prodigious quantities are sent yearly into Germany and other parts that their Forrests and Woods feed innumerable Herds of Swine of the best kind so I cannot sufficiently admire with what confidence this Gentleman can conclude this Chapter with these words producing meaning Dâ—nmark in general but few Commodities for the Merchant But it is time to supersede to say any thing farther of this point and to see what he says in the VI. Chapter concerning their Form of Government his words are these The Antient Form of Government â—ere 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 Conquered were amply recompenced for the loss of their Liberty by being duced from their Barbarity to Civility by the introduction of Arts Learning Commerce Politness I know not whether this way of arguing have 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 Antient 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 And in the Preface he speaks to the same purpose which we will consider in this place because it explains what he has said just now These are his words All Europe was in a manner a free Country till very lately in so much that the Europeans were and still are distinguished 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 depased them upon mismanagement These â—â— 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 Governed they upon the score of Revenge Ambition or being overthrowing 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 'tother 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 remarked that the Antient States 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 Sweeden 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 bigotted Prince for the double Sword of Flesh and Spirit In this Passage the Author pretends to give us an
prepossessed with the conceit of a Gothick and tumultuous sort of Goverment will assert And here if we should enquire into the Originals of Princes and Kings which our Author pretends to have done in a few Lines at several Times and Places we should be obliged to go much beyond the design of these Remarks since to understanding Men it is apparent enough that if the Author 's whole Book had been employed upon that Point only it would not have been sufficient so much as to touch the chief Heads of so ample a Subject I will only say that I cannot sufficiently admire why this Gentleman is so mightily taken with these Times when Spain and England were divided the first into thirteen and the latter into seven or more peculiar Governments considering that they were perhaps the worst of Times ever these Countries saw neither could any lasting Peace be setled till instead of the same one Head had the Management of the whole Body But before we leave this Subject we must say something concerning Germany and Sweden For every one ought to know says he how great the Rights of the People were very lately in the Elective Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark If every one ought to know he might have said a little more of it since else few will know it for him What clear a Notion this Gentleman has concerning Elective Kingdoms will better appear hereafter when we shall have occasion to treat upon the Question Whither the Kingdom of Denmark has been Hereditary or Elective But as for the Rights of the People in Sweden why they should so much vary from the same that they were lately he would have done well to have explained a little I am not ignorant that the Wings of the Nobility that composed formerly the Senate there have been considerably clipt and that about fifteen or sixteen Years ago when that Kingdom during the Minority of this present King was partly through Mismanagement partly through the War with the Empire and Denmark miserably exhausted the Estates then finding themselves not in a Capacity to restore matters without extraordinary Subsidies which could not easily be levied upon the Subjects did then advise the King to oblige such of his Subjects as had by the Profuseness of some of his Predecessors or other means acquired to themselves vast Estates and other Advantages belonging to the Crown to restore the same which was executed accordingly some of the chiefest profering the same voluntarily the rest being obliged to follow their Example As by these means the King was enabled to restore the decayed State of the Militia and Army so it is not to be denied but that his Revenues were greatly encreased as well as his Power yet is from hence not necessarily to be concluded that the Rights of the People are lost since the four Estates of the Nobility Clergy Citizens and Peasants have thereby not surrendred any thing of their Native Rights tho perhaps some particular Persons have felt the smart of it Germany was freer than any other part of Europe says our Author but he ought to have remembred that this was in those days when every body being his own Master there they liv'd more like the Tartars do now than like any of the rest of the Europeans And if they had continued in that so much admired State of Liberty I am apt to believe Germany would not have come into that flourishing Condition it has been in since If it was for my purpose here to enlarge me self upon this matter I could shew easie enough that these whom our Author calls Captains Princes Electors Bishops c. were the first Restorers of the Liberty of Germany that they were the Founders of its Greatness and Upholders of the same after this Country was Conquered by Charles the Great I could shew him that there were the Bishops in Germany before the times of Charles the Great and that those instituted by him for all their double Sword of Flesh and Spirit have not been armed sufficiently so to subdue the Germans but that in the most parts the ancient Liberty has been preserv'd under their Jurisdiction and some have been able to find ways to free themselves quite from it And thus much I will only say in the Vindication of Charles the Great As he has laid the Foundation of what Germany is now whom our Author makes bold to call bigotted that as able Headpieces as this Gentleman and these some what better versed in the German Constitutions than he can pretend to have so greatly approved of the Methods that that Great Emperor took in uniting so vast a Country both in Laws and Religion that his vain and confident Assertions will prove ridiculous to all who have had any true insight into the Affairs of Germany I must add something more concerning Poland which he says is the only Kingdom besides this Island and Ireland where Parliaments are not lost to shew what sort of Parliament is to be found there that so every body may be able to judge how far the Polish Parliaments do differ from the English both in their Proceedings and fundamental Constitutions It is therefore to be known that there are but two sorts of People besides the King in Poland that can justly be said to have a Share in the Government viz. the Clergy and Nobility The Citizens and Peasants being totally excluded from the same and being for the most part subjected either to the Clergy or the Nobility the fewest to the King And though the Cities in the Regal Prussia enjoy a greater share of Freedom as having their own Constitutions and sending their Deputies to the Dyet yet is their Number so inconsiderable in comparison of the rest that it scarce comes into Consideration The King 's chief Advantage is That he has a considerable Revenue allow'd him and has the choosing of all the Officers both Civil and Military but the Great Officers especially those who by their Places are Members of the Senate of the Kingdom as also all the Senators have their Offices granted them ad Vitam so that when once put in Possession of the same they have not any Dependance further from the King The two Archbishops and other Bishops as they owe their Promotion chiefly to the Pope though they are nominated by the King and are exempted from the King's Jurisdiction so they having vast Possessions which depend only from them have therefore a great if not the greatest Sway in the Senate of the Kingdom But both the Spiritual Lords as also the rest of the Nobles who compose the Senate having the Places of the best Profit in their Possession and maintaining in their Palaces a great many of the poorer sort of Nobility become thereby so powerful that it may justly be said that these are the chief Governours of the Realm since the King cannot do any Publick Matter of Moment without them as being by their Constitution his constant Advisers and Directors the
and that they had advanced a Cruel Vicious 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 Souldiers 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 Good Reputation who possibly least dream't 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 c. This was the Ancient Form of Goverment in this Kingdom which continued with very little variation excepting that the Power of the Nobles encreased too much till about 32 years ago when at one instant the whole Face of Affairs was changed c. It is easie for any considering Person to guess the Consequences of this which are Frequent and Arbitrary Taxes and commonly very Excessive ones even in times of Peace little regard being had to the occasion of them So that the value of Estates in most parts of the Kingdom is fallen three fourths And it is worse near the Capital City under the Eye and Hand of the Government than in Remoter Provinces Poverty in the Gentry which â—ecessarily causes extremities of misery in the Peasants Partiality in the distribution of Justice when Favorites are concerned with many other mischiefs which shall be hereafter more particularly mentioned being the constant Effects of Arbitrary Rule in this and all other Countries wherein it has prevailed This Description or Form of Government it is likely the Author has given us in imitation of some old Fashion Romance or other for I am sure out of History he can bring none that were ever like it I must confess that I could scarce Read without some Indignation how he had abused in a most unanswerable manner the Laudable Ancient Constitutions of the Danes not only but also by so doing had taken an Opportunity to put his Fictitious Suppositions the conceits of his own Brains or some States Mountebanks Chimerical Notions for Truth upon the English Nation What he says concerning the Election of their Princes How the Eldest were preferred before the Younger out of Courtesie if they were equal in Vertues as also their Adhering to a Line being at pleasure might be taken for a vulgar mistake such as does arise from the neglect of true History The Qualifications which he says were required in their Princes might be look'd upon as an Effect of a Poetical fancy But what he tells of frequently Deposing and Banishing nay even Destroying their Kings either Formally or without Ceremony by some Valiant Hand who for his Meritorious Act of Killing or Expelling the Tyrant used to Succeed in the Kingdom Is so much against the Practice of the Ancient Danes described in True History that these Extravagancies cannot be look'd upon by Judicious Persons otherwise than self-invented Notions fitted to the Humour of some self-conceited Politicians but always esteemed by the more Understanding sort as most pernicious to Human Society To make this appear the better what if we should endeavour to show that the Ancient Government of the Danes was so far from Adhering to such Barbarous Practices or choosing their Kings by Courtesie that the Laws of Succession were so Sacred with them that that Kingdom ought rather to be called Hereditary if any one ever was in this Gentleman's Opinion to be esteemed as such in Europe than Elective Not to mention here the times before Charles the Great the History of those Countries before that time being infected with many Fabulous Relations we will begin with the Year 804 P. C. N. When Gotricus Brother to his Predecessor Sigifrid being declared King of Denmark left that Crown to his Son Olaus from whom it always descended in the same Line to the next Heir till after the Death of Margaret Queen of Denmark Sweden and Norway which was about the Year 1414. Thus the Crown of Denmark having been in a perpetual Lineal Succession of one Family for above 600 Years and the said Margaret having no Issue she had in her Life time Crowned Eric VIII her Sisters Son who having left Denmark and resigned the Crown after an Anarchy of Six Years in his Place was Constituted Christopher III. Eric's Sister's Son who 's Mother was also Niece to the above named Queen Margaret This Christopher dying without Heirs as did also his Sister before him the most Ancient Race of the Danish Kings was then extinguished about the Year 1448. Only that there was left Adolph VIII Duke of Sleswick and Count of Holstein being Son to a Nephew of Woldemar IV. to whom the Crown of Denmark being offered by the States he refused the same as having no Children The Crown being thus fallen into the Hands of the States yet were they so Religious in observing their Ancient Right of Succession that they chose Christian Count of Oldenburg for their King as being Son of Hedwig Sister of Adolph Duke of Sleswick and consequently being Related to the Family of the Ancient Danish Kings his Son John Succeeding him Constituted with consent of the States his Son Christian II. King of Denmark who was afterwards Declared by the States who had now acquired a greater power incapable of the Crown as having Reigned very Tyrannically over them and in his stead Frederick I. Brother of John King of Denmark and Uncle to Christiern was made their King And I think it is a remarkable Instance that even at that time the States of Denmark did not esteem it belonging to themselves to alter the Succession of the Crown when they did not only choose Frederick I. who was Son of John King of Denmark but also afterwards in a publick Convention of the said Estates they did promise to John Son to the banished King Christiern the Restitution of his Fathers Kingdoms not only but also the immediate Succession after the Death of Frederick I. But John the Son of Christiern II. dying about the same time when Frederick I. dyed the Crown came to his Son Christiern III. whom in a direct Line have Succeeded Frederick II. Christiern IV. Frederick III. and Christiern V. the present King of Denmark Out of these Heads which I have thought fit to mention here it may be evident whether the Succession of Denmark was precarious as this Author has taken a great deal
Allowance must be given to this Gentleman 's Romantick Expressions wherewith he has all along endeavoured to ensnare the ignorant sort of People into a belief of his own Suppositions Yet is it not to be wondred at that the value of the Estates should be less now when so considerable Taxes are paid out of them than they were formerly when the Gentry being the sole Possessors of Lands and having the chief Sway in the Kingdom used to be sure to exempt themselves as much as was possible The same Reason may be given why the Gentry or Nobility in Denmark in general do not live up to that Splendor as they did in former times since having in those Days all plaecs of Profit and Trust in their Hands and paying very small Taxes it is evident that at this time when to these Places others are admitted as well as they and are also obliged to bear a proportionable share in all Taxes their Revenues cannot be so great now as they were formerly Of the Peasants we shall be obliged to say something hereafter wherefore we will go to the next Chapter which describes the manner how the Kingdom of Denmark became Hereditary and absolute After the Conclusion of the Peace saysthe Author between the Two Northern Crowns Anno 1660 Some considerable care and time was necessary to redress the Disorders occasioned by so terrible a War Denmark had been most violently shaken and although the Fury of the Tempest was overâ— the Agitation caused by it still continued The Army was not yet disbanded nor could be for want of Money to discharge Arrears This caused frequent Insolencies in the Soldiers with a further Oppression of the Burghers and poor Country People who had been in a manner already ruined by the Miseries attendingthe War the Nobility and Gentry tho' Lords and Masters were full of Discontents and the Clergy not in the condition they wished c. Here the Author gives us some hints rather than reasons which induced the Estates of Denmark to make so remarkable a Change in the Government But since from hence does depend the understanding of the true nature of this Change he ought I think to have been a little more circumstantial in this Point if he intended to prove to us what he said in the conclusion of the last Chapter That it was astonishing to consider how a free and rich People should be perswaded intirely to part with their Liberties Astonishing indeed But if this Gentleman by the People does understand all the Estates of the Kingdom as he ought to do and has done so in other places when he alledged that famous Law of the Romans Salus populi supremae Lex esto he has not hit the mark right in this assertion since by his own words it may be proved that the Nobility mere Lords and Masters and all the rest depending on them It will not be a very difficult task to find out by what steps the Nobility in Denmark did acquire this Power over all the rest if we consider how the Nobility first clipt the Royal Prerogatives after that Crown was transferred to the Oldenburg Family and more especially after the deposing of Christiern the II. How after the Reformation the Power of the Bishops and Prelates who were chosen commonly out of the Citizens being fall'n together with their Revenues the Nobility made thereby the greatest step that could be towards the advancing their own Power above the Citizens and Peasants not only but also the Clergy who now were no more in a capacity to keep up the ballance as they used to do formerly The King's Prerogatives being thus brought into narrow bounds and the Clergy's Authority and Power quite abolished the Citizens alone were not able to resist long against those who sitting at the Helm had the chief management of all affairs of moment and the Peasants being most of them depending from the Nobility by being partly their Tenants partly their Vassals were not in a condition of making so much as a shew of resistance against the Power of their Lords and Masters Thus the name of the four ancient Estates of Denmark viz. the Nobility Clergy Citizens and Peasants remaining the Power was effectually lodged in the first which from time to time did encrease to that degree that not only the whole Senate of the Kingdom and all the great Offices of the Court were in their possession but also they did claim a right to all the rest of any moment and a priviledge to be consulted withall in the disposing of any Office of moment even to be given to a Nobleman They did claim a Prerogative and actually exercised the same of nominating the Magistrates in the Cities and had so eneroached upon the rest of the Estates that neither Clergyman Citizen or Peasant could purchase any Lands and if by Mortgaging or other wise any Lands happened to fall into their hands they were obliged by a yearly publick Proclamation to proffer the same to sale to the Nobility upon the same condition as they were possessed of it From hence came the dependancy of the Citizens from them and the entire subjection of the Peasants to their Will and by possessing most all the Lands in the Kingdom and thereby having the Rights of Patronages in a great measure in their own hands the Clergy was also for the most part fain to dance after their Pipe It is easie I think to imagine the natural consequence of this to have been That they exempting themselves as much as could be done from Taxes and other burdens the same did fall more heavy upon the rest and these not being able alone to provide sufficiently for the security of the Kingdom this was one main reason why the Kingdom was so surprized by the Swedes and did contribute as much as any thing towards the Miseries which these Countries endured in this War There was another great reason yet which as it contributed greatly to the miseries and misfortunes this Kingdom was fain to undergo in this War so questionless was it partly the Occasion of the great Change afterwards made by the States After the Death of Christiern IV. a certain Party of the Nobility were for excluding Frederick III. second Son of the said King Christiern IV. after the death of Christiern his elder brother and for setting up Wolmar his younger Son by a second Wife whose Sisters were married to several noble Men which though they could not effect yet were before Frederick III. this present King of Denmark's Father was received by them as King the royal prerogatives more streightned than ever and thereby the power of some of the Nobility mightily increased which did give occasion to a great many Dissensions in that Kingdom afterwards And it is very remarkable that when Charles the King of Sweden surprised the Kingdom of Denmark the second time viz. Anno 1658. He used it for a Pretence that he came to compose the Differences arisen betwixt the King
and the Nobility Besides this the Commons did lay their Calamities sustained in the late Wars in a great measure at the door of the Nobility for that by having excluded all the the rest even from military Employments so that it was a rarity to find a Commoner above the station of a Captain and a great many of these not having done their Duty in defending some Places of the greatest moment they had been the cheif Occasion of these great Progresses which were made at that time by the Swedes in Denmark There was a manifest Instance of this in the Siege of that almost impregnable Castle of Cronenburg the most considerable Fortress of all Denmark as being built with incredible Charges upon Oaken Piles fastend in the very bottom of the Sea which being defended by a sufficient Garrison and abounding in ammunition and provision under the Conduct and Command of three Governours was surrendred to Wrangel the Swedish General meerly out of Fear he having by discharging of his Cannon and other Demonstrations of Joy deceived the Governours into a belief that Copenhagen was taken by the Swedes The woful Experience then the Danes had had of these and such like Miscarriages were the true Cause of finding a Necessity of Changing the Constitution of their Government With out which they saw it was impossible to avoid the same Dangers and Calamities which they had so lately undergone It would be too tedious to insert here other Reasons that might be alledg'd for this Change as also the whole Narrative of our Authors concerning the manner of this Change wherein he has been more taken up with the Formalities than the true Causes yet out of what he has said it may appear that he contrdicts here what he had said before that they were a free People wherefore we must insert some of them to make the Case the plainer out of the Treatise it self Thus he says After some few days Session speaking of that Session when the Change was made in Denmark during which the Nobility according to their usual practice debated how the sums of Money requisite might with greatest ease and conveniency be levied upon the Commons without the least Intention ef bearing any proportionable Share themselves several Disputes arose and many sharp Expressions passed between them and the Commons The Nobility were for maintaining their ancient Prerogative of paying nothing by way of Tax but only by voluntary Contribution and shewing themselves too stiff at a time when the Country was exhausted and most of the remaining Riches lodged in their hands They seemed to make use of this Occasion not only to vindicate but even to widen and enlarge their Privileges above the other two Estates by laying Impositions on them at pleasure which Weight they themselves woold not touch with one of their Fingers any further than as they thought fitting On the other hand the Clergy for their late adherence to the Interest of their Country and the Burghers for the vigorous defence of their City thought they might justly pretend to new merit and be considered at least as good Subjects in a State which they themselves had so valiantly defended They remembred the great Promises made to them when dangerous Enterprises were to be taken in hand and how successfully they had executed them thereby saving from a foreign Yoke not only the City of Copenhagen but the whole Kingdom the Royal Family nay those very Nobles that now dealt so hardly with them They judged it therefore reasonable that the sums of money necessary should be levied proportionably and that the Nobility who enjoyed all the Land should at least pay their share of the Taxes since they had suffered less in the common Calamity as well as done less to prevent the Progress of it These Words I think do not want any further Observations since they are sufficiently explained by what I have said before concerning the Causes of this Change of Government and mayrather serve as a Confirmation of what has been alledged there concerning this point I wil only add that passage also related by the Author between Otto Craeg one of the chief Senators then and Nanson the then President of the City of Copenhagen and Speaker of the Commons For Otto Craeg did not stick to tell the President That the Commons neither understood nor considered the Priviledges of the Nobility who at all times had been exempted from Taxes nor the true Condition of themselves who were no other than Slaves the Word in the Danish is Unfree so that their best way was to keep within their Bounds c. To which the President replied That the Commons were no Slaves nor would from thence forth called so by the Nobility which they should soon prove to their Cost These passages alone are convincing Arguments how Free a People the Danes were at that time and that it is more like a Romance than a Truth what he says in the Conclusion of this Chapter That the Commons have since experienced that the little Finger of an absolute Prince can be heavier than the Loins of many Nobles It being apparent enough out of what has been said upon this Subject that the Estates of Denmark were not only treated by the Nobles as Slaves but that they also esteemed them as such and that things were come to that pass that they must either be in continual Slavery to the Nobility at home and in fear of a foreign Yoak from their Neighbours or else strive by a Change in the Government to meliorate in some measure their Condition What he says concerning the Citizens of Copenhagen that they have only obtained the insignificant Privilege of wearing Swords in this his gravâ— and sensible men have grossly abused him For not to mention here that this as well as other Priviledges were granted to them before the change of Government to encourage them to a vigorous Defence at the time of the Siege of Copenhagen the some were not so insignificant For besides a great many Privileges for the benefit of Trade a Vote was allowed them in all publick Consultations a Privilege was given them to purchase any Lands and Lordships whatsoever and to enjoy them with the same Right as the Nobles They were not to be burthened with any Impositions but such as the Nobles did bear and not that but by publick Consent They were to be free from all Contributions or Inquarterings whatsoever in times of Peace and their Children were to be admitted to all Honours and publick Offices equally with Noble-Mens Children These were no insignificant Privileges at that time when most of the same were only challenged by the Nobility and since the purchasing and enjoying of Lands as also their being capable of publick Offices and Honours have also after the Change of the Government been communicated to the rest of the Subjects in Denmark and that the Nobles bear their proportionable Share in such Taxes as the Necessity of their Affairs obliges them