Animadversions on a pretended Account of Danmark

CHAP. VII.

The Manner how the Kingdom of Dan∣mark became Hereditary and Abso∣lute.

IT is astonishing to consider (says our Author, p. 48.) how a free and rich people, (for so the Danes were formerly) should be perswaded intirely to part with their Liberties. It is more astonishing to me, to see a man write without considering: For in what did these former Riches consist? In a Country exhausted by the Taxes (p. 50.) or in the want of Money to discharge the Arrears due to the Army, (p. 49.) or in the miseries attending the War, (ibid.) which had in a manner ruined the Peo∣ple? In the next place, where was their Freedom? when the Senator Ot∣to Craeg tells the Commons•• p. 52. they were no other than Slaves: and these very words made them deliberate how to get rid of such an odious Name and Character? Lastly, how

were they perswaded intirely to part with their Liberty? when they gave this power to the King, on express purpose to gain it. For the King upon the first News of the Resolution of the Commons, did often openly promise that he would in gratitude and recompence, declare them all free assoon as it lay in his power, by the Gift they were about to make him, p. 58. Which promise he perform'd accordingly, and put the Commons of Danmark into the State they are at present, which is far from Slavery.

It will be necessary here to show how all sorts of people stood in Dan∣mark before the alteration, which will easily make the true grounds of it appear, and how it came to be effect∣ed with a consent so general and with so little trouble. The King had his power curb'd by the Nobility to a great measure, p. 54. and as the Kings found these encroachments, they did endea∣vour to prevent them: to secure their Pre∣rogative therefore (in the latter ages) they often made their Sons be elected and sworn (whence they were in Da∣nish called Hylded:) during their

life time, and have Homage done them both in Danmark and Norway. Frederick the third, who was King at this conjun∣cture, had done so by Prince Christian the present King; he was then admir'd by his Subjects for his conduct and va∣lour, p. 54. they had seen him with an admirable Patience and Constancy bear all his Calamities: he had often exposed his person for the sake of his Subject; and they therefore thought they could ne∣ver do enough to show their gratitude to∣wards him.

The Nobility were very numerous and diffusive: all the lands were in their sole possession; their estates re∣sembled our Mannors, of which they were Lords, and took their Titles from thence, and as they increased in Wealth, and consequently in Lands, they had additional titles from thence, and these accrued either by Purchase, (which as has been said before, none could make but themselves) or else by Marriages, which they always contracted among one another; for when a Nobleman died, his pedigree was declared to the eighth Generation upwards, both by

Fathers and Mothers side to have been noble. To them alone belong'd (and does belong) the honour of a Coat of Arm's; others may make use of Cyphers and Rebus's for distinction, but they do not deliver them down to poste∣rity; nor have they any farther mark of honour in them. Among these Nobles there were twenty four persons of the chiefest Families, who composed a standing Council, call'd Rigens Raad, or the Council of the Kingdom; up∣on the death of one of these Councel∣lors, his Successor had a Patent from the King to constitute him so, but he was always approved, if not first chosen by the Nobility. This Council had by degrees so enlarged their Authority, as to interpose in most of the great Affairs of the King∣dom. The entire body of the Nobi∣lity, though standing possest of the Lands, look'd upon it (p. 50.) as their Ancient Prerogative, to pay nothing by way of Taxes.

The rest of the people of Dan∣mark consisted of the Clergy, the Burghers, or Citizens, and the Peasants,

who were either in the nature of ou••-Farmers, or else the Vornede, who re¦sembled the Villains in our Law, who were so called quasi Villae adscripti, and so were these.

When a Diet was to meet (which it did not do of course, or at certain periods, but upon great occasions (as doing Homage, or to raise Taxes) the Nobility assembled together in the Palace, and sate by themselves, the King seldom coming among them; all were summon'd, and as many appear'd as could with their convenience: The Clergy and Burghers, who were sent in proportion by their several Districts, sate in the Brewers Hall; and the Pea∣sants, who had their Representatives likewise, sate in some other Hall, be∣longing to some of the Companies. When the Nobility had deliberated concerning a Tax, the Clergy, Burgh∣ers and Peasants were sent for to their House, to hear what was to be laid upon them, and not to debate the matter, or to pretend to controul+'em.

This was the condition of the King∣dom, and the Danish Parliament, when the War with Sweden was ended: And it was this Prerogative of the No∣bility, that made the other States so willing to devolve a Power upon the King, by which he could make the Nobility pay their proportion, and either Clergyman or Citizen be able to purchase; and so the Peasant, who before could be a Farmer only, if he could get Money, might have li∣cence to become a Free-holder: And the Soldier was, no doubt, likewise desirous of it, because he had a pro∣spect then, that his Arrears should be paid him. There being so many ad∣vantages likely to accrue to the King, whom they acknowledged by his Valor and Conduct to deserve them; to the whole Royal Family, and indeed to all the rest of the Danes; and no da∣mage toany, except that which the Nobles received in contributing to∣wards the defence of the Lands, which they possest. It is not so very strange, that an alteration should be perfected in so few days, all things not

only being ripe for, but necessity itself requiring it.

The Speech of Otto Craeg made the Commons eager to obtain this altera∣tion, especially being headed by their President Nauson, who was a man of Vigor. The Superintendent Swan was at the Head of the Clergy, who were no less desirous of it. Sestede was Prime Minister, and concurred to their intention; and several of the Nobles themselves, who were in Court, were not displeased at it; and the Queen, being a Woman of Spirit, thought her self bound to her Posterity to ad∣vance it. It was night when the Com∣mons parted from the Nobles, and that gave them time the better to con∣cert their resolutions. The next day they come again, and declare their fixt design, concerning the Power which they intended to place in his Majesty's Hands. The Nobility desired farther time to deliberate concerning it, and to do it with greater caution and so∣lemnity. Finding a delay in the No∣bles, and that they would not come up to equal resolutions with them, the

Commons go the same morning to the Palace, where being introduc'd to the King, they tender him an Hereditary and Soveraign Dominion. His Maje∣sty in answer tells them of the necessity there was for the concurrence of the Nobility, before he should be willing to accept the Power they design'd him, assuring them of his Protection, and ••ase of Grievances; dismissing them with advice to continue their Sessions, till matters might be brought to greater perfection. The same day Monsieur Scheel, a Senator, was to be buried with much magnificence, and all the Nobility invited to a great Entertainment, as is usual there upon such occasions: In the mean time the Gates of the City were shut and whereas two or three of the Nobility had gone out the night before, there was no opportunity left for the rest to do so. Now being altogether upon the forementioned occasion, they be∣gan to deliberate more seriously upon the assair, and to send news to the Court of their compliance with the Commons, and their unanimous agree∣ment

with them; three days were thought requisite for an intermediate space, before the Consummation of this Ceremony, which was perform'd before the Castle, the King and Royal Family being plac'd there in Chairs of State, and receiving the Homage of all the Senators, Nobility, Clergy and Commons; so an affair of this conse∣quence was dispatched in four days, without any farther trouble than what has been related.

We must allow our Author in his Description of these proceedings to use some of his own Ornaments, and particularly that instance of his subtle Genius to dive into the hearts of men, which he gives us when he speaks (p. 56.) about the Kings seeming Re∣luctancy, through doubt of the event, or sense of the dishonesty, and crime of the action. Whereas the King was all along willing to receive the profer of the Commons, but declared that he thought, the concurrence of the Nobility necessary, that the consent might be universal. He is very particular, as to the Summs of Money that were given,

p. 74. Hannibal Sestled had two hundred thousand Crowns: Swan the Bishop had 30000, and was made Archbishop: The President Nauson had 20000. One might think he spoke with the person that paid the Bills. This is a piece of secret history, which may perhaps be revealed to Foreigners, but the Danes know nothing of it; and it seems to carry the less probability, because Swan has an Archbishoprick, and ten thou∣sand Crowns more than Nauson, who appears all along to have done equal service.

Besides these three persons, the Clergy who always make sure bargains, were the only gainers in this point, p. 74. What are their Revenues enlarged? Do they pay no Taxes? Or what have they gained more than the Burghers? Why e'en just nothing. There are no Taxes rais'd upon the Burghers, to which the Clergy must not pay their Quota: And whereas before the alteration, the Clergyman paid, as it were, no Taxes, through the connivance of the Nobility, now h••bears an equal share with any man

of any other Profession in the King∣dom.

The Commons have since experienced, that the little ••inger of an absolute Prince, can be heavier than the loins of many Nobles. All the Citizens of Copenha∣gen have by it obtained the insignificant Priviledge of wearing Swords; so that at this day, not a Cobler or Barber stirs a∣broad without a Tilter by his side, let his Purse be never so empty.

The Priviledge of wearing Swords was granted to the Citizens before the change, to encourage them to a vigo∣rous defence of Copenhagen, when the Clergy not only adher'd to the interest of their Country, but the Burghers likewise valiantly defended it, (p. 51.) Before that time none might wear them but the Nobility, unless they were Sol∣diers, and among them a Commoner, very seldom rose higher than a Cap∣tain. In the publick calamity of their Country, all appeared zealous for the defence of it. The Works of the Town were as good as none, but they were raised in a little time by an incredible industry: Not only the Students of

the University appeared in Arms, and the Citizens of condition did the same, but the meanest of the People got Scythes, and such other instruments, to perform what was in their power, upon an occasion so absolutely necessa∣ry. Indeed all sorts of People shewed, that they were worthy to wear their Swords, since they knew so well how to use them. After the alteration, the Priviledges granted them were far from insignificant. Several for the be∣nefit of Trade, &c. are fixt by a large Charter, besides the liberty to pur∣chase any Lands and Lordships what∣soever. They are to be burthened with no impositions, but such as the Nobles bear; and they have the com∣fort (which before they had not) to see their Children admitted to all ho∣nours, and publick offices, to employ∣ments civil and military according as they can deserve them) equally as well as the Sons of the greatest Noblemen.

Barbers indeed in Copenhagen wear Swords, as being principal Citizens; for they are at the same time very skilful and able Surgeons, and much respect∣ed;

but Coblers stalking about with Tilters by their sides, are as rare a sight there as roasted Green Geese.

When he told me (p. 74.) the Peo∣ple had the Glory of forging their own Chains. I took the Danes to be like his Savage Indians, and that they wore Fetters and Manacles instead of other Ornaments, and that all their cold Iron was rather employ'd that way, than for Tilters: For by the by, a Sword is the foolishest instrument in the world, for a Prince to put into the hands of such Subjects, as he designs to make absolute Slaves of.