Molesworth, Robert Molesworth, Viscount, 1656-1725.
Publication
London :: Printed for Timothy Goodwin ...,
1694.
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"An account of Denmark, as it was in the year 1692." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A51114.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
THE
PREFACE.
HEalth and Liberty are without dis∣pute
the greatest natural Blessings
Mankind is capable of enjoying; I
say natural, because the contrary states are
purely accidental, and arise from Nature
debauched, depraved or enforced. Yet
these Blessings are seldom sufficiently valu∣ed
whilst enjoy'd; like the daily advan∣tages
of the Sun and Air, they seem scarce
regarded because so common, by those that
are in possession of them.
But as an Italian that passes a Winter
in Groenland, will soon be convinc'd
through his want of the kind Influences of
that glorious Planet, how much Misery he
endures, in comparison of those who dwell
in his Native Country, so he that knows by
Experience the trouble of a languishing
Sickness, or the loss of his Liberty, will
presently begin to have a right esteem of
that which formerly he scarce thought
worth his notice.
This Experience is either what a Man
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
learns by that which befalls himself, or by
making Observations on the condition of
other People: The first is the common guide
to the generality of Mankind, who are not
apt to look beyond themselves, unless with
St. Thomas they feel as well as see, they
will not believe. Thus in the instance of
bodily Health, we find those that have been
always accustom'd to it, have scarce any
Notion of the Misery of the contrary state,
and therefore are careless in shunning those
Excesses which might bring Diseases upon
them; the sad Examples seen every day
of miserable sick Debauchées, being not suf∣ficient
to deter others from lewdness. But
the second sort of Experience is the In∣structress
of wise Men: For the Prudent
will not fail to benefit themselves by the
Accidents that befall others, both in their
Health and Liberty, by avoiding the oc∣casions
of them: And this is one of the
great Advantages of Society, that not only
the Assistance, but even the Misfortunes of
others, may be of use to us.
Want of Liberty is a Disease in any So∣ciety
or Body Politick, like want of Health
in a particular Person; and as the best
way to understand the nature of any Distem∣per
aright, is to consider it in several Pa∣tients,
since the same Disease may proceed
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
from different causes, so the disorders in
Society are best perceived by observing
the Nature and Effects of them in our se∣veral
Neighbours: Wherefore Travel
seems as necessary to one who desires to be
useful to his Country, as practising upon o∣ther
Mens Distempers is to make an able
Physician: For although a Man may see
too frequently the Misery of such as are de∣priv'd
of Health without quitting his own
Country, yet (thanks to Providence) he
must go out of these Kingdoms who would
know experimentally the want of Publick
Liberty. He that Travels into a Climate
infected with this Disease (and he can find
sew that are not) does not only see, but
in some measure feel the Grievances occa∣sioned
by it in the several Inconveniencies
of living, in some proportion with the Na∣tives;
so as to relish better upon his re∣turn
(which we suppose depends upon his
choice) the freedom and ease of his own
home Constitution; and may make good use
of this Experience without having paid too
dear for it: But a Man cannot transmi∣grate
himself for a while into a distem∣per'd
Body as he may Travel into an En∣slaved
Country, with equal facility of get∣ting
rid of each of them again.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Thus 'tis a great, yet rare advantage to
learn rightly how to prize Health without
the expence of being Sick, but one may ea∣sily
and cheaply grow sensible of the true
value of Liberty by Travelling into such
Countries for a Season as do not enjoy it.
And this can be done by no Nation in the
World so commodiously as the English:
The affluence of their Fortunes and Easi∣ness
in their private Affairs are evident∣ly
greater than those of other People of
Europe; so that generally speaking, none
are in a condition to spend more freely,
or may propose to reap greater benefit by
Travel, and yet none have practised it
less.
In other Countries some Princes and Men
of the first quality may have Purses strong
enough to bear the expence, but few of the
midling sort venture upon it; and those
are commonly either Military Men, who
have other designs in view than the know∣ledge
of the World; or the Unfortunate,
who chuse it as a diversion or a refuge,
and who have their Heads too full of their
own Miseries, to be at leisure to make their
Observations on others. And besides, we
often see the like Arbitrary Practices at
home (they having been always train'd up
in Servitude) does so far vitiate their
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Reason, as to put them out of a capacity of
judging aright: for 'tis not only possible,
but very usual, that People may be so sea∣son'd
to and hardned in Slavery, as not
only to have lost the very Taste of Liberty,
but even to love the contrary State: as
Men over-run with the Spleen take plea∣sure
in their Distemper.
But in England there are very many
Gentlemen, whose Estates will afford them
either to travel in Person, or to send a∣broad
such of their Sons for four or five Years
as have the most solid Judgments, in which
time they may acquire such Manners, and
make such Observations as shall render them
useful to their Country; and thereby ad∣vance
their private Fortunes, more than
what is saved by keeping them at home
would amount to.
The Method which has been generally fol∣low'd
by us in sending young Gentlemen to
Travel can hardly answer any of these
ends: on the contrary it has hitherto been
so mischievous, that 'tis well travelling has
been so little in fashion. 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 Lan∣guages
is the very best, but the most com∣mon
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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 Govern∣ment:
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 fashi∣on'd
Country-men, who will not reform
their Constitution according to the new
foreign Mode. But the Travelling recom∣mended
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 be∣coming
serviceable to the Publick, in con∣tributing
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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 Na∣tions,
thereby to improve their own: and
we know they throve by it, since few Govern∣ments
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 Con∣servation
of its present Form, are well
worth every English Man's enquiry; nei∣ther
are these so easily to be found in this
Age, which were judged so difficult, (if
not altogether impracticable) by the great∣est
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
of Politicians in his time. 'Tis true,
the Wisdom of our Ancestors, or their good
Fortune, has hitherto made these our King∣doms
an Exception to his general Maxim;
yet we all know how many grievous Tem∣pests
(which as often threatned Shipwrack)
this Vessel of our Commonwealth has under∣gone.
The perpetual Contests between the
Kings and the People (whilst those endea∣vour'd
to acquire a greater Power than was
legally due, and these to preserve or re∣cover
their just Liberties) have been the
contending Billows that have kept it afloat;
so that all we pretended to by the late Re∣volution
(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 fre∣quent
Blood-lettings be indispensibly ne∣cessary
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?
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Which however we do not deserve, no more
than England does that of Regnum Dia∣bolorum,
so common in unconsidering For∣reigners
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 incum∣bent
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 un∣der
Consideration, and at present more then
ever.
'Tis 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 former∣ly;
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 'tis a true, though but a Me∣lancholy
Reflexion, that our late Kings
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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 al∣most
overlooked us; we seldom were per∣mitted
to cast an Eye farther than France
or Holland, and then too we were careful∣ly
watched: But at present Matters are
otherwise; we have a Prince that has rai∣sed
us to our natural Station, the Eyes of
most part of the World are now upon us,
and take their Measures from our Coun∣cils:
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 ad∣vanced
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 sen∣sible
of it. 'Tis not very long ago since
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
nothing was more generally believed (e∣ven
by Men of the best Sence) then that
the Power of England was so unquestion∣ably
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 Re∣putation,
as at that time to have repre∣sented
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 Inva∣sion
and a French Conquest: such a venture∣some
Man must have expected to have pass'd
for a very Traveller, or at best for an ill∣natur'd
or unthinking Person, who little con∣sider'd
what the irresistible Force of an
English Arm was; But our late Experience
has reclaim'd us from these Mistakes; our
Fathers and Grandfathers told us indeed
these things when they were true, when
our Yeomanry and Commonalty were
evey day exercised in drawing the Long∣bow
and handling the Brown-bill, with
other Weapons then in use, wherein we ex∣cell'd
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
all the World; but we have liv'd up∣on
the Credit of those Times too long,
and superciliously neglected our formidable
Neighbour and Enemy, whilst he was im∣proving
his Strength, and we through the
Encouragement, and by design of our late
Rulers were enervating our own.
The Ecclesiasticks of most Religions, who
are allow'd to understand and prosecute
their own Interests best of any People,
though they be generally Persons whose
Function obliges them to a sedentary and
studious Course of Life, have not omitted
to draw such Advantages from Travel as
conduce to their Honour and Profit. These
Men, whose conversing with Books makes
them know more then others, have yet
found their Account in sending some of
the most judicious of their Members and
Fraternities to fetch home Knowledge and
Experience from the remotest parts of
the World. The Colledge De propaganda
fide was establish'd under pretence indeed
of serving Religion, but we know the Foun∣ders
of it are no farther slaves to Religion
than 'twill be serviceable to them, neither
was it so much through zeal for Conversi∣ons,
as to increase their Revenues, and
learn Forreign Policies in Church and State
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Affairs. The Jesuits have brought seve∣ral
Maxims, as well as Sums, from as far
off as China and Japan, thereby impro∣ving
their Knowledgè, so as to outwit their
Friends at home, and by following their
Example in this. I am sure we can run no
hazard, at least of passing for Fools. These
Men (whose firm adherence to the most
exquisite Tyranny is manifest by their in∣defatigable
endeavours in behalf of the
French King's Interests, as formerly of the
House of Austria's, whilst it was in its
heighth) have by these Arts ingrossed to
themselves the Education of the Youth in
all Popish Countries. The Lutheran
Priests (who have an entire dependance
on their Kings and Princes) are intrusted
with the like in those Countries which ob∣serve
the Confession of Ausburg. They also
send abroad some of their hopefullest young
Students, several of which may be met with
at Oxford, Cambridge, and Paris: The
use they make of Travel being not only to
improve their Knowledge in Sciences, but
to learn fit Methods to please their Sove∣raigns
at the expence of the Peoples Li∣berties.
Now in former Ages, whilst the
Ecclesiasticks were both ignorant and scan∣dalously
wicked, they were not esteemed by
the Laity, and consequently had not so
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
much power to do mischief: But since that
through a Reformation of Manners, and
Knowledge of the World, they have reco∣ver'd
credit, and that the restored Learn∣ing
of Europe is principally lodg'd among
them, they have gained a much greater
influence both on the Opinions and Pra∣ctices
of their Disciples, and promoted a
pernicious Doctrine with all the success
they themselves could desire. But the same
Travel will afford the best Antidote for
this Poyson, and teach a Gentleman, who
makes right use of it, by what steps Slave∣ry
has within these last 200 Years crept
upon Europe, most of the Protestant, as
well as Popish Countries having in a man∣ner
quite lost the precious Jewel Liberty.
This cannot be attributed to any more pro∣bable
cause than the enslaving the Spirits
of the People, as a preparative to that of
their Bodies; for since those Forreign
Princes think it their Interest that Sub∣jects
should obey without Reserve, and all
Priests, who depend upon the Prince, are
for their own sakes obliged to promote what
he esteems his Interest, 'tis plain, the E∣ducation
of Youth, on which is laid the
very Foundation Stones of the publick Li∣berty,
has been of late years committed to
the sole management of such as make it
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
their business to undermine it; and must
needs do so, unless they will be false to their
Fortunes, and make the Character of Priest
give place to that of true Patriot.
'Tis confest that in their Schools and
Universities, excellent Rules for attaining
Languages and Sciences are made use of
with greater success than any heretofore:
Those Youths especially, who have been
bred among the Jesuits, are justly remark∣ed
to excel others of equal Parts instructed
elsewhere: But still this is only a train∣ing
up in the knowledge of Words and Lan∣guages,
whereof there is seldom any occasi∣on,
as if the Pupils were intended to be
made School-masters; whilst the weightier
Matters of true Learning, whereof one has
occasion every hour; such as good Princi∣ples,
Morals, the improvement of Rea∣son,
the love of Justice, the value of Li∣berty,
the duty owing to ones Countrey and
the Laws, are either quite omitted, or
slightly passed over: Indeed they forget
not to recommend frequently to them what
they call the Queen of all Vertues, viz.
Submission to Superiors, and an entire
blind Obedience to Authority, without
instructing them in the due measures of it,
rather teaching them that 'tis without all
bounds: Thus the Spirits of Men are
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
from the beginning inured to Subjection,
and deprived of the right Notion of a ge∣nerous
and legal Freedom; which few a∣mong
them (so hardly are the prejudices
of Education shaken off) grow sensible of,
till they become of some Age and Maturity,
or have unlearn'd by good Company and
Travel those dangerous passive Doctrines
they suck'd in at the Schools and Univer∣sities:
But most have the Misfortune to
carry these slavish Opinions with them to
their Graves.
Had these Countries, whilst they were
free, committed the Government of their
Youth to Philosophers instead of Priests,
they had in all probability preserv'd them∣selves
from the Yoak of Bondage to this
day, whereas now they not only endure it,
but approve of it likewise.—tantum rel∣ligio
potuit.
The Greeks and Romans instituted their
Academies to quite another purpose, the
whole Education of their Youth tended to
make them as useful to the Society they
lived in as possible. There they were
train'd up to Exercise and Labour, to ac∣custom
them to an active Life: No Vice
was more infamous than Sloth, nor any
Man more contemptible than him that was
too lazy to do all the Good he could; the
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Lectures of their Philosophers served to
quicken them up to this. They recommend∣ed
above all things the Duty to their
Countrey, the preservation of the Laws
and the publick Liberty; subservient to
which they preach'd up Moral Virtues,
such as Fortitude, Temperance, Justice, a
contempt of Death, &c. Sometimes they
made use of pious Cheats, as Elisian
Fields, and an Assurance of Future Hap∣piness,
if they died in the Cause of their
Countrey; and even deceived their Hea∣rers
into Greatness: Hence proceeded all
those Noble Characters wherewith their
Histories are so stock'd: Hence it 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 ma∣nagers
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 'tis
not to be wondred at, if like the rest of
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
the World, they have been byassed by it,
and directed their principal Designs to∣wards
the advancing their own Fortunes.
Good Learning as well as Travel is a
great Antidote against the Plague of Ty∣ranny.
The Books that are left us of the
Ancients (from whence, as from Foun∣tains,
we draw all that we are now Ma∣sters
of) are full of Doctrines, Sentences,
and Examples exhorting to the Conserva∣tion
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 Ty∣rants;
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 found∣ed
upon Reason, Justice, and Truth; and
unanimously approv'd of by most of the suc∣ceeding
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 af∣ter
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
than the matter contained in them:
So that such as treat a little boldly of pub∣lick
Liberty occur to the reading of few,
and those grown Men, rather through Chance
or their Curiosity, than the recommendati∣on
of their Instructors.
'Twas not to learn Forreign Languages
that the Graecian and Roman Youths went
for so long together to the Academies and
Lectures of their Philosophers. 'Twas
not then, as now with us, when the Cha∣racter
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.) 'Twas to
learn how and when to speak pertinently,
how to act like a Man to subdue the Pas∣sions,
to be publick Spirited, to despise
Death, Torments, and Reproach, Riches
and the Smiles of Princes, as well as their
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Frowns, if they stood between them and
their Duty. This manner of Education
produced Men of another stamp than ap∣pears
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 Ec∣clesiasticks,
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 Govern∣ment;
fall down and worship the work of
their own Hands, as if it dropt from Hea∣ven;
together with other as profitable Do∣ctrines,
which no doubt many are by this
time ashamed of, tho' they think it below
them to condescend so far as to confess them∣selves
to have been in the wrong. For this
Notion of Jus Divinum of Kings and Prin∣ces
was never known in these Northern
Parts of the World till these latter Ages of
Slavery: Even in the Eastern Countries,
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
though they adore their Kings as Gods,
yet they never fancied they received their
Right to Reign immediately from Hea∣ven.
The single Example in Scripture
so much insisted on, viz. the Reign of
Saul over the Jews, and Samuel's De∣scription
of what a King would be, not
what he lawfully might be; proves ei∣ther
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 Argu∣ments
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 Coun∣try
till very lately insomuch that the Eu∣ropaeans
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
(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. Accord∣ing
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 Coun∣tries
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 Com∣monwealths
was at length swallowed up
by the Emperors, Popes, Kings of Spain,
Dukes of Florence, and other lesser Ty∣rants.
Yet 'tis 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 be∣sides,
keep their Ecclesiasticks within
their due bounds, and make use of that
natural Wit which Providence and a hap∣py
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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
'twas Lorded by Captains, which (in pro∣cess
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 ac∣quired
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 great∣er
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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 af∣terwards,
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 certain∣ly
be so in Countries where frequent free
Assemblies of the States are in use. That
if these Assemblies be hindred, or cor∣rupted
by sinister Practices, the obliging
quality of such a Law determines of it
self through its own nature, it being sup∣posed
that the true Representatives of
the People would have annull'd it, had
they been permitted to meet and act free∣ly:
That the Acts of one general Parlia∣ment,
though a free one, are not perpetu∣ally
obliging, since that as well as particu∣lar
Persons is liable to mistakes; but the
Acts of an eternal Succession of Parlia∣ments,
who make, confirm, change, or re∣peal 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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
the Crown, at the same time subverts their
Majesty's Title to it: 'Tis therefore season∣able
now or never to assert both; notwith∣standing
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 As∣sistance
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 under∣standing
Persons, Lovers of their Coun∣tries
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 ridi∣cula
& nimis jocosa; Catull. But Hea∣ven
be praised, the Nation is almost freed
from the gross Error of that slavish Do∣ctrine,
in spite of the Endeavours of such
as would keep it alive, like hot Embers
cover'd over with Ashes, ready to be blown
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
up again into a flame upon the first occasi∣on.
In Russia and Muscovy the Government
is as Tyrannical as in any of the more Ea∣stern
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 O∣bedience,
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 Coun∣tries
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 occa∣sion
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
'tis throughly known it becomes almost in∣curable.
Now travel best of all other Me∣thods
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
discovers (at least expence) the
Symptoms of this pernicious Disease, as
well as its dismal Effects when grown to a
head; and 'tis certainly of greater Impor∣tance
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 with∣out
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 Li∣berties
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 ad∣mirable
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, al∣most
to the ruin of a Free People.
I do not hereby mean to reflect on the
Order which generally has the govern∣ment
of our Youth; we have had the Ex∣perience
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
of many among them who have
given proof of a freer Education and use∣ful
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 Con∣stitution,
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; 'tis scarcely to be ho∣ped
Men should hold out against such
Temptations, unless they be more gifted
with Honesty than the generality of Man∣kind
are. And since they continue still
upon the same bottom, it must be expect∣ed
the same, or other as mischievous Do∣ctrines
will every day be broach'd: where∣as
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 Philoso∣phers
revive again in them.
The Constitution of our Universities, as
to Learning, seems as unfortunately regu∣lated
as it is to Politicks. We receive the
directions of our Studies there, from Sta∣tutes
made by those who understood
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
nothing of the Matter, who had a quite dif∣ferent
Notion and Taste of Learning from
what the World has at present: It seems
as ridiculous to take Patterns for the gen∣tile
Learning of this Age from the old fa∣shion'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
'tis of infinitely worse consequence; for the
Prejudices and wrong Notions, the stiffness
and positiveness in Opinion, the litigious∣ness
and wrangling, all which the old Phi∣losophy
breeds, besides the narrow Spirited∣ness,
and not enduring of Contradiction,
which are generally contracted by a Mo∣nastick
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
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 O∣pinions
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 Frail∣ties
of Human Nature; And all this in a de∣gree
far excelling the most zealous learn∣ed
religious Person who has been brought up
in his Cell, and is therefore what we call
a Bigot, stiff in an Opinion, meerly be∣cause
he has been used to it, and is asha∣med
to be thought capable of being de∣ceived.
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Favourers of Liberty, because their know∣ledge
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 Di∣vines
miscal a Sin in those that endeavour
to preserve or recover them; the Over∣sights
of some few Gentlemen of this honour∣able
Profession are therefore the less excu∣sable;
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
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
of, as there is to hammer into their Heads
the true Grammar of them, and the fine∣ness
of the Phrase: If in our Universities
a proportionable Care were taken to fur∣nish
them with noble and generous Learn∣ing:
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 Instituti∣on
a very moderate Understanding might
do wonders, and the coming home fully
instructed in the Constitutions of other Go∣vernments,
would make a Man but the
more resolute to maintain his own.
For the advantage of a free Govern∣ment
above its contrary needs no other
help to make it appear, then only to be ex∣posed
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 Coun∣tries
subject to Arbitrary Power, but al∣ways
a Face of plenty and Chearfulness in
Countries naturally unfruitful, which have
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
preserv'd their Liberties, there is no fur∣ther
room left for Argument, and one can∣not
be long in determining which is most
eligible. This Observation is so obvious
that 'tis hard for any that Travels not to
make it; therefore 'tis 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 Man∣ner
of Living, Goodness of the Air and
Diet, the Magnificence of the Buildings,
Pleasantness of the Gardens, pompous E∣quipage
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, a∣musing
him too much from considering the
Calamities which accompany so much Splen∣dour,
and so many Natural Blessings: or
from reflecting how much more happy the
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
Condition of the People would be with
better usage. But in the Northern King∣doms
and Provinces there appears little
or nothing to divert the Mind from con∣templating
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 pub∣lish
the following Account of Denmark,
which I took care to be informed of upon
the place with the greatest Exactness pos∣sible,
and have related fairly and impar∣tially,
which may save the Curious the la∣bour
and expence of that Voyage.
That Kingdom has often had the Mis∣fortune
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 to tear out of the Book of
Motto's in the King's Library, this Verse,
which Mr. Sydney (according to the li∣berty
allowed to all noble Strangers) had
written in it:
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
—manus haec inimica tyrannisEnse petit placidam sub libertate quietem.—
though Monsieur Terlon understood not a
word of Latin, he was told by others the
Meaning of that Sentence, which he consi∣dered
as a Libel upon the French Govern∣ment,
and upon such as was then a setting
up in Denmark by French Assistance, or
Example.
To conclude; A considering English
Traveller will find by experience, that at
present nothing is so generally studied by
the Sovereign Princes of the World, as
the Arts of War, and the keeping of their
own Countries in the desired Subjection.
The Arts of Peace, whereby the Encrease
and Prosperity of their Subjects might be
promoted, being either intirely neglected
or faintly prosecuted; he will further be
convinced what great reason he has to bless
Providence for his being born, and con∣tinuing
yet a Freeman: He will find that
the securing this inestimable Blessing to
himself, and transmitting it to late Poste∣rity,
is a Duty he owes to his Country;
the right performance of which does in a
great measure depend upon a good Edu∣cation
of our Youth, and the Preserva∣tion
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
of our Constitution upon its true and
natural Basis, The Original Contract.
All other Foundations being false, non∣sensical,
and rotten; derogatory to the
present Government, and absolutely de∣structive
to the legal Liberties of the
English Nation.
Salus populi suprema lex esto.
Notes
Cunctas Nationes & Urbes populus aut primores aut singuli regunt; de∣lecta exhis, & consti∣tuta Rei∣publicae sorma lau∣dari facili∣us quam e∣venire, vel fi evenit haud diu∣turna esse potest. Tacit. lib. 4. Annal.