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-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
Latin Tongue and Principles of Philosophy till coming to the Age of 18. or 19. Years they commonly send them to some neighbouring University as well to be further instructed in several Sciences and in such Profession as they intend to embrace as also to begin to improve themselves in bodily Exercises as Fencing Dancing Riding the Great Horse and in Foreign Languages especially the French and Italian Tongues Thus prepared they leave Germany and for the most part making some stay either in the several Universities of the United Provinces at Leiden Utrecht or Groningen or else in the chiefest Cities they endeavour to perfect their Knowledge of such several things as they were instructed in before From hence the common Road used to be to France some taking a small Turn into England where having staid a considerable time sufficient fully to accomplish themselves in the said Tongue and in such Exercises as are taught there in great Perfection they either go straitways from thence or else passing thro' Italy return into Germany and taking in their way the chiefest Courts of the Empire are then if they have not wilfully neglected themselves esteemed duly qualified to make a true Comparison betwixt the Excellencies and Deficiencies of their own and other Countries So that all we pretended to says the Author by the late Revolution bought with so great Expences 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 is the best can be said of it That in our late happy Revolution Providence seemed to have a particular Share is what every body that loves his Country and this Government does willingly own But that at the best it should only be a piece of good Luck I am to learn yet As I am well assured that the most sensible Men agree in this Point That Providence in our Days acts by Human Means and not by Miracles That what is commonly called good Luck is generally the Product of such Counsels and Designs as are often not so evident to vulgar Eyes So I cannot sufficiently admire that this Gentleman who has taken upon him the Office of a Censor of Foreign and a Reformer of these Nations should either be ignorant or so soon forgetful of the unparallelled Valour and uncommon Wisdom of his present Majesty which was so apparent to all Europe that I think he might have with Justice and a due Respect mentioned it here Truly if by his Majesty's particular Wisdom those extraordinary Preparations as were requisite for such an Enterprise had not been carried on with that Vigour and Silence in a Country where it seemed most difficult to be effected that even the quick-sighted French were deceived if by his indefatigable Care the number of such Forces as were designed for this Expedition had not been timely supplied by the German Auxiliaries If at last by his incomparable Valour and Constancy he had not surmounted the very Obstacles of a far advanced Season contrary Winds and Tempests which would have with-held any Body but Him I believe we would before now have been in despair of good Luck in that kind and our Gentleman would have had no great Encouragement for such a Preface And it is Riddle to me since every body has his own again and enjoys it under the Legal Government of a Wise and Brave King with the Assistance of the great Council of the Nation why some among us should be so busie to vent their State-reforming Speculations except they labour on purpose to entail upon us that Sarcasm which our Author mentions of the most inconstant Nation in the World These are his Words But must frequent Blood-letting be indispensibly necessary to preserve our Constitution Is it not possible for us to render vain and untrue that Sarcasm of Foreigners who object to us That our English Kings have either too much Power or too little and that therefore we must expect no settled or lasting Peace Shall we for ever retain the ill Character they give us of the most mutable and inconstant Nation of the World which however we do not deserve no more than England does that of Regnum Diabolorum so common in unconsidering Foreigners Mouths Methinks a Method to preserve our Common-wealth in its legal State of Freedom without the necessity of a Civil War once or twice every Age were a benefit worth searching for tho' we went to the furthest Corners of the World in quest of it No Question that such a Method would not only be worth searâ—hing for but also the most desireable thing in the Worldâ— But what Method may be the most proper to effect it is the Difficulty This I am sure the Methods which some of our Tavern or Coffee-house Politicians have taken of late will not answer the Ends of such a Settlement As I frequently converse among Foreigners so it has often vexed me to the Soul to hear what Judgment they will make of our Transactions here not but that I often have found it too true yet it could not but grieve me that the whole Nation should bear the blame of a certain Gang of People among us who being infected with the Vanity of their own Conceits like to those afflicted with the Yellow Jaundice to whom Objects are represented under the same Colour as their Eyes are infected withal spread their corrupted Opinions abroad to the great Dishonour and Detriment of the whole Nation The Character of Regnum Diabolorum I have very seldom heard and never except from such as were very unconsidering indeed but as for that of inconstant and most mutable I must confess it is common among Foreigners even of the best Sence And for the Love of God what milder Construction can any Body make of the Behaviour of such as pretending to be the Champions of our Government revive in their Pamphlets the almost forgotten Names of Whig and Tory on purpose to renew at the same time those Jealousies which within these few Years had brought this Nation to the very Brink of Destruction How can we expect but that not only Foreigners but also all understanding Men among us should look upon such as worse than inconstant and mutable who can so soon forget the past Dangers and neglect their present Happiness Lucius AEmilius the Roman Consul could not forbear in a publick Speech which he made to the Romans when going to the Macedonian War against Perseâ—s to reproach them with the Liberty they took of leading Armies into the Field and censuring the Actions of their Generals over their Liquors at Rome and what wonder is it if it seems the most surprizing thing in the World to Foreigners when they see some petty State-reformers among us in their Pamphlets to take upon them and challenge an Authority in gross terms and with bitter Reflections to censure not only the Actions of Ministers of State but
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