assurances from the Mufti that any Rebellion shall be raised there speedily Come we now to the grand Query Whither matters are like to last at the same rate they are now at in Danmark p. 264. Our Author would willingly have it resolv'd in the Negative and gives important reasons why it should be so And more important why it should not be so Let us see his self-encounter at pro and con and the mighty tumults and bustles raised in our Authors fallacious Judgment p. 264. First That natural Love of Liberty eminent in the antient Goths and Vandals perswade him to think of a change ib. But alas the Love of Liberty which was that of Knight â—rrantry and Rambling to seek their Fortunes in foreign Countries being now quite extinct in the North they find sufficient conveniencies at home where Obedience to their Prince secures their Ease and is preferr'd by them before those brisk Traverses as he calls them which commotions would occasion p. 267. So Love of Liberty might do something but that Duty prevails Well but again may not the freshness and newness of this alteration of their condition produce an alteration in the Government p. 265. Why truly no because he finds it to have little or no influence upon the people who are wonderfully well pleas'd both with one and t'other So that if the Father should propose any methods of change to his Son he would not be heard by him with patience pâ— 268. Buâ—â— however to try again What should hinder the Swedes who have their Eye upon Danmark from introducing Liberty p. 266. Why truly they use their own Subjects so ill and there is such a â—â—â—t hatred betwixt these two Nations that the Danes are resolv'd to keep them out as long as they are able p. 2â—8 The last hope then is in the numerousness of the Royal Family for there being four Princes it will be rare if Concord be maintained among them all p. 266. And thence something in favour of Liberty might arise 'T is a thousand pities that matters should not be brought to this pass But such is the Wickedness of this cursed Soil that those Jealousies which use to reign in the Families of Princes are not so common nor fatal in these parts as elsewhere p. 270. Besides there is a terrible thing call'd Unity of Religion p. 268. which spoils all manner of hopes and cuts away the very root of Sedition So then the sum of the grand controversy amounts to this That the Government of Danmark might be shaken were it not supported by a firm security from foreign attempts by a mutual concord in the Royal Family by the Ease Content Loyalty and Religion of the Subject in a word by all the Blessings and Cements which make Governments happy and consequently will render this of Danmark fixt and durable Since nothing hitherto will do the work what if this Author could get his Account translated into the Danish Tongue might not that when publisht have so blessed an effect as to occasion a change not only in their Condition but also in their Masters Why truly whatever his aim may have been nearer home and though it has been printed in English yet he has not perswaded his Countrymen to endeavour an alteration in either of theirs So that if the present State of both Kingdoms be fixt and durable then his Book poor Gentleman has lost its design and he his labour FINIS Books Printed for and sold by Tho Bennet at the Half Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard FOLIO's Athenae Oxonienses Or an exact History of all the Writers and Bishops who have had their Education in the University of Oxford from 1500. to the end of 1690. Representing the Birth Fortunes Preferments and Death of all those Authors and Prelates the great Accidents of their Lives with the Fate and Character of their Writings The Work being so Compleat that no Writer of Note of this Nation for near two hundred years past is omitted In Two Volumes A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam by Monsieur de la Loubere Envoy Extraordinary from the French King to the King of Siam in the Years 1687 1688. Wherein a full and curious Account is given of their Natural History as also of their Arithmetick and other Mathematick Learningâ— In two Tomes Illustrated with Sculptures Done out of French By A. P. Fellow of the Royal Society The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley The Eighth Edition To which is added The Cutter of Colemanstreer Never before Printed in any Edition of his Works Sir William D'avenants Works Dr. Pocock's Commentary on the Prophets Joel Micah Malachi and Hosea Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Pinto who was five times Shipwrakt sixteen times sold and thirteen times made a Slave in AEthiopia China c. Written by himself The Second Edition 1693. Quarto's A Critical History of the Text and Versions of the New Testament wherein is firmly Established the Truth of those Acts on which the Foundation of Christian Religion is laid In Two Parts By Father Simon of the Oâ—atory Together with a â—â—â—uâ—ation of such Passages as seem contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England The Works of the Learned Or an Historical Account and Impartial Judgment of the Books newly Printed both Foreign and Domestick Together with the State of Learning in the World By J. de la Crose a late Author of the Universal Bibliotheques The first Volume is finished with compleat Indexes A Sermon before the King and Queen By the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Châ—â—ter's Charge to his Clergy at at his Primary Visitution May 5. 1691. and his Sermon before the King and Queen 1694. Five Sermons before the King and Queen By Dr. Mâ—ggot Dean of Winchester Two Sermons One before the Honourable House of Commons on a Thanksgiving in November 1691â— The other before the King and Queen in November 1692. By Dr. Jane Dean of Gloucester Three Sermons One on a Thanksgiving the two others before the King and Queen By Dr. Talbot Dean of Worcester Mr. Atterbury's Sermon before the Queen at White-â—all May 29. 1693. Dr. Resbury's three Sermons before the Queen A Discourse â—ent to the Late King James to perswade â—â—â— to embrace the Protestant Religion By Sam. Parker late Lord Bishop of Oxon. To which are perfixed two Letters the first from Sir Lionel Jenkins on the same Subject the second from the said Bishop with the Discourse All Printed from the Original Manuscripts The Plagiary Exposed or an old Answer to a newly revived Calumny against the Memory of King Charles the first under the Title of Colonel Ludlows Letter By Mr. Butler Author of Hudibras Never brfore Printed A short Defence of the Orders of the Church of England By Mr. Luke Milbourn The first Book of Virgill's AEneis Made English by Mr. Luke Milbourn The Reasons of Mr. Bayes's Changing his Religion In Three Parts By Mr. Tho. Brown Novus Reformator
Sumptuousness and Magnificence as that wherewith her Burial was accompanied Fifthly Whatever he ominates concerning the Swedes avoiding a further Matrimonial Tye with Danmark p. 193. Yet it is true that the general report of the World is concerning a double Marriage between the Prince Royal of Danmark and the Princess of Sweden as also between the Prince Royal of Sweden and the Princess of Danmark If so where is this Gentlemans assurance of the impossibility of a further Matrimonial Tye or the certainty of the Prince of Holstein's being contracted to the Princess of Sweden whom he falsly cal's p. 193. the only Daughter of the King of Sweden this King having two Princesses living by the lately deceased Queen Sixthly As the Author is pretty near in guessing that the King of Danmark would not sit down with the Duke of Zell's thrusting himself into the Dutchy of Saxe Lawenburg so he is out of the way when he says that the King of Sweden would uphold the Lunenburg Family though secretly For the Swede was one of the chief Mediators that made the Duke of Zell demolish Raâ—eburg last year and give the King of Danmark the satisfaction which he desired Seventhly When he says that the Duke of Holstein has by the Sister of the King of Danmark issue a very hopeful Prince one should think he has no more issue than this only Son whereas the Duke of Holstein has several Children of both Sexes CHAP. XIII The Manner of Dispossessing and Restoring the Duke of Holstein Gottorp ANY one who reads this and the foregoing Chapter will see the Authors partiality for the Duke of Holstein He seems to have undertaken his Cause and to display it in all its best Colours and Brightness It were an easy thing in answer to all this to transcribe the King of Danmark's Manifesto upon this occasion which those who are curious may consult if they please it having been spread about all Germany But I shall avoid meddling with any Justification of the King of Danmark upon this Account The reason is because there is at present an intire Reconciliation between the King and his Brother-in law the Duke and last year they met together with great Friendship in Holstein Now Reconciliation clears up a thousand things which Distruâ—â— Jealousy or Misunderstanding may have cast before one What hereâ—ofore may have seem'd unkind or unjust then will appear to have been necessary but especially upon thâ— renewing of Friendship there should be no Justification of former Proceedings made by either Party for such Justification shows as if the breach were not thoroughly repair'd and will give a handle for future disputes and difficulties Since no reconcilement will be perfect but such as carries along with it an entire oblivion of past differences and all their circumstances CHAP. XIV The Interests of Danmark in Relation to other Princes I Shall be very short in relation to this Chapter because it is of the same nature with the former What he says of Danmark that it resembles a Monster that is all Head and no Body all Soldiers and no Subjects p. 224. has been sufficiently confuted However if I were to have a Monster I would rather have one that is all Head and no Body than such a one as he would make which is all Body and no Head Neither am I of opinion that Danmark bears no greater proportion to France than the little Republick of St. Marino does to Venice and that Danmark is the least and poorest Kingdom in Europe p. 225. for as to its poverty I have given him an account and as to the Littleness of this Kingdom I must a second time make bold with the first words of his Book against him That if we consider the Extent of the King of Danmark's Dominions he may with Justice be reckon'd among the greatest Princes in Europe CHAP. XIV Of the Laws Courts of Justice c. THE Danes are sprung from the Goths who have always been a most warlike Nation they have left no Northern People free from their Incursions at least if not their Conquests and extended them from Island to the warmer Climates of Spain and Italy and the burning Shores of Africa Krantzius in Daniâ— Lib. 1. c. Meursius Hist. Dan. Lib. 2 3. Isaac Pontanus Rer. Dan. And have the honour never to have submitted to the Roman Empire nor to have any just pretences made from thence of Superiority or Dominion over them Their Historians affirm that they have had a continued Succession of Princes from a thousand and forty Years before Christ who have continually governed them They have always been ruled by their own Laws without foreign impositions These Laws and Customs were so agreeable to the Northern People that Roger Hoveden in his Annals of Hen. 2d of England says that when William the Conqueror was to give Laws to the English he made the greatest use of the Danish Laws to that purpose from the Love he bore to the Danes from whom the Normans took their Original Under the forementioned Laws and Customs the Danes lived which they might possibly explain or improve by the Civil or Roman Law that Pontanus Lib 6. says they made use of and which the Governors of their Monasteries understood and studied having learnt them in the Universities of France and Italy Georg. Lorich in addit ad cons. poster n. 92. Helmold Lib. 3. Chron. Slavorum c. 5. King Waldemar in the Year of Christ one thousand two hundred thirty two collected the Statutes of his Predecessors whâ—ch with the ancient Customs of the Danes and Cimbers he reduc'd into writing and adding several others together with the Consent of the States he made an entire Body of the Danish Law Pontanus Lib 6. Duck de Authoritate juris civilis Yet this was but for one Province for formerly each Province Jutland Sealand c. had their own particular Laws differing from one another And indeed since his present Majesties Collection and Reformation of the Laws the Danish and Norsh Law is still distinguished so that there is just such another Volume comprehending the Norsh Law as that of the Danish but there is no difference except in such things where the nature and situation of Norway require another Regulation than Danmark In Norway likewise is another high Court of Justice where the Viceroy is resident to which all Causes may come by Appeal But if the Parties be not contented with the Decision of that Court they have a further Appeal to the highest Court in Copenhagen Holstein is ruled by the Imperial Law as a Fier of the Empire and there is at Copenhagen two Chanceries the Danish for Danmark and Norway the German for Holstein and the other German Provinces belonging to the King of Danmark He has said nothing of the Ecclesiastical Courts in Danmark which are in every Diocess where the Bishop is Resident and several of the chief of the Clergy are his Assistants and the Governor of the Province always
present on the Kings behalf These Ecclesiastical Courts are proper for all the Clergy but if the Cases are of little importance they are first judged by the Praepositus who is like our Rural Deans and some of the eldest Ministers in his District which may be called an Inferiour Court but in both these nothing is judged but things of Ecclesiastical Nature In Copenhagen there is a Consistory where the Rector Magnisicus chosen every year out of the Professors and like the Vice-chancellors at Oxford and Cambridge is President and most of the Professors his Assistants in this Court all things relating to the University are debated As for his politick comparison of the Trap to kill Vermin in Dovc-houses p. 239. and his nice Description of the Headsman and Kennel-raker I shall only tell the Reader that they are false and so leave them to our Authors further Reflection CHAP. XVI The State of Religion of the Clergy and Learning c. WE must not expect great Accuracy in what he says of the Reformation of Danmark neither as to the Time nor the King that then reigned For not only Frederick the First p. 249. but his Cousin Chrisliern the Second favoured Luthers Doctrine and both he and his Queen who was Sister to Charles V. died in that Profession Frederick who succeeded his Nephew in the year 1524. by a Publick Edict enjoyned that no body in his Kingdoms or Provinces under the Forfeiture of Life and Goods should do the other any hurt either Papist or Lutheran but every one should so behave himself in his Religion as he would answer it before God Almighty with a good Conscience At the same time seriously commanding that the People should be well informed in the Doctrine of the Gospel that the Romish Abuses might be the sooner extirpated This he repeated in the Diet of Odensee A. D. 1527. and more was not done by this King till his death which happen'd A.D. 1533. saving that he himself adhered to the Protestant Religion and favoured both that and its Preachers where-ever he could in his whole Dominions But Popery was tolerated however nay as yet carried the Sway by the great Oppositions and Power of the Bishops This appeared in the Diet which was called upon the Death of Frederick in which Diet one of the chief Lutheran Preachers Mr. John Tousson had been oppressed by the Power of the Bishops if the Citizens of Copenhagen who adhered firmly to the Protestant Religion had not rescued him with force of Arms from whence we see that though Frederick the First brought it in yet he did not establish so generally Luthers Doctrine in his Dominions as we are told by this Author p. 249. Afterwards King Christian III. finding great opposition from the Popish Party with much trouble and not without effusion of blood having besieged Copenhagen a whole year and at last forced it to surrender by Famine began to establish the Reformation with vigor for the seven Popish Bishops were suddenly surprized and imprisoned by the King and after having been publickly before the Diet of the Kingdom accused and convicted of many enormous crimes were all deposed and seven other Superintendants or Protestant Bishops afterwards consecrated in their places The King was crowned by Dr. John Bugenhagen who had been a Fellow-Labourer with Luther in the work of the Reformation and in the year 1539. in the Diet of Odensee the last hand was set to the Reformation and it was wholly and universally introduced and settled in Danmark as it is at this day Now I leave the Reader to judge of the great Accuracy of our Author when he says that Frederick the First established Luther's Doctrine about 150 years ago p. 235. First 150 years ago Frederick the First had been dead for above nine years and next it was his Son Christian the Third who established the Protestant Religion in the year 1539. There is a Union and Harmony of Religion throughout the whole Kingdom and this our Author says p. 251. Cuts off occasion of Rebellion and Mutiny 'T is very reasonable it should and a sign that the Clergy do their duty in preaching such due obedience as the Gospel enjoyns and the People show their sence of Religion in being directed by them not that the Priests depend entirely upon the Crown as this Author intimates p. 251. any more than the rest of the King of Danmark's Subjects nor the People absolutely governed by the Priests ibid. with a blind obedience any further than Scripture and Reason obliges them The Clergy have full Scope given them to be as bigotted as they please ib. I know not what he means by their being bigotted unless it is that they are zealous in teaching their People the Doctrines of Salvation and resisting Vice and Scandal in their peculiar Churches as they ought to be perhaps this Author would not have them trouble their heads much about Religion nor be zealous for any one in particular but content themselves with an idle Despondency and scepticism concerning all That the Clergy have no common Charity for any that differ from them in opinion except the Church of England p. 251. is a proposition very boldly advanced against a body of men in whom Charity ought always to be conspicuous and for a Defence against this Charge they appeal to those numerous French Protestants who have fled to them for Relief to whom at present they allow a Church for their publick Worship though there has been no example before since the Reformation and the Law is directly against it They confess that they cannot joyn in Communion with them because they differ as to the real Presence in the Sacrament and in the point of absolute Predestination which they take to be essential for 't is the Doctrine of Reprobation which has been the greatest stumbling block between them and the Calvinists but the Lutherans seeing the great Moderation of the Church of England both in that particular and in the other of the Real Presence they have always had a great veneration for it and could be very desirous that their Doctrines especially that concerning the Sacrament were but rightly understood so as to come to a Union with it for 't is a general mistake in England to call the notion of the Lutheran Protestants concerning the Sacrament Consubstantiation p. 252. for no such word is used amongst them their notion amounts to this that they believe stedfastly a real and true Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament in a manner ineffable which our Saviour himself is best able both to know and do whereas Consubst antiation would imply something more natural and material Did Princes think it worth their while to promote this Union our Author is confident p. 252. that the business of Consubstantiation would make no difference It would be of wonderful consequence if Princes should really promote this Union between Churches so considerable and no better work could be performed
dispatched There are no such long Intervals or very seldom at least Besides there is such a strictness in Danmark about marrying that no Minister dare marry any that is not of his own Parish which prevents several Inconveniences And there can be no greater shame than it is in Danmark for a New married Woman to be brought to bed before her time If we will believe him the Gentry give Portions with their Daughters p. 94. I must confess I had rather believe the Danes themselves who assure me that no body in Danmark gives any portion in Money with his Daughter except the Wedding Dinner Cloaths and Houshold-Stuff But in requital for this the Daughters have a share of the Estate when their Parents die For it is to be remarkt that every Brother hath an equal share of the Patrimony the youngest as well as the eldest and each Sister has half as much as any Brother When a Parent would dispose of his Estate otherwise by Will it must as has been said before be signed by the King in his Life time which in truth is no other than that he must have a new Law to disinherit any of his Children Sumptuous Burials and Monuments he says are much in request with the Nobility p. 94. The King has some years since by a particular Law retrenched much of the former Luxury and Magnificence of the great Peoples Burials so that they now are moderate and yet very proper and decent The common People are mean spirited p. 94. yet in the foregoing page they were proud and vain which two sorts of qualities seldom meet together If they have any fault it is a quite contrary one which is that of being too much inclined to sight upon the least word and too slight provocations Besides they must always be acknowledged to be desirous rather to confer than receive obligations which a mean Spirit never does The Swedes who are as brave a Nation as any in the world have sufficiently try'd their courage and in all their Engagements that they have had in the present King and Queens of England's Service they have behav'd themselves like men The defence which the common People made for their Country and Amack in particular deserves not only to be encouraged with Privileges but to have so excellent a Poem as that of Amagria vindicata written by Borrichius to continue the memory of their valour down to posterity What Tradesmen he may have met with it is impossible to know and what notion he may have of being cheated But whereas he says p. 95. the common people are inclin'd to gross Cheating they have the general reputation with other men of being fair Dealers First An Old superstitious woman would not sell him any Green Geese This silly story as he relates it p. 95 96. gives him a more lively Idea of the temper of the common people than any description he could make and in mine it raises a much brighter Image of the Author Especially when he proceeds to tell me that in their Markets they will ask the same Price for stinking meat as for fresh for lean as for fat if it be of a Kind p 97. We 'll suppose the Butchers so mad as to do so But how came he to know this curiosity did he cheapen lean meat and stinking meat Some frugal people go towards the latter end of a Market to buy the refuse cheap perhaps our Author did so too and makes his Complaint in Print because he was disappointed of a penny worth Where he lays it down as a sure way not to obtain to seem to value and to ask importunately p 90. It is that way which I would advise no man to follow for certainly the Danes are not such Fools as to keep their Wares when they find the Buyer so forward as to overvalue them No Lodgings in Copenhagen for strangers In Taverns one must be content to Eat and Drink in a publick Room p. 97. It is so in all Germany but in Copenhagen persons may have Tables or Rooms to themselves when bespoke and no stranger need or does want convenient Lodgings both in publick and private houses Their Seasons of Jollity are very scarce p. 97. Persons of Fashion have their Diversions at seasonable Times as Musick Comedies Retreats into the Country in Summer as well as their Sleds in the Winter Whereas he says they content themselves with running at the Goose on Shrove tuesday p. 97. One would think that Men of Quality ran at this Goose but it is only a pastime of his beloved Boors of Amack and performed by them only sometimes because of the odd frolicks of these Peasants persons of better Character condescend to be their Spectators Perhaps it may be thought too nice for him to remark That no body presumes to go in a Sled till the King and Court has begun that the King passes over a new Bridge the first and that the Clocks of Copenhagen strike the hours after the Court Clock p. 97. If these Remarks were but as True as they are Nice they would be admirable but as soon as the Snow comes every one Presumes to use his Sled the Diversion of it indeed is become more fashionable when the King and Court have done it one night through Copenhagen As for new Bridges some of them might drop down again without any Passage over them if no one were to go till the King had done it In the mean time our Auâ—hor must provide Ferries for the Passengers the Clocks of Copenhagâ—n must be the most complaisant in the world otherwise if some traiterous Clocks should chance to go to fast they might make an exception to a rule so universal I like this Account our Author gives us of Precedency in such ridiculous matters most extreamly because having been searching according to his advice among the Barbarians I find something like it at the Savage Court of Monomotapa where the Emperor having Dined Commands a Trumpet to be sounded to give notice to the rest of the Princes of the World that they may go to Dinner The Language he says is very ungrateful and like the Irish in its whining complaining tone p. 98. He may be as free with the Irish as he pleases But the Danes and Norsh speak more like the English in their accent than any other People and therefore these two Nations most easily learn to read speak and understand one anothers Languages upon occasion There is a great agreement between their Monosyllables p. 98. which being generally the particles and strength or sinews of a Language show that the English has not only incorporated the old Saxon but the Danish likewise to bring it to its present perfection At Court High Dutch and French are much used and also Italian Though Conversation often passes in these yet if any should boast that he could not speak Danish p. 98. he would render himself ridiculous and an Englishman might think him not worthy to eat Danish Bread
methinks Courtesy Duty or Interest at least might bring four and twenty more to make above thirty That there is a plentiful Table but the Meat is drest after their own manner p. 158. Ridiculous Is not the King of Spain's drest after his own manner There are abundance more of the like particulars which I shall omit only this one where he says That King Frederick had once the thoughts of making the present Count Guldenlew King of Norway which has been remembred to his Prejudice p. 155. For it is what was never heard of in Danmark nor could that thought have been consistent with such a Kings great Wisdom I must for these reasons beg the Authors pardon if I do not give an entire belief to his characters and the Readers for my not giving any of the same persons my self But with a very short description of the Court conclude this Chapter The King of Danmark's great and royal Qualities make him be universally belov'd by his People and the Queen by her goodness obliges them to the same affection and makes her difference in opinion from them scarce discernable Frederick the Prince Royal in his late Travels where-ever he came appeared accomplished and very gracious and at home he is admir'd for having such a temper as will follow his Father's example and pursue his designs for the Ease and Prosperity of his Subjects Prince Christian has all the Vigor and Gayety of Youth and the two younger Princes Charles and William give great hopes agreeable to their respective Ages And the Princess Sophia Hederig has all that Beauty and Sweetness which will one day render some young Prince happy The Ministers of State who compose the Council as Guldenlew Reventlaw c. are Persons of Honour and Fidelity to their Master by whose advice affairs are so manag'd that he has Love at home and Honour abroad Though the Court has not all that Luxury which may be in some more Southern Climates yet there is Decency and a sufficient Grandeur Nor is it strange that a warlike Prince and Nation should express their Magnificence by things suitable as the Attendance of Horse and Foot Guards Kettle-drums and Trumpets and consequently that the Kings Diversion should be the reviewing of his Troops or Hunting in its proper season as an exercise becoming a Soldier These occasion frequent removals of the Court which can go no where to a finer place than Fredericksborg which tho it be not built after the modern Architecture yet may be esteemed one of the pleasantest Pallaces in Europe The Ladies likewise have their Diversions not only in the Hunting of Deer and Swans but the nicer ones of their Sleds Musick Masquerades and Comedies To encrease the Grandeur of the Court the King has two Orders of Knighthood The first being that of the Elephant is given only to Foreign Princes or Subjects of the highest Deserts and Qualities The other which is the Order of Daneburg was instituted long ago but not as our Author says by one King Dan who saw a White Cross with Red Edges descend from Heaven and thereupon instituted the Order p. 178. For King Waldemar II. fighting against the Listanders in the Year 1219 saw or pretended to see this Banner descend from Heaven which was followed by a great Victory and in remembrance of this the Order of Daneborg was instituted This was laid aside a great while but revived by his present Majesty The Knights are inferior to those of the Elephant yet they are both fewer in number p. 179. and greater in Honour by far than the Baronets in England As to the Rank and Precedency of all great Officers and other persons the Author has given us an Ordonnance in French concerning it which was published in 1680. It is true that his Account is to represent Danmark as it stood in 1692. However it is strange that so curious and exact a man should have no correspondence there from 92 till 94 when his Book was published for then he might have known that by a new Ordonnance dated 11th of February 1693. this old Ordonnance of our Authors is altered in abundance of particulars so that he has nine whole Pages of his Book that by his negligence are entirely good for nothing CHAP. XII The Disposition and Inclinations of the King of Danmark towards his Neighbours THis Chapter seems to labour under the same difficulties with the former for as we see the Interests of Princes are changeable so are their Inclinations upon which reason I shall leave him to dive into the Hearts of Men and the Cabinets of Princes and only see whither his Matter of Fact be absolutely true For that being the Foundation according as that appears we shall be able to give our opinion of his Superstructure First As this Author is a mighty Lover of Seditions within a Kingdom so he is of Animosities and Quarrels without Therefore his Presage is very common and often repeated That there will be a fresh War between Danmark and Sweden But on the contrary they rather grow greater Friends every day than other nor has there been a stricter Alliance between those Crowns than is at present which has been lately renewed by solemn Treaties Secondly Whenever says he we please to caress the one at the expence of the other this seeming Knot will discover the weakness of the contexture and probably dissolve of it self p. 192. These two Princes are not to be suppos'd to break solemn Oaths and Treaties for a little interest that may be proffered them by England and Holland And we saw this last year when the Danes stopt the Dutch Ships in the Sound the Swede although never so much carest could not be prevail'd with to go off from the King of Danmark's Interest or take any other party but contributed what he could to procure a satisfaction for his Confederate Thirdly That the Alliance by the King of Sweden's having married the others Sister is not of any moment towards a good Corresp â—ndence p. 192. is not altogether so certain for this Queen whilst she lived was the greatest Tye between these two Nations She was the delight of them both and that not without reason for she had all the Accomplishments of Piety Wisdom Goodness and all other Virtues So that Sweden loves Danmark for nothing more than the having received from thence a Queen for whom they had so great a Veneration Fourthly He wrongs the King of Sweden when he says p. 193. That he showed coldness and indifference enough tâ— his Queen He a vertuous Prince ibid. and she an accomplished Princess ibid. and yet coldness and indifference What is this but a Contradiction But the matter of fact is this that never a greater Love and Esteem could be had for a Queen than this King had for his which was manifest y enough shewn by the deep Afiliation her Death threw him into so that he would scarce admit of Consolation and Sweden never heard of such a
in this turbulent and divided State of the Church of Christ For who knows but this Union might draw another of more consequence after it between all the rest who call themselves Protestants and those more strictly so viz. of the Confession of Ansburg who first gave us that name which we so much glory in and what a fatal blow this would be to Popery any rational man will easily imagine For the Church of Danmark is far from deserving the Character this Author gives it p. 252. That the Calvinist is â—â—â—ed by them as much as the Papist and the reason they give is because he is against absolute Monarchy and has a resisting Principle They will confess they do not like his resisting Principle and this makes a greater distance between them However they think it not agreeable to common Charity to hate either Calvinist or Papist As to their Errors they think the Papists to have several that are fundamental and more in number than the Calvinist whom they have a respect for as having jointly protested against the Antichrist of Rome The Church of Danmark think themselves likewise wrong'd when he says p. 253. That they keep the Mob in awe by Confession which they retain of the Romish Church as well as Crucifixes and other Ceremonies For their Confession is far from the Auricular Confession and Enumeration of all sins made by the Papists For they retain only that Confession us'd in the Primitive Church and which other Protestants wish for For by that the Minister can excite and exhort the Communicants to a right Penitence and there as our Exhortation to the Communion tells us of the Church of England The Penitent may open his grief to a discreet and sober Minister of God's word that he may receive the benefit of Absolution together with Ghostly Councel and advice to the quieting of his Conscience and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness In like manner the Danes have Crucifixes and other Historical Pictures out of the Bible in their Churches but they are far from making any idol â—â—â—ous or superstitious use of them They use them as Ornaments and Remembrances only nor do they think because a Papist adores a Crucifix that a Lutheran must consequently be so afraid of one as not to endure to look upon it So likewise is it to be understood of the other Ceremonies which they have kept not from the Romish Church but innocent Ceremonies which the Romish Church have abused they have made a right use of and are here in the same case with the Church of England He says that the Splendor and Revenues of the Church of England are the principal Virtues they admire in us p. 252. The Church of England has lost so much of its Revenues as that it is not at present to be envied for them Besides I never found Splendor or Revenues recounted as Virtues in Aristotle's Ethicks But I have found Prudence Fortitude c. among the Virtues and for these the Danish Church may admire it but more especially for its purity in Doctrine and it s well ordered Government and Discipline It is true that the Church of England has better Revenues than that of Danmark for at the Reformation the King and States laid almost all the Ecclesiastical Revenues to the Crown which at that very time Luther complain'd of to King Christian the Third However the Ecclesiasticks in Danmark are in no low condition for they live very well and honourably as any Gentleman can define Every Minister lives in his Paâ—ish and has one two three or more neighbouring Churches under his Care which if he cannot take care of alone he does it by one or more Assistants call'd Chaplains which resemble our English Deacons He tells us p. 251. That the Clergy are entirely dependant upon the Crown as if their Salary was wholly given them by the King But afterwards it seems p. 252 and 253. The best subsistance of the Priests is the voluntary Benevolence of the Mob So that their flattery of the Court p. 252. ought if this were true to be turned into a Flattery of the Mob whose Vices notwithstanding as well as those of Persons of the highest Quality they reprehend with great freedom Ibid. And yet their Churches are much frequented p. 91. As to the subsistance of the Ministers in Danmark it is partly certain as Tithes c. as in England partly uncertain as Offerings at the three great Festivals in the Year Marriages Burials c. and they are very liberally provided for without cultivating the Mobs good Opinion p. 253. As the Inferior Clergy are thus provided for so are the Superior such as the Bishops Professors of Divinity c. to a greater degree Concerning these he tells us p 153. That there are Six Superintendants in Danmark who take it very kindly to be call'd Bishops and my Lord viz. One in Sealand One in Funen Four in Jutland and Four in Norway These have no Temporalities keep no Ecclesiastical Courts have no Cathedrals with Prebends c. but are only Primi inter pares having the rank above the inferior Clergy of the Province 1. When he enumerated the Bishops he might have mentioned those two more who were in â—â—â—nd 2. That the Danish Bishops should take it kindly to be called My Lord is a very curious remark they have not so often occasion to converse with Englishmen and the Danish Tongue has no word that properly answers to the English words My Lord. Then they have no reason to refuse being called Bishops since the King calls them so in the Danish Law and they have all Episcopal Jurisdiction It is true that in Danmark at the Reformation none of the Pâ—pish Bishops as many in Sweden did would embrace it but all because of their errors were deposed and then the new Superintendents according to Luthers institution in Germany were ordained by Dr. Bugenhagen from Wittenberg And they did as their Successors at present do use and exercise in ecclesiastical things the same Power and Jurisdiction that any Bishop does in England or Sweden 3. If by Temporalities he means Baronies the Danish Bishops have none of them But that they have Ecclesiastical Courts is certain and an account has before been given of them 4. Though Canons Prebends and Subdeans are not as in England yet in each Cathedral Church for such there is in every Diocese the Bishop has four five or more of the chief Clergy for his Assistants in the Chapter and they are called Canonici or Capitulares 5. In Honour the Bishops may be only Primi inter pares but in Jurisdiction there is a very great Subordination so far as to suspend and depose which sets them far beyond an Equality 6. That most of these understand English and draw the very best of their Divinity out of English Books and those who have studied in Oxford are more valued than others p. 254. are expressions that savour a little of vanity They