Austria than formerly It is not to be denied some of that Gang have had cunning enough to insinuate themselves into the most secret Affairs of the French King but what is that towards their having shaken off off their old Principles of Self-Interest and maintaining the Pope's Prerogative or their adhering now more to France than the House of Austria Their seeming Compliance is by all understanding People in France it self look'd upon as an effect of their Fear rather than good Inclination towards that Kingdom For they having seen that the French Kings have maintained their Authority with a high Hand against the Pope and the restless Endeavors of their Fraternity they have of late according to their wonted Custom changed their Tune for fear of losing all That famous Inscription of Lewis XII that notable Advice of Cardinal Richlieu of setting up a Patriarch in France and the vigorous Opposition Innocent XI found in the present French King against all his Attempts has frightned these Fathers into a Complacency which nothing but the Consideration of their own Interest could have extorted from them to pursue which they will at any time adhere either to France or to the House of Austria to Monarchy Aristocracy or Democracy And this may be evident enough to any body who will recollect their Behaviour in our Age as well as the former Not to speak of the Villanies of Castell Clement and Ravaillack who are so abominable that they ought not to be mentioned among the Race of Mankind and are lively Instances how far the Roman Catholicks have laid aside their ancient King-killing Principle The Jesuite Santarel in his Book which was burnt by the Hangman in France has shewn sufficiently That they have not changed much their former Opinion as to the Pope's Prerogative over Magistrates And it is remarkable what is related of the Jesuites in France who being then asked What their Opinion was of this Book whether they would oppose it or whether they did intend to conform themselves according to the Approbation of the same by their General at Rome after a great many Tergiversations being put to give a Categorical Answer they could not forbear saying If they were at Rome they should be of their General 's Opinion And the threatning Letter from Innocent XI to Lewis XIV as that also to the Clergy evidences sufficiently that it is rather want of Power than good Will when they seem not to act according to their former utmost Severity That the Jesuites follow no other Dictates but such as agree with their own Interest whether in a Free or Arbitrary Government so many of the Roman Catholicks have testified themselves that I wonder how any body can fansie them adhering to any Was it not justly objected to Father Parsons and Campian in Queen Elizabeth's time from the other Roman Catholicks that the several Disturbances and especially the Disputes about frequenting the English Churches were raised on purpose by them only for the Benefit of their Society and that the rest had been considerable Losers by it Were not by Father Parson's Means Seminaries for English Jesuites erected as well in France as Spain Portugal and the Netherlands Did he not treat with the Spaniards French Queen of Scots the Pope Duke of Guise Prince Farnese and the Earl of Derby about the Crown of England so indifferent was he in the Point that it matter'd him not who had it provided the Jesuites might obtain their Ends. Has not a certain moderate Roman Catholick not many Years ago attributed the bloody Wars in Ireland and a great many other mischievous Devices against this Government to the Excommunications of John Baptist Rinuccini the Pope's Nuncio then in Ireland and to the great Aversion the Jesuitâ—s and their Adherents always have shewed against the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy And have we not in our Memory seen the Jesuites have an equal Interest and Adherency both to the House of Austria and France by raising Persecutions in Hungary and France against the Protestants And was not the Emperour by their Advices brought to the very Brink of Ruin and do the most judicious presage any good to the French King from having followed their Methods So that I am apt to believe the most sensible Princes though never so Arbitrary will not be so fond of them as to make them their Darlings upon that score And if some Commonwealths have been cautious enough to clip a little their Wings in their Dominions yet as the great decay of that once flourishing City and Commonwealth of Cologne on the Rhine caused by their Devices is an instance that where ever they get footing it will be prejudicial to the Government So the Switzers can testifie that it is next to an impossibiliâ—y to keep them even out of Commonwealths For though Switzerland has shewed as little Inclination to them as any Government whatsoever yet they having possessed themselves of one of the best places in Friburgh they have a most noble Colledge and Chapel there And though the Canton of Soloturn would not admit of them till within these few years and that not but under hard Conditions yet out of 1000 Livres Revenue per Annum for ten of them they are grown so rich that they are erecting a most magnificent Church and College the building whereof is reckoned Will amount to 50000 l. Sterl which may convince all unbyass'd Persons that it is not any form of Government they adhere to but that they will flatter either Arbitrary Power or Licentiousness according as it turns best to their own Account But we must go further and hear what our Author has to say concerning the English Clergy I do not hereby mean says he to reflect on the Order which generally has the government of our Youth we have had the experience of many among them who have given proof of a freer Education and Learning And without question the chief posts of the Gown of both kinds were never better filled than at present I only lament the ill contrivance of their Constitution 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 't is scarcely to be hoped Men should hold out against such temptations unless they be generally gifted with more Honesty than the generality of Mankind are And since they continue still upon the same bottom it must be expected the same or other as mischievous Doctrines will be broached whereas 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 Philosophers revive in them again The Constitution of our Universities as to Learning seems as unfortunately regulated as it is to Politicks c. It seems as ridiculous
Allowance must be given to this Gentleman 's Romantick Expressions wherewith he has all along endeavoured to ensnare the ignorant sort of People into a belief of his own Suppositions Yet is it not to be wondred at that the value of the Estates should be less now when so considerable Taxes are paid out of them than they were formerly when the Gentry being the sole Possessors of Lands and having the chief Sway in the Kingdom used to be sure to exempt themselves as much as was possible The same Reason may be given why the Gentry or Nobility in Denmark in general do not live up to that Splendor as they did in former times since having in those Days all plaecs of Profit and Trust in their Hands and paying very small Taxes it is evident that at this time when to these Places others are admitted as well as they and are also obliged to bear a proportionable share in all Taxes their Revenues cannot be so great now as they were formerly Of the Peasants we shall be obliged to say something hereafter wherefore we will go to the next Chapter which describes the manner how the Kingdom of Denmark became Hereditary and absolute After the Conclusion of the Peace saysthe Author between the Two Northern Crowns Anno 1660 Some considerable care and time was necessary to redress the Disorders occasioned by so terrible a War Denmark had been most violently shaken and although the Fury of the Tempest was overâ— the Agitation caused by it still continued The Army was not yet disbanded nor could be for want of Money to discharge Arrears This caused frequent Insolencies in the Soldiers with a further Oppression of the Burghers and poor Country People who had been in a manner already ruined by the Miseries attendingthe War the Nobility and Gentry tho' Lords and Masters were full of Discontents and the Clergy not in the condition they wished c. Here the Author gives us some hints rather than reasons which induced the Estates of Denmark to make so remarkable a Change in the Government But since from hence does depend the understanding of the true nature of this Change he ought I think to have been a little more circumstantial in this Point if he intended to prove to us what he said in the conclusion of the last Chapter That it was astonishing to consider how a free and rich People should be perswaded intirely to part with their Liberties Astonishing indeed But if this Gentleman by the People does understand all the Estates of the Kingdom as he ought to do and has done so in other places when he alledged that famous Law of the Romans Salus populi supremae Lex esto he has not hit the mark right in this assertion since by his own words it may be proved that the Nobility mere Lords and Masters and all the rest depending on them It will not be a very difficult task to find out by what steps the Nobility in Denmark did acquire this Power over all the rest if we consider how the Nobility first clipt the Royal Prerogatives after that Crown was transferred to the Oldenburg Family and more especially after the deposing of Christiern the II. How after the Reformation the Power of the Bishops and Prelates who were chosen commonly out of the Citizens being fall'n together with their Revenues the Nobility made thereby the greatest step that could be towards the advancing their own Power above the Citizens and Peasants not only but also the Clergy who now were no more in a capacity to keep up the ballance as they used to do formerly The King's Prerogatives being thus brought into narrow bounds and the Clergy's Authority and Power quite abolished the Citizens alone were not able to resist long against those who sitting at the Helm had the chief management of all affairs of moment and the Peasants being most of them depending from the Nobility by being partly their Tenants partly their Vassals were not in a condition of making so much as a shew of resistance against the Power of their Lords and Masters Thus the name of the four ancient Estates of Denmark viz. the Nobility Clergy Citizens and Peasants remaining the Power was effectually lodged in the first which from time to time did encrease to that degree that not only the whole Senate of the Kingdom and all the great Offices of the Court were in their possession but also they did claim a right to all the rest of any moment and a priviledge to be consulted withall in the disposing of any Office of moment even to be given to a Nobleman They did claim a Prerogative and actually exercised the same of nominating the Magistrates in the Cities and had so eneroached upon the rest of the Estates that neither Clergyman Citizen or Peasant could purchase any Lands and if by Mortgaging or other wise any Lands happened to fall into their hands they were obliged by a yearly publick Proclamation to proffer the same to sale to the Nobility upon the same condition as they were possessed of it From hence came the dependancy of the Citizens from them and the entire subjection of the Peasants to their Will and by possessing most all the Lands in the Kingdom and thereby having the Rights of Patronages in a great measure in their own hands the Clergy was also for the most part fain to dance after their Pipe It is easie I think to imagine the natural consequence of this to have been That they exempting themselves as much as could be done from Taxes and other burdens the same did fall more heavy upon the rest and these not being able alone to provide sufficiently for the security of the Kingdom this was one main reason why the Kingdom was so surprized by the Swedes and did contribute as much as any thing towards the Miseries which these Countries endured in this War There was another great reason yet which as it contributed greatly to the miseries and misfortunes this Kingdom was fain to undergo in this War so questionless was it partly the Occasion of the great Change afterwards made by the States After the Death of Christiern IV. a certain Party of the Nobility were for excluding Frederick III. second Son of the said King Christiern IV. after the death of Christiern his elder brother and for setting up Wolmar his younger Son by a second Wife whose Sisters were married to several noble Men which though they could not effect yet were before Frederick III. this present King of Denmark's Father was received by them as King the royal prerogatives more streightned than ever and thereby the power of some of the Nobility mightily increased which did give occasion to a great many Dissensions in that Kingdom afterwards And it is very remarkable that when Charles the King of Sweden surprised the Kingdom of Denmark the second time viz. Anno 1658. He used it for a Pretence that he came to compose the Differences arisen betwixt the King
of pains to perswade us And whether this long and constant Succession in one Family were Anciently depending from a free choice or not will be worth our enquiring into Canute Surnamed the Hardy 1044. having no Issue had by Compact Resigned the Crown of Denmark after his death to Magnus King of Norwegan who by force of Arms taking Possession of the same was opposed by Sueno Canute's Sister Son till Magnus after a Reign of Eight Years coming to dye of a fall from his Horse He was declared King of Denmark tho' in no ways beloved of the Danish Nobility as having Waged continually War against them in the time of Magnus yet being the only one that was left of the Ancient Race of the Danish Kings was received as King of Denmark Afterwards when in the Year 1250. Abel had caused his Brother Eric V. King of Denmark to be murthered tho' the States abominated the Fact yet Eric having left no Children and he being the Eldest among the Brothers that were left was made King of Denmark being Preferred before his Younger Brother Christopher who Reigned after him How the States did promise the Crown to John the deposed Christiern II's Son after the death of Frederick I. has been said before and how in our Age the States of this Kingdom set Frederick III. the present King of Denmark Father upon the Throne in spite of a Faction that were for Advancing his Younger Brother begotten of another Mother and the Second Wife of Christiern the IV. to the Royal Dignity cannot be out of the Memory of such as are acquainted with the Transactions of these Countries Besides these undeniable Examples there are also obvious amongst the Historians Testimonies sufficient to convince any Body that is not prepossess'd with a vain conceit of his own opinion That the Succession was not Anciently depending from the will of the States but that their Kings had and did claim a Right to the same for themselves and their Heirs both Males and Females When after the death of Waldemar the States declared Olaus Haquin and Margarets King and Queen of Norway Son King of Denmark the Danish Historiographer gives this among others for a Reason because he was from his Mothers side the next to the Kingdom And in the same Book he has given us an Extract out of the Records wherein the said Margaret Mother to this Olaus and Daughter of King Waldemar is called Queen of Norway and Sweden and the true Heiress of Denmark That noted Historian Crantius speaks much to the same purpose both of Olaus and his Mother Margaret He says that the two Kingdoms of Denmark are Hereditary to Olaus and that after the Decease of him there being no Male Heirs left all was fall'n to Queen Margaret The same Author calls Siwald the First Heir and Successor to his Father King Ungrin in the Kingdom of Denmark and speaks much to the same purpose of Broderick Son of Yarmerick King of Denmark And truly the Name of Heir of Denmark is so frequent in the ancient Histories of Denmark especially before the Times of Charles the Great that it would be infinite to mention them here since even in latter Times the same has not been out of date there Meursius does not only call Christiern Son to Christiern Heir of that Kingdom but also bestows the same Title upon John the Son of the deposed Christiern the II. And here I cannot but insert the Reasons which were alledged by the States of Denmark among others in their Proclamation for the declaring Frederick I. King of Denmark after they had renounced all Obedience to Christiern II. Their Reasons are these Because he was the Heir of Norway and had his Off-spring out of the most glorious Family of the Danish Kings That He was born a Kings Christiern I's Son and that therefore this Honour did belong to him in his own Right before any other Prince and that he ought to have a Portion or Patrimonial Share out of his Fatherly Kingdom From hence I think may be easily understood that the States of Denmark even in latter Times did not assume to themselves the free disposal of the Crown and that the Succession was not precarious and as our Author would have it according to good Behaviour This will appear more clear to us if we consider that the same Right of Succession has not only in former but also latter Times ever since the Oldenburg Family has sway'd the Scepter in that Kingdom been deprived not only to the next Male Heirs though Minors but also to the Females and their Off-spring Of the Female Succession we have Two Instances since the Oldenburg Family came to the Crown The first is That it was agreed by Marriage Contract betwixt Christiern II. and Isabel Sister to the Emperor Charles V. That if they should leave no Male-Heirs behind them the eldest Daughter should suceed in the Throne of Denmark And when afterwards the same Isabella followed her Husband in his Exile after he was deposed the States did not only recall her but also promis'd her Obedience nay they did declare by a publick Proclamation That if she would return to the Kingdom they would acknowledge her for their Queen and Sovereign Lady Which Proffer however though never so advantageous she refused to accept of Of the Female Succession the Danish ancient History furnishes us with a remarkable Example in Margaret Daughter to King Waldemar IV. who being married to Haquin King of Norway after the Decease of her Husband and Son Olaus succeeded them in both the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway and reigned for about Thirty Years about the Year 1400. And of several Kings of Denmark who came to that Crown by Right of the Female Succession there are several Examples in their Histories Sueno III. about the Year 1155 succeeded Canute IV. he being born from Margaret the Sister of Canute surnamed The Great and not much beloved by the Danes as having to his Father one Ulpho an Englishman yet being the only One that was left of the Royal Family was therefore declared King of Denmark So was Olaus Son to Haquiâ—â— and Margaret King and Queen of Norway declared King of Denmark because from his Mother's side he came from the Race of the Danish Kings she being Daughter to Waldemar IV. King of Denmark This was about the Year 1340. And not long after viz. about the Year 1417. Eric the same Margaret's Sister's Son succeeded here in the Kingdom upon the same Pretensions having been by her recieved as a Consort in the Danish Empire before As for the Succession of the next Heirs of the Royal Family in their Minority several Instances also may be found in the ancient Histories of Denmark as well as these of latter times Eric about the Year 855. succeeded his Father Siward in the Kingdom of Denmark being a very Child from whence he was surnamed Barn which