Chap. 2. Of Danmark in particular and the Island of Sealand 9 Chap. 3. Of the Sound 25 Chap. 4. Of the other Islands and Jutland 32 Chap. 5. Of the rest of the King of Danmark's Countries 40 Chap. 6. Of their Form of Government 56 Chap. 7. The manner how the Kingdom of Danmark became Hereditary 77 Chap. 8. The Conditions Customs and Manners of the People 89 Chap. 9. Of the Revenue 131 Chap. 10. Of the Army Fleet and Fortresses 145 Chap. 11. Of the Court. 153 Chap. 12. The Disposition and Inclinations of the King of Danmark towards his Neighbours 160 Chap. 13. The Manner of dispossessing and restoring the Duke of Holstein Gottorp 164 Chap. 14. The Interests of Danmark in relation to other Princes 166 Chap. 15. Of the Laws Courts of Justice c. 167 Chap. 16. The State of Religion of the Clergy and Learning c. 172 Conclusion 194 Errata Typographica PAge 1. line 7. for scituation read situation and so in p 15 c. p. 4. l. 11. after Blegind add and. p. 5. l. 7. for bis r. this p. 9. l. 7. for Denmark r. Danmark p. 11. l. 17. for Kjerfeminde r. Kierfeminde p. 20. l. 7. for Frederickborg r. Fredericksborg p. 21. l. 5. for Guidenlew r. Guldenlâ—w p. 24. l. ult for outhwark r. Southwark p. 34. l. â—â— for Stifts-Amt r. Stifts Amtmand p. 35. l. 14. for Giâ—â— r. Gioe l. 24. for Stifts-Amts r. Stifts-Amtmaend p. 36. l. 10. for Stifts-Amts r. Stifts Amtmaend p. 43. l. 21. for recuit r. recruit p. 44. l. 21. for Clausten r. Clausson p. 46. l. r. for Tonsborg r. Tonsberg l. 3. for Zarwick r. Larwick l. 8. for Writers r. Writer p. 59. l. 18. for tell r. tells p. 64. l. 23. for we r. â—e p. 83. l. 7. for Nauson r. Nanson p. 86. l. 2. for Sestâ—ed r. Sebested l. 5. for Nauson r. Nanson l. 13. for Nauson r. Nanson p. 90. l. 23. for Hospitaliay r. Hospitality p. 119. l. 17. for consumate r. consâ—mmate p. 131. l. 12. for persue r. pursue p 148. l. 18. for Emperor r. Emperors p. 150. l. 15. for Naxkew r. Nakskow p. 156. l. 27. for Hederig r. Hedewig p. 158. l. 9 10. for Daneburg r. Danebroge p. 164. l. 5. for Rakeburg r. Ratzeburg p. 171. l. 16. for iu r. in p. 173. l. 21. for Tousson r. Tausson p. 186. l. 11. for Glaudius Lyscander r. Claudius Lyscander l. 18. for Paxous r. Parvus p. 190. l. 27. for Erâ—ticam r. Eroticum ANIMADVERSIONS On the Pretended Account of DANMARK In the Year 1692. CHAP. I. Of the Territories belonging to the King of Danmark and their Scituation DAnmark has always had a particular Interest with England Our very Ancestors came originally from one of its Provinces it has once been our Master and we are now govern'd by Princes whose Great-grand mother was a Daughter of it nor can there be any dearer Pledge of the Danish Affection to us than that the only Brother to its King resides amongst us and has made us happy in a Young Prince who promises one day to equal the great Families from which he is descended Whilst 7000 Danes are fighting for us in their Majesties Service it is very ungenerous in the Author of the Account to reslâ—â— upon them who if he must have been malicious should rather have chosen an Enemies Country for the subject of his Satyr If we consider the frequent Applications that have been made both by the Confederates and the French King to have the King of Danmark declare in their savour we shall be apt to look upon him as a Prince that is very considerable and not agree with this Author pag. 2. who tells us that if he were put in ballance with the King of Portugal he would be sound lighter This is a Comparison no reasonable man would be guilty of making for the Armies Navy and Strength of the former will certainly very much overpoise the latter And then Danmark lies so as to be able to make use of these advantages either to the offending of itâ— Enemies or relief of its Friends and though Portugal has a good East-India Trade yet the Commodities of Danmark and Norway especially those that relate to Shipping make its Trade necessary to Portugal it self and most other Countries in Europe Besides the Kingdom of Danmark with all its Provinces is very large insomuch that the first words of this Authors Book are p. 1. that if we consider the extent of the King of Danmark's Dominions he may with justice be reckon'd amongst the greatest Princes of Europe For though Schone Halland and Blegind by Treaty remain to the Swedes yet I cannot allow this Author what he says pag. 3. that they were the best Provinces belonging to Danmark Nor do I really think that he has a sufficient knowledge which Provinces are the most considerable for he seems only to have been in Copenhagen and thereabouts the reason is because what he speaks as to the nature and constitution of Danmark in relation to the fertility of the Country or the common life of the People can in no manner be applied to any other part but to Sealand only where Copenhagen stands and is not above a fourth part of Danmark Now this Island lying under the disadvantages of a particular Law is not in so good a condition as the other Provinces though that and a great deal of Jutland is still better than either Halland or Blegind though Schone be a fine Province yet does no way excel Funâ—n as well as other parts of Danmark However this Author says p. 3. that these three Provinces are still looked upon by the Danes with a very envious Eye and for this reason 't is reported that the Windows of Croneborg Castle whose Prospect lay towards Schone were walled up that so hateful an Object might not cause continual Heart-burnings Very well Sir Pray did your own Knowledge or Experience confirm this to be a truth p. 2. or did some of your sensible grave Persons p. 2. impose this silly story upon you For when you was at Croneborg you might have found that some Windows were indeed walled up for the Advantage of the Fortress but not to hinder the sight of Schone the Situation of Croneborg being such that now thâ—se Windows are close yet Schone must be seen from the Apartments of both the other sides so that to make his suggestion true all the Rooms must be quite darkned and then Sir it would be a fit place in which you might employ your fancy and invention in framing more such stories Nay this Fable is so ridiculous that if the King of Danmark should avoid the pretended Heart burnings occasioned by seeing Schone p. 3. he must not only forbear coming to Cronâ—borg but also leave Copenhagen and that side of Sealand opposite to Schone and must also chuse his Residence in Jutland or some other remote place where he could be free from that hateful Object
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
are several passages in this Chapter which I cannot well Imagine to have fallen from the Pen of an English man As where he says The Title to the Toll is precarious p. 23. as founded upon a breach of Trust it being at first only to provide Lights for Securing the passage of Merchants through the Sound That it is a kind of servile acknowledgment of the Kings Sovereignty of those Seas p. 22. That the Title is not so firm as the Danes could wish for not being masters of the Land on both sides they may have the right but not the Power to assert it p. 17. For an English-man knows that although â—ur King is bound to protect all strangers that pass through his narrow Seas yet his Sovereignty does not arise from thence but because of his Sovereignty he is therefore bound to protect them so the King of Danmark being Lord of the passage of the Sound ought to provide for the safety of such as should Sail thorough it His Dominion not being founded on that but that being a necessary Consequence of his Dominion In the second place acknowledgment has always been reckoned by English men to become due in Recompence of such Protection and Conveniences afforded and therefore our Kings demanded Contribution for the Ships that defended the Fishing of Foreigners And where is the servility any more in paying a Toll to the King of Danmark for passing his Sound than in that acknowledgment which all Ships according to the Law made by King John to maintain it must make to those of the King of England by striking a Flag when they sail through his narrow Seas or in the paying Anchorage or for the Lights to the Trinity house Thirdly as to the Case between Sweden and Danmark though Danmark has no reason to imagine there will be such a Pretension from thence or to fear it if there should it is the same with France and the English For King Edgar and King Knute who was as great a defender of the sovereignty as any of our Princes had their Dominions many Ages before any of their Successors laid claim to France And the French notwithstanding all their Power have not pretended to the Soveraignty of the narrow Seas because they live upon one of the Coasts of them The Author would Insinuate further that the English pay this Toll through the Connivance of King James the Ist. in prejudice of his own Subjects who favoured the Danes upon Account of his marriage to a Daughter of that Crown p. 22. If King James favoured them upon his alliance to that Crown our Author should on the same account if he had any manners have done so too but setting aside this Reflection on the memory of King James it is certain the Kings of England have successively paid this Toll in the Sound and have been so Wise and Just not to encroach so far upon a soveraign head as to prescribe him Laws what to do in such Seas as are his unquestionable Dominions In the other particulars of the Account which he gives us concerning the Sound he seems not to know what kind of passage it is He says p. 22. It is very well known that the passage of the Sound is not the only one to the Baltick Sea there being two others called the greater and lesser Belts and that of the greater Belt so commodious and large that during the late Wars the whole Dutch Fleet chose to pass through it and continue in it for four or five months together Whereas in truth the Sound is the only convenient one the lesser Belt is unpassable for large Ships and the greater is so full of Rocks and Sands that nothing can be more dangerous To be sure had the Dutch found it practicable to use this passage which is so large that it cannot possibly be stopt with a fortress they had done it long ago It is very true the Dutch Fleet did continue there for four or five months together but it was much against their will for coming into it they were so endangered by Rocks and Storms that they were forced to make so very flow a motion in order to their escape with greater safety neither does the Author tell us what loss and damage they received which indeed was very considerable In the same page we are likewise informed that the breadth of the Sound in the narrowest part is four English Miles over and every where of a sufficient depth so that the King of Danmark's Castles could not command the Channel when he was master of both sides much less now he has but one This Gentleman is resolved never to measure right for if he had he would have learnt that the Sound is but three English Miles broad when it is truly measured besides had he asked any Skipper that usually passes that way he would have found that it is so far from being every where of a sufficient depth that on the side of Sweden the water is so shallow that it is impossible for a Ship to pass unless it be within the reach of the Castle of Croneborg What he delivers in the next place p. 23. that the Spaniards may with as much right lay claim to the Streights of Gibraltar or that the Swede who is now Masier of one of the Coasts of the Sound demand another Toll of Ships is altogether ridiculous The solemn Treaties of Roschild and Lund contain formal protestations against any pretensions to a Double Toll and by them to King of Sweden hath been obliged to demolish the Castle and Fortifications of Helsingborg Besides it would be impossible for the Swede effectually to demand it at Helsinborg since that Town is so scituated that no Ship is able to come within half a League of it Neither is it easie for any one to imagin how he will make out his comparison between the Sound and the streights of Gibraltar since the former being commanded by a strong Castle is very narrow and passable only within the reach of Cannon-shot whereas the latter is so broad that several Ships may pass in the middle of it without fear of Cannon from either side and not commanded by any Castles belonging either to the Moors or Spaniards He concludes in a great huff p. 26. that all other petty Princes and States pay this Toll without murmer whilst we and the Hollanders do it but the Danes must have a care left we grow Angry So it seems France and Poland whose Ships pass this Sound are petty Princes and States and the Author may think he has Authority enough to make a Crown'd Head stand in awe of him but to show him the contrary I shall proceed with my former freedom to consider his next Chapter though he himself should chance to grow Angry CHAP. IV. Of the other Islands and Jutland IT would be tedious to the Reader to account all the contradictions that are to be met with in the description of these Countries I shall begin