C H A P. II.
’Form o f government antiently ejlablifhed in Denmark.— Caufes
and events which preceded and effected the revolution of
x66o.— Change o f the conjlitution from an elective and
■ limited, to an hereditary and ahfolute, monarchy. ■
b o o k T T N T I L the middle o f the laft century the crown of
vm~ , U Denmark was elective; the fupreme legiilative authority
refided in the three eftates o f -the realm,-the nobles,
clergy, and commons, aflembled in a diet by means o f their
jeprefentatives; and the executive power was veiled in the
king, and fenate compofed of the principal nobles. ■
Th e king was little more than prefident o f the fenate, and
commander o f the army ; the regal prerogative being cir-
cumfcribed by a capitulation or charter of privileges, which
jh e fovereign iigned at his aceeflion.
Although the crown was always continued in the fame
■family, ^and uniformly conferred upon the eldeft fon, yet
the new -prince was conitrained to purchafe his fucceffion to
the throne by th e :grant o f farther immunities.
Such was the ilateof affairs until the Angular revolution
of 1660 eftabliihed, almoft without the concurrence o f the
fovereign, an hereditary and abfolute monarchy ; exhibiting
an inftancey which ftands unparalleled in the annals o f hil-
tory, o f a people, Who fpontaneouily renounced their freedom,
and.inverted their limited governor with the moft unbounded
authority. The incidents and circumftances which
occalioned fo furprizing a revolution are too important to be
paired over in filence.
I Frederick
Frederick III. who, upon the death o f his father Chriftian
IV. afcended the throne by the free eledlion o f the ftates,
figned a charter o f rights, confifting o f 54 articles ; among
which feveral new privileges were confirmed to the fenate,
whereby they were enabled to engrofs nearly to themfelves
thé whole adminiftration o f affairs. Frederick poflefTed in
the ordinary occurrences o f life a mild and equable temper
o f mind, acquiefcing in every event with perfeit compofure,
and apparently indifferent to ambition or glory. I f his dominions
had not been invaded by a powerful rival, he would
have fcarcely been noticed by his contemporaries. But, as
during his reign the very being o f Denmark, as a kingdom,
was at. flake, and he was called to adlion by the moft imminent
danger which a fovereign could experience, he fuddenly
furmounted his natural coldnefs ; his mind acquired unufual
vigour; and he exhibited proofs o f courage, prudence, and
perfevéranee, not inferior to the moil confummate heroes o f
his time. Thefe circumftances ferved to place his character
in an exalted point o f view; while, at the fame time, his
gentlenefs and moderation prevented the umbrage which is
apt to be conceived by a free people againft their fovereign.
Thus, from being thought incapable o f any interefted de-
figns, and yet equal to the taik o f carrying the moft adventurous
into execution, he became, from the accidental fitua-
tion o f his affairs, the innocent inftrument o f accqmplifhing
an important revolution, which totally changed the form o f
the Danilh government.
When Charles Guftavus o f Sweden broke the treaty o f
Roikild, which he had juft iigned, and in 1658 appeared
fuddenly before Copenhagen at the head o f a powerful army,
he efteemed himfelf fo fecure o f fuccefs, that he made a pre-
fent o f Zealand to admiral Wrangel ; nay, he even publickly
V o l . II. Y y y boafted.