V lfr cPmmons> and to fubfcribe to all the conditions o f the
i—sp—i royal pleafure #.
Accordingly, on the 16th o f Oitober, the eftates annulled,,
in the ffloft folemn manner, {he capitulation, or charter,
figngd by the king at his acceffion, abfolved him from all
his engagements, and cancelled all {he limitations impofed
upon hisfovereignty. The whole was finally clofed by the
publick ceremony of doing homage, and o f taking the new
oath, which was performed on the 18th. On that day Several
fcaffolds were erected before the palace, adorned with
fcarlet cloth and tapeftry, and furniihed with rows q f
benches ; on a platform, more elevated than the reft, were-
placed two chairs of ftate under a canopy o f velvet for the
king and queen, and thefe fcaffolds communicated with the
palace by an open gallery. At the appointed time, the citizens
of Copenhagen, forming twelve companies, were drawn up.
on each fide of the gallery; the garrifon furraunded the platform,
and the avenues leading to it { while the regiment o f
guards fecured the rear. At mid-day the king and queen,
attended by the royal family, preceded by the nobles, and
accompanied by the officers o f ftate, repaired .in folemn pro-
ceflion, amid drums and trumpets, to the platform; and
when the nobles, the deputies o f the clergy, and commons,
had taken their places, &cv the chancellor proclaimed + :
“ Since it has pleated the Almighty, by the unanimous and voluntary re- -
“ folution of the Rates, that this kingdom ihould be rendered hereditary ia
“ the perfon of his Majefty our Lord the King,. an,d of his pofterity male and.
“ female j his majefty, after thanking the ,Rases for this proof of their af-
“ feflion and zeal, not only promifes to all his good and faithful fubjecRs to.
“ govern them as a chrift.ian and merciful prince ought to do;, but alto to,
“ eftablilh a form of government, under which they (hall be fecure of enjoy-
“ ing the fame advantages under his fuccefibrs; and as this unanimous refo-
* H o lb e ig , ' ■ ^ Mallet,.
“ lutioa
“ luticm of the Rates requires a new oath of allegiance, his majeRy difcharges C H A P .
“ the Rates from all tbofe oaths which they had formerly taken; aflurlnt*
“ each perfon in particular of his royal favour and proteilion.” After which' " '
all perfons who were prelent took the new oath of allegiance.
“ I A. E. do promife and declare, that I will be true and faithful to your
“ OflUjfc as my mofl gracious king and lord, as alfo to your royal family
“ that I will endeavour and promote your majefty’s intereft in all things, and,
“ to the befi of my power, defend you from all danger and harm; and that I
“ will faithfully ferve your majefty, as, a man of honour and an hereditary
“ fubjedbpught to do. So help me God &c.
The revolution being thus accomplifhed, a new form o f
government was promulgated, under the title o f The Royal
Law o f Denmark. It confifts o f 40 articles t the moft remarkable
whereof are the following t .
“ The hereditary kings of Denmark and Norway (hall be in effeft, and-5
« ought-to -be efteemed by their fubjeffs, the only fupreme head upon earth
“ they lhall be.above all human laws, and fliall acknowledge, in all coclefi-
“ aftical and civil affairs, no higher power than God alone.
| W® kk!g lhall enjoy the right of making and interpreting the laws, of
* abrogating, addiqg tp, and .difpepftng with them. He may alfo .annul all
I the Jaws wliiph either he or his predeceffors lhall have made, excepting this-
“ Royal Law, which muR remain irrevocable, and be confidered as the,
“ fundamental law of the Rate.
“ He has the power of declaring war,, making peace, impofing taxes, and;
“ levying cqnwibations of all forts,” &c. &c.
Then follow the regulations for the order of fucceffion, the regency in
cafe of minority, the majority of the,king, the maintenance of the royal family
; and,after having enumerated all the polRble prerogatives of regal-ui>
.fiircumfcribed authority, as if fufficjent had not yet been laid down, it is-
added in the 26th. article: “ All that we have hitherto- faid. of power and
“ eminence and fovereignty, and if there is any thing, further which has not
“ been exprefsly fpecified, (hall all be comprized'in the following'words.
“ The king of Denmark and Norway lhall be the hereditary monarch, and
* M ole fworth.
t L e t t res fu r le Danerakrc... M a lle t*
“ endued'