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COXE’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK. 303
When Charles Guftavus, King of Sweden, broke the treaty of Rofkild, which he
had figned, and in 1658 appeared fuddenly before Copenhagen at the head of a pow-
erful army, he efteemed himfelf fecure of fuccefs, and made a prefent of Zealand to
Admiral Wrangel. He even publicly beafted that he would re-unite the three crowns
of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and would then, like another Alaric, march into
Italy, at the head of the Gothic nations. The internal weaknefs and civil commotions
of Denmark feemed almoft to juftify thefe vaunts: the fate of the whole kingdom de-
pended on the fafety of Copenhagen; and yet, fuch was the deplorable condition of
the capital, that Frederic was advifed to retire froma place which feemed untenable,
and to efcape either to Holland or Norway. ‘The fortifications had been long ne«
glected; it contained a garrifon of only a thoufand regular troops; had not fufficient
provifions to ftand a fiege; almoft deftitute of every means of refiftance, and crouded
with inhabitants and fugitives. :
But Frederic, roufed by this dangerous crifis of affairs, difcovered at once the moft
undaunted courage; he declared his refolution of defending his capital to the laft ex-
tremity, and of burying himfelf under its ruins. His conduct during the fiege an-
fwered thefe profeflions ; he gave his orders with calmnefs and intrepidity ; he was
foremoft in all places of danger, and among the laft who retreated.
His zeal was feconded by the undaunted {pirit of his queen, Sophia Amelia, Princefs:
of Brunfwick Lunenburgh *, who, during the whole conteft, was indefatigable in ani-
mating the befieged: fhe partook of their fatigues, rode night and day round the ram-
parts, and obferved every occurrence with the vigilance of a centinel, and the coolnefs
of aveteran. ‘The prefence and activity of both fovereigns, gave frefh vigour to the
garrifon and citizens of Copenhagen: they braved every danger, and even bound
themfelves, by an oath, to perifh, rather than to furrender. Their zeal was ftill fur-
ther excited by the policy of Frederic, who extorted from the nobles an increafe of the
immunities of the citizens, and pafled an edict, figned by himfelf and the principal fe.
nators, permitting them to poffefs lands, and enjoy all the rights of nobility. Thus ani-
mated and encouraged, the burghers formed themfelves into companies, and vied with
the regular foldiers in fubmitting to the rigour of military difcipline. In a word, by their
invincible fpirit, Copenhagen held out from the 8th of Auguft 1658, to the conclufion
of the peace, on the 27th of May 1650, when the Swedifh army evacuated Zealand.
The imminent danger which had threatened the ruin of Denmark no fooner fubfided,
than Frederic-relapfed into his confiitutional indolence ; and feems, (if we may judge
from the moft authentic accounts) to have had but a {mall fhare in the fubfequent re-
volution. It appears indeed to have been as cafual as it was fudden: the effect only
of the imperious cenduct of the nobles, of the jealoufies and refentment of the other or-
ders,. and of the high opinion which the people conceived of their king, to whom they
jultly attributed the prefervation of Copenhagen, and the fafety of the kingdom 3; while
they. imputed to the factions of the nobles the evils which they had lately experienced.
On the fignature of the peacea diet was f{ummoned at Copenhagen, to take into con-
fideration the ftate of the kingdom, exhaufted with debts, and defolated by the mife-
ries of war.
This diet, the laft ever convened in Denmark, affembled at Copenhagen on the 8th
of September 1660., The nobles, inftead of endeavouring to conciliate the other or-
ders by a moderate conduct, increafed the public difcontents by the moft arrogant bes
haviour. The deputies of the clergy and commons united again{t them ; and the
* Memoires de Terlon, p. 323.
5 citizens
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