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COXE’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK. 305
bling the nobility, with a confidential fervant* of the crown: thefe perfons were Svane,
bifhop of Zealand and prefident of the order of the clergy, and Nanfen, Burgomatter
of Copenhagen and Speaker of the Commons. We have no reafon, however, to con-
clude, that they intended to proceed further than to humble the ariftocratical party, and
make fome neceflary changes in the conftitution; but the obftinacy of the nobles en-
larged their views, and induced the deputies not only to render the crown hereditary,
but to veft the whole power in the hands of the King.
While the defign was in agitation, Frederic felt, or affe&ted to feel, an almoft total
indifference to the event; and though he exprefled himielf inclined to accept the offer
of hereditary fucceflion, if obtained by the unanimous con{ent of all the eftates, yet he
refufed to take any active part in the whole proceeding. ‘The Queen endeavoured to
roufe him from this fupinenefs; but her influence, which was never before exerted in
vain, proved now ineffectual: being not inclined, however, to follow his example, fhe
caballed with the leaders of the clergy and commons, and difplayed that fpirit of intrigue
and daring enterprize which had fo long marked her character, in contraft with the
mild and paflive acquiefcence of the King.
On the feceflion of the deputies, which the obftinacy of the nobles had provoked, the
hint of rendering the crown hereditary was fuggefted by the bifhop of Zealand; and fe-
veral partizans being gained, a numerous meeting was held at his palace on the 6th of
Odtober, in which the fcheme was laid open and approved. An act for declaring the
crown hereditary was drawn up; and the mode of proceeding was concerted between
the chiefs of the party and Gabel, the favourite of the King, who held a feparate con-
ference with the bifhop and Nanfen that afternoon. During the whole night and the
following day, repeated meflages pafled between fome of the deputies and the emiflaries
of the Queen.
On the morning of the 8th of O&ober |, the bifhop of Zealand, having obtained the
confent and fignature of the ecclefiaftical deputies to the declaration of hereditary fuce
ceffion, delivered it to Nanfen. The latter, in a moft perfuafive fpeech, expatiated on
the wretched {tate of the kingdom, oppreflive power of the nobles, and virtues of the
the King, and concluded with exhorting the Commons to fubfcribe the act as the only
means of faving their country. Having firft figned it himfelf, his example was followed
by each deputy without one diflenting voice.
During thefe intrigues the nobles remained in full fecurity, and without the leaft fuf-
picion; as the Commons had, the fame day in which they figned the declaration, de-
bated on the taxes, and drawn up a remonttrance againft the nobles, without alluding to
the fecret tranfaction, Onthegth this remonftrance was prefented to Frederic in form
by the bifhop and Nanfen; and the Commons, on returning from the palace, had a vio-
lent altercation with the fame chief fenator who had before offended them, and who
then threatened them with imprifonment for prefuming to approach the King without ac-
quainting the order of nobles; a threat which ferved only to {trengthen their refolution.
Rumours of the project had by this time reached the nobles ; but they had fcarcely
aflembled to confider the moft efficacious methods of defeating it t, before the deputies
of the clergy and burghers entered the hall. Having taken their feats, Nanfen, after a
fhort fpeech, delivered to them the declaration for rendering the crown hereditary in
* Molefworth fays, with Hannibal Sehefted, and Holberg, with Gabel the King’s favourite. Proba-
bly they were both in the right, as it is ealy co fuppofe that both were confulted on the occation,
+ Holberg, ili. p. 479. ;
+ Probably on the 10th of October, as Mallet conjeétures.
VOL. VI. RR the
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