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COXE’S TRAVELS IN DENMARK. 307
oppofition, being divided into three principal parties *: the firft confifted of thofe who
were devoted to the court, and favoured the declaration of the Commons; the fecond,
of thofe who were confcious that fome change in the conftitution was requifite, but un-
certain how far to proceed ; the third, the moft confiderablein number, was compofed
of thofe who were determined to affert their own privileges to the laft extremity, and
ftrenuoufly oppofe the leaft alteration. It was no wonder, therefore, that they came to
no refolution, but poftponed their final determination to the meeting in the afternoon.
While they were thus wavering, the court and the popular party took the neceflary pre-
cautions to force them toa concurrence. It was feared that the enterprize might fail
of fuccefs, fhould the nobles quit Copenhagen and break up the diet, on the juft pre-
tence that it was held in a fortified town, under awe of a garrifon devoted to the court.
Indeed, feveral had already made their efcape, and others feemed inclined to follow their
example. In confequence of thefe apprehenfions, the King iffued orders to fhut the
gates; and this fpirited meafure had fuch an inftant effet on the nobles, that, abandon-
ing all further refiftance, they difpatched deputies to the court, announcing their willing-
nefs to concur with the Commons f. .
Accordingly, on the 16th of Otober, the eftates annulled, in the moft folemn man-
ner, the capitulation or charter figned by the King at his acceflion, abfolved him from
his engagements, and cancelled all the limitations impofed on his fovereignty. The
whole was finally clofed by the public ceremony of doing homage and taking the new
oath, which was performed on the 18th. On that day feveral fcaffolds were erected
before the palace, adorned with fcarlet cloth and tapeftry, and furnifhed with rows of
benches; on an elevated platform were placed two chairs of ftate, under a canopy of
velvet, for the King and Queen ; thefe {caffolds communicated with the palace by an
open gallery. At the appointed time, the citizens of Copenhagen, forming twelve com-
panies, were drawn up on each fide of the gallery; the garrifon furrounded the plat-
form, and the avenues leading to it; while the regiment of 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 of ftate, repaired in folemn proceffion, amid drums
and trumpets, to the platform ; and when the nobles, the deputies of the clergy and
commons, had taken their places, the chancellor proclaimed { :
*< Since it has pleafed the Almighty, by the unanimous and voluntary refolution of
the ftates, that this kingdom fhould be rendered hereditary in the perfon of his Majefty
our Lord the King, and of his pofterity male and female ; his Majefty, after thanking
the ftates for this proof of their affection and zeal, not only promifes to all his good
and faithful fubject, to govern them as a chriftian and merciful prince ought to do, but
alfo to eftablifh a form of government, under which they fhall be fecure of enjoying the
fame advantages under his fucceflors; and as this unanimous refolution of the {tates
requires a new oath of allegiance, his Majefty difcharges the ftates from all thofe oaths
which they had formerly taken, affuring each perfon in particular of his royal favour
and protection.” After which all perfons who were prefent took the new oath of al-
legiance.
The revolution being thus accomplifhed, a new form of government was promulgated,
under the title of the Royal Law of Denmark. It confilts of forty articles; the moft-
remarkable are the following § :
** The hereditary Kings of Denmark and Norway fhall be in effect, and ought to be
efteemed by their {ubjects, the only fupreme head on earth; they fhall be above all
* Holberg. + Thid, t Mallet. § Lettres fur le Dannemare. Mallet.
RR 2 human
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