COXe’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK . 30J

‘tiling the nobility, with a confidential fervant* of the crown: thefe perfons were Svane,bilhop of Zealand and prefident of the order of the clergy, and Nanfen, Burgomaftqrof 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, andDrake forne necefiary 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 veil-the whole power in the hands of the King.

While the defign was in agitation, Frederic felt, or affected to feel, an almoft totalindifference to the event; and though he expreflfed himfelf inclined to accept the offerof hereditary fucceffion, if obtained by the unanimous content of all the eftates, yet herefufed to take any active part in the whole proceeding. The Queen endeavoured toroufe him from this fupinenefs ; but her influence, which was never before exerted inv ain, proved now ineffectual: being not inclined, however, to follow his example, firecaballed with the leaders of the clergy and commons, and difplayed that fpirit of intrigueand daring enterprize which had fo long marked her character, in contrail with themild and paflive acquiefcence of the King.

> On the leceffion of the deputies, which the obftinacy of the nobles had provoked, thebint of rendering the crown hereditary was fuggefted by the bilhop of Zealand ; and fe-veral partizans being gained, a numerous meeting was held at his palace on the 6th ofOdlober, in which the fcheme was laid open and approved. Aft a & f° r declaring thecrown hereditary was drawn up; and the mode of proceeding was concerted betweenthe chiefs of the party and Gabel, the favourite of the King, who held a feparate con-ference with the bilhop and Nanfen that afternoon.' During the whole night and thefollowing day, repeated melfages pafled between fome of the deputies and the emiflariesof the Oueen.

On the morning of the 8th of O&ober f, the bilhop of Zealand , having obtained theconfent and fignature of the eccleftaftical deputies to the declaration of hereditary fuc«ceflion, delivered it to Nanfen. The latter, in a mod perfuafive fpeech, expatiated onthe wretched ftate of the kingdom, oppreffive power of the nobles, and virtues of thethe King, and concluded with exhorting the Commons to fubfcribe the adl as the onlymeans of faving their country. Having firft figned it himfelf, his example was followedby each deputy without one diflenting voice.

, During thefe intrigues the nobles remained in full fecurity, and without the leaft fuf-picton; as the Commons had, the fame day in which they figned the declaration, de-bated on the taxes, and drawn up a remonftrance againft the nobles, without alluding tothe fecret tranfadlion. On the 9th this remonftrance was prefented to Frederic in formby the bilhop 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 whothen threatened them with imprifomnent for prefuming to approach the King without ac-quainting the order of nobles; a threat which ferved only to llrengthen their refolution.

Rumours of the project had by this time reached the nobles ; but they had fcarcelyRflembled to conlider the moll efficacious methods of defeating it J, before the deputiesm the clergy and burghers entered the hall. Having taken their feats, .Nanfen, after amort fpeech, delivered to them the declaration for rendering the crown hereditary in

LI th fays, with Hannibal Sehefted

y they were both in the right, as it is eafy to

I i' ; - P-479-

4 rrobably on the lothof October, as Mallet conje&urcs.

VOL. VI. R R

, and Holberg, with Gabel the King’s favourite,fuppofe that both were confulted on the occafion.

Proba-

the