eee 
enmark, a 5 
Lutheranifm : while, pea 
o that perfuafion, he determined that every fubjeét 
denies: fhould be at liberty to embrace either the Hee. 
trines of Luther or e Rome ; that no perfon fhould be 
perfecuted or molefted on ac count of his religion, and that 
the religious of all denomi: acres hou permitted to 
in 
- 
marry : gufequence of this vee and truly liberal decree, 
the sae and cloifters were deferted, all Re ee difre 
garded, and Lut theranifm was sees where ublicly preach 
ed and ieee The ee d Chriftian II. in 1531 made 
an attempt for the recovery of his crown, but being 
feated in his ee he was oes to 
a after n years, at thea age 0 
oo ined nay the a of « Pacific,” and con- 
senate as juftly praife the prudence and modera- 
: rament, which rendered his reign profperous 
“At his death the cler By who had been of- 
ate of ‘uncer tain- 
F rederic T. 
and happy. 
fended at his innovati ons, were le 
ne o 
enburg, a, other of the duke of Pomerania. 
orerlc 
Freveric II., king of Denmark, fon of Chriftian IIL., 
was bora in 1534, and fucceeded to the throne on the deat 
ae firft years of his reign bee 
pafled in the din-of war, with the Feo} ople of Dithm 
who had made theme res “independent, “bik who, die 
brave refitance, ere - ced to fubmit ‘a the law of the con- 
queror : he aol in a conteft iin hae king of 
Sweden, hole. embattadors, s they w pafiing 1 into 
Germany, he arrefted in violation of the fake. conduét | he had 
granted them. ‘This war was commenced in 1 5 3s ane was 
carried on with mutual detriment, and uel a 
569. were claimed by both 
‘parties, took an active Seale in the hotles and the city of 
Lubec ‘embraced the occafion of reve nging it elfon Swedea 
for the many ‘reftriGtions impofed upon it, and upon the 
eommerce of the city. o concluded a treaty with the 
‘king of Denmark, and joined his fleet ihe owerful {qua- 
dron. . After this, Frederic held the balance caais thofe 
commercial towns, terefted himfelf than his 
ae ke 0) ane an alan over the affairs of Eu- 
ender red commerce baker refpected the 
pane egies the efteem 
{marriage ae. Seager Anne niv ift. 
Freveric III., k or De omark, born in ae > was 
ing 
fon of Chriftian JV. and fucceeded to the crown in the year 
at war was renewed in 
and privileges of the fta 
1648, but his authority as a monarch was greatly seed, 
1 by the power which the great lords of his kingdom affumed. 
ne of his firft meafures a treaty with the Dutch, 
the friendfhip of whom Ke ala by feizing in the = of 
ope F Enghith fhips 
naval flores ; which flep, while it vavolved him with Poekad 
obtained ine hima fubfidy and league of alliance from Hol- 
land. In 1657 Frederic, ftimulated by the Dutch, declared 
war againit Sweden, butt oder Charles Guftavus foon 
repr effed the Pee of t 
ice to Zealan 
h 
make pease upon very difadvantageous terms. War, h 
ever, foon broke out again, and Copenhagen was a feco 
time clofely invelted by fea and land. The Swedes took . 
the fortrefs of Cronenburg;, :aind the capital was faved only 
by the arrival . the Dutch fleet. In this conteft Frederic: 
evinced a bravery not often n par 
pared to act, a he pe very mealiwe 
which was to be adopte or the pur am ae maturing the 
fucce 2fles, and reaping from-them their full advantage. By 
his incitements, and by his own example, the citizens oF Co- 
penhagen became intrepid foldiers, brav ely. fought in {mall 
boats againit the fhips of the befi tegers, and ruthed forward: 
through a tempeft of flames. ‘Their wives and saan fe- 
conded che bur ee the a animated them by her 
prefence and example. That orable fiege foie in-. 
tances of almoft every aoe ‘of ie ifm. Afte arles: 
was compelled to retreat, Frederic rewarded. the ates and. 
fidelity of the citizens by well merited —.. Peace 
-was concluded in the Ma 1660 : its terms were the reftitu- 
tion of all t ° Danifh iles of the Baltic, with te diftrict of. 
Dr enti, a Sweden retained the ifle of Rugen, and 
the provinces of Bleking, Halland, and Schonen. ‘The 
moit eae event of Frederic’s a was the change of 
the conftitution from an ele€tive and limited, to an hereditary 
aud abfolute monarchy. This was brou ght about by the di-- 
vifions between the different {tates of the kingdom, and.the. 
haste and {elfifhnefs of the ncbles, who would not co nfent 
Gangs ner . with the commons o 
y fomented 
a liberties o 
occafion, a 
king and royal family receive 
orders in a public theatre prepared for the p Thi 
mportant revolution was effected without eer aa 
Frederic never abufed the ift: he regulated the feveral. 
thority, he moderated that paffion ; for. glory | 
than 
had formerly betraye ed. e remainder of his reign was 
» afpent.d in forming political apy and oe profperity: 
to his country by thea peace... applied himfelf to. 
reftore, by his own exam ai » the se Simplicity of drefs 
and. see at ite: ; to > revefablifh 
courage merit, indu 
who had fe rved him with fidelity : Me ;redrels grievances 3 3 to 
protect the o ed 3; to eelieve the in d to be-- 
come: the father of his fubjects.. 'T' 
between Holitein and Sweden was the principal cau 
ifquiet 5. 
