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A13219 A short survey or history of the kingdome of Sueden Containing a briefe description of all the provinces of his whole dominion: as also the riches of his kingdome, the antiquity, nature, and manners of that nation; with the government of his realme, might, and power of this great King, as well by sea as by land; his great officers, his customes and revenves of the Crowne. With a genealogy and pedegree of the kings of Sueden, of those especially who have reigned these last five hundred yeers, with some of their most memorable acts and deeds, with their alliance and issue or off-spring. Something also more particularly concerning that illustrious invincible great Gustavus Adolphus the II. and of his wars with the Russian, Denmarke and Poland: as also of his most memorable acts since his comming to the crowne, as well before, as since his entring into Germany, untill this present yeere 1632.; Suecia, sive de Suecorum Regis dominiis. English. Abridgments Bure, Anders, 1571-1646.; Hildebrandt, Andreas, d. 1637. Genealogia regum Sueciae. English.; L. S., Sir, fl. 1632.; Story, John, fl. 1632. 1632 (1632) STC 23518; ESTC S120735 49,965 108

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are called Dukes and livings answerable to their birth and greatnesse assigned them The daughters have portions assigned them yet not out of the Kings treasure but of the subiects purses And although the Kingdome be now become hereditary yet doe the Kings alwayes sweare to maintaine religion according to the Augustane confession The Nobilitie is divided into Earles Barons Knights Squires and ordinary Gentry The Earles were of old called Ieri and were by their Kings created as likewise Dukes called Hertzogh for their singular valor worth but none of those titles were hereditary or descended to posterity And by reason those great men had often in rebellion opposed themselves against their naturall Kings therefore for divers yeeres these titles were quite omitted vntill such time as Ericus 14. in imitation of other Kings and Potentates introduced again these titles of Earles and Barons and made them hereditary to posterity As for Knights they ever were as now they are also made for their worth and proofe vpon the atchieving of some noble exploits and descend not to posterity unlesse they succeed in their predecessours vertues and valour As for the other Gentry the chiefest of them are those we commonly call Squires and of old were called aff-wapu Out of these rankes of Nobility above mentioned are elected and chosen the supreme ministers and officers of iudicature and other great employments of the Kingdome and for this cause have great maintenance allowed them As for the clergie and state ecclesiasticall it is composed of these persons following first is the Archbishop of Vpsalia together with seueh other Bishops and besides these there are yet foure superintendents who although in name they differ from the former yet in nature function little or nothing and this last is most commonly the highest title among the Protestant Churches beyond the seas as well Lutherans or others So these Bishops and I superintendents were adioyned the Canons Prebends c. and under them Ministers and Preachers of euery Parish The Bishops in former times were possessors of many strong holds and Castles and great livings and were exceeding rich by reason whereof they were able to live like great Princes as at this day in Germany and other places is to be seen by this means they became so haughty and insolent that sometimes they waged war with their owne natural Princes sometimes expelling them out of their kingdome For this cause Gustavus the 1. of that name lest the like should befall himselfe or his successours assembled the whole estates of his kingdome to take counsell against the Bishops then making preparation for an open rebellion and by their advice and consent annexed unto the Crowne their lands and possessions together with all their strong holds and Castles reserving for these ecclesiasticall persons some part as well of the tythes as other revenues to be for them a fit and competent maintenance In former time these Bishops had place among the chiefe Senatours and counsellours of the kingdome and the Archbishop of Vpsalia and sometimes also the Bishop of Lincopia assumed unto themselves the title of Primate of the whole Kingdome for the which cause in those dayes this dignity was by great Nobles sued for but since this Kingdome made profession of the reformed Religion the clergie of highest title meddle only with Church-affaires and now mens sonnes of the meanest degree and birth merchants or husbandmens are admitted unto such functions And yet this priviledge they still enioy that in every parliament they have a voice as well as any of the Nobility or others Next follow the military forces as well horse as foot which notwithstanding consist not of forreine mercenary forces For the foot forces are culled and pickt out from among the choicest youth of the kingdome by decimation or taking every tenth man After they are once enrolled they are not onely freed from all subsidies impositions or other payments whatsoever but have also a yeerely stipend allowed them of the king who causeth certaine commanders for this same purpose appointed being first furnished with all manner of weapons for certaine yeares to traine them vp at home in the meane time enuring them to endure all manner of hardship and such toyle and labour as sould eours are wonted in war to endure while in the mean time the old bands if need so require be emploied in forreine expeditions And thus if commeth to passe that although the King carry never so great an army out of the countrey against a forreine enemy yet is the kingdome never left unfurnished of sufficient defence ready to serve upon all occasions and by this meanes there is the lesse use of mercenary souldiers unlesse upon urgent and extraordinary occasion as now in this great and memorable expedition against the Austrian house and the whole Catholike league It need not therefore seeme strange that this great King hath even in our memories waged war alone and the same time against all his three potent neighbours the king of Poland of Denmarke and the great Prince or Duke of Russia For whensoever his forces are either wearied or worne out he is able presently to exchange with a new supply who being already inured to hardship and military labor and toile are able to undergoe any difficulty whatsoever Their horse-forces are raised both from among the Gentrie and the common people The Nobles according to the greatnesse of their Lordships and lands maintaine many horsemen for the defence of the countrey and besides these the commons of every Province possessing rich Manors or Farmes to free themselves from all tributes and taxes maintaine according to their meanes certaine horsemen under the command of the Captaine of that place where hee liveth The fifth degree ranke or order is of merchants inhabiting cities and townes These both bring in and carry out of the kingdome divers merchandizabte commodities bought first of the naturall inhabitants from whence they gather no small gaine Now these cities and merchant staples have among them certaine peculiar municipal lawes and constitutions derived from the law of the most ancient city Bitia the which about 600. yeeres ago was the seat Royal where the King kept his Court and the chiefe staple of of the whole kingdome Each of these cities and townes enioyeth also certaine particular priviledges and very laudable constitutions by which it was ordained and determined after what manner the mediterranean cities should trafficke and trade with the inhabitants and maritime to the end that each place might bee an indifferent sharer in the gaine and besides this laudable constitution was also enacted that the benefit gaine or rising of one City should not prove the ruine of another But these laudable lawes and wholesome constitutions by reason of so many wars and broyles wherewith this kingdome hath so often beene troubled have beene by the governours of this kingdome now for a long time neglected and by this
meanes many disorders are by little and little crept into their trafficke and commerce And therefore this illustrious and victorious king Gustavus Adolphus now reigning to testifie and make knowne his love and fatherly affection to his countrey in restoring and repairing the ruines and breaches of the common-wealth among many other things did againe as it were revive and put life into those now almost dead lawes and enlarge the same the which if afterwards they shall be duely observed no doubt but these cities will soone againe returne ●o their former splendor and dignitie The last ranke and degree among this people is that of husbandman the which although lowest in degree yet not of l●ast vse and necessitie a being the very ground and foundation of all the rest and who furnish all the others both with food and rayment And of these there are yet two sorts the first are free-holders having their lands and possessions hereditary and out of the which they use to pay something yeerely to the king the which payment is seldome raysed to any higher rate and withall this priviledge hath beene granted them of old that if they be able to furnish themselves with a good horse and compleat armour being able to serve the king in his warres so long as they or yet any of their sonnes serve in this kind their Manours or Farmes are freed from any manner of payments to the king and this is the reason why many from their very cradle as it were apply themselves to military affaires by which means also the number of the kings horsemen is wonderfully encreased Among these are also to be ranked such as worke in mynes in the mountainous and hilly places of the kingdome who thereby purchase to themselves no small gaine and are for the most part very rich The rest of these countrey people are Farmers who although besides the set rents they pay their landlords they performe likewise diuers services yet by reason of the great benefit and commodity they make by fishing fowling and of wood of the forrests they reape no small commodity whereby they are enabled to live in very good fashion recording to their owne ranke and degree For this is to be undestood that this whole kingdome aboundeth with lakes and rivers full of very wholesome fishes besides the abundance of woods which partly in regard of their number and partly by reason of the remotenesse yeeld oftentimes but small benefit to the owners and for the same reason no where are fish and fowle as also hares cheaper then in this kingdome It is likewise to be observed that in all Parliaments the countrey people this last and sixt ranke I meane have a voyce as well as any of the others And thus it commeth to passe that the meanest or lowest degree is not neglected nor no well deserving subiect hindered to climbe to as high a pitch of honour as his vertues can attaine unto CHAP. IIII. Of the Politicke and civill government of the Kingdome of Sweden IN ancient times each Province of this kingdome had it's severall lawes and constitutions whereof as it is supposed there were divers authours whose names by reason of the long tract of time are now for the most part buried in oblivion And the Vestrogothian lawes are so ancient that it is apparant they were made at such times as the Goths departed out of this kingdome or at least shortly after for there is mention made of the Goths inhabiting Greece and Thracia to wit that none of them should enioy or possesse any of their ancient possessions in their owne countrey unlesse they would returne and dwell there And it is apparent that they dwelt there before the times of Alexander the great who as he affirmed were to be shunned and taken heede of Besides even before the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour they were such a terror to the Romans that they were by them much hindered from inlarging their dominion beyond the Danubius Now these lawes doe for the most part agree with the lawes of the Visigoths set down by Ifidorus although they be farre shorter for the which cause it is not unlike that these same lawes of Isidrus were at the first collected out of the constitutions of the Vestrogoths and after as the titles testifie enlarged by the kings of the Visigoths of Spaine Out of all these Provincial lawes and other constitutions of this kingdome did the Bishops and Senatours thereof above 270 yeares agoe compile this generall law very agreeable to the law of nature and not much differing from the civill law but that by this controverted cases are far speedilier ended But before we speake any thing concerning their lawes we will premit some generalities In this kingdome therefore there are severall principall colledges or societics which comprehend the whole government of the same The first of these is called the Colledge of Iustice in the which ore three degrees or rankes the supreame the middle most and lowest of all In this supreame or highest ranke or order are the noble Senators of the kingdome in the next are such as they call Lagman and in Latin Nomophy laces as if we should say Recorders or Registers In the third ranke or order are the Iudges of particular cities or townes being men of good esteeme and of honest life and conversation and not unskilfull in the lawes of the land In this supreame court are iudged causes of the whole kingdome as well criminall as ciuill and to this supreame court the subiect may from any inferiour Court of the kingdome appeale whereas they determine and iudge whether the inferiour court hath iudged right or no and from this court there is no appeale unlesse it be to the king himselfe in whosepower it is either to qualifie the punishment or to remit the offence Vnder this suprame court are immediatly subiected and subordinate two others that of criminall causes and that of the court or chamber The next to this colledge is the colledge of war wherein are handled all Martiall or Military affaires and is called the Court marshall or martiall To this court belongs the Councell of War wherein are all military matters deliberated and discussed and over this court presides the great Marshal1 of the kingdome His office is when the king cannot be present in his owne person as generall to command over the whole army This great officer hath with him ioyned diuers other associates and collegues amongst whom is chiefly he whom they call Riick-seirs Siigmeister as much to say as master of the Ordnance Besides there is also a field marshall and under him many other commanders both of the horse and foot forces The third colledge or court it that of the Chancerie in which are handled all manner of causes both civill and ecclesiasticall In this Court presides the Lord Chancellour of the kingdom who hath the chiefe charge of the broad seale
the Kings of that countrey both ancient and of latter times with some of their chiefe acts and the latter Kings alliances In the last place is something more particularly said concerning this great Gustavus Adolphus now raigning and his chiefe acts both before and since his expedition into Germany briefly handled The King of Sweden or Swethland call it as you list although untill now of late yeeres not so much taken notice of in these parts of the world as many other Princes and Potentates yet may it well appeare that hee is on meane Prince nor of small power His chiefe countrey and from which he takes his chiefe denomination is called by some Sueonia and the people from thence Sueones as also and with us most frequently Suevia and the people Swevi now there is in high Germany another countrey sounding somewhat like it called Suevia the people Suevi and in high Dutch Swaben bordering on Bavaria being a colonie in former times come out of this countrey of Sweden of whom my purpose is not here to speake This potent King then hath under his dominion not onely this country of Sweden properly so called but also Gothland Flintland and a great part of Lapland besides some Territories in the dominion of the great Duke or Knez of Russia or Muscovia as hereafter shall appeare This countrey is a very fruitfull soyle a land flowing with milke and honey and yeelding come in great abundance besides the great abundance of mettalls digged out of the bowells of the earth and the excellency of the pastures of this land may from hence appeare that some countrey people of Holland removing their habitation into Sweden affimed that they made as much butter of 60. measures of milke there as they did in Holland of a hundred the like measures This pleasant countrey is replenished with innumerable lakes furnished with most daint y fishes out of these same lakes do run and Issue out many pleasant and profitable rivers This country is in the South parts more plain even but towards the North and VVst more mountainous not without great store of woods very usefull for the fining of those mettals in so great abundance digg'd out of many of those mountaines The maritane pares not of Swethland onley but of Finland also are for the most part environed with high and steepe rocky hils Ilands many of them being scarce covered with greene grasse and this is the cause why it is so hard and difficult a matter for strangers without some skilfull Pilot of the naturall inhabitans to saile neere their shore and strangers at their first approaching wonder that such a country should afford the inhabitants meanes to sustaine life until such time as they are better acquainted with the inner parts of the countrey and this land hath likewise commerce with the I le of Brittaine Denmarke Norway Poland Russia and such other Notherne Regions beyond the 50 or 51 degrees of Northerly latitude that it bringeth forth none of that noble liquor of the grape which is notwithstanding in great abundance brought from other countries and besides they are well furnished with good ale and beere for their ordinary drinke 2. The kingdome of Sweden is divided into Sweden Gothland Finland Ingria and Esthionia Sweden or Swethland called Suecia or Sucovia into Sueovia properly so called and the Northlands Nordlandias Of Sueovia properly so called are these parts or Provinces following Vplandia Vestmania Dalecharlia Nevira and Suedermania This country Vplandia hath most cōmmonly bin graced with the pre-eminence above the rest and where the King hath most commonly kept his Court. This country is very well furnished with plenty of very good corne the which is liberally imparted to these daily diggers of mettalls upon the mountaines It is not destitute of good mines of yron and leed especially and in some places of silver also although not very much It is againe divided into three folk-lands as they call them that is shires or Provinces of three people and these againe sub-divided into smaller parts much answerable to our division of hundred and which name they also attribute unto them Of all the cities and townes uot only of this but of all the other Provinces of the Swedish dominions Stackholme is the chiefe and where the King most cōmonly makes his abode and residence seated in an Iland among the waters as Venice for the which cause it had this name imposed By meanes of the lake Melexus it hath brought from the inland al maner of grain butter cheese and such other commodies usefull for the life of man as also cooper yron and other mettals and again by the same way sends them back such cōmodities as are brought from remote regions and by the sea it is supplied with wine oile salt c. lt is much of the same degree of northerly latitude with the city Aberden in the of Scotland it being seated in the South part of Sweden to wit betwixt the 58. and 59. degree Next unto it is Vpsalia somtime the royal seat of the adjacent northerne parts for there was kept the Kings Court the supreme court of justice and there was also the Archbishops sea with a faire cathedrall Church the which onely of all the rest continueth yet untill this day There there is also a famous Vniversity of the which more hereafter This City is seated as it were in the very center of this rich Province on the banke of the River Sala Besides these there are yet in his Province some others of good note howbeit inferiour to the former to wit Enecopia Sigrundia Oregrundia The next Province of Sueonia is Vestmania in fertility nothing inferiour to Vplandia but in mettalls farre exceeding the same for in it is a very rich silver mine called Salbergh as for good yron and steele there is there also great abundance where mines of copper lead and brimstone are not also wanting The chiefe Citty thereof is called Grosia and commonly Westeras adorned with a Bishops sea and a cathedrall Church where is also a faire stately castle to be seene and heere may one see great store of copper and lead brought from the hils of that countrey There are yet besides this the Townes Arbogia and Koping abounding with the same mettalls but yron especially The Province of Dalecharlia although it be not inferiour to the former in the abundance of mettalls and mineralls yet in the abundance of good copper digged out of these deepe vaults and cavernes to the no small amazement of such as are not acquainted with such sights it doth farre exceede any other and besides copper the same myne yeeldeth yet great store of brimstone alum and copperas And the water which is drawne from thence changeth yron into good copper with the losse of the fourth part if the waight of the yron be in small pieces and the third part only if the pieces be
receiveth and readeth all letters sent to the king and dispatcheth answers Besides in the counsell he propoundeth such heads as they are to consult about and withall he hath the charge of setting downe and publishing all Proclamations all decrees and acts of Parliament Hee is also Iudge of al private complaints and appeales from inferiour courts to the King and finally he hath the oversight of all the Secretaries Clerkes Religious persons and ecclesiasticall ceremonies and all controversies and negotiations with forreine Princes war peace and truce receiving messages from forreine Ambassadors and dispatching their answers This great officer hath ioyned with him for associates or collegues a Vice-chancellour and divers counsellers of the Chancerie besides the kings Secretaries with divers others The fourth Colledge or Court is that of the Admiraltie over which is the great Lord Admirall whose office is to oversee the Navy royall and to see that it be in a readinesse with all things thereto belonging against the time of need He hath under him a Vice-admirall besides Captaines and Commanders of every ship To his court belong all causes concerning trespasses against constitutions made for the preservation of the Navy-royal and many other things concerning maritime affaires The fifth and last is the Exchequer or as the French call it the chamber of accounts where are received all the revenues belonging to the crowne tributes customes subsidies c. Over this Court presides the Lord Treasurer of the kingdome who hath also ioyned with him in commission two others of the Nobility and to this court belong also a number of clerks who are chosen out of the inferiour ranke of people He hath also under his custodie the royall ensignes of the kingdome the apple the crowne the scepter and the sword He payes also all the kings armie and so doth hee all the kings servants their wages In a word hee takes all and payes all being accomptable to no body but to the king himselfe Amongst all the great officers of the kingdome the Lord Marshall is accounted the chiefe being master of the kings houshold and administrator or orderer of the great counsell who by the kings authority hath power to assemble the whole States of the land to command silence and attention to give leave to speake in Parliament to welcome ofrreine Embassadours and to provide things necessary for their entertainment To his office also it belongeth to remove out of the counsell such as belong not thereunto and to see the Kings decrees concerning matters of defamation and punishment of death duly put in execution Hee supplyes also the place of the matter of the ceremonies and suppresseth all tumults and disorders To him belongeth also the oversight of the kings houshold and domesticall servants and to correct the offenders And finally in all publike meetings he beares the great staffe before the king Next unto him in dignitie is esteemed the great Lord Constable the field Marshall the great Sewer the Lord Chamberlaine c. Moreover this whole kingdome is not onely divided into severall Province Duchies and Counties but besides each Province is againe subdivided into certaine territories or iurisdictions commonly called Haradh of the which some containe moe and some fewer parishes Each Province againe hath its governor or lieutenant called Landz-herren or State-haller and each territorie or iurisdiction hath a Iudge called Leensman and besides each parish hath a Iudge called Nembdarius or Nembdemannus Now all these are distinct offices and subordinate one to another and so may the plantise appeale from one inferiour court to a next superiour in due order and forme The supreame governour or magistrate of the Province is called Legifer as it were a law-giver and iudge and are esteemed in dignity next unto the king as being his iudges and uice-gerents Now as many as are the Provinces as many are there of these supreame iudges to eleven under whom are againe above 300. Vicounties or particular iurisdictions not unlike the courts of Parliament of France and the multitude of presidiall courts But the difference is that these supreame Iudges visit every yeare a great part of their Province untill all their Prouinces be visited and when they have travelled the round they returne againe where they first began which the French Parliaments doe not much after the manner of the Iudges circuits in this kingdome And as this course is very convenient for the remedying of the publike diseases of the kingdome so is it also some ease to the subiect these iudges demanding the tribute and taxes by turnes and not all at once of such territories and parishes as they visit that so the people be not all burdened at one and the same time It is yet further to be observed that by the ancient customes and constitutions of this kingdome besides all these aforementioned courts there was yet one generall court commanded to be kept in foure eminent places of the kingdome once or twice a yeere for determining and finishing some cases which by the other Iudges had not beene or could not so well be decided And this they call Iudicium Praetoriale which was a meeting of many Iudges together where controversies were duely and strictly examined and sentence according to equity pronounced This court was by Charles the ninth father to this now reigning king Gustavus Adolphus ordeined to be kept twice a yeere once in Vpsalia in winter at the time of a great faire then kept and the other about Saint Peters day in summer The Iudges were without faile to appeare at the place appointed in proper person sixe weekes after the publication of such a meeting Now whatsoever was in this pretoriall court determined betwixt party and party was to stand firme and inviolable for ever without appeale to any other court whatsoever And because the king will be sure that iustice be duely executed in all his dominions therefore besides all these former courts there is yet another great and solemne court sometimes kept called the court Royall or Ral whereas either the king in proper person or else a deputy or speciall commissioner heares all the grievances betwixt party and party and this is a court of reformation wherin some things which in other courts have not beene so well ordered are here reformed and amended And this court I take to be much like that solemne court sometimes kept in the kingdome of Scotland called the Iustice aire wherein very small offences were severely punished Now the king is sixe weekes before the time of sitting to intimate the same to his subiects And within 14 dayes after whosoever hath a complaint against any he must cause summon his adversary to appeare at the day and place appointed by the kings letters to that purpose to bee read in the first Plac it or Court or where there is none kept then at the next Parish Church Now if any upon this summons shall refuse to appeare the