the Revenues of their eight Religious Houses of Pingore Remestede Modur and Monkenire under the Government and jurisdictiion of the Bishop of Halar and those of Videy Pernebar Kirckebar and Skiade under the Bishop of Schalholt unto other uses according to the will and pleasure of their Lords of Denmark But their Gods in the time of their Paganism were 1. Thor who is said to have come out of Asia with his Father Woden and is answerable to Jupiter among the Romans and gave name to our Thursday in Iseland called Thorsday and by the Germans Donderdag that is the Thunderers day which signifies the same thing 2. Woden or Oden the Captain of the Asians who first peopled these Northern Countreys From him the Iselanders call the fourth day of the week Odens dagur and we Wednesday Besides these two we sometimes read of Freyer one of Wodens Companions and Friga Wodens Spouse whence our Fryday with several others of less note They have but two Cities and those no better than our Ordinary Villages yet the Seats of their two Bishops the first is Hogin the second is Shalholt their other places of any note are Hattenfort a Haven Town where under tenâ—â— the Dutch Merchants barter their Commodities and beside a Castle the ordinary Residence of the Governor for the Kings of Denmark As for their Court of Judicature it is held once a year in a pleasant Plain in the middle of Iseland where twelve men learned in the Laws of Iseland having heard all the Plaintiffs and Defendants have to say pronounce sentence and decide the Controversies And have power to determine all Civil Causes and pronounce Condemnation as they think convenient against all Criminals Such as receive sentence of Death as Adulterers Murderers and Notorious Thieves are beheaded less Misdemeanors and Offences are marked in the Fore-head with an hot Iron Of Freezland or Friseland FReezland so called from the continual frosts unto which it is subject lies South-west of Iseland in 60 degrees more Westerly than any part of Europe it is said to be little less in extent than England being a ragged and high sand its mountains covered with Snow and the Coast so full of drift Ice that it is almost inaccessible The longest day in Summer not exceeding 20 hours nevertheless the Soil is so cold and barren that it produceth neither Corn nor fruit Fish being the principal and almost only Food of the Inhabitants and as it is their Food so it is the chief Commodity the Country does afford there being good fishing every where upon the Coast It was first discovered to us by Nicolas and Antonio Zani two Venetian Gentlemen that were here Shipwrackt Our Seamen in their soundings brought up a sort of Pale Coral and little stones clear as Chrystal They called it West-England and one of the highest Mountains Charing Cross The chief Town is called Friezland by the name of the Island situate on the Eastern shore of it Besides we find some others in the Maps as Sanestol Ocebar Cabara Sorand and some more very inconsiderable And now let us proceed on to Greenland Of Greenland GReenland so called as some say from the greenness of it in Summer or as others by Antiphrasis for that it 's never green by reason of the sharpness of Winter extends from 65. to 7 degrees of Northern latitude so that the longest day in the most Southern parts is 21 hours and a half and in the most Northern they have no night for three months and two weeks The length of it is not known nor whether it be an Island or a Continent being chiefly frequented for the benefit of the Whale fishing The chief commodities are Fish white Bears wild Deer and some store of Cattel there bred The greatest part of the people dwell in Caves and delight to a high degree in Necromancy Other Lands there be but not of any note nor hardly worth the Claiming of the Crown of Denmark FINIS
Ancient Danes were so Zealous to have their Estates enjoyed by the right Heirs that they punished Adultery with Death which Law is still in force in Sweeden Saxony and many other Parts of Germany The Danes used formerly and do still in some parts of Juitland to Assemble every Parish by themselves once a Year in the Fields to Determine all Controversies by Twelve Select Men from whom an Appeal lay to the Judge of the Province upon the inreconciliation of the Parties and thence to the Supream Court of Justices and this custome of a Jury of Twelve Men was undoubtedly derived to the English from the Danes But the Heathen Danes did likewise determine Controversies by Duels wherein the Justice of the Cause was Demonstrated by the success But Christianity Abolished this Custome when one Loppo upon its first Planting for the confirming the truth of His Doctrine took up with his bare Hands Glowing-Hot Barrs of Iron without the least Harm to the Admiration of all the Beholders This Miracle wrought a change both in the Religion and Laws of the Realm for King Sweno Ordered that thence forward all Persons accused of any Hainous Crime should clear themselves by carrying in their Hands a Glowing Plow-share or some other piece of Hot Iron This kind of purging is called by some of the Danish Writers Jerntegn i. e. Iron-token by others Ordale Our Saxon Ancestours borrowed from the Danes several kinds of Ordale as by carrying a Barr of Hot Iron up to the High Alter Bare-Hand by Treading Bare-foot and Blindfold over a certain number of Glowing Barrs laid on the ground at unequal distance by thrusting the Naked Arm into a pot of Boyling Water and lastly as they use to try Witches by throwing the accused Party into a River or deep Vessel of cold Water The First that throughly Abolished all kinds of Ordale in Denmark was King Waldemar the Second about the year 1240. at the request of Pope Innocent the Third The Coines in use in Denmark are Duccates of Gold of the value of two Rixdollers or Crowns of Gold of the value either of Eighteen or Nineteen Marks or the double of these The lesser Danish Coyns are 1. Huide whereof three make one of their Shillings 2. Soslinger whereof two make one Shilling 3. Shilling whereof sixteen make a Mark. 4. A mark which is the fourth part of a Slet Dollar 5. A Rix-Dollar which is Six Marks or ninety fix Shillings At the Solemnization of Weddings Christnings and Buryals in Denmark they spare no expences to seem Noble and Magnificent sometimes rather than want a Splendid Funeral for their Relations they keep the 〈◊〉 Corps for several years and in the mean while scrape and heap up as much Money as will maintain the pomp of its Funeral And now I shall proceed to the Topographical Description of each particular Place and Province of the King of Denmarks Dominions The Cimbrick Chersonese hath on the East the Baltick Sea on the West the main German Ocean on the North a part of the bending into the narrow Streight called the Delt on the South with the great River of Albis on the South-East with the small River of Trave it was so called from the Kempers Men of Vast Bodies and Strength and whom the Romans called Cimbri the Greeks Cimmeri and their Country Chersonesus Cimbrica which Name was given to the whole Tract of Land beyond the Elb the latter Historians confine it to that part only which now goeth under the Name of Juitland It is in length about 100 Italian Miles and 80 in Breadth and comprehendeth in that extent of Ground 33 Walled Towns six Episcopal Sees besides those of Hamburg and Lubeck which are under the Arch Bishops of Bremen and 20 Royal Castles and Pallaces It is at present divided into the Dukedom of Holstein and the Province of Juitland The Dukedome of Holstein went under the General Name of Nortablingia or the Country beyond the Elb Northwards and containeth those four Provinces 1. Wagerland 2. Diâ—marse 3. Stormar 4. Holest or Holstein Specially so called from the Dutch word Holst which signifies a Wood or Forrest according to the Nature of the Country Wagerland is that part of Holstein which lyes on the South-East of this Chersonesus and so called from the Wagriane a Tribe or Nation of the Selaves who possessed this tract The Chief Towns are 1. Lubeck pleasantly Seated on the Confluence of the Trave and the Billow the River being capable of Ships of a Thousand Tun This is an Imperial and Hanse Town driving a vast Trade being Reckoned to have about 600 Ships of all sorts some of a Thousand Tun and upwards it is one of the best Built and most Beautiful Cities of all Germany being in compass about six Miles Fortified with a double Wall deep Ditches and unfordable Rivers It was made so Head-strong by the Priviledges conferred upon it by the Dukes of Holstein that it bid defiance to its Soveraign and became a Dukedom of its self Tho the Kings of Denmark have ever continued their Claim and it 's thought the present Prince has now a designe of Vigorously Executing his Pretentions 2. Segeburg on the River Trave four Dutch Miles from Lubeck and near the Head of that River 3. Oldeslo on the same River in the midst betwixt both 4. Gronneberg and 5. Newkirk on the Baltick-Shore And 6. Stendorp more within the Land near the Edge of a Lake out of which runs the River Suentin 7. Ploen an Ancient City exceedingly well fortified In the furthest Corner of Wagerland lyes the Ancient and Famous County of Oldenburg divided from the rest of this Province by the River Brochaw It 's principal City Oldenburg was formerly the Metropolis of the Wagrians and Venedi a Town of great Trade and exceeding Populous but since the Port was stopt up by the command of Queen Margaret its Splendour has daily lessened and by the late dreadful Desolation caused by Thunder and Lightning which laid wast the best and greatest part of the City 't is become now much less considerable than it was before from the Princes of this Country is derived the Present Royal Family of Denmark The Province of Ditmarsh lyes along the German Ocean Inhabited by People of the Saxon Race who never could be brought under the Dukes of Holstein until Holstein it self was annexed to the Crown of Denmark The Chief Towns are Meldorp upon the Ocean the chief of the Province 2. Lunden opposite to Tonningen near the mouth of the Eyder 3. Heyde a large but poor City Stormar so called from the Marshy Ground lying along the River Stoer The Principal Cities are Hamburg upon the Bille where it falls into the Elb an Ancient Town Built in the time of the Saxons being one of the largest best Built most Beautiful and Richest Cities of Europe Upon the Right the Dukes of Holstein had to this City it Swore Allegiance to Christian the First King of Denmark which pretentions
are said to have been notorious Pyrats yet at this day hardly any Seas are less infested with Pyracy than those of Norway Not that the Modern Inhabitants are blest with more Honesty than their Ancestors but the Danish sway is so rigorous as not to allow them any Shipping nor any other means to pamper grow resty and head strong but on the contrary fleeces squeezes and keeps them in the lowest servitude Their Diet is what they Export to other Countreys principally Stock Fish and a course kind of Butter and Cheese Their usual Drink Rostock Ale their manner being commonly to drink three Draughts one in remembrance of God the second to the Kings Health and the third to the Queens As the Towns in Norway are very thin so the Buildings for the most part are very poor and miserable generally patched up of dirt and hurdles somewhat resembling our Cotrage Houses in the Fen Countreys As for the Government of this Countrey it is still reckoned a distinct Kingdom from that of Denmark and had formerly Independant Kings of its own who sometimes domineer'd over the very Kings of Sweden and Denmark But the last King of the Norwegian Race who Reigned in their Kingdom was Haguin who in the year 1363 Married Margaret Eldest Daughter of Waldemar the third King of Denmark and so united the two Crowns Now tho this King had only one Son by Queen Margaret who died without Issue yet the Danes having once got footing in and possession of this Kingdom were resolved not to abandon such an advantage nor part from their Station and to secure it immediately clapt strong Garrisons into all the Cities and Fortresses of moment in the Nation For the better Management of the Government it is divided into five Prefectures answerable to the five Castles which command them Now 1. The Prefecture of Masterland or Maestrandt is situated most towards the South and is commanded by the Castle of Bahuy's now in the hands of the King of Sweden That Castle was first Built by Haguin the IV. King of Norway about the year 1309 upon a steep Rock on the Bank of the River Srollet and then esteem'd the best Fort the King had in his Dominions and a sufficient Barrier against the frequent Attacks and Inroads of the Swedes and Westro-Goths Besides the City of Maestrandt noted for the infinite quantity of Herrings caught thereabout there 's two more of less note Congal and Oldawalt The 2. Prefecture contains the Bishopricks of Anslo and Staffenger with the Province of Aggerhuys having under its Command first the Towns of Anslo Opslo or Asloia possess of most repute as being an Episcopal See and the place where the Courts of Judicature are kept for all Norway All Causes and Suits at Law being heard and determined before the Governour who acts as Vice Roy of the Kingdom The Cathedral of this Town is dedicated to Alward who took great pains to Convert the Norwegian Pagans This Church has to show the Sword of Haquin one of their most Primitive Kings being a signal Instance and Proof of the Strength and admirable Art of some Norwegians of former Ages The Hilt of it is made of Chrystal curiously wrought and polished whence some have inferred that the use of Chrystal was anciently much more ordinary in Norway than it is at this day in any part of Europe Not far from Opslo on the opposite side of the Bay stands the Castle of Aggerhuysen famous for the brave resistance it made the Swedish Army in the Year 1567 which laid a close and brisk Seige to it for Eighteen Weeks together but was at last beat off and forced to a shameful Retreat Tonsberg formerly a place of Retreat of the Kings of Norway Hammer in former times a Bishops See but now united to that of Opslo Some Authors do affirm that near unto Hammer a huge and monstrous Serpent doth constantly appear before any great Change in the State or Government of the Kingdom of Norway Saltzburg Frederikstadt and Scheene driving all a considerable Trade from the Copper and Iron Mines which abound more hereabouts than in any other part of the Kingdom In this Province were the Silver Mines above-mentioned first discovered and some of the adjoyning Hills are by the Neighbourhood to this day called Silver Bergen or the Mountains of Silver Now Norway is indebted for the greatest part if not all its Trade to those Mines and the mighty Woods of Fir and Pinetrees which overspread this part of the Country The City of Staffenger lies in 59 deg some reckon 60 and a great many odd min. of Latitude being seated upon a Demy-Island upon a great Bay of the Northern Ocean full of small Islands and guarded by the strong Castle of Doeswick which stands about two English Miles from the Town this City is a Bishops See and is divided into several Districts tho in civil Affairs it is under the Jurisdiction of the Governour of Aggerhuysen Beyond the Bay is seen the Island Schutenes Twelve English Miles in length but scarce two in breadth This Island contains several Villages and between it and the Continent runs a narrow Frith to Berghen which the Dutch Merchants call the Liedt van Berghen The Province of Tillemarch or Thylemarch appertaineth to the Bishoprick of Staffenger The Parish or Hollen in this Parish is very remarkable for a Church-Yard or Burying Place on the top of a Church Dedicated to St. Michael which is cut out of a great high Rock called by the Neighbourhood Vear upon the Lake Nordsce half a Mile distant from Scheen 't is thought by some to have been formerla a Heathenish Temple but converted to Christian uses upon the first planting of the Gospel in this Kingdom Bergenhuis is the third Castle of Command in Norway This Prefecture and Bishoprick being the most fruitful and pleasant part of all Norway lying in the middle or heart of the Kingdom to the North of Aggerhuysen It has its Name from the Stately and Noble Mart Town of Berghen or else from the strong Castle of Bergenhuysen the usual Seat of the Vice-Roy of Norway at a small distance to the North of Berghen Berghen is the Granary and Magazine of the whole Kingdom of Norway for Bahuys it is distant about Fourty hundred English Miles by Sea and Two hundred and forty by Land from Trunthein as many from Scagen the outmost Promontory of Juis Island almost Three hundred and twenty Some Etymologists have derived its Name from the Norwegian Verb Berghen which signifies to hide or conceal because the Haven being surrounded with Hills seems to be a kind of Sculking place for Ships where Vessels of Two hundred Tun and upwards ride in a spacious and most secure Harbour free from any danger of Wind and Weather But the true derivation of the word is this Berghen in the Norwegian Tongues also signifies Mountains and Bergenhuysen a Company of Houses among the Hills The Buildings of this Town till