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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
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

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

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

neyther have they any word beginning with two consonants and therefore when they pronounce any such word in other languages they leave out such letters and for this cause if they be not sent abroad while they are yet young they can never learne to pronounce forreigne languages and thus for gratus they pronounce ratus for spes pes for Dominus tominus for bonus ponus c. And this is the reason why the Nobles Merchants and others of ability send their youth to be instructed in the Swedish tongue by which meanes they are afterwards fitted for the learning of any other Againe in their language they observe no genders having one onely articles se which they attribute to both sexes and to all genders Some others for brevity I here willingly passe by These Finlanders in former times had Kings of their owne nation great warres with the Swedish untill such time as being by Ericus King of Sweden subdued in the yeere 1130. they were also forced to embrace the Christian faith Now this King subdued not the whole countrey but afterwards Birgerus Ieri subdued Tavastia and againe Turgillus subdued Runts or Carelia and about the yeere 1193. the better to keepe them in obedience and withall to inhibit the incursions of the Russians hee built the castle Viburg Finland is divided into the South North Caiania Savolaxia Tavastia Nylandia and Carlia The Northerne part is divided from the Southerne by the river Amarokei running hard by the Episcopall sea Abo. In the Westerne part thereof is that old castle Gust● now ruinated in the East part the castle Raseberg together with the Jurisdiction thereto belonging The Northerne part thereof extends it selfe towards the Bothnicke gulfe Nothward comprehending the one and the other Salagundia Vienio and Maseo In it is a famous river called Cumo-elffe abounding with Salmons and many other dainty fishes and neere the Episcopal City Biornebegh falling into the Sea Betwixt this city and Abo are the townes Raumo Nystadh and Nadhandill where was of old that famous Monastery called the valley of grace Caiania called also the Easterne Bothnia is furnished with many goodly fishie rivers It hath lately built there in the towns Vla and Vasa as also the castles Caianoburgum and Vloburgum Sauolaxia abounds with goodly lakes an rivers and almost all of them disburden themselves by the river Vox into that great lake Ladoga This lake Togetha together with these rivers among all the rest of this Scanzian country doe onely breed the seacalfe called Phoca and Vitulus Marinus They are likewise furnished with abundance of other good fishes and among others great Iackes and Pikes which are from thence being first dryed with the frost in great abundance transported to Viburgum In it is also a very faire strong castle built in the yeere 1475. by one Ericus Axelson Master of the Kings houshold and by him called Saint Olauus castle Tavastia is a mediterranean countrey and in it that famous and renowned lake Peiende The srong castle of Tavastia was built by Bergerus Ieri to curbe and keepe under these Tavastians by him newly conquered and subjugated under the Crowne of Sweden having withall compelled them to embrace the Christian religion In the North parts of this countrey the inhabitants fish out of the bottomes of their lakes a certaine rude matter which with small labour and paines and as little charges they make very good yron and very serviceable for mans use Nylandia not that it was so called as though in former times it had beene without any inhabitants but by reason that those who doe now inhabite the same in comparison of other were but newly come thither for the Helsingians and other people of Sweden sent thither their colonies The countrey is fruitful enough and well furnished with store of fish fowle wild beasts for hunting It hath in it two townes Borgo and Hefingfors Carelia is a large and vast Region and seemeth that the old inhabitants lived most by their sheepe and cattell for Curia in their language signifieth sheepe or cattell So long as the Finlanders had a King of their owne nation over them all this countrey of Carelia belonged to Finland but since the Swedish did so much by warre annoy the inhabitants that by little and little they brought many of the Provinces of that country to become tributary to them the Russians much suspecting the power arising of so potent a neighbouring Prince thought in time to anticipate his enemies designes for the which cause this Russian Prince by force of armes made himselfe Master of this whole countrey And this same country was for many yeeres after the common theater of warre betwixt those two potent Princes of Sweden and Russia and that for a long tract of time with various and doubtfull event sometimes the one and sometimes again the other party prevailing untill such time as Magnus surnamed Smek King of Sweden and George Duke of Novogardia divided it equally betwixt them setting appointing their limits and bounds in Systerbecke Now how it came wholly within these few yeeres under the crowne of Sweden shall hereafter in its proper place appeare In this Carelia is that strong city Wiburg a famous staple or mart towne for merchants exceeding well fortified with strong walls and deepe large motes round about and a strong castle in the same This same City have the Russians often but in vaine besieged with 100000. armed men Rexholmia by the Swedish corruptly so called and by the Russians Carologorod or the fort or fortresse of Carelia is seated very strongly in two little Ilands at the mouth of the river Wexen in the one of which is seated the city and in the other the castle The soyle is very fruitfull especially such places as adjoyne next unto the great lake Ladesco Ozera but 15. or 20. miles further from the lake it is so marshie and fenny that the mountainous and hilly parts thereof will onely beare come for the which cause the inhabitants there live most vpon fish and wild beasts and this aforementioned lake is one of the greatest of all Europe as being above 190. miles in length and about 80. in breadth and of this lake about the fifth part onely belongs to the Russian Prince and all the rest to the Crowne of Sweden In this great lake besides the great abundance of Salmons and other fishes there is there caught a little fish also little bigger then a hering and in their language called Ladog no where else in all Russia but there to be found from whence this lake takes the denomination In the countrey of Rexholme are some rubies found Next Carelia followes both in the order of nature and situation the countrey called Ingria which was but lately annexed to the Crowne of Sweden The soile is very fruitful in the which are many rivers full of good wholesome fish

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

and to baptize their children c. But Charles the 9. and father to this famous and great Gustavus now raigning built in severall places of this country certaine chappells and churches for the exercise of Religion This people is ninble active and very good souldiers which if envy it selfe should deny yet that memorable battell fought neer Leipzig will witnes to the worlds end some of the hils of this country yeeld precious stones viz. Diamonds Topazes and Amethists At this day these Laplanders are subject to 3. Kings of Sweden Denmark and the great Duke of Russia The greatest the best part of this country viz. all the South mediterranian part belongs to the King of Sweden a very huge vast countrey extending from the 69. to the 71. degree of northerly latitude being above 400. miles in length and above 360. in breadth This country is diuided into 5. several territoties or jurisdictions called Lapmarchia to wit Vmalapmarck Pitalapmarck Tornlapmarek Kimilapmarck whose inhabitants pay tribute to none but to the King rf Sweden To Norway now under the danish King belongeth that tract running along long the sea-coast called Finmarchia and the inhabitants Siofuni or maritime inhabitants living upon fish onely The rest belongs to the Russian Prince from the castle of Vardhus to the mouth of the milbrie sea in the Swedish tongue called Trennes in the Laplanders language Prihinienni and in the Russian speech Tarchanavolech even at this day Now next after the country of Sweden followes in order Gothia or Gothland as if one should say a good land being also subect to the Crowne of Sweden divided from the same by a great wood only This is the ancient country and naturall soile of so many warlike people which in former ages have made their names famous to future generations which honour many other nations would willingly assume unto themselves the which subject for brevities sake I must here passe This countrey is divided into two parts East and West Gothland To West Gothland belong these Provinces following Vestrogothia Dalia and Vermelandia vnto which some joyne Hallandia Vestrogothia as it is somewhat inferiour to the most fruitfull parts of Sweden regard of corne so doth it againe in good pastures for cattle exceed them wherein consists their chiefe riches as the others in their tillage increase of corn It is also watered with many rivers yielding great store of fish besides divers Citties and Townes The Citties are Gotheburgum a great and rich staple for trafficke Slara an Episcopall Sea Mariesladum and Lidecopia The townes thereof Fabropia Sbredni Hin Bogesund Beretta and Lindosia the old Dalia is a mountainous countrey in most places hath many fishie rivers and lakes and pasture for cattell in no small abundance in so much that there are farre greater oxen found in that countrey then in other places Vermelandia among all the Gothish Provinces best inhabited and colonies first carried thither by Olaus Trekelius It is a hilly and wood-land countrey yet not unfurnished of yron mynes and one of copper reasonable rich but lately found aut In it is one citty called Carolostadium built by Charles the 9. in a place before called Tingualla Hallandia a little countrey adjoyning thereto because belonging to the King of Denmarke I there of set purpose passe by The Provinces of East Gothland are Ostrogothia Smalandia and Oelandia with which in former times were also reckoned Gotlandia Scania and Bleckingia Ostrogothia is for the most part a plaine champian countrey and so fruitfull that it exceedeth many other Provinces of Sweden and by some thought not to equall onely but even to exceede Vpland it selfe the principall Province of the whole Swedish dominion It is exceeding pleasant and very well furnished with many fishie rivers abundance of wild beasts and wild fowle and finally whatsoever is useful for mans sustnance except wine and salt Neither is it unfurnished of mynes in the mountanous parts of Godegard Hellestaberg and Vongaberg In it is seated the City Vadstenan adorned with a faire castle and an Abbey dedicate to Saint Brigeta There is besides it Scheningia sometimes of great fame and note but now reduced to the forme of a Towne Lanicopia an Episcopall Sea Norcopia and Sudercopia two famous staples or Townes for trafficke Smalandia a large country above 300. miles in compasse and is for the most part full of great woods and yet for good pastures nothing inferiour to many of the neighbour countries insomuch that they send many very great fed cattle into Denmarke which are from thence yeerely in great abundance sent into all high Germany and the lowcountries In it are also great store of great rivers lakes wel stored with abundance of excellent good fish In that part called Tinstia there are copper mines newly found out In Taberg there are good steele mynes and besides out of their lakes they gather a certaine rude matter which with very small labour is made very good yron This countrey is divided into divers parts the principall whereof are Tieherad Verandia Tinstia as also Finherdia and Mantingia famous for the Longobards expedition Cities for the largenesse of the countrey it hath not many the chiefe are Calmarnia levecopia Vexio an Episcopall Sea Elresio and Vestervile Olandia is a rich and fruitfull Iland abounding in many rich commodities But because this Iland as likewise Hallandia and Bleckingia are at this present under the obedience of the Danish King I will here passe by it And yet shall it not be out of purpose to take notice that these Ilands have beene the cause of great quarrells and controversies betwixt these two neighbouring Princes Sweden and Denmark and no lesse cotnrouersie hath it caused among Writers some pretending a right some a long prescription of time to corroborate the Title of their Prince whose right they tooke upon them to maintaine Next in order followes Finland which some thinke so to be called in comparison of Sweden as though it did in fruitfulnesse farre exceed it who are foulely deceived for it is more probable that it was first called Fiendland by reason of the great hostility those Finlanders exercised against this nation so long as they were commanded by a King of their owne This countrey abounds in corne pastures fish and fowle and finally in such things as are most necessary for the life of man this people is very laborious and able to endure hardship Of old they were esteemed the mildest among all those Scanzian people howbeit at this day they be somewhat harsher and their valour in warre was well witnessed in this last memorable battle fought neere Leipsig in Misnia They have a peculiar language of their owne in the which are some singularities to be observed namely that some letters they cannot pronounce as B D G and that they want the letter F

king or his vicegerent shall notwithstanding his non-appearance unlesse very iust cause may bee shewed proceed to sentence against him Now as concerning their particular lawes statutes and ordinances the times and turnes of their meetings in Courts of Iustice the manner of choosing their Iudges their oaths and what by them to be observed as being too long and tedious for this short tractate I willingly passe by But if any be desirous to know their particular statute lawes he may have recourse to their history and such as have of set purpose collected and set them downe in order I proceed now to speake of the might and power of this great king and then by what meanes it is maintained CHAP. V. Of the might and power of the King of Sweden as well by Sea as by land ANd first for his sea forces it is certaine that the king of Sweden besides his gallies and small ships whereof in those seas he possesseth no small number hath beene many yeeres agoe furnished with fifty brave war-ships upon all occasions ready for service and many of them furnished with 60. 70. or 80. great peeces of brasse Ordnance and now questionlesse hee is furnished with a farre greater number Neither yet is it any hard matter for him to make vp the number of 6000 saile within his dominions not of rowers and ordinary watermen I meane but even of expert sailers pilots masters of ships masters mates c. For all that tract about the sea coast of Finland being at least 40 miles in length together with the coast of the Redeucke sea twice as long besides a number of Ilands afford the inhabitants daily meanes of no small commerce and traffiking by sea by which means the marriners may easily become both bold and expert Besides their maintenance is not very chargeable to the king for the most of their pay is in fish flesh butter and cheese ryce and barly such commodities as many of his countries yeeld him for tribute These ships in time of peace use to be distributed into divers parts of the kingdom The greatest cōmonly ly in Stockholme haven which Port is so fenced against all winds that there they may safely ride against all winds without any anchors besides that there they are also free from any hostile invasion there being no accesse thither for any ships but by 24. miles sailing and that by a number of dangerous rockes The rest of those ships are dispersed into divers other harbours especially those of Finland that so they may be alwayes in a readinesse if peradventure the Russian should make any sudden stirre Some of them againe are bestowed in such ports and haven townes whereas they may inhibite the importation of such commodities out of high Germany as might tend to the ruine of the kingdome and therefore the kings maiesty suffereth no ship to come from thence unlesse they have first a passe granted them subscribed with his maiesties owne hand the which the Merchants of Lubeck often purchase at a round rate And to conclude this king is very powerfull by sea And no lesse powerfull is he also by land for he is able in a short space from among his owne subiects to raise a great armie of foot who by reason of their frequent conflicts sometimes with the Dane sometimes with the Russian but especially with the Polonian have purchased unto themselves no small experience in military affaire having infinitely improved the valour and prowesse derived unto them by their ancestours This king may in a fortnights space call out twelve legions of well experienced souldiers reckoning three thousand to a legion and may carry them whither he list out of the kingdome yea if it were even to the very Indians neither yet is he unfurnished of choice able and skilfull horsemen as well in Sweden as in Finland both these countries being well furnished with exceeding good horses the which how farre in bulke of body inferiour to those of high Germany and other nations so farre perhaps doe they againe surpasse them in bountie And in truth they are very stout and in consideration of their low stature exceeding strong being accustomed to hard labour and easily undergoing any travell or toile and withall contented with any food The lownesse of their stature hath beene the sole cause that heretofore this king hath most commonly hyred his horsemen out of high Germany when he was to wage warre against any potent enemy Now how great forces both of horse foot this mighty Prince is able to bring into the field may not onely by his late war against the Polonian but by this late and last expedition into Germany undertaken for the freeing of many distressed Princes and people from the tyranny of the Austrian house and restoring them againe to their ancient inheritances easily be evidenced and witnessed unto us After ages no doubt will stand amazed at the multitude of his valiant acts with so great celerity valour and magnanimitie atchieved in so short a time who may well with that great conquerour Iulius Cesar say veni vidi vici and gratefull posteritie will eternize his name so long as sunne and moone shall endure and blesse the time that so pious and prosperous a Prince was borne to the Christian world Many things were some yeeres agoe related to the Pope by his Nuncio concerning the multitude and distribution of the military forces of this kingdome concerning their pay also military discipline c. all which although since that time much improoued yet for the present I let passe and proceed to other matters CHAP. VI. Of customes and tribute belonging to the king of Sweden NOW to maintaine all this great charge of warre and other expences there must bee some meanes whereby it may bee effected For this purpose therfore there are certaine tributes and customes yeerely paid into the kings coffers and these are of three sorts The first sort of tribute is that which is raised of his mines out of the which not onely are digged iron copper and lead in great abundance but even silver also of the which are coined the Swedish dollors for finenesse of mettall inferior to no other silver whatsoever Now some of these Mynes are digged at the kings own cost and charges and some at the cost of private persons Of the first the king hath the whole benefit and of the latter but the tenth part as of other commodities Of two copper Mines onely at this time the king receives a very great benefit and besides by reason of this abundance of brasse and copper it commeth to passe that hee is so well able to furnish himselfe with brasse Ordnance and that not for his Castles and Forts onely but for his Ships also the sum whereof is no lesse then 8000. at the least and in the Castle of Stockeholme alone there are at least 400. great pieces of brasse Ordnance and more might yet be

Brandenburg one of the Princes Electors of the sacred Empire who although she bare him some children yet lived they not long In the yeare 1624. she bare him a daughter 1. Christina but dyed the same yeare The next yeare after she bare him againe another daughter called also 2. Christina yet living and in the yeare 1627 she was in a Parliament then holden at Stockeholme declared here apparent to the crowne of Sweden It hath been a little before related how his father Charles the ninth of that name died during his warre with Denmarke and withall hath beene shewed how at the same time the same Prince had hot warre with the Prince of Russia by which may easily appeare into what a labyrinth of troubles was this young king at his first comming to the crowne involved In both these warres he carryed his affaires so well that thorow the helpe of Almighty God he hath procured himselfe ever since a firme and inviolable peace with that great Prince He had with the Dane divers conflicts yet alwayes demeaned himselfe so worthily that he came off with great honour and credit so that at length that great king seeing hee had to meddle with his match was willing to accoodate his Martiall thoughts to entertaine at treatie of peace and so these two great Princes of mortall enemies became loving and kind friends and have since confirmed a strait league of amity and friendship As for the Russian Prince he had with him yet some greater difficulty to undergoe there resting some strong and almost impregnable places to be taken and the evidences concerning such territories as the Russian had for good consideration assigned his father to bee recovered Amd although my purpose bee not particularly to enlarge my selfe upon all the severall occurrances of this warre yet are there in the same some things to be obseraed not unworthy the readers consideration whereof I will give but a touch After his fathers decease then having setled the affaires of his kingdome at home although he had to deale with so potent an enemie as the king of Denmarke as hath beene said already yet did he not neglect this warre against the Russian and for this purpose prepared a great army to prosecute that which his father had left unfinished Now it is to bee understood that these forts and places hee tooke in from the Russian Prince are the strongest holds and as it were the very keyes of all the Russian dominion That countrey is corruptly called Rexholme from a strong City and Castle seated in two little Ilands in the mouth of the river Woxen in the one of which the Castle and in the other the City is seated although the right name of this countrey among Historians be knowne by the name Carelia But among all these strong holds castles none is to be compared with the strong fort Notteburg which hath therefore hitherto ever beene holden invincible untill now of late experience hath taught us the contrary It is built in a little Iland in the mouth of the swift river Nerva and by reason of the breadth of the river could not be battered with ordnance This strong cattle therefore being of so great importance was never unfurnished But the great God of heaven who according to his good will and pleasure disposes of all these sublunary things and infatuates the wisedome of the wise delivered this inuincible fort into the hands of an invincible Prince a presage no doubt of his future great and glorious victories But the manner is yet more admirable for within the souldiers were not unfurnished of sufficient foode and the enemies force as said is they needed not much to feare but within their mouthes and throats there grew so many great warts that although they had food sufficient yet could they not feed on the same nor yet swallow down any sustenance for the which cause they were forced to surrender this strong fort into his maiesties hands And so he that made the walls of Iericho at the found of a rammes horne to fall downe to make a way for his owne people of Israel to enter this City found out this way to take in this invincible fort And whosoever sees not the same providence accompanying prospering him in this so great a warre now undertaken against the whole power of the Austrian house and the Catholick league I thinke is more then pur-blind There is in that same countrey another strong Castle Iuanogorod seated on the top of a high rocke in an Isthmus or narrow plaine a great part thereof being environed with this swift river And although on the west side as it looketh towards the river it might be batered yet both that way as likewise both the south and north parts were well defended by this river and on the east there was a low valley digged by natures owne industry where the people had their habitation the countrey about being plain and levell and so high that the ordnance could touch onely the tops of the turrets and goe no lower Neither yet was there any undermining by reason or that soile which was altogether rockie This fort notwithstanding together with the former 2. and many more were by this same king taken in the yeare 1617 in so much that this great Prince was then put in no small feare of loosing all or the greater part of his dominion whereof there was then no small danger Wherefore the great Knezor or Duke Michael Feodorouitz sonne to the former perfidious Iuani Vasilienitz Suski earnestly suing for peace it was at length by the mediation of king Iames of famous memory effected and in the yeare 1618. fully finished and agreed upon And thus were those aforementioned townes and forts and divers others belonging to this Carelia Ruthenica or countrey of Rexholme together with all the deeds and evidences thereunto pertaining resigned over and delivered into to the hands of this king and for ever annexed unto the Crowne of Sweden and all other places during this warre taken from the Russian againe to him restored as in the articles of agreement in 18. more at length is to be seene Neither was this king then part 21. yeares of age when he had brought to a happy end two so great and important warres Now after this happy and peaceable conclusion having established peace in al his Prouinces he gave not himself over to his lustfull pleasures as is often too customary with young Princes nor to drowne himselfe with sinnefull delights but gane himselfe wholly to beautifie and adorne this peaceable kingdome whereof shee was now fully possessed which could no better be effected then by confirming the ancient good and wholesome lawes and constitutions of the kingdome adding some others as occasion required And therefore as was already touched he not onely reinforced the former lawes and constitutions concerning trafficke and commerce betwixt the sea townes but added also divers others tending to that same