most of these Islands but rarely prove mortal Besides the Inhabitants are exceedingly subject to Rheums which occasion Coughs and Head-achs which they nevertheless cure by drinking some Whey as hot as they can bear it Thunder they never hear in Summer but often in Winter Spring and Autumn and that too attended with violent Storms The Fertility of these Islands is not over great they affording hardly any other grain than Barley whereof nevertheless a Tun of Seed will commonly yield twenty or thirty Tun of grain But their Pasture-grounds abound in good and sweet Grass and those stockt with as large and fat Oxen as shall be seen in any other part of Europe These Islands do likewise abound in all sorts of Medicinal herbs as Scurvey-grass Water-cresses Sorrel angelica as also Radix Rhodia which is no where met with in such abundance as upon the Banks of Running Streams and Lakes in these Islands Thus they want nothing requisie for the cure of such Distempers as the Natives are most subject to Great plenty and variety of Fowl is here to be found as doves Stares Owls Sparrow-Hawks Crows Grillins and Ravens as well white as others The Sea-Fowl with them in most request is a kind of Teal about the bigness of a Crow with a long round and yellow Bill The Eyder a sort of Duck which yields the Eyder Down is a Bird peculiar to these Islands and which usually pulls the Down from her own Breast to make her Nest withal When her young one are fledg'd and fled the Natives take away the Down and change it for use But if the Feathers be pull'd off by man they rot away forthwith and are of no use Another remarkable Fowl they have by them called Imbrim with a long Neck and Beak the Back grey and chequer'd with white spots with a white Ring about the Neck This Bird has two holes under her Wings each large enough to hold an Egg here 't is thought she hatches two Eggs at once being never seen with above two young ones at a time nor known to come ashore The neighbouring Seas do provide the Natives with God Whiting large Flounders Marts a kind of Pilchards of which such store that the Havens and Creeks are filled with them besides Seals Grind Whales Morsses and Dogfish though their fishing Trade is much decayed of late years to what it was formerly These Islands were first inhabited by Norwegians about the year 840. and so the Norwegian tongue was for a long while generally spoke though of late years the Danish Dialect has much prevailed The people are humble and civil to one another and especially Courteous to Strangers Loyal and liberal in their Contributions to the Government and Charitable to the Poor they are moderate and frugal in their Dyet which is chiefly on Milk Fish Gruel and Flesh They dry both their Flesh and Fish in the Wind having Wind houses for that purpose when the flesh is dryed they boyl it in Water and thicken the Broth with Barley Meal which is reckon'd one of their greatest Delicacies As for their Apparel the Men wear woollen shirts flannel Trowces and Wastcoats with short loose Coats of the same The Women rich and poor go all alike in strait Growns without skirts Their Stomachers are commonly large and adorn'd with thin gingling guilt plates of Tin Their Shoes have no soles but have pieces of leather drawn together at the Heels and Toes and fastned with a string or ribband about the Ancle and are of Sheep-skin for the Women and tann'd Neats leather for the Men. They lie on Beds of Hay overspread with pieces of flannel These People were first Converted to Christianity in the year 1000. by Sigismoad Bristyon a Native of Fero who was sent by the King of Denmark into his own Country for that purpose Immediately after the Augsbourg Confession was received in Denmark and Norway it was established in Fero these Islands containing at this day thirty nine Parishes which are all officiated by Ministers of the Lutheran Religion Besides Sundays Holy-days and the usual days of Prayer as in other places they annually observe six peculiar days of Prayer three in Ascension week and three in Michaelmas week They have one publick School endowed by King Christian the 4. and Nichilas Trolls Vice-Admiral of Denmark As to the Government of these Islands it is divided into the six Districts of Norderoe Ostaroe Stromoe Waaegoe Sandoe and Sanorce Each of these Districts has a Sheriff who sits as Judge and determines all Causes and Controversies of less moment The Laws of Norway are the Laws of these Islands They having none peculiar of their own The Ecclesiastical affairs are governed by a Synod of the Priests and Ministers who meet and fit once a year Out of the whole Synod one is Elected to preside over the rest with the title of Provost The Principal Commodities these Islands afford are Skins Feathers Tallow Train-oyl and Stockings upon all which there is a particular price set Stockins are the chief staple Commodity they have in the making of which all the Inhabitants of all Conditions are constrained to employ themselves for the getting a lively-hood which the smallness of their Incomes their slender possessions and inconsiderable stipends would hardly otherwise afford As for the Isle of Schetland which many will have to be the Ancient Thule it lies about sixty Degrees a few odd Minutes of Northern latitude and has nothing very observable the manners of its Inhabitants the natuae of its Soyl the temperature of its Air c. being much the same as in Iseland Of Iseland Iseland is an Isle in the Deucalidonian Seas scituate under the Artick Circle at 13 Degrees and 30 min. of longitude and 65 deg and 44 min. of latitude being bounded on the East with the Northern Ocean on the South with the Deucaledonian Sea on the North and West with the frozen Sea of Greeland The Discovery of this Island was first made by one Naddoc who sayling near the Coasts of the Fero Islands was by a storm forc'd upon the Northern parts of this Island which by reason of the abundance of Snow wherewith the Country was then covered he called Sneeland After that it was a second time discovered by a Sweedish Marriner called Gardar who called it Gardarsholm after his own name and finally discovered by one Flocco a Norwegian Pyrate who called it Iseland from the vast quantities of Ice in it and about it being frozen continually for the space of eight months and so vehemently chilled with the Northern winds that it yieldeth neither Corn nor Trees except Juniper only Ingulph a Norwegian Baron is said to have brought the first Inhabitants into this Island in the year 874. though there is reason to believe it was peopled before that time known too by the English and Irish it being acknowledged that the Ancient Iselanders called the Irish Papey and the Western part of their Isle as most frequented
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
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