adorne their garments therewith as we doe with silver and gold lace In former times they were much addicted to sorcery and witchcraft howbeit that is now well reformed Their tents In stead of houses they use tents made of the barke of birch sowed together Their tents In the winter time they meete togther at certaine places and faile not where both these aforementioned merchants find them to trafficke with the Kings customers The meetings to demand their tribute and the Churchmen were wont to come to catechize them 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 Nature of the people 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 Good soldiers Diamonds Topazes and Amethists among them 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 Diuision of this countrey This country is diuided into 5. several territories or jurisdictions called Lapmarchia to wit Vmalapmarck Pitalapmarck Tornlapmarck 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 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 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 Division of this country East and West Gothland To West Gothland belong these Provinces following Vestrogothia Dalia and Vermelandia vnto which some joyne Hallandia Vestrogothia Vestrgothia as it is somewhat inferiour to the most fruitfull parts of Sweden in 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 yeelding great store of fish besides divers Citties and Townes The Citties Citties are Gotheburgum a great and rich staple for trafficke Slara an Episcopall Sea Mariesladum and Lidecopia The townes Townes thereof Fabropia Sbredni Hin Bogesurd Beretta and Lindosia the old Dalia 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 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 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 Blockingia Ostrogothia 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 Fertility of the soyle 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 Vangaberg 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 Laenicopia an Episcopall Sea Norcopia and Sudercopia two famous staples or Townes for trafficke Smalandia 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 Good pastures 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 Mines of copper and steele 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 Ticherad Verandia Tinstia Division of this country as also Finberdia and Mantingia famous for the Longobards expedition Cities for the largenesse of the countrey it hath not many the chiefe are Calmarnia Ievecâ—pias Vexio an Episcopall Sea Elresio and Vestervile Olandia 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 Occasion of warres betwixt the two neighbouring Princes .. 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 Finlandia 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 VVhy so called 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 Nature of this people 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 Singularities in their languagess and that they want the letter F 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 When and by whom first subdued 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 dived into the South North Caiania Savolaxia Tavastia Nylandia and Carlia The Northerne part is divided from the Southerne by the river Amarokei Division of the country running hard by the Episcopall sea Abo. In the Westerne part thereof is that old castle Gusto now ruinated in the East part the castle Raseberg Cities towns and castles together with the jurisdiction thereto belonging The Northerne part thereof extends it selfe towards the Bothnicke gulfe Northward 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 Caiania called also the Easterne Bothnia is furnished with many goodly fishie rivers It hath lately built there in the towns Townes Vla and Vasa as also the castles Caianoburgum and Vloburgum Sauolaxia Savolaxia abounds with goodly lakes and 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 Lake-Ladoga called Phoca and Vitulus Marinus They are likewise furnished with abundance of other good fishes Sea-calfe and among others great Iackes and Pikes which are from thâ—nce 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 Nystat 1475. by one Ericus Axelson Master of the Kings houshold and by him called Saint Olanus castle Tavastia is a mediterranean countrey Tavastia Nystat or New-castle and in it that famous and renowned lake Peiende The strong castle of Tavastia was built by Borgerus 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 Yron made of water with small labour and paines and as little charges they make veny 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 Nylandi 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 fruitfull enough and well furnished with store of fish fowle wild beasts for hunting It hath in it two townes 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 Novegardia 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 hereafer in its proper place appeare In this Carelia is that strong city Wiburg VViburg 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 Rexholmia by the Swedish corruptly so called and by the Russians Carologored 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
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 no meane Prince nor of small power His chiefe countrey and from which he takes his chiefe denomination is called by some Suconia Suconia and the people from thence Sucones as also and with us most frequently Suevia Suevia and the people Swevi now there is in high Germany another countrey founding 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 corne 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 dainty 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 West 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 parts 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. Division of the kingdome of Sweden The Kingdome of Sweden is divided into Sweden Gothland Finland Ingria and Esthionia Sweden or Swethland called Suecia or Sucovia into Sucovia properly so called and the Northlands Nordlandias Of Sucovia properly so called Sucovia and the parts thereof are these parts or Provinces following Vplandia Vestmania Dalecharlia Nevira and Suedermania This country Vplandia Vplandia hath most commonly bin graced with the pre-eminence above the rest and where the King hath most commonly kept his Court. Conmodities of this countrey 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 Mines in this countrey Division of Vplandia 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 not only of this but of all the other Provinces of the Swedish dominions Stackholme Stockholme 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 Melenus it hath brought from the inland al maner of grain butter cheese and such other commodies usefull for the life of man as also copper 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. It is much of the same degree of northerly latitude with the city Aberden in the north of Scotland it being seated in the South part of Sweden to wit betwixt the 58. and 59. degree Next unto it is Vpsalia 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 this Province some others of good note howbeit inferiour to the former to wit Enecopia Sigrundia Oregrundia The next Province of Sneonia is Vestmania 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 Rich Mines 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 saire 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 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
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 Pratoriale 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 The Ral or Court Royal. 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 Iustice heire 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 fame 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 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 Courrts 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 Sea forces it is certaine that the king of Sweden besides his gallies and small ships Number of 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 Number of Mariners and sailers 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 His land forces 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 The horses not
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 societies The whole government of this kingdome comprehended in certaine societies or colledges which comprehend the whole government of the same The first of these is called the Colledge of Iustice 1 Colledge or societie of Iustice in the wihch are 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 Nomophylaces 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 whose power 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 2 Colledge or societie is that of warre or court Marshall To this court belongs the Councell of War wherein are all military matters deliberated and discussed and over this court presides the great Marshall 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-scirs 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 is that of the Chancerie 3 Colledge the court of the Chancery in which are handled all manner of causes both civill and ecclesiasticall In this Court presides the Lord Chancellour of the kingdome The Lord Chancellours office who hath the chiefe charge of the broad seale 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 4 Colledge the Admirall court 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 5 Colledge 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 The Lord Marshals office 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 master 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. Particular division of he Provinces into smaller parts Moreover this whole kingdome is not onely divided into severall Provinces 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 Severall Iudges 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 plantife 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 The supreame Iudge 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
bigge in bulke 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 This king hireth commonly his horsemen 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 Customes threefold For this purpose therfore there are certaine tributes and customes yeerely paid into the kings coffers and these are of three sorts Customes arising from his mynes 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 owne 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 Great number of brasse Ordnance 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 made if there were any need And if the country people did not oftentimes conceal some mines newly found out the profit which would arise out of these mynes would amount to a farre greater summe Customes revenues arising from the fruits of the earth The next way by which the kings revenues are increased is from the fruits of the earth and his customes as well by sea as by land for the king hath the tythes of all manner of graine wheate rye barly c. as also of butter cheese of beasts hides fish and the like the certainty of which reuenues although it be not to us assuredly knowne yet no question ariseth it to no small summe and as is credible to little lesse then 9 or 10. millions say their writers but this must be understood of their owne coine and account not of Sterline money Now concerning his customes Customes of all manner of merchandise the king receiveth custome of all wares transported out of the kingdome or imported into the same And that there be no want of good silver coyne within the kingdome this order hath beene for many yeares agoe established to wit that for every hundreth dollors worth of merchandize transported out of the kingdome they shall pay into the custome-house tenne silver dollors in kind or else tenne ounces of silver for the which they receiue in present pay the worth in other small copper coine of Swedish money currant within the kingdome And for every hundreth dollors worth of wares so transported out of the kingdome the merchant is tyed to bring into the kingdome againe the worth of 90. dollors of such wares as are usefull for the kingdome and for these 90. dollors worth of wares they are to pay into the custome-house tenne dollors or ten ounces of silver or else the worth thereof in other money And whosoever shall faile in any of the premisses for the first fault hee shall pay 20 Swedish markes Customes of furres and rich skins and the next time all his wares shall be confiscate As for the revenue and custome of rich skins and furs it is sometimes more and sometimes lesse according to the intensenesse and remisnesse of the cold and the abundance of snow For the greater is the snow the greater number of these wild beasts are taken Out of the country of Lapland the Northermost of all his Provinces the king receives a great number of these skins or rich furs And to the end he be not couzned he sendeth thither euery yeare an officer being a clerke who so narrowly inquireth into the number of these beasts so killed that very hardly can he be deceived These rich furs the king disposeth of among his kindred and friends and sometimes also hee exchangeth them with merchants for other wares wherewith they furnish his Court. The third sort of revenue consisteth in voluntary or arbitrary contributions The third sort of custome or revenue arbitrary or voluntary contributions answerable to our subsidies and fifteenes in this kingdome For whensoever the king is to undertake a warre offensive or defensive he calls a Parliament wherin he acquainteth the subiect with his purpose and what charges it is like to arise vnto and then the States of the kingdome agree vpon a certaine summe answerable to the busines to be undertaken But the Nobles and chiefe Gentrie and their tenants are for the most part freed from these impositions unlesse upon very urgent and important occasions But if there be an extreame necessitie and there be not otherwise sufficient supply then their vassals and tenants are tyed to pay halfe of the taxe or subsidie as well as those who are immediately subiect to the king himselfe Besides all this the subiect is tyed to contribute to the marriage of the kings daughters whose dowrie hath been hitherto 100000. dollors neare upon 40000. pound sterling money besides
plate and other mooveables unto the which neverthelesse the king may adde at his pleasure as he seeth occasion And whensoever the king permits any of his Court deserving subiects to any preferment he commonly assignes him a certaine number of country people who are esteemed as his vassalls and subiects and are to doe him homage and pay him tribute and certaine duties CHAP. VII Of the Kings of this countrey of Sweden with some of their chiefe and memorable Acts. MOst of the Northerne nations have time out of mind had their Kings by election as the Dane Swedish Polonian and Bohemian The kings of Sweden have beene untill of late yeeres electiue And although it was a matter of no small difficulty among barbarous nations where Mars was more honoured then Minerva and good literature the meanes to eternize heroicall worth scarce heard of in these remote regions to finde out any thing concerning their kings worth the writing yet have we the names of divers kings of that nation recorded of old howbeit a constant and continued succession without any interruption wee cannot reade of 1 In the first place then they tell us that Magog 1 King Magog sonne to Iaphet Noahs son the founder of the Scythian nation in Europe having passed over the Venedicke gulfe into Gothland by the Latines afterward called by the name of Scythia reigned over those people called Gete Others and that of the more learned ascribe rather the originall of the Goths to Gomer Iaphets eldest sonne and make those two nations Goths and Gete different and distinct nations 2 Vnto Magog as they write succeeded Swennus 2 Swennus from whom the nation tooke the name 3 Gethar 3 Gethar 4 Vbbo 4 Vbbo who as they write builded Vpsalia before Abraham was borne And from that time untill our Lord and Saviour they reckon up 35. kings and distinguish them all by their severall names and many of those for their sanctitie of life and conspicuous and eminent vertues were by the rude rimes of those dayes highly commended And besides these divers other kings are yet recorded to have reigned ouer those who under the command of one Berico for feare of intestine warre fled their owne countrey and among those mention is made of one king of the Getes in order 22 Colison by name to whom Augustus Cesar betroathed his daughter Iulia about the which time also Antonius demaunded his daughter in marriage as may cleerely appeare by Suetonius in the life of Augustus Moreover about the time of our Savior reigned Ericus the third surnamed Diserius who for his worth and merit attained to this government To this Ericus 40 Ericus the 3. succeded to the government of the Swedish nation 41 Godrichus 41 Goodrichus his sonne and next to him 42 Haldanus 42 Haldanus during the reigne of this king lived that monster of strength for the same cause called Starcherus who is said at singular combats to have killed that great champion Ham which afterwards gave denomination to that famous City Hamburg After those is a long catalogue of their kings recorded but nothing concerning their acts worth the reading recorded that nation then standing more upon the point of valour and honour then upon penning of them for posteritie But farre more fortunate have they beene in their forreine expeditions and transmigrations when as like a great deluge and inundation they overflowed a great part of the world under the names of Ostrogoths and Westrogoths and under the commandement of Theodoricus Attalariake Iotila Ataulphus c. whose martial and heroicall exploits the Romans highly advancing and lest they should conceale their owne worth have pubâ—ished to all posteritie Vnder Biorno 100 Biorno their 100 home-bred king Lewes sonne to Charles the great swaying the scepter of the Westerne Empire this nation of Sweden first received the Christian faith Sanctus Augerius a monke of Gorbey much furthering then this so worthy a worke Author est Ludolphus de Bebenburg in libro de zelo religionis Christianae CHAP. VIII 124 ERicus Sanctus 124 Ericus Sanctus 4. or the holy after whom the posteritie of Suercherus and Ericus by turnes with much contention as the one or the other grew strongest usurped the gouernment This pious Prince notwithstanding his great agnitie and pietie and paines taken in an expedition to convert the Finlanders to the faith had but a slender reward being bulled by a conspiracy of some of his Nobility Henry King of Denmarke and Magnus his sonne being the ring-leaders of this faction An. 1160. 125 Charles 125 Charles 7. sonne to Stercherus having raigned two yeeres during the raigne of Ericus over the Ostrogoths who in the election of a king dissenting from the Swedish had chosen one of their owne and afterwards for the space of 8. yeares very religiously and vertuously ouer both kingdomes but being now hated by reason of his friendship with the Dane was at length by Canutus sonne to S. Ericus being by some perswaded that this Charles with the helpe of the Dane had contriued his fathers death killed in in the Iland of Visnuga 1168. 126 Canutus 129 Canutus sonne to S. Ericus having done penance for killing king Charles and being by the discreet counsell of the Bishop of Lunden diverted from assailing the Dane dyes 1192. 127 Stercherus 117 Stercherus sonne to Charles a martiall man wise and eloquent itching for revenge on the posterity of Canutus having altered his former nature gathered great forces out of Denmarke was at length with his whole army utterly overthrowne and againe in another bloudy battle himselfe killed 1210. 128 Ericus 128 Ericus 3. sonne to Canutus having escaped Stercherus his hands raigned very prosperously for the space of 7. yeares the which 7 yeares histories mention to have been exceeding fruitfull but in the eight yere with the death of their king this fruitfulnes was also finished 1216. 129 Iohn 129 Iohn 1. sonne to Stercherus a very pious young man of exceeding great hopes dyed notwithstanding within three yeares after 1222. 130 Ericus Balbus 130 Ericus Balbus sonne to the nephew of S. Ericus Against him conspires his kinsman Folchingus expelling him out of his kingdome but within a short space the tyde turning he being killed he left Ericus the peaceable possession of the kingdome after this he converts his forces against the Tavastians sending against them the Prince of the Ostrogoths a man of very eminent vertues whom after hee had subdued and converted he dyes 1150. 131 Valdemarus by meanes of a valiant souldier Iuanus Blaa during his fathers absence was elected king The father being returned from this expedition against the Tavastians alledged that the crowne was rather due to himselfe then to his sonne but beeing terrified by the stout answer of this brave souldier who affirmed that he could shake a king of Sweden out of his ierkin if as Birgerus alledged there should want one to succeed he was