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
Denmark's Governour Gottorp a strong Castle of the Duke of Slyvicks at the end of a large Inlet of the Baltick remarkable for the Toll-Booth at which Toll is paid one year with another for 50000 Oxen transported out of North Juitland into Germany Seswick the principal Town of this Province an Episcopal See and the Head of a Dukedom When Christian Earl of Oldenburgh was chosen King of Denmark the Dukedom of Holstein became part of that Kingdom Yet so that the Kings of Denmark were reckoned Princes of the Empire as Dukes of Holstein tho not obliged to repair to any Dyet Afterwards the title of Duke of Holstein with a considerable part of the Country was given to Adolph Christian the third brother who Governed it interchangeably with his Brother by turns Upon the decease of this Duke and his Issue-Male the title was conferred on Vlric King Christian the Fourth's Brother Since his daies there have been several Houses of the Dukes of Holstein as has been before shown amongst whom the Duke of Holstein Gottorp is chief and challenges the same power in governing and administring of Justice as was at first conferred upon Duke Adolph King Christian the 3's Brother In the late Wars the King of Denmark forced the present Duke of Gottorp to quit his Dukedom and abandon all Holstein to his Majesties possession But at the signing of the Treaty between the Kings of France Denmark and Sweden at Fontainbleu Sept. 2. 1679. the Danish Ministers promised their Master should at the desire of his most Christian Majesty restore to the said Duke all his Countrys Towns and Places in the same State they were at the signing of the Treaty with all the Soveraignty that belonged to him by vertue of the Treaties of Rosehild Copenhagen and Westphalia The Duke expected besides being restored to his Countries some recompence for the damage his Territories had suffered during the War by the vast sums of Money which the King of Denmark had raised therein as being one of the best Countries in all the North or at least to have had back the Cannon being 100 excellent brass pieces But his expectations in this point were not answered North Juitland hath on the South the Dukedom of Sleswick but surrounded by all other parts by the Sea is divided into 4 Diocesses or Districts that of Rip or Ripen containing 30 Prefectures or Here as they use to call them seven Cities 〈◊〉 walled Towns and ten Castles 2. That of Arhusen lying on the North of Ripen and more towards the Baltick containing 31 Herets or Prefectures 7 Cities or walled Towns 5 Castles and the Islands of Sumsoe Hiolim Tuecen Hiance◠Hilgenes and others 3. That of Wiburg on the North of Arhusen containing 16 Herets the Islands of Jegen 2. Hansholm 3. Ostholm 4. Cisland 5. Egholm 6. Bodum Three Citys or walled Towns and as many Castles the principal whereof is Wiborch an Episcopal See the ordinary seat of Judicature for both the Juitlands 4. That of Alburg or Vandalia which is subdivided into four parts as 1. Thyland whose chief Town is Alborch the Bishop of Vandalia's usual Seat and Residence 2. Morsce containing three Herets the Town of Nicoping the Castle of Lunsted and the Isle of Ageroe 3. Hanheret containing four Herets the Town of Thystad a kind of University the Castle of Orum and the Islands of Oland and Oxholm In this District standeth the Rock called Skaringclint serving for a Sea Mark to prevent Mariners running against the Quick-sands which lye about this Coast 4. Wensyssel Vensilia or Wenslie containeth six Herets or Prefectures The Islands of Grosholm of Hertshorn and Tidesholm one Castle and three Towns the most remarkable of which is Scagen standing at the utmost Promontory or most Northerly Point of all this Chersonese being notorious for the Shipwrack of many Ships of all Nations Zealand the largest fairest and most fertil Island in the Baltick Sea lies East of Juitland from which separated by an arm of the Sea called the Belt and West of Schonen from which it is parted by a fresh River not above a Dutch Mile in breadth commonly called by the name of the Sund or Sound This Island being about twelve German Miles broad and eighteen long It was anciently called Codanonia which signifies the same thing as the modern words Danes or Denmark Many of the Danish Etymologists derive Seeland from Sordland or Seedland from the abundance of Corn which this Country affords Others with greater Probability make the word signifie no more than an Island or parcel of Ground encompassed with the Sea This Island containeth 15 Cities or Walled Towns the principal whereof are Copenhagen the Metropolis of this Island and of the whole Kingdom of Denmark which is seated on the East Part of Zealand upon the Sea shore The Danes call it Kiobenhaun and the Germans Copenharen both which words are corruptions of Kiobm inshaven or the Kaven of Merchants The Town is of an Orbicular form and very well fortified since the War in 1659. with the Swedes having an Arcenal which perhaps excels any thing of that kind in Europe In the Arcenal is kept a Coach with springs by which means it goes as if it were of it self and of its own movement but the Artifice of this Work depends on two men hidden under a covering in the Coach of whom the one turned the Wheels which pushed it on and the other guided it by the means of a Rudder in the Head Its Cathedral Church dedicated to St. Mary is beautified with a noble Copper Spire built at the charges of King Christian the Fourth The Advowsance of this Church belongs to the Professors in the Universitie which was founded by Ericus the Ninth but perfected by King Christian the First by him and the succeeding Princes liberally endowed The City is Governed by four Burgo-masters one whereof is Regent or President for his life This Honour is conferred at present on that deserving and learned Person P. John Resenius Professour of Moral Phylosophy in the University at Copenhagen and Counsellour to the present King of Denmark Amongst the Ornaments of the Town are the Market-place which is exceeding spacious the King's Palace all covered with Copper standing in an Island wherein is kept a Ship of Ivory wholly fitted whereof the Tackling Sails and Cannons were entirely of Ivory being an extraordinary fine piece of Manufacture The Observatory or Runde Toorn which is very remarkable and especially for the fashion of its Stair-case if we may call it so which is nothing but a Pavement which mount singeniously without Steps and it is so very broad a Coach may easily go up to the top and there too it has room enough to turn in This Tower was built on purpose for the use of Astronomers and out of it you go into a fine Library which stands on the side of the Tower There is Marks of the Siege to be seen which the Swedes laid to this City amongst others
and furnished it with men of eminence in all Arts and Sciences for its first Professors Besides he annexed an Academy with fit Masters to teach perfectly all Gentile and Marshal Exercises as Dancing Vaultings Riding the Great Horse c. Anderskaw or Andershauw formerly a great Monastery now a strong Castle about an English Mile from Slagen It is is seated in a level Champaign Country and delicately well built Kallenburg was formerly a small Village inhabited by none but Fisher-men but about the year 1158. or I as some 117. it was turned into a City and beautified with a Castle Church and several other publick Buildings 'T is at present a Town of good Trade having the convenience of as safe an Harbour for Ships as any Haven in Denmark Korsor so called from the Multitude of Crosses erected formerly in the places out of the abundance of superstitious zeal in the Inhabitants Koge a small but very rich and populous City about sixteen English Miles from Copenhagen It is a place much thronged with Corn Merchants and Fishmongers driving a considerable Trade and being in a pleasant situation FVNEN FVnen is Situated betwixt Seeland and Juitland from which last it is parted by a Straight called Middlefar-sundt about one German Mile in breadth and separated from Seeland by the Beltis sundt or Baltick Bay which is so narrow and small a Frith that the Island and the Chersonese seem joyned together The length of this Island from East to West is Ten German Miles and the breadth Eight It is looked upon as the Pleasantest piece of Ground in the King of Denmark's Dominions abounding besides with all manner of Corn especially Wheat and Rye which is hence Yearly Transported in great Quantities unto other Nations Besides the Natives have generally great Herds of Cattel and good Breeds of Horses The Woods which overspread almost the whole Island are exceeding well stored with Deer Hares and Foxes This Island contains Four and Twenty Herets or Prefectures Sixteen Towns and Six Royal Castles besides many goodly Villages and Gentlemens Houses The Chief City of Funen is Ottensee seated in the very center of the Island and therefore a fit place for the Sessions of the Nobility and Magistracy which are Yearly held in this place as were likewise the General Assemblies of the Kingdom of Denmark before the Year 1660. The Buildings in this Town are generally well Built and the Streets Uniform Besides other Publick Structures there are in it two fair Churches whereof one is Dedicated to St. Cnuts the other to St. Francis Not far from the former of these stands a stately Town Hall upon a very spacious Market-place where King Fredrick the Second renewed the Ancient League between the Crown of Denmark and the Dukes of Holstein and Sleswick in the Year 1575. When the Quires of St. Cnut's Church was Repaired in the Year 1582 the Work men found in a Vaulta Copper Coffin gilded and adorned with Precious Stones upon which was writ the following Inscription in Old Latine-Gothic Characters Jam Coelo tutus summo cum Rege Canutus Martyr in aurata Rex atque reconditur arca Et pro justitiae factis occisus inique Vt Christum vitae sic morte fatetur in ipsa Traditur a proprio sicut Deus ipse Ministro A. D. MLXXXVI Other Towns of Note in Funen are 1. Bowens a Port Town of good Trade on the West side of the Island at the North end of Medelfar sund 2. Middlefar seated on the Common Passage from this Island to Kolding in Juitland On the thirteenth of January in the Year 1658 Carolus Gustavus King of Sweden led his Army over the Ice to this place and having Routed the Danish Forces which Opposed him made himself Master of the whole Island of Funen 3. Ascens not far from the Mountains of Ossenburg memorable only for a Victory gained near it by John Rantzaw King Christian the Third's General who levelled the City to the ground 4. Foborg upon the Southern Coast of the Island It was once Burnt by the unruly Souldiers of Christian the Third whilst Odensee adhering to the Captive Prince Christian the Second who at that time was kept close Prisoner at Sunderburg Redeem'd it self from the like Fate by a large Sum of Money 5. Swynburg over against the Isle of Langland from this place Carolus Gustavus led his Army over the Ice into Seeland in the Year 1658. 6. Nyburg the usual Passage from Funen into Seeland This City was first Fortified with a Moat and Bullwarks by King Christian the Third It is very Memorable for the Battel fought by the Confederates of the Empire Brandenburgh Poland and the Low Countries in the Year 1659. against the Swedes who were beaten in that Rencounter and utterly Routed out of Schonen In Funen there are reckoned up no less than Two Hundred Sixty four Parish Churches ZALAND LAland or Lawland so called from its low Situation is disjoyned from Seeland by a little narrow Straight called Gronesendt and is about Thirty two English Miles in length and two in breadth This is a very Fruitful Countrey hath good store of Rich Pasturage and affords such great Plenty of Corn and Chesnuts that Ships full Freighted with them are sent Yearly hence It contains four Herets or Lordships and as many Cities The great Towns or Cities are 1. Naschaw or Nashscouw which together with the adjoyning Monastery was Stormed Taken and Burnt by the Lubeckers in the Year 1510. 2. Sascoping 3. Newstadt once Famous for a Noble Monastery Built there A. D. 1286. 4. Lavingscoping Besides these the Nunnery of Marioebo or Mariboane was as Considerable and Remarkable a Place as any in the whole Island The other Islands in the Baltique now belonging to the Dane worth the taking Notice of are 1. Falster a considerable Island adjoyning to Laland It is not above Sixteen English Miles in length but affords Plenty of Corn Yearly to some Neighbouring Islands and to the very Continent The Principal Towns of this Isle are 1. Nicoping which for the Elegancy of the Place and the Pleasantness of the Situation is by Dr. Heylin styled The NAPLES of Denmark 2. Stubcopen or Stabcoping has some Trade upon the Account of its being the Ordinary Passage between Seeland and Germany 2. Langeland a narrow Island betwixt Funen and Laland seven Dutch Miles in length in which besides many Villages and Gentlemens Houses and sixteen Parish Churches is the Town of Rudcoping and the Impregnable Castle of Traneker which is admirably well provided with all manner of Military Ammunition 3. Mona or Meun a Chalky Island to the North-East of Falster It serves for a good Land-mark to the German Vessels that Trade in those Seas The only Town of Consequence in it is Stege which bravely withstood the Lubeckers in the Year 1510 and forced them at last to Retreat 4. Alsen another little Island called in Latin Elysia opposite to the Gulph or Bay of Flensburg in the Dukedom
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
of late were but very mean and despiseble for the most part of Wood covered with green Turf and so often burnt down But the Forreigners that have traded thither within these few years have adorn'd the Town with an Exchange and many goodly private Houses the principal Commodity which Berghen Trades in is Stock-fish which they catch upon those Coasts in Winter commonly in January for the conveniency of drying it in the cold and sharp Air besides all sorts of Furrs and vast quantities of dried Fish Butter Tallow Hides c. are brought hither from all parts of Norway to be Imported into Forâ—â—◠〈…〉 The Governour of Berghen has under his Jurisdiction the Prefectures of Leehornleen Nordhornleen Soghue Sudfiord Nord and Sundmerleen The Prefecture and Bishoprick of Trunthein is reckoned the fourth Government in Norway and its City anciently called Nidrosia was formerly the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom the Seat of the King Archbishop of Norway It was in former times a beautiful City but being burnt down in the year 1522 and kept in such subjection and oppression by the Danes it has been so far from being able to receive its primitive Splendor that it seems more like a Village than a City Yet something of the ancient Grandeur still appears in the Cathedral dedicated to St. Ilaus which though almost consumed by Fire by the Ruins shews it self to have been one of the most Magnificent and largest Fabricks in the World In this Church the Huntsmen were wont to make a yearly Offering of the Skins of the largest and stoutest White Bears which they kill'd for the Priests to tread upon at Divine Service Greenland and Iseland were formerly Districts of the Diocess of Truntheim but this Bishoprick is now confined within narrower bounds Most part of this Country having no Wood at all growing in it make use of Fish bones for Fuel for Timber to build their Houses and for several Implements of Houshold Stuff And with the fat of those same fish they feed their Lamps in Winter The fifth and last Prefecture commanding this Countrey is that of Wardhuyse its Castle has its Name from the Island Warda wherein it stands and is about Eight English Miles from the main Land of Finmark and near Twelve in Compass the Food of the Inhabitants of this and the Neighbouring Island is only Stock-Fish which they dry in the Frost No manner of Bread nor Drink have they but what is Imported from Forreign Countreys some Cattle they have yet none but such as can live on dry'd Fish their Masters Diet. The Governor retires in the Winter more Southerly within the Land by reason of the extremity of the Cold and the long absence of the Sun for some Months together the Town lying within the Artick Circle It is much improved of late since the removal of the English Trading from Novogrod to St. Nicholas not far from hence and is both profitable and useful to the Crown of Denmark in regard of its strength the Dutch and English being obliged to touch at it in their way to Moscovy On the North of Norway lies Finmark or as the Natives call it Taakemark which is not divided as all other Countries generally are into distinct Lordships and Inheritances but every Man pretends a Right and Title to every part of the Land and the strength of the Arm is the only Judge of Controversies when the Fishing Season comes in they throng to the Sea Coasts and when that is over retire again into the Laplands Fixt habitations they have none but remove their Dwellings according to the Seasons for Hunting their Houses are made only to secure them against the Injury of the Weather and the assaults of wild Beasts and for that purpose they first erect Four Posts in the Figure of a Square which they bind together with cross Girders and rear to them smaller pieces fastning all with Wythes these except the door places the poorer sort wholly cover with boughs of Trees or such like stuff the richer with a course sort of Woollen Cloth or an ordinary sort of Canvas Two doors have they in these Houses the fore door which is of common use and entrance for the whole Family and the back door thro which the Men pass and that only when they go a Hunting Fishing c. but all Women are forbid it either because that Sex is thought to be very inauspicious to those Exercises for if any when he is a going a Hunting or the like do but meet a Woman he presently returns back and leaves his design for that day or because the Image of their God Thor was commonly placed near their back door from whose Sacrifices and Presence all Women are wholly excluded These Houses are distinguished into several Partitions not by any Wall but only by great Posts or Loggs of Wood laid upon the Ground their Fire place is in the middle about which the whole Family lies either upon the bare Earth or upon the Skins of Rein Deer Bears c. When they have a mind to change their Habitation which they do constantly twice a Year they unty this their Tent take it away with them and pitch it in a more convenient place Another Sort of Houses among them are their Granaries and Store Houses which that they may the better secure their Provision from wild beasts and vermin they do not build upon the Ground but at some distance from it upon the bole or stump of a large Tree The Ordinary Diet of the Laplanders is either of Fish or the Flesh of their Rein Deer c. Which they eat sometimes raw sometimes boil'd but for the most part dried in the air Bread and Salt are unknown to them instead of Bread they make use of their dry'd Fish groun'd small like Meal And for Salt they take the inward of the Pine Trees which they dry in the Sun and putting it into Boxes bury it a small depth in the Ground then after it hath lain there a competent time they kindle a fire upon the place and so dry it whereby it becomes of a redish colour a pleasant taste and gives a good gust and relish to their courser Food Their general Drink is pure Water which in the Winter time they keep in their Houses continually hot and so drink it Of late they are grown acquainted with Brandy and Liquors of that nature which are in great vogue with them and which they drink only on their Holy Days and at their Weddings Their Dining Room is commonly in the middle of their Tent about the Fire without Tables Dishes Spoons or Trenchers and such sort of Implements each lays his Commons upon his Mittens and when he has eat it says Grace shakes his Camrades by the right Hand which is their Charity Cup and so every one trudges about his business Their Garments are very course and mean made either of the Skins of Wild Beasts frequently in use amongst them or the worst of
the Revenues of their eight Religious Houses of Pingore Remestede Modur and Monkenire under the Government and jurisdictiion of the Bishop of Halar and those of Videy Pernebar Kirckebar and Skiade under the Bishop of Schalholt unto other uses according to the will and pleasure of their Lords of Denmark But their Gods in the time of their Paganism were 1. Thor who is said to have come out of Asia with his Father Woden and is answerable to Jupiter among the Romans and gave name to our Thursday in Iseland called Thorsday and by the Germans Donderdag that is the Thunderers day which signifies the same thing 2. Woden or Oden the Captain of the Asians who first peopled these Northern Countreys From him the Iselanders call the fourth day of the week Odens dagur and we Wednesday Besides these two we sometimes read of Freyer one of Wodens Companions and Friga Wodens Spouse whence our Fryday with several others of less note They have but two Cities and those no better than our Ordinary Villages yet the Seats of their two Bishops the first is Hogin the second is Shalholt their other places of any note are Hattenfort a Haven Town where under tenâ—â— the Dutch Merchants barter their Commodities and beside a Castle the ordinary Residence of the Governor for the Kings of Denmark As for their Court of Judicature it is held once a year in a pleasant Plain in the middle of Iseland where twelve men learned in the Laws of Iseland having heard all the Plaintiffs and Defendants have to say pronounce sentence and decide the Controversies And have power to determine all Civil Causes and pronounce Condemnation as they think convenient against all Criminals Such as receive sentence of Death as Adulterers Murderers and Notorious Thieves are beheaded less Misdemeanors and Offences are marked in the Fore-head with an hot Iron Of Freezland or Friseland FReezland so called from the continual frosts unto which it is subject lies South-west of Iseland in 60 degrees more Westerly than any part of Europe it is said to be little less in extent than England being a ragged and high sand its mountains covered with Snow and the Coast so full of drift Ice that it is almost inaccessible The longest day in Summer not exceeding 20 hours nevertheless the Soil is so cold and barren that it produceth neither Corn nor fruit Fish being the principal and almost only Food of the Inhabitants and as it is their Food so it is the chief Commodity the Country does afford there being good fishing every where upon the Coast It was first discovered to us by Nicolas and Antonio Zani two Venetian Gentlemen that were here Shipwrackt Our Seamen in their soundings brought up a sort of Pale Coral and little stones clear as Chrystal They called it West-England and one of the highest Mountains Charing Cross The chief Town is called Friezland by the name of the Island situate on the Eastern shore of it Besides we find some others in the Maps as Sanestol Ocebar Cabara Sorand and some more very inconsiderable And now let us proceed on to Greenland Of Greenland GReenland so called as some say from the greenness of it in Summer or as others by Antiphrasis for that it 's never green by reason of the sharpness of Winter extends from 65. to 7 degrees of Northern latitude so that the longest day in the most Southern parts is 21 hours and a half and in the most Northern they have no night for three months and two weeks The length of it is not known nor whether it be an Island or a Continent being chiefly frequented for the benefit of the Whale fishing The chief commodities are Fish white Bears wild Deer and some store of Cattel there bred The greatest part of the people dwell in Caves and delight to a high degree in Necromancy Other Lands there be but not of any note nor hardly worth the Claiming of the Crown of Denmark FINIS