of the Equator above the Horizon is the complement of the Latitude to 90 degrees as may be collected from what has been said before If therefore the height of the Sun be taken at noon about the tenth day of March or twelfth of September and subducted from 90 the remainder is the Latitude The same may be found at any other time of the year if the distance of the Parallel wherein the Sun moveth from the Equator be first known for this being added to or subtracted from the Meridional altitude according as the Sun that day is below or above the Equinoctial makes the case all one with the former In the night the elevation of the Pole may easily be taken by the Pole-Star and this is always equal to the Latitude of the place for because under the Equator where the Latitudes begin both the Poles of the World are in the Horizon therefore so far as we remove from thence towards either Pole so much it must be elevated that the distance between the Zenith and the Horizon may be 90 degrees Or else the Meridional altitude of any other Star whose declination is known may be observed and the Latitude hence collected after the same manner as from that of the Sun 's But no such certain and easie method for the finding out the Longitudes hath yet been invented How to find the Longitude tho very many Mathematicians have long employed their wits in the search after it being encouraged hereunto not only by the apprehension of that great advantage and perfection which this Science and Navigation would receive from such a discovery but also by several other great rewards which have been proposed to it The principal means whereby it has been hitherto attempted and whereby it seems most likely to be effected is the observation of some one Celestial Appearance at divers places Such as are Eclipses the entrances of the Moon into the Ecliptic its Latitude or distance from the Ecliptic its approximation to or distance from some fixt Star The conjunction and opposition of Jupiters Satellites c. for if the moment of time when any of these do happen were exactly observed in any two distant places the Longitude of the one from the other will be found out by resolving the difference of time that the appearance happens in one place sooner then the other into degrees allowing fifteen degrees for an hour and fifteen minutes of a degree for a minute of an hour From the observation of the beginnings middles and ends of Eclipses of the Moon especially the Longitudes of places have hitherto for the most part been determined as because the same Eclipse which at London was observed at twelve a Clock began not at Brandenburgh till one hence 't was collected that this later City had fifteen degrees Longitude more then the other This is one of the best methods that has yet been found out and if all Artists who are able would be constant and diligent in their observation of it in such Countries where they are and then free in publishing these their observations we should after a while hereby know the exact situation at lest of all great Cities and other such noted parts of the Earth which lovers of Science usually visit But this indeed gives but very little direction to Mariners when they are in any unknown part of the Sea for whose sakes principally an easie method of finding out Longitudes is so earnestly sought after For 't is difficult to observe the beginning or end of an Eclipse exactly at Sea by reason of the fluctuation of the Ship and tho it were not yet they happen so seldom in the whole year that they cannot be of any considerable use to them who must sometimes examine whereabouts they are several times in a day Other appearances therefore which happen more frequently must be proposed to their observation the usual ones are 1. The Moons entrance into the Ecliptic for the Line of her proper motion intersects it as the Equator doth only its greatest distance from it is but about five degrees If the hour when this happens in any unknown place be compared with the hour set down in the Ephemerides which are calculated for any known Meridian the difference of time being resolved as before gives their differece of Longitude But besides the difficulty that there is of observing this appearance exactly it happens but once in a fortnight and so is not frequent enough to serve the present turn Therefore to this is added 2. The Moons place in the Zodiac especially when she is in the Meridian the time of night when this happens in any unknown place being by any of the fixt Stars found out and then compared with the time when the same point is in the Meridian for which the present Ephemerides are calculated the difference betwixt them doth likewise discover their distance in Longitude But because the Moon for some days before and after the change cannot be seen at all and for several more cannot be seen in the Meridian therefore this method hath almost the same inconveniences attending it as the former which some think are fully redress'd in this other which is 3. The Conjunctions Eclipses or any such appearance of Jupiters four Satellites The time when they will happen in any known place being first computed and then compared with the time when they are observ'd in an unknown one will also as before discover its Longitude These Planets are so far distant from the Earth that they have no considerable Parallax and so their appearances are more easie to be observed then those of the Moon commonly are And they move so swiftly about the body of Jupiter that in a very little time a sensible alteration of their places is made and so the moment of their conjunctions and other appearances may be the more accurately observed and Longitudes hence more exactly determined But because these Satellites are every year for many weeks together so near the Sun that by reason of its rays they cannot be seen and at other times cannot be discerned without the assistance of a very good prospective and a very clear air therefore neither can this be a constant direction 4. The appulse of the Moon to any of the fixt Stars is by some thought an appearance of the most universal use in this concern because it may be observed at all times but about the new Moon And indeed did not the double Parallax and the refraction of the Moon render the calculation of its true place somewhat nice and subject to mistakes this method would be better liked and more serviceable then any of the precedent Since therefore each of these Celestial appearances has some difficulty or other attending it which hinders it from being observed constantly or without greater skill and care then Mariners usually adhibit the fittest method I think is not to chuse one of them from the rest and always to make use of
Blekingia c. BY a Ratification of Peace concluded at Roschild Feb. 26 ann 1658 between Charles X. then King of Sweden and Frederic III. King of Denmark the Provinces of Scania Hallandia and the Castle of Bahus with all the Forts Islands c. and also all the Royalties Jurisdictions Dominions Ecclesiastical or Civil with the Revenues Tributes Payments and all Rights whatsoever whether by Land or Sea were by the King of Denmark in consideration of having some places restored to him as Sialand Laland Falstria c. which the King of Sweden had during the late war made himself Master of wholly ceded and given up to the Crown of Sweden as a perpetual possession to be incorporated with that Kingdom for ever in as full and ample manner as the Kings of Denmark and Norway had formerly possess'd and enjoy'd the same And by another Ratification of Peace held at Copenhagen ann 1660 between the said Frideric III. of Denmark and this present King of Sweden these Provinces in the same manner as they had been granted by the former Treaty were confirm'd to the Swedish Crown We shall treat of all these Provinces though by reason of the present Wars 'twixt the Swedes and Danes the possession of them is much disturb'd and some Cities and Forts in them seized and Garrison'd by the Danish Forces as Accessional parts of this Kingdom remitting what may be said concerning the ancient Titles the Kings of Denmark had to them or what else may concern them to be spoken to in that Kingdom 1. Scania or Schonen a Province abounding as was said in Gothia with Corn Beasts Birds and all Commodities of life having on the East Blekingia on the West the Sund along the shore of which it runs for the space of twenty German Miles on the North Hallandia and Westro-Gothia and on the South part of the Baltic or Ost-Zee It is in length eighteen and where broadest in bredth twelve German miels In it are besides many Towns and Villages twelve Nomarchies or Principalities The chief City is 1. Lundia Lundon or Lune formerly from the year 1109 to 1559 the seat of an Arch-bishop who was wont to be call'd to the general Diets of the Empire and have his voice in them It is said to have two and twenty Churches in it and amongst the rest a magnificent Cathedral dedicated to St. Laurence no less remarkable for its high Steeple which is a guide to Mariners and its large vault under the Quire then for the Dial which shews the year month week day and hour of the day all at the same time with all Feasts both moveable and fix'd as also the motions of the Sun and Moon and their progress through every degree of the Zodiack This Clock is so order'd by artificial Engines that when ever it strikes two Horse-men come forth and encounter each other the one giving the other just so many blows as the hammer is to strike upon the Bell at what time a door opening the Virgin Mary appears sitting upon a Throne with Christ in her arms and the Magi doing him reverence and two Trumpeters sounding all the while This is the suppos'd work of Caspar Bartholine the famous Mathematician The Altar also of this Church is an excellent piece of work of black and white Marble adorn'd on the fore-part with the Sculptures of Frederic II and Sophia his wife and upon the Table-stone with the Images of our Saviour and his twelve Apostles at his last Supper 2. Malmoge or as some call it Elbogen at the very Southern point of Schonen just opposite to Copenhagen in Zeland a well traded Port the birth-place of the said Caspar Bartholine or Malmogius Danus as some pleas'd to name him the great Mathematician 3. Trelleberg North of Elbogen 4. Landscroon on the Sea side a place of great consequence and strength built by Ericus VIII An. 1413. It has six Gates in all three towards the Sea and three towards the Continent with a fair Market-place and a stately Stadt-house Here is a large and convenient harbour for Ships though of somewhat hazardous entrance This City was fortify'd with a Castle by Christian III. who remov'd the Fair at Engelholm to this place where it is kept at Mid-summer every year with a great concourse of Merchants 5. Helsemburg a mean Town but fortified with an impregnable Castle just opposite to Helsinore and Croneberg in Seland the other of the two Keys which openeth into the Sund. In the middle of the Castle rises a high four square Tower which shews it self to Mariners a great way off from the Castle and serves them as a mark to steer their course by In this Town are kept two Fairs every year one in Mid-Lent the other upon Palm-sunday noted for the concourse of people and great store of Merchandize vended here 6. Radneby a Frontire Town bordering on Verendia 7. Christiania or Christendorp built by Christiern IV. An. 1604 out of the ruins of Ahusia and Vaea or Wa and fortifyed with eight Bulwarks and so encompass'd with Fens and Marshes on one side and with the Sea on the other that it may seem almost impregnable To these may be added 8. Scanore the most ancient of any 2. Hallandia Hallandia or Hallandt which lyes to the North East upon part of Westro Gothia its limits begin at the Promontory call'd by the Natives Hallands-Ars by Strangers Coll and thence runs along the Codane Shore to Elsburg sixteen German miles and may be said to have on the West the Sea which runs 'twixt it and Jutland on the North part of Smalandia and on the South Scania or Schonen Of this Province see what was said in Westro-Gothia 3. Blescida Blekingia or Blecking Blekingia a Province somewhat mountanous woody and barren and not near so fertil as either of the two former It is bounded on the East and South with the Baltic Sea on the North with Verendia in Smaland and on the West with Schonen The whole Province is divided into eight Nomarchies and contains these Cities and Towns of note all lying upon the Baltic 1. Vstadium vulg Vster 2. Stanthamera or Santhamer 3. Ahuiis 4. Selsburg 5. Elenholm 6. Rottenbuy 7. Christianopolis Christenberg rais'd out of the ground by Christiern IV. King of Denmark A. D. 1604 to defend his Kingdom on this side but not long after by a warlike Stratagem surpris'd by the Swedes An. 1611 and by them destroy'd and quite dispeopled since which time it has been rebuilt and at present is very well replenished with Inhabitants and much frequented by Merchants 10. Bromsebro famous for the treaty of peace betwixt Christina Queen of Sweden and Christianus IV. King of Denmark concluded at this Town A. D. 1648 with many smaller Towns and Villages To these may be added 4. Jemptia Jemptia or Jempterland so called from one Kietellus Jampte a Norwegian Nobleman who escaping from the tyranny of Harald Harfager King of Norway came
Runick from Ryn signifying a furrow for the same reason that the Latins use versus exarare c. because that anciently when they had writ from the left hand to the right they turn'd back again from the right to the left By whom at first invented is uncertain some say by Odinus or Wooden one of their chief Gods That they came into Sweden about the year of Christ 380 or 400 is affirmed by many altho the superstitious use of them generally practis'd by the inhabitants seems to prove that they were much sooner known to them With these the common people used to carve certain sticks or staves still in use among some of them setting upon them the names of their Gods their Months their Holy-days c. which served them for an Almanack and some Idolatrous purposes These characters in the reign of Olaus Scotkonung at the desire of Pope Sylvester II. and Sigfrid Archbishop of York who was sent thence to preach Christianity in Sweden were quite abolished and sometime after by the whole Council at Toledo says Wormius utterly condemn'd it being by them thought almost impossible ever to have extirpated Paganism unless they had first rooted out these letters in which so much of their idolatry tho perhaps something of good learning and antiquity was writ The Swedish language differs only from the Danish and High-Dutch in dialect Their Language being rougher and less capable of improvement then either of the other two whence the Swedes rarely write any thing in their own tongue Some of their Authors endeavour to bring the language from another fountain telling us That the old Runick fragments of which may be seen in the Danish monuments published by Wormius is the mother tongue of Denmark and the Gothick of Sweden But these differ only in character not words as may be easily perceiv'd by comparing Vlphila's Gothick Version of the Gospels not long since published by the learned Franciscus Junius with Wormius's Collection of the old Runick monuments The Colledge of Antiquaries at Vpsal have lately taken great pains in publishing a new Edition of the Codex Argenteus with the modern Swedish thereby to demonstrate their tongue a dialect of the ancient Gothick Of this see more in Denmark The Swedish year was anciently divided only into Summer and Winter but afterwards Their Year according to the custom of other Nations measured by Months and Nights this Nation rather using to count by nights then days as also rather by Winters then Summers both because they were longer and chiefly because that was the mode of all Northern Nations perhaps from the beginning of the world Their Months are called Monat from Mona signifying the Moon the particular names yet in use amongst them were given in remembrance of some of their Heathenish Gods as 1. January they call Thors-monat from their chief God Thor. 2. February Goia-monat from Goia or Freia daughter to Thor or Jupiter 3. March Thur-monat from Thur which seems to be the same with Othen or Oden an Asiatick Deity the same with Mars and so of the rest Their Trading as of all other Nations Their Trading was anciently bartering but at present Money is very plentiful among them as of Gold Silver and Copper and these last as well supplied out of their own Mines as imported by Merchants OF GOTHIA AND IT'S PROVINCES GOthia or Gothland Gothia and its Provinces i. e. the Land of the Goths is parted from Suecia by the Woods Kolmord and Tydhweth A large and fruitful Country situate betwixt two potent Nations and frequently at war one with another the Swedes and Danes for which reason it became anciently the ordinary seat of their wars till the inhabitants observing the Swedes to be their nearest and more dangerous as being upon the same Continent and very often victorious neighbours they join'd and incorporated with the Swedes and their Country has ever since been reckon'd as a chief part of the Swedish dominions It is bounded on the East with the Baltick Sea on the West with the Mountains called Lyma Fiell and the Sinus Codanus on the North with the Provinces of Nericia and Sudermannia and on the South with the Sund or Oresund and part of the Baltick It is divided in general into East and West-Gothia 1. West or Westro or Wiso-Gothia Westro-Gothia and its Provinces which has in it these three Provinces 1. Westro-Gothia properly so taken 2. Dalia 3. Vermlandia to which may be added Hallandia 1. Westrogothia Westro-Gothia a plain and fruitful Province somewhat inferiour indeed in fertility to Vpland and Sudermannia but exceeding both of them in abundance of Cattel and convenience of pasturage in which the great wealth of this Country does consist In this Province are several great Rivers as Tida Lida Nos c. which falling into the Lake Vener are sent out by two passages at Elffzburg and Kongelff and at last unburthen'd into the Sinus Codanus with some others as Eda and Visk which fall not into the Lake but empty themselves into the same Bay Here are several Cities of good note viz. 1. Gothburg or Gottenburg a considerable Mart-Town lying upon the mouth of a small River which runs out of the Sinus Codanus between the Towns of Elsberg and Goldberg frequented very much by Hollanders and other strangers and of late endowed by the Swedish Kings with many notable priviledges The unsuccessful efforts of a great Danish Fleet against it ann 1644 shews it to be a place of great strength and consideration 2. Scare anciently the residence of the Gothish Kings and at present a Bishops seat so called from Scarinus a potent King of the Goths who built it it was in the time of Adam Bremensis the Metropolis of Westgothia but now a ruined and fenceless Town 3. Mariaestadt and 4. Lidecopia less considerable then the former Towns of most note are 1. Falecopia 2. Skedvi 3. Hio 4. Bogesund 5. Bretta 6. Old Ludosia taken and fortifyed by Christianus the I King of Denmark but soon after in the same year regained by the Swedes This Town seems to be the same with Losa mentioned by Meursius in his Danick History 2. Dalia Dalia lying betwixt the Lake Vener and some part of Norway a Province for the most part mountanous and consequently barren It is watered with several Lakes and Rivers well stor'd with Fish of all sorts Here the pasturage is good and their Cattel larger then those in any other part of the Country there is one Town of note called Daleburg 3. Vermlandia last inhabited as Authors report Vermlandia amongst all the Gothick Provinces one Olavus Tretelia being said first of all to have brought Colonies hither It is a Country Mountanous and Woody having some Mines of Iron and one vein of Copper indifferently rich Lakes and Rivers it has many though but one only City called Charlestat from Charles the IX King of Sweden who built it in the place of an ancient
do still call Thursday Pfinstag and St. Bernard's Mountain which the Italians call Monte Jove was formerly named Mons Peninus And 't is as likely that from their Pen or Pin the Feast of Whitsuntide might first be called Pfinstfest which name it still retains as that our Easter and the Dutch â—ostern should bear the name of Ester or Ostar one of their ancient Goddesses The Moon was worshipp'd by them under the name of Frea or Fria whom they reported to have been the wife of Woden and whose name is still retained in our Friday and their Freytag Another God they worshipp'd who resembled Mars the God of the Romans Him some of them called Eric or Erich others Thies or Ties from whom the third day of the week got the name of Erichtag and Tiisday which later was afterwards by our English Saxons turn'd into TiÆ¿esdaeg which we have made Tuesday and by the Germans into Dingsdag Ziesdag and Zingsdag Tho Schottelius thinks Dingsdag derived from the primitive Ding which signifies Judgment because on that day most Cases at Law used to be pleaded and determined The learned Grotius in his elaborate History of the Goths c. is of the same opinion and expounds the word Thinxtag or Diensdag Dies dicatus judiciis i. e. a day set apart for the Trial of Law-suits Cluverius fancies the old Germans had some glimmering notions of a Trinity and that they worshipp'd the Sun Moon and Fire or Vulcan as three distinct persons in one and the same Godhead He asserts further that besides the belief of the Souls Immortality they acknowledged the world had a beginning and affirm'd that soon after the Creation of it the Angels fell away from that state of glory in which God had at first placed them Besides they had heard that night was before the day and that the evening and the morning were the first day and therefore they used to reckon their day from Sun-seting to Sun-set the next evening And from this custom of our German Ancestors we Englishmen have been used to reckon Seven nights to a week or Sev'n-night and Fourteen nights not days to a Fortnight They used to sacrifice and perform other their Divines Rites in Woods and Forests and the Oak above all other Trees was peculiarly made choice of for an Altar Instead of a Temple they usually resorted to a kind of Summer-house made of Oaken and Beechâ—wigs platted over head They look'd upon it as the height of profaneness to offer to draw a picture or representation of any of their Gods and therefore did not like the Egyptians and Israelites worship Images I know not upon what grounds Mr. Verstegan has given us the portraicture of several Images worshipped by the ancient Germans 'T is certain they offer'd Sacrifice to Woden Thor and several other Gods whom â—â—e mentions but I think we have only his word â—â—r't that they carved out Images to represent 〈◊〉 them the Deities they adored The Nether â—â—axons indeed erected a vast pillar which they â—â—lled Irmensul or the General Pillar on the â—â—p of which says Meibomius Professor of Phyâ—â—k at Helmstadt who has writ a learned Treaâ—â—e upon this subject stood the image of an â—â—med man which was worshipp'd as a God â—â—is was destroy'd by Charles the Great after 〈◊〉 had conquer'd Witikind and converted the â—â—xons to Christianity J. G. Schottelius whom 〈◊〉 shall have frequent occasion to mention in 〈◊〉 following sheets has published a Tragedy called Irmensul which presents us with a lively account of the practices of the ancient Adorers of this Idol and the abolishment of it by the aforesaid Emperor This Play is still in great vogue among the Germans and is frequently acted with a good applause at Vienna Leipsic and other great Cities of the Empire Some fragments of the famous Pillar are still kept in the Cathedral Church at Halberstadt When any Sacrifices were offer'd Sacrifices not only the Priests themselves but their Offerings also were crown'd with wreaths of Oak or some other sacred Tree At a more then ordinary solemn and publick Offering they used to sacrifice Beasts of several sorts and colours but at lesser solemnites they offer'd only white Cattle And in their Sacrifices to the infernal Gods or Devils they made use of none but black ones Upon some occasions they used to offer men in sacrifice where most commonly their idle servants and notorious malefactors were brought to slaughter but in some cases of extraordinary exigency they would offer up their own children their sons and their daughters unto Devils The Priests commonly shot the sacrifices dead with arrows tho sometimes the men were crucified When the Rites and Ceremonies were finished they were wont to eat up the sacrifices whether men or beasts and from the inspection of the Entrails prognosticate the event of a future war or other enterprize like the Aruspices among the Romans These Feasts were held with all imaginable mirth and jollity and after Dinner the Priests always entertain'd their Guests with all manner of Musick and Dancing The opinion they had of man's Creation Funerals and the Soul's eternity made them more readily embrace death then 't was usual for Idolaters and Pagans to do For tho they had no thoughts of a Resurrection or future judgment yet they were verily perswaded that the Souls of those that departed this life were received into other bodies and lived again in another world This made them generally of this opinion that 't was lawful for any man to dispatch himself as soon as he grew weary of the cares and trobles of this life They used to lay their dead Corps upon a large heap of wood and so setting fire to the pile burn them When the fire was gone out they gathered together the bones and ashes of the deceased and buried them 'T was also the fashion to throw into the flames the dead mans Horse and Armour nay we read that amongst the ancient Celts it was the custom to burn their Wives Servants and Dogs with their dead Husbands or Masters As it is usual in some parts of the Indies to this day where Polygamy is allow'd of for such Wives as are resolv'd never to marry a second time and are ambitious to be esteem'd chast to leap into the fire after the Corps of their deceased Husbands At the Funeral of any Nobleman they used to have Tilting and Turnaments and had several Rhithms sung in commendation of the party deceased containing a register of the brave actions of his life Tacitus gives this short account of the behaviour of the old Germans upon the death of any of their intimate Friends Lamenta ac lachrymas cito dolorem tristitiam tarde ponunt foeminis lugere honestum est viris meminisse i. e. they can soon wipe of their tears but not so easily conquer their sorrow It is for women to bewail but for men to remember only the loss of a friend Of the
England the Art of Printing The King furnish'd him with seven hundred Marks and Thomas Boucher Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of Oxford who put the King upon this business contributed three hundred more to carry on the design For some time Tourner did nothing but travel up and down with Caxton who traded at Amsterdam and Leyden and could never come at Harlem because the Citizens were cautious of admitting any stranger that might cheat them of the Monopoly of this new Art At last after the King had sent him a new supply of five hundred Marks he agreed with Frideric Corsellis one that wrought at the Press to steal away from his Trade and come over with him into England Which according to contract he did and set up a public Print-house at Oxford Where a strong Guard continually attended him till others had learned his Art for fear he should make an escape before he had perform'd his promise Not long after this there was a Print-house set up at Westminster another at St. Albans a third at Worcester and many others in several Monasteries The oldest Book we find printed at Westminster is Caxton's Chronicle of the Kings of England which was published in the year 1480. Boterus who is follow'd by some late Authors that rely too much upon his authority affirms that the Chinois had the use of Printing amongst them above a thousand years before 't was known in Europe and that the Europeans are not beholden to their own ingenuity for the discovery but the good nature of these strangers who imparted the secret to them But if this be true why then did not Marcus Venetus bring over the Art with him to Venice Rome or Naples that so the Italians might have had the credit of being the first Teachers or Restorers at least for Boter hardly allows the Germans any better title of the Art of Printing in Europe When this question is press'd home to Boter he is forc'd to confess tho unwillingly I Tedeschi sono stati Inventori della stampa dell'artigliaria et dell ' horologio a mota cose Nobilissime i. e. The Germans have been Authors of three noble Inventions Printing Guns and Clocks I do not find any great reason to believe the Germans to have been the first Inventors of Clock-work Clock-work tho they are as likely men if Histories would allow us to fix our conjectures upon them as any in the world But I am afraid Boter injures his own Country in ascribing this to the High Dutch The first man whom the Latin Historians mention as the contriver of an Engine in this kind is Severinus Boetius a famous Philosopher and Nobleman of Rome We meet with a Letter from Theodoric King of the Goths to this Boetius to beg a Clock of him to present to his Brother-in-law Gundibald King of Burgundy in which Letter he calls this Engine Machinam mundo gravidam coelum gestabile rerum compendium i. e. A Machine that encircled the world a portable Heaven an abstract of the Universe But however none have more improved the Art of making Clocks and Watches then the Germans The Emperor Charles the Fifth had a Watch in the Jewel of his Ring and our King James had the like both which were made in Germany In the Town-hall of Prague there is a Clock that shews the annual and periodical motions of the Sun and Moon the names and numbers of the Months Days and Festivals of the whole Year the time of the Sun 's rising and setting the rising of the Twelve Signs in the Zodiac and lastly the Age of the Moon with its several Aspects In the Elector of Saxony's Stable at Dresden there is a Saddle which in the pommel hath a gilded head with eyes continually moving and in the hinder part of it a Clock which shews exactly the hour of the day These and the like knacks are ordinary in every part of Germany but the most famous in its kind is the great Clock at Strasburg of which a full account shall be given when we come to treat of that City Tycho Brahe tells us that William Lantgrave of Hassia had spent much study in contriving a way to regulate Clocks and Watches that the former should not gain nor the latter lose any thing in their motion but what success he met with that great Astronomer does not inform us This in great measure is now perform'd by the regulation which is given to motion by the Pendulum and farther emprovements are projected by some ingenious members of our Royal Society at London and 't is hoped they will be shortly able to give the world a good and satisfactory account how they have sped in the enterprize The High Dutch have far outgone the rest of the European Artificers at the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ingenious knacks and extravagances of Art then which nothing more demonstrates the excellency and curious skill of a workman One of these not many years presented the Landtgrave of Hassia with a Bear and Lion of pure Gold which were hollow within and each of them about the length of a man's middle finger Every part and lineament in them was proportionable to their length and both together weighed no more then a French Crown The most curious man in this kind which ever the German Nation bred was Johannes Regiomontanus who as Keckerman tells the story when the Emperor Maximilian came to the City of Noremberg made a wooden Eagle which flew an English mile out of Town to meet him and return'd back with him to his Lodgings Peter Ramus reports of the same man that having invited some friends to a Feast to divert them he threw an iron Fly from his hand which flew round the Room and return'd to him again Engraving Painting Cutting of Seals c. are Arts which the High Dutch are almost generally well skill'd in Of the Religion of the Modern GERMANS WE have before given the Reader a view of the Idolatrous practices Ceremonies and Sacrifices of the Pagan Germans and shew'n how zealous they were in defending the Rites and Customs of their false Religion and how much honour and respect they paid their Priests and indeed all others who attended upon their Altars Nor shall we find them less zealous in maintaining the true Religion after their Conversion to Christianity A sufficient testimony of which we may have from the multitude of Monasteries Nunneries Bishoprics and Collegiate Churches which are every-where to be met with in Germany This great Country cannot be suppos'd to have been all converted at once but piecemeal and hardly one Province in it but had its different Apostle Theodoret mentions Germany as well as Britain amongst the Nations converted by the Apostles And the Historian who under the name of Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre publish'd a Synopsis of the Twelve Apostles and Seventy Disciples reports that St. Thomas the Apostle preach'd in Germany But these and the like stories have little of certainty
have this City look'd upon as a place of the greatest antiquity of any in Saxony esteeming it the same with Ptolomy's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tho I think the Longitude and Latitude which Ptolomy assigns to that old Town being 29 deg of Long. and 51 deg 20 min. of Lat. will scarce come near this City This large and ancient City was formerly subject to Earls and Marquises of its own and thence we find the inhabitants in and about the City named by the Latin Historians Stadenses Stadingi or Stedingii as a people distinct of themselves and independant upon any of the neighbouring Princes Of these Earls and Marc-Graves the Reader may meet with a Catalogue in Crantzius or Angelius a Werdenhagen In the year 1234 the Stadenses were the occasion of a bloody and terrible war in the Archbishopric of Bremen which happening in the very infancy of Christianity in these parts had like to have stifled Religion in its Cradle This bloodshed was occasion'd by a revolt of the Citizens of Stade from their obedience to the See of Bremen Whereupon the Clergy of that City being resolv'd to keep by a strong arm what their enemies had endeavour'd to wrest from them took up arms and engaged several of their neighbours in the broil But this expedient did not meet with the expected success having after a long quarrel only weaken'd both parties and in no wise vindicated the Archbishop's Title At last a volley of curses and excommunications from the Bishop of Rome frighted the Citizens of Stade into submission and obliged them to yield obedience as formerly to the Archbishop's of Bremen Hereupon Philip Duke of Schwaben and Earl of Stade annex'd the whole County to the Archbishopric reserving only to himself the City with its ancient priviledges and immunities In which state it continued till in the Civil wars of Germany it fell into the hands of the Swedes and was confirm'd to that Crown as a part of the Dukedom of Bremen by the Treaty of Munster And possibly we may have some reason to call this the Metropolis of the whole Country which is now subject to the King of Sweden as Duke of Bremen since the City of Bremen it self was exemted from the Homage payable to that Monarch from the Archbishopric by vertue of that Treaty and is to this day a free Imperial City immediately subject to the Emperor and to him only Notwithstanding the vast Rampires and Bulwarks wherewith this City is fortified and the natural strength of the place it was besieg'd and taken in one day April 13 1645 by the Swedish General Count Coningsmark who having at the first assault taken the Fortress on the mouth of the Zwinge betwixt the City and the Elb press'd forward with his whole Army to the Gates of Stade and forc'd his way into the City Whereupon the Burgers were glad to surrender up the Castle and other strong Forts upon any conditions the Conqueror was pleas'd to propose The Town is at present in a flourishing condition being seated in a wholesom Air and a pleasant rich Country The Burgers who have the character of the most civil and courteous people in this part of the Empire have commonly Orchards and Gardens of pleasure without the walls of the City well stockt with all manner of Fruits and Flowers Their Haven is large and commodious and Ships of larger carriage and burthen come up to Stade then are able to reach Hamburg The Market-place Rahthauss or Town-Hall Exchange and several of their Churches are Buildings worthy a Traveller's sight Many and great have been the priviledges by several Emperors granted to this City It was always reckon'd a Sanctuary for fugitives insomuch that all manner of malefactors whether Germans or Foreigners that could reach Stade before vengeance overtook them were sure to find shelter here and be secure from the hand of justice Besides the priviledg of coining money authority to hunt in the neighbouring Forests and the like prerogatives challeng'd by all Imperial Cities they have power to demand a certain Toll or Custom of every Merchant-man that passes up the Elb to Hamburg every such Vessel being oblig'd to strike anchor at the mouth of the Zwinge and there to tarry till dismiss'd by the Masters of the Custom-House These pretensions occasion'd not many years ago a quarrel between the Citizens of Stade and the Hamburgers the later pretending that 't was an infringement of their prerogative who were absolute Masters of the Elb below their own City for Stade to lay claim to any such priviledg But the controversie soon after was amicably compos'd and each City has since peaceably enjoy'd its own peculiar Regality This ancient Hans-Town being one of the first that was enroll'd into that noble society was once reduc'd to a mean and beggarly condition by the overgrown trade and riches of the Hamburgers insomuch that it was forc'd to sell almost for bread the public stock not amounting to ninety pounds sterling a year to these upstart thriving Merchants its ancient priviledges and put it self under the protection of the Archbishops of Bremen But in this low condition it did not long continue before the English Merchants upon some affront the Hamburgers had offer'd them remov'd their commerce to Stade By which means this City in a short time recover'd its former grandeur and grew on a sudden rich and populous VI. BREMER-VERDEN A wall'd Town Bremer-Verden on the road betwixt Bremen and Stade distant from the later about twelve English miles and from the former near twenty-eight It was first built by Luder Duke of Saxony and afterwards made a Palace for the Archbishops of Bremen who had here their usual residence In the Castle which commands a great part of the adjacent plain the Swedes have commonly a strong Garrison The Town would otherwise be of little note not having the convenience of any trade except what is brought by the resort of passengers that travel this way to Bremen or Stade THE DUKEDOM OF LUNENBURG THE Dukedom of Luneburg Bounds or Lunenburg is bounded on the South with the Dukedom of Brunswic on the South-East with Magdeburg on the East with Brandenburg on the North with Lauwenburg and Holstein on the North-West with Bremen and on the West with some part of Westphalia The Metropolis which gives name to the whole Dukedom is thought by some to have had its name from the Moon Lunus or Luna worshipp'd by the ancient Idolatrous Inhabitants of this Land Others derive the word from the name of the River Elmena or Ilmenow on which the City of Luneburg is seated which they tell us was formerly call'd Luno from Isis the Egyptian Goddess who coming into Germany to visit her Kinsman Gambrivius who was in those days Lord of that part of the Country where Hamburg now stands was here Deified and worshipp'd under the Image of an half-Half-Moon Several of the Saxon Chronologers report that this Idol was first brought hither by