Cattel being the two main Things that are exported out of Denmark the first by Sea and the last by Land over into Germany the Incomes of Custom-houses as to other Commodities are not exceeding great But on the other side the Accession of the Crown-Lands is not inconsiderable In short the Kings Revenues are such that he keeps a handsom Court and maintains a good Fleet with several Garrisons he has in his numerous Forts and Frontire-Places As to the Forces which he is able to raise that may best be seen by some of his Royal Predecessors particular Undertakings As of Christiern II who at the Request of Henry II. of France sent a Fleet of a hundred Sail into Scotland and therein no fewer than 10000 Souldiers And of Frederick his Uncle then Duke of Holstein who in his Wars against this Christiern whose Removal from the Crown he had projected brought 50000 Men into the Field to make good his Quarrel In short considering the many Ports and Islands this Crown is Master of both within the Baltick and without it cannot be but the King may suddenly raise a strong Power at Sea And then considering that each of the Nobility which are here numerous enough is bound to find a certain number of Horse upon all Occasions as are those also who hold Lands of the King which the Danes call Verlehninge there is no doubt but he is able to make good Levies for a sudden Service especially in defence of his Dominions For State-Affairs the King has his Council of State with whose Advice he determines either of Peace or War enters into new Leagues or Confederacies and imposes Taxes upon his Subjects as occasion requires In this Juncture of time this Court seems engaged with France with an Eye upon Sweden in order perhaps to recover from that Crown by the Assistance of France what has been formerly extorted from the Crown of Denmark by the Treaty of Roschild Schonen is a fine Country East of Seland which till that Treaty belonged to Denmark and if the King of Denmark should attempt to recover it by such means as God has put into his hands 't were but repelling Force by Force and endeavouring to regain that by Force of Arms which Charles Gustave by the terrour of his Arms extorted from Frederick I pass by the Act of Calmar whereby the Swedes bound themselves to a perpetual Union with Denmark under the lawful Successors of Queen Margaret Which Act was afterwards confirmed upon the Coronation of Eric her immediate Successor For all Causes and Controversies such is the Constitution of this Crown that they are first to be decided in the Herets or Prefectures where they first arise From whence it is lawful to appeal to the Judge of the Province from him to the Chancellor of the Kingdom and finally to the King and Council Having said thus much as to the Government of Denmark and of the King as Supreme thereof I shall now present you with the Chronological Succession of the Kings of Denmark with an Historical Abstract of those Kings Lives that have any thing worth taking notice of The Danish Authors make a great Catalogue of fabulous Kings since King Dan which being unwilling to impose upon the Publick I shall freely pass over I could begin as Heylin with Gotricus whom he looks upon as the first Legislator of the Danes and the Establisher of their Kingdom But I shall content my self to begin with Harold the first Christian King of Denmark that settled the Christian Religion in those Parts and who began his Reign about the Year 927. The Chronological Succession of the Christian Kings of Denmark since the Year 927. Anno Chr. Reigned 927 HArold I. 48 Years 975 Sueno I. 35. Years 1010 Olaus 10. Years 1020 Canute I. 21. Years 1036 Canute II. 9. Years 1045 Magnus 4. Years 1049 Sueno II. 27. Years 1074 Harold II. 2. Years 1076 Canute III. 9. Years 1085 Olaus 10. Years 1095 Eric I. 7. Years 1102 Harold III. or Nicolas 33. Years 1135 Eric II. 4. Years 1139 Eric III. 8. Years 1147 Canute IV. 8. Years 1155 Sueno III. 2. Years 1157 Waldemar I. 28. Years 1185 Canute V. 18. Years 1202 Waldemar II. 40. Years 1241 Eric IV. 9. Years 1250 Abel 2. Years Anno Chr. Reigned 1252 Christopher I. 7 Years 1259 Eric V. 28. Years 1286 Eric VI. 35. Years 1321 Christopher II. 12. Years 1333 Waldemar III. 42. Years 1376 Margaret with Aquin 36. Years 1412 Eric VII 27. Years 1445 Christopher III. 3. Years 1448 Christiern I. 34. Years 1482 John 32. Years 1513 Christiern II. 10. Years 1523 Frederick I. 11. Years 1534 Christiern III. 24. Years 1559 Frederick II. 29. Years 1588 Christiern IV. 60. Years 1648 Frederick III. 22. Years 1670 Christiern V. the present King  Harold I. according to our Account was converted to the Christian Faith seeing for a Proof of it a Clergy-man carry a burning hot Iron in his hands without any hurt Whereupon he became the Apostle of the North and prudently governed his Dominions His Son being still a Heathen waged War with him and slew him in a Battel Sept. 1. Anno 980. That Son was Sueno I. otherwise called Swain his immediate Successor At first a great Enemy of the Gospel as well as an Usurper of the Throne in his Father life-time and a great Scourge unto the English Being outed of his Estate by Eric King of Sweden he received the Gospel regained his Kingdom and re-established Christianity in it his War on England still continuing He was King of Denmark by Birth and of Norway by Conquest Which last he conquered from Olaus then King of Norway After Sueno's Death both Denmark and Norway fell to the share of his eldest Son Olaus whilst his younger Son Canute fixed in England Olaus having reigned Ten years in the North and dying without Issue left his two Crowns to his Brother Canute I. surnamed the Great but the second Canute in the general Account His Father Sueno being dead he went on in his Conquests against King Edmund surnamed Iron-side who succeeded Ethelred After some Disadvantages he at last came off victorious in a field-Fight Then he challenged his Rival to a single Combat which made them Friends but he obliged him to divide his Kingdom with him Not long after which Edmund having been basely murdered by Edward surnamed the Outlaw his eldest Son King Canute brought the Murderers to a condign Punishment and took upon himself the Government of the whole Kingdom After that he conquered Sweden and brought the Crown of Scotland to a state of Vassalage He married Emma the Widow of Ethelred and Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy In the year 1027 he went in Pilgrimage to Rome and died eight years after leaving the Northern Crowns to Canute and England to Harold his base Son He had a Daughter called Elfgine who was married to the Emperour Henry III. Canute II second Son of Canute I was first of all King of Denmark and
afterwards of England upon the death of his elder Brother Harold who died not long after his Coronation Anno 1040. He was kindly received by the English but he proved very unkind to ' em For he caused several of the chief Men of the Kingdom to be put to death and he oppressed the People with heavy Taxes To avenge the Injuries done to his Mother Emma by Harold he caused him to be digged out of his Grave and his head to be cast into the Thames Two years after his coming to the Crown he went to a Wedding in Lambeth where he fell off his Chair and died Some thought he had been poisoned However he being dead the English took up Arms and made a riddance of the Danes This is that King Canute which was commonly called Hardy Canute To him succeeded King Magnus in Denmark who governed that Kingdom the space of four years He was Son of Olaus King of Norway Sueno II was Sisters Son of Canute I according to our account by Ulso an English Duke 'T was he that restored the Kingdom of Norway to the Norwegians Harold II was Son of that Sueno There is nothing memorable of him that I can find at present but that he was surnamed the Idle Canute III was Brother of that Harold He attempting to recover England was murdered at the Altar in the Church of St. Albans Anno 1081 and after that ranked among the Martyrs A Son of his called by his Name did likewise suffer Martyrdom and was canonized a Saint Anno 1164 by Pope Alexander IV. The Church of Rome celebrates his Day on the 19th of January I suppose this is that Canute who was murderin the Church of Odensee in Funen whom Heylin mistakes for his Father As for Olaus I find nothing of him that 's memorable Eric I surnamed the Good was Brother of Canute the Saint He being a Religious Prince took a Voyage to Rome and afterwards to the Holy Land with his Queen Bochilde and he died in Cyprus Harold III was base Son of Eric 'T is said he was murdered by his own Brother Eric II called the Bastard a cruel and passionate Prince was also assassinated Eric III Son of Anna Sister of Eric II succeeded him He was surnamed the Lamb because of his sweet Nature But he had no Fortune in his Wars with the Swedes At last he retired into a Monastery and there died Canute IV. was slain at a Feast by his Successor Sueno III who was likewise murdered by his Successor Waldemar I Son of Canute the lawful Son of Eric I by whose means the Rugians and Vandals embraced the Gospel He was the first that reduced the Laws into a set form and Writing And by his Laws the Bishops were to sit with the Council of State in all Causes of moment But they were discharged from that Employment by King Christiern III. Canute V. was the Son of Waldemar and of Sophia Sister to Canute the Fourth Having reigned some time with his Father he at last succeeded him He made War to the Pomeranians and is said to have been married to Mathildis Daughter of Henry the Lion Duke of Saxony Waldemar II Brother of Canute the Fifth was Duke of Sleswick before his coming to the Crown Eric IV Son of Waldemar the Second was married to Agnes the then Marquess of Brandenburgh's Daughter He shewed a great deal of good Conduct in his Government But he was murdered by his Brother Abel the second Son of Waldemar the Second Who did not long enjoy his Usurpation For two years after he came to the Crown by an Act more Cain than Abel-like he was kill'd himself by the Boors in the Friseland War And it is said that the Place where he was inhumed swarmed with Spirits and strange Apparitions Christopher I the youngest Brother of the foresaid Abel and Eric was no Admirer of Prelates He reigned with a various Fortune and at last was taken Prisoner in his War against the Earls of Holstein Some Authors are of opinion that he did not die before the year 1268. Eric V surnamed the Old was Christopher his Son His Reign of twenty eight years was blessed with Peace and Plenty but he was slain by the Practices and Treason of his Officers Mathildis Daughter of Albert called the Great Duke of Brunswick was his Queen By whom he had amongst other Children his Son and Successor Eric VI surnamed the Young who supplanted Christopher his Elder Brother He began his Reign with a severe Punishment of his Father's Murderers He took Rostock now a Hanse Town in Mecklemburg and some other Places and he married with the Sister of Birger King of Sweden by whom he left no Issue Christopher II elder Brother of Eric added the Island of Rugen to the Crown of Denmark and gave Rostock in fief to the Dukes of Mecklemburg The Earls of Holstein beat him out of his Kingdom and he was twice restored to it Waldemar III was Son of Christopher A stout Prince but unfortunate in his Wars with the Hanse Towns which confederated against him and vanquished him in many Battels Margaret Daughter of Waldemar the Third gave her self in Marriage to Aquin King of Norway and so united the Kingdoms They had a Son named Olaus a hopeful Prince but he died young Aquin her Husband and Olaus her Son being dead she stood still at the Helm and not contented with two Crowns she put in for a third In short she attempted by force of Arms to recover the Crown of Sweden She raised a fine Army and appeared at the head of it Albert Duke of Mecklemburg was then King of Sweden He was Son of Euphemia the Sister of Magnus IV. of Sweden and got that Crown to the prejudice of Aquin the Husband of Margaret For you must know that Magnus IV. King both of Sweden and Norway had two Sons Eric and Aquin aforesaid Eric his eldest Son was his designed Successor in the Crown of Sweden whilst in his Life-time he bestow'd the Crown of Norway upon Aquin. Eric dies before his Father and after his death the Father himself was outed of his Kingdom by the practice of Albert his Nephew aforesaid Queen Margaret therefore having raised a good Army undertook to do her self Justice and to dispossess Albert of his Inchroachments By that time Albert was grown a worse Tyrant than his Predecessor which made the Nobility that had raised him up to the Throne seek the means to unthrone him So that all things seemed to concur for the Success of Queen Margarets Design And indeed such was her Valour and the Fortune of her Arms that she gave the Swedes Battel in the Year 1387 defeated their Army and took their King Prisoner A bloody Battel it was says my Author Albert was kept Prisoner for the space of seven years To get his Liberty he freely resigned his Kingdom to Margaret and so went to his own Country where he died Upon his Resignation Anno 1394 she caused
raised upon the Subjects by the name of Danegelt Till at last King Ethelred weary of these Exactions and willing to shake them off plotted with his Subjects to kill all the Danes as they slept in their Beds Which Plot took effect according to expectation on St. Brice's night Nov. 12. Anno 1012. Sueno was then King of Denmark to which Crown he added Norway by Conquest He being a right Valiant Prince heard no sooner of the Nocturnal Exploit of the English but he prepared a mighty Fleet in order to revenge so great an Outrage and Dishonour done to his Nation He came over himself with his Fleet unto England and the dreadful noise of his Approach compelled King Ethelred to fly Away he goes into Normandy leaving his poor Subjects to the Mercy of a cruel Invader who breathed nothing but Revenge The Danes having thus by the Valour and good fortune of Sueno their King recovered their Power in England obtained at last the Kingdom in the Person of his younger Son Canute A Temperate Prince and who did really deserve the Title of Great Besides the Crown of England he got the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway upon the Decease of his Brother Olaus and conquered that of Sweden Thus he was King of England Denmark Norway and Sweden But unhappily for his Posterity he opened a way to their Exclusion from the Crown of England when he sent back his Danish Forces into their Country A very Impolitick Act as if a Kingdom got by Force could be held by Favour 'T is true he reigned twenty Years and at his Death left the Crown of England to Harold his base Son But then the Danes Interest here grew so weak that in less than seven years this Crown returned to the Saxon Line For King Harold reigned but four years and died without Issue To whom succeeded his Brother Hardy Canute King of Denmark who reigned here but about two Years and was the last King of the Danish Race in England Thus the Danes had here in all but three Kings of their Nation viz. Canute the Great and his two Sons Harold and Hardy Canute who reigned here all three but about 26 years To Hardy Canute succeeded his half Brother Edward surnamed the Confessor the seventh Son of Ethelred by Emma his Queen Goodwine Earl of Kent being the main Instrument in setting him up The Saxon Line being thus re-inthroned we must now follow the Danes into Denmark and take a view of their Transactions in the North. Canute the Second aforesaid had a Sisters Son called Sueno who was his next Successor but one in Denmark This Sueno restored the Kingdom of Norway to the Norvegians But it was again united to Denmark in the Reign of Aquin King of Norway by his Marriage with Margaret Daughter of Waldemar the Third King of Denmark that is above three hundred Years ago In which State it has continued ever since Aquin being dead his Widow Queen Margaret took up the Reins of the Government And not being contented with two Crowns she ventured them to get that of Sweden as a Crown that had gone away from her Ancestors and that by course should have fallen to the share of her Husband Albert of Mecklemburg was then King of Sweden This Semiramis of the North challenges him as an Usurper raises an Army against him fights him routs his Army and takes the King Prisoner So that Albert was fain to resign his Crown to Margaret as her due This brave Queen having thus united the three Kingdoms under her Command caused an Act of State to be passed in Calmar one of the chief Towns in Sweden for the Perpetuation of this Union unto her Successors the Law and Privileges of each Kingdom continuing as before they were Her immediate Successor was Eric Duke of Pomeren her own Sisters Son Him she adopted for her next Heir and he was accordingly chosen in her life time King of the three Kingdoms into which he succeeded actually after her Decease Anno 1422. Having reigned about 27 years he resigned his Kingdoms Anno 1439. This Resignation was followed by an Anarchy which lasted six years At last viz. Anno 1445 Christopher Count Palatine of the Rhine and Nephew of Eric being the Son of Margaret his Sister was chosen by the joynt Consent of all the States of these Kingdoms He reigned but three years and died without Issue Whereupon the Swedes grown weary of the Danish Government broke the foresaid Agreement made at Calmar and chose a King of their own The Danes on the other side considering the great Advantage they had got by the Addition of Norway pitched upon Adolph Duke of Sleswick and Earl of Holstein for the next Successor that they might get in those Estates to their Kingdoms But he excused himself by reason of his Age and want of Children and commended to them Christiern Earl of Oldenburg his Nephew and next Heir who was accordingly chosen An. 1448. Adolph dying some years after King Christiern succeeded him in the Estates of Holstein and Sleswick continuing ever since united unto that Crown And from this Christiern the Succession was hitherto continued in his Line As for the Crown of Sweden 't is true the Danes recovered it in the time of the said Christiern For Charles Canute King of Sweden whom the Swedes had chosen on the Death of Christopher King of Denmark and Sweden being upon discontent fled to Dantzick where he ended his days Christiern was called in by a Party of the Swedes and crowned King of Sweden But he was outed again under colour that he had not kept Conditions with them Christiern dying Anno 1482. his Son John succeeded him and the Swedes then overpowred by the Moscovites received him as their King But their turn being served they expelled him also To John succeeded Anno 1513. his Son Christiern the Second the Nero of the North who recovered once more the Crown of Sweden But he used his Subjects so insolently at home and his Victory in Sweden so cruelly that he was driven out of Denmark by his Uncle Frederick and out of Sweden by Gustave Eric descended from the ancient Kings of Sweden Thus the Danes recovered no less than three times the Crown of Sweden till they were utterly dispossessed of it by the foresaid Eric Anno 1523 in whose House it has continued ever since And such is the Vicissitude of humane Affairs that whereas in former Ages the Crown of Sweden was subject to Denmark in this our Age that of Denmark was twice reduced to such straits by the Swedes that the whole Kingdom of Denmark was in a manner confined within the Walls of Copenhagen and then in the greatest Distress imaginable All which hapned within the compass of four years viz. in the years 1657. 1658. 1659. 1660 under the late Reigns of Charles the Ninth King of Sweden and of Frederic the Third King of Denmark The History of which Wars you will find accurately written by Sir
THE PRESENT STATE OF DENMARK By GVY MIEGE Author of the New Cosmography or Survey of the whole World LONDON Printed for Tho. Basset at the George in Fleetstreet near St. Dunstan's Church 1683. To His Royal Highness THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE GEORGE THE KING of Denmark's only Brother May it please Your Royal Highness THE Liberty I take to offer You this Work is not out of Presumption It is a Debt I come to pay an Homage I come to render to Your ROYAL HIGHNESS 'T is Your R.H. has occasion'd it upon the News of your happy Marriage with the Princess Which has diffused so great a Joy through the whole Nation that it had certainly broke out into Extraordinary and Publick Demonstrations at any other Conjuncture However it has created a Desire to know the estate of a Kingdom which has given us so Illustrious a Prince by his Birth so famous for his Courage and so Amiable by that Sweetness of Disposition which has already gained him so many Hearts in this Realm Therefore to satisfy the Publick I have undertaken this short Description of the State of Denmark in writing of which I had the advantage of speaking well of Denmark without having need to flatter And I am perswaded it will be so much the more Acceptable to Your ROYAL HIGHNESS and the Publick If it shall have the Fortune to please 't will be no small Satisfaction to me and I should think my self very happy to have done Something that had the Honour to be approved by so great a Prince For whom my Prayers to Heaven shall be to pour down its most benign Influences upon Your ROYAL HIGHNESS to crown your Marriage with a glorious Off-spring that this happy Alliance may prove an eternal Bond of Amity between the two Kingdoms of England and Denmark and that Your ROYAL HIGHNESS may all the days of your Life be the Delight of your Friends and Terrour of your Enemies I humbly beg of Y. R. H. to accept of these Marks of the Zeal I have for your Service and to believe that none can be with more Veneration than I am YOVR ROYAL HIGHNESSE'S Most humbly devoted Servant GVY MIEGE READER HERE you have a Short but Comprehensive Description of the State of Denmark which may be called Multum in Parvo The Occasion for Writing of it is easy to guess at Before the late Marriage of GEORGE Prince of Denmark with the Lady ANN the English had no other Interest in that Countrey but that of a Northern Trade And the Truth is few People minded it but such as traded that Way But now these two Crowns are come to a closer Vnion 't is worth our while to look back and to consider the State of that Monarchy wherein the English Nation has so great an Interest in the Prince's Person A Monarchy which has been in former times most formidable both to France and England and which has to this day the Command of the Baltick in a far better manner than the Venetians can pretend it of their Gulf. A Monarchy of great Latitude if we consider all the accessory Estates to the Crown of Denmark as the Kingdom of Norway with the Isles of Schetland Feroe and Iseland besides the Coast of Groenland in Terra Polaris Arctica and New-Denmark in the Northern America In Germany West of the Dutchy of Bremen the King of Denmark has got of late years the fruitful Counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst In Africk he has Frederixburg upon the Coast of Guinea besides some Holds in Asia As for the Kingdom of Denmark it self which is the main Thing of all I have had the advantage of knowing the Country not only by reading Authors upon that Subject but also by my own Experience when I was there an Attendant on the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle in his Northern Embassy's What material Changes have hapned there since I got out of my Memoires So that you have really in this small Tract the State of Denmark both Ancient and Modern Wherein you will find not only Geography but a great deal of History both Civil and Natural POSTSCRIPT Upon the finishing of this Book at the Press I was not a little surprised to see another get the start of it being of this very size upon the same Subject and bearing the same Title The Style whereof might have been more polite the Matter better digested the Impression much neater and the Faults less numerous had not the Book as I am informed been hurry'd into the World for the preventing of This. But some People will run though they make more Haste than good Speed ERRATA PAge 7. l. 2. for was read has p. 10. l. 12. for upon r. of p. 17. l. 13. 14. r. most part p. 31. l. 16. blot out formerly p. 108. l. 23. r. 64th p. 111. last line r. to drive p. 127. l. 10. r. to the Czar THE PRESENT STATE OF DENMARK A Prefatory Discourse of the Rise and Progress of this Monarchy THE State of Denmark the Description whereof I take in hand has been in former Ages a great and formidable State Gotricus or Godfrey was the first King of Note that took upon him the Danish Government Which hapned in the Year of our Lord 797. And 't was about this time that the Danes first began to infest the Coasts of England that they invaded Frizeland with a Fleet of 200 Sail and would have indangered the great Monarchy of France if the Death of Godfrey and the Quarrels that arose about the Succession after his Decease had not kept them off At last their Affairs at home being composed again they employ'd their whole Forces against England as the weaker Enemy This hapned in the beginning of the ninth Century that is in the time of Egbert the last King of the West-Saxons and the first of England Which being now reduced from a State of Heptarchy into that of a Monarchy was unhappily disturbed by these new Guests Who having filled up the void Rooms of the Juites and Angles in Jutland formerly called the Cimbrick Chersonese thought it convenient to follow them into Britain also So that next to the Saxons the Danes were the most considerable Actors in the Stage of England Where they continued about 225 years during which time they first erected many small Sovereignties Till after several Checks given them by King Alfred his Son Edward and Athelstan Edward's Son they were at last brought by King Edred under the English Government and compelled by him to be christened So that they lived with the English mixed in Marriages and Alliance and incorporated with them But toward the latter end of the tenth Century in the Reign of King Ethelred a weak Prince the Danes began again to grow upon the English Insomuch that the King was sain to buy his Peace of them at the yearly Tribute of ten thousand Pounds inhanced soon after to forty thousand A vast Sum in those Times which was
called from Wiburg the Episcopal See situate on a River which runs Northward into the Bay of Limfort South of that lies the District of Arhusen so called from Arhusen the chief place hereof Situate East-Southward from Wiburg by the Sea side and being a Port of good note few miles above the lesser Belt Opposite to which is Rinkoping on the West-side of the Peninsule thirteen Leagues distant from Arhusen Westward and ten from Ripen Northward This is a noted Sea Port on the German Ocean The Diocese of Ripen is the most Southern and the largest of all The same is so denominated from Ripen the Episcopal See seated on the West-side of the Peninsule near the German Ocean and fortified with a Castle Under this Diocese there are no less than thirty Herets or Perfectures 282 Parishes seven walled Towns and ten Royal Castles Amongst these Towns I cannot but take a particular notice of Fredericks-Ode The taking of which by the Swedes Nov. 4. Anno 1657. under the Conduct of Marshal Wrangel did not only give them the Plunder and Contribution of most part of Jutland but also traced them the way for their further Conquests This was a new Town seated on the lesser Belt indowed with many Priviledges to invite Inhabitants and fortified on the Land-side The Sea-side being pallisadoed from the adjoyning Bulwarks as sar as deep Water was counted strong enough But the Swedes under favour of the Darkness and some false Alarms broke down that wooden Fence and rushing in up to the Saddle-skirts in Water took the Town by Storm Where besides 2000 slain they made above 2000 Prisoners whereof near 200 Officers There they found no less than 33 Colours and 80 Pieces of Canon with other Store of Ammunition and Plunder But the Swedes kept it little above a twelve Month in their hands For about the latter end of the following Year the Emperour the King of Poland and the Elector of Brandenburg being confederated together against the Swedes in their own and the Danes behalf they put the Swedish Forces in Jutland so hard to it that they were fain to quit all their Holds there Upon their quitting of this Place the Confederates resolved but in vain to pursue the Swedes into the Isle of Funen Where they were so warmly received by the Defendants that they were fain to retire before they could reach the shore Here is also in this Diocese the Sea-Port of Colding not above six miles South-west of Fredericks-Ode The same is fortified with a Castle called Arnsburg and here is paid the Toll for the Horses and Oxen which pass this way for Holstein and Germany This Town was taken from the Swedes some time before Fredericks-Ode by Czernesky who commanded the Polish Forces Having forced the Kings Palace he put the whole Garrison to the Sword reserving only the Governour and his Lieutenant to publish his Victory and their own Misfortune I proceed now to South-Jutland which as I said before comprehends the Dukedoms of Sleswick and Holstein Though there are those I confess who look upon Holstein as no part or Member of Jutland but as a Country of it self The first is so called from Sleswick the chief Place of it Seated towards the end of a large Bay or Inlet of the Baltick which runs half way the Peninsule Westward and gives to Sleswick a fair and commodious Haven The Dukedom was first erected by King Eric of Denmark who gave it to Waldemar great Grandchild of Abel a former King Anno 1280 to be held by him under the Right and Sovereignty of the Kings thereof But the Male Issue failing it returned to the Crown and was by Margaret Queen of Denmark conferred on Gerard Earl of Holstein Anno 1386. Afterwards repenting of that Act she extorted it out of the hands of his Widow but it was again recovered by the Valour and good Fortune of his Son Adolphus After whose Death it fell together with Holstein to Christiern of Oldenburg King of Denmark by whom it was incorporated with that Crown Next to Sleswick there are other Places of good note in this Dukedom As Gottorp near Sleswick a strong Castle and the usual Residence of the Dukes of Holstein Gottorp of the Royal Family of Denmark Frederickstad on the River Eyder some fourteen miles West of Gottorp Tonningen a strong Fortress not above eight miles from that to the Westward and seated also on the River Eyder not far from its Influx in to the German Sea but lately dismantled by the King of Denmark The River Eyder is the chief of this Peninsule and was the ancient Boundary betwixt the Saxons and the Danes It rises above Rensburg and parts all the way it runs the Dukedoms of Sleswick and Holstein 'T is from this River that the said Duke of Holstein's Country from Tonningen as far as Husum is called Eyderstede Now Husum lies almost full North of Tonningen commodiously seated on a Bay of the German Sea and fortified with a Castle Both this Place and Tonningen as well as Frederickstad did lately belong to the Duke of that Name North-East from Husum you will find Flensburg a noted Town with a Castle on a Bay of the Baltick Sea called Hever Bay There is a Port so deep so safe and so commodious that the very Ships come up close to the Houses almost every where Further North is Apenrade likewise on the Baltick Sea Six or seven miles further you will find Hadersleben a Town of good note near the Baltick and over against the Island of Funen beautify'd with the fair Castle of Hansburg begun to be built by John the eldest Son of King Christiern I. then Duke of Holstein but finished by Frederick II. King of Denmark This Town and Castle was in the forementioned Wars twice taken by the Swedes but at last restored with the rest There is one Town more in these Parts I thought fit to take notice of and that is Tondern near the German Sea almost opposite to Apenrade aforesaid on the Baltick Betwixt Sleswick and Flensburg is a Territory that goes by the Name of Anglen From whence England has got its denomination ever since King Egbert whose Ancestors perhaps were born in this Tract of Land caused this Kingdom to be called Engel-lond afterwards turned into England in a Parliament held at Winchester Anno 814. So that the English Nation is not only originally descended from the Saxons and Danes but the very Name of England has its original from thence And if there ought to be any Ties of natural Friendship betwixt two Nations sprung up from the same Root it must be betwixt these Nations especially considering the Uniformity of Manners the Congruity of Religion as to the main Points and the stricter Union of both Crowns by such Royal Matches on both sides as makes the same Bloud run in the Veins of both the Royal Families I said before that the River Eyder was the ancient Boundary betwixt the Saxons and the Danes But
the Churches Ten in number in good repair adorned with excellent Imagery and much admired even by skilful Workmen From the publick Conduit a pipe of Water is conveyed to every House according to the Pattern whereof the Conduits were first made in London and other Places In a word says Heylin there is not any City of Germany or the more Northern Country's which can equalize it either for the Beauty and Uniformity of the Houses the pleasant Gardens fair Streets and delightful Walks without the Walls or for the Citizens themselves who are much commended for their Civility to Strangers and strict execution of Justice without Partiality To which purpose I shall here subjoyn the clear Testimony of Lindebergius and another Poet. The first speaks of it thus Gens humana Situs Commercia Littora Mores Mars Toga Divitiae Curia Religio Arctoas inter claras Virtutibus Vrbes Efficiunt tollat tanta Lubeca Caput Et Decus Europae lumen sit totius Ansae Et sit Vandalici pulcra Corona Soli. The other thus Traverna leni descendimus amne Lubecum Vrbis post paucas Munimina cernimus horas Ingressi verò Portas miramur Aedes Arte laboratas omnes Cultumque Domorum Eximium Merces amplissima Strata Viarum Denique longè alias omnes quas vidimus Vrbes Haec superat c. The same is seated on the borders of Holstein Lawemburg and Mecklemburg and particularly in that part of Holstein which is called Wageren not above two German miles distant from the Baltick The River Trave which runs through the midst of it carries Ships of the greatest burthen and such is the Trade of this Place that it is thought above 600 Ships of all sorts some of a thousand Tun and upwards belong to it Near the Rivers Mouth is the Fort called Travemund Anno 1162 the Bishops See of Oldenburg was formerly transferred to this Place the present Bishop being of the Duke of Holstein Gottorp's Branch To conclude Lubeck lives in the form of a Common-wealth and has made a strict Alliance with the States General of the United Provinces who included this Town in the seventy second Article of their Treaty with Spain Anno 1648. Next to Hamburg and Lubeck the most noted Places in Holstein and first in Wageren are Segeberg near the head of the River Trave four German Miles from Lubeck Oldislo on the same River betwixt Segeberg and Lubeck Newstat on the Baltick Oldenburg North of that and Ploen upon a Lake fortified with a Castle and belonging to a Prince of the House of Holstein from hence called the Duke of Holstein Ploen Secondly in Stormaren Pinnemberg two leagues North of Hamburg Crempen on a little River of that name which falls not far off from hence into the Stoer and both together not much further into the Elb. A Town well fortifi'd by King Christiern the Fourth and reckoned one of the Keys of that Kingdom Gluckstad on the River Elb which Place was likewise repaired and fortifi'd by Christiern the Fourth to command the Passage up the Elb. Thirdly in Ditmarsen Meldorp on the Ocean the Inhabitants of which are so wealthy that many of them cover their Houses with Copper Brunsbuttel at the Mouth of the River Elb Heide five miles North of Meldorp and Lunden further North on the bank of the Eyder Fourthly in Holstein specially so called Rensburg a Place well fortify'd Kiel four leagues East of Rensburg situate on a Bay of the Baltick and having a capacious Haven seldom without good store of Shipping from Germany Sweden and Denmark This Town belongs to the Duke of Holstein 'T is fortified with a Castle and here the Duke keeps his Courts of Judicature It suffered much by the Wars of Sweden and Denmark in the late Kings Reign Bordesholm on the North end of a Lake not much observable but for a Monastery in which Henry one of the Earls hereof of a younger House turned Monk and died Anno 1241. Itzehoe on the River Stoer bordering upon Stormaren Amongst all the aforesaid Towns Kiel Lunden Heide Oldenburg Ploen Bordesholm and a few others of less Note belong to the Dukes of Holstein But 't will not be improper to take notice that Wageren took its name from the Wagrii a Tribe or Nation of the Sclaves who possessed this Tract Stormaren from the River Stoer and the Marsi once the Inhabitants hereof and Ditmarsen from a Mixture of the Dutch and the Marsi These last being naturally of the Saxon Race retain much of the Stomack and Animosity of the ancient Saxons and never were brought under the Command of the Earls of Holstein as Wageren and Stormaren were till Holstein it self was joyned to the Crown of Denmark And though it was aliened from the Empire by Frederick the Third and given in fee to Christiern Earl of Oldemburg the first King of that House Anno 1414 yet would they not submit unto his Authority but held it out against him and some of his Successors whom in the year 1500. they vanquished in the open Field But they were at last subdued by the Valour of King Frederick the Second Anno 1550. To conclude Holstein came to be subject to the King of Denmark in the Person of Christiern I. Who being Earl of Oldemburg was elected to that Crown and after the Death of Adolph Earl of Holstein his Uncle by the Mothers side who died without Issue Holstein came into his hands But then Otho Earl of Schomborg pretended a Right unto it as the next Heir Male according to the Constitutions of the Empire of which it was holden On the other side Gerard the Brother of Christiern put in for his Share according to the ill Custom of Germany of which it was then counted part So that King Christiern was fain to compound with both To Otho he paid 43000 Florens and left him withall such Places as were the ancient Possessions of the Earl of Schomborg And to his Brother Gerard he gave 50000 marks besides his whole Interest in the Earldom of Oldenburg only reserving the Title according to the fashion in Germany By this means Holstein was united to the Crown of Denmark Which being afterwards inlarged with the Addition of Ditmarsen it was erected into a Dukedom by the Emperour Frederick III. Anno 1474. After which the Kings of Denmark as Dukes of Holstein were counted Princes of the Empire Though they neither send to the Imperial Diets nor contribute any thing at all to the Publick Taxes nor acknowledg any kind of Subjection to it more than meerly Titular Only it was ordained at the request of the Subjects when first they were incorporated into that Kingdom that in case of any Grievance or unjust Sentence in the ordinary Courts of Justice wherein they found no remedy in the Supreme Council of the Province it might be lawful for them to appeal to the Imperial Chamber as they had done formerly Which Grant has been so seldom made use of that it is
which sails through the Sund into or out of the Baltick And here it is that all forein Ships pay the Toll to the King of Denmark except the Swedes who got themselves off by the Treaty of Roschild In short such is the Strength of this Castle and the narrowness of the Streight that the first seems impregnable and that by the addition of a few Ships the King of Denmark may keep the greatest Fleet that is from passing by him But yet this very Castle was taken by the Swedes in the late Kings time and this famous Structure the Product of eight years Labour and vast Expence fell in the space of three Weeks into the hands of Field-Marshal Wrangel Which was principally effected by a Stratagem then used by the Swedes Who to increase the Terror of the Besieged gave it out that Copenhagen was taken and celebrated this pretended Conquest with the discharges of all their great and small Shot with the Noises of their Drums and Trumpets with Bonfires and all other Demonstrations of Joy Whereupon the Garrison was summoned and threatned with all sorts of extremities if they alone should be so confident as to continue to oppose their victorious Armies The Governours who were then no less than three a stout Triumvirate upon the sordid Suggestions of Fear and a rash Credulity surrendred this strong Place Sept. 6. 1658. And yet they wanted neither Souldiers nor Provisions nor Ammunition but instead of those they wanted indeed Courage Discretion and Fidelity They were afterwards says my Historian condemned by a Council of War at Copenhagen to lose their Heads but pardoned by the Kings Clemency and the Intercession of the Mediators for Peace Tho the truth is the loss of that Place was like to have lost Copenhagen then closely besieged as it was and consequently the whole Kingdom So great and universal a Terror did the News of this unhappy Surrender strike in the Inhabitants that now they look'd upon themselves as irrecoverably ruined and there was scarce any amongst them so resolute but was shaken at this fatal Truth The Swedes on the other side were not little heightned with this Victory whereby they found a great quantity of Gun-powder which they much wanted and great Provision of Cannon and other Instruments of War Neither did they doubt in the least but that Copenhagen would now quickly follow being resolved now they were secure behind to attack it with their united Forces But the Besieged re-assumed their wonted Courage and kept still the Swedes out of doors About three leagues West of Cronenburg you will find Fredericksburg a Royal and stately Pallace pleasantly seated on the North side of a Lake among Woods of Beech. There was anciently a Castle known by the name of Ebelholt and an Abbey dedicated to the holy Ghost King Frederick II. was the Founder of this Palace It has a little Park about it and therein amongst other forein Beasts some fallow Deer transported hither out of England in the Twenty fourth year of Queen Elizabeth Afterwards the Pallace was beautified by Christiern the Fourth with fine Statues and Pictures and other pieces of rare Workmanship But there 's nothing that recommends this Place so much to the Memory of Man as the solemn Interview that hapned here betwixt the late Kings of Sweden and Denmark upon the Conclusion and Ratification of the Roschild Treaty Thither both Kings went says Sir Roger Manley and which is remarkable without any previous Stipulation concerning Gards or Number of Followers a Thing usually practised upon such Occasions but with a frank and Northern simplicity either not mistrusting or unwilling to mistrust each other King Frederick met his new Guest coming from Roskild about two miles from his House Both Kings being at a competent distance alighted out of their Coaches at the same time and approaching on foot saluted each other by joyning their right hands with all the respect and obliging demonstrations of Kindness imaginable And now as if their late Enmity had been intirely forgot they both entred the same Coach Which being King Frederick's Coach the King of Sweden stept in first There went with them Mr. Meadow the English Mediator and the Duke of Holstein Sunderburg The Intertainment at Frederixburg was as splendid and magnificent as the Place and Winter-season could afford At Table the Queen of Denmark sat at the Boards end the King of Sweden on the side at her right hand as being the Guest and next below him on the same side the King of Denmark The Provision was sumptuous the Order exact and the Solemnity rare to see two Kings at one Table who had so little before been in Arms one against the other It could not be but very pleasant to hear now those Trumpets and Kettle-drums loudly proclaim Healths which so lately denounced Death In short the Solemnity continued from Thursday to Saturday both Kings lodging two nights under the same Roof At parting they exchanged Horses and other Presents and those Officers of the Danish Court who were particularly appointed to attend the Swedish King were nobly regalled by him On Saturday he took his leave and went to Elsinor the King of Denmark accompanying him part of the way From thence he passed the Sound through the noise and smoak of the Canon of the two Castles of Cronenburg and Elsinburg to take possession of his Purchase in Schonen On the West side of the Island is Corsoer situate on the great Belt over against Nyburg in Funen and fortifyed with a Castle Here August 8. Anno 1658. King Charles of Sweden landed his Army from Kiel in Holstein in his second Expedition against Denmark but five months after the aforesaid Interview of the two Kings at Frederixburg And though this Army was far greater in reputation than numbers yet it met with little or no resistance Those few Gards that were on the Coasts fled at first sight of the Fleet and the Townsmen dissembling what they durst not seem to fear were fain to receive their Invaders as Friends 'T is true the Swedes indeavoured to make them believe that they intended no hostility but were come to assist the King of Denmark against the Designs of some of his rebellious Nobles And therefore King Charles his chief care upon his Landing was to keep his Souldiers from plundering and by quick sending out of Parties of Horse to suppress the Danish Troops which were quartered up and down the Island or at least to hinder their Retreat into Copenhagen Count Tott Lieutenant-General of the Horse led the Van but the King himself did not stir till the day following And though his main hopes of Victory consisted in the quickness of his Motion yet he marched but slowly So that the noise of this Invasion fled to Copenhagen before him and by his slow march he gave the Citizens time enough to recollect themselves from their sudden terrour and take up Arms in their own defence Sixteen miles North of Corsoer stands
an Act of State to be passed in Calmar for the Perpetuation of this Union unto her Successors In short this was a Princess of a Temper so far beyond her Sex that all Historians cry her up as the Wonder of her Age and a second Semiramis Before she died she was sollicitous to find a worthy Successor Ingelburgis her Sister offered her one namely Eric her Son whom she got by Vratislaus Duke of Pomeren Margaret accepted of him and got him crowned in her Life-time Anno 1396 with the Concurrence of the States of the three Kingdoms The Arch-bishop of Upsal performed the Ceremony and thereupon a Law was made that the three Kingdoms should never be separated This Eric the seventh in our Account begun his Reign in the year 1412 and was Knight of the Garter His Cruelties rendred him so odious to his Subjects that they rose up in Arms every where against him Anno 1424 he went to the Holy Land And in the Year 1439 weary of swaying the Scepter he retired into Pomeren where he lived twenty years longer So that he was no less than 77 Years old when he died During that Retirement 't is supposed by some that he writ the History of Denmark which begins thus Dani ut testantur veteres Historiographi Eric having thus resigned his Kingdoms to live a private Life there was an Interregnum for the space of six years till Christopher III. came in by Election He was Duke of Bavaria but in Title only Son of John Count Palatine of the Rhine and of Margaret Sister of Eric Though he was very mild in his Government yet his Subjects were disgusted at him for bestowing the great Places of Trust upon Germans which he had promised to confer upon the Natives He marry'd Dorothy of Brandenburg and after a Reign of three Years died without Issue Whereby he made way to the Crown for the House of Oldenburg the present Royal Family of Denmark And then the Swedes weary of the Danish Government chose a King of their own Charles Canute without any regard to the Act of Calmar Christiern I Earl of Oldenburg was Son of Theodorick Earl of Oldenburg and of his Wife Hedwige Sister of Adolph Earl of Sleswick and Holstein Which Earl being offered the Crown of Denmark declined it by reason of his Age and want of Children but he recommended in his stead Christiern his Nephew and next Heir who thereupon was chosen King of Denmark After his Uncles Decease he succeeded him in the Estates of Holstein and Sleswick continuing since united unto that Crown And by the Assistance of the Bishop of Upsal he recovered the Crown of Sweden But he lost it again and after that Sweden was governed for a time by Marshals According to Moreri 't was by this King Christiern that the chief Order of Knighthood in Denmark called the Order of the Elephant was instituted and that at the Wedding of his Son John John the Son of Christiern the First was crowned King of Sweden the next Year after his coming to the Crown of Denmark But not keeping Conditions with the Swedes they turned him out and returned to their former Government under Marshals King John upon that raised an Army of 50000 Men in order to recover that Crown But his Endeavours proved fruitless Christina his Queen was Daughter of Ernest Elector of Saxony By whom he had amongst other Children his Son and Successor Christiern II surnamed the Cruel or the Tyrant Few Years after he was set upon the Throne of his Father that is in the Year 1518. He raised an Army against Sweden and went by Sea to besiege Stockholm But he was forced at last to raise the Siege They had at that time in Sweden a Triumvirate of Marshals who governed the Kingdom Two of them died natural Deaths and the last being by Christiern II. slain in Battel this Kingdom was again possessed by the Danes And then King Christiern promised his new Subjects all manner of Clemency and Lenity on his part But he could not forbear gratifying his barbarous Inclinations In order to which he invited the chief Men of the Kingdom both Spiritual and Temporal and in the midst of the Feast he caused them to be put to Death Which Inhumanity was so highly resented by the Swedes that they rose up in Arms under the Conduct of Gustave Eric and drove once more the Danes out of Sweden On the merit of which Action Gustave Eric descended from the ancient Race of the Kings of Sweden was chosen King of Sweden and in his House that Crown still continues Christiern being returned to Denmark where he continued his Crimes was likewise expelled from thence and then Frederick his Uncle succeeded him Whereupon Christiern fled into the Low-Countries with Elizabeth his Wfe Sister of Charles the Fifth and Ferdinand both Emperours After ten Years Exile he attempted with the Hollanders Assistance to regain the Crown he had lost to whom therefore he promised vast Priviledges upon the Baltick But he was taken Prisoner and after twenty seven Years Confinement in Prison he died in the year 1559 aged about seventy eight years Frederick I surnamed the Pacifick was Brother of John and Uncle of Christiern the Second He was chosen King of Denmark and Norway upon the Abdication of his Nephew and took up the Crown upon such Terms as made him little more than a titular King 'T was he however that brought in the Reformed Religion in both Kingdoms according to the Confession of Augsburg Anno 1532. he clapt his Nephew Christiern the Second in Prison and not long after he departed this Life leaving four Sons that he got by Ann of Brandenburg The eldest whereof was his immediate Successor Christiern III the eldest Son of Frederick the first suppressed with great Trouble the Party formed against him in behalf of Christiern the second He perfected the Reformation begun in the time of his Father And as he was a Lover of Learning so he proved a great Benefactor to the University of Copenhagen Dorothy his Queen was Daughter of Magnus Duke of Saxony He got by her three Sons and two Daughters His Sons were Frederick his Successor Magnus who was Bishop of Hapsel in Livonia and John Of his two Daughters the Lady Ann was married to Augustus Elector of Saxony and the Lady Dorothy to Henry Duke of Luneburg As the Emperour Charles V. prohibited and enacted that no Ecclesiastical Person should buy any immoveable Goods without the Princes Consent so this King Christiern ordained that the Clergy should sell no Church Lands without leave of the King Frederick II Son of Christiern the Third subdued Ditmarsen a part of Holstein till then unconquered by the Danes or Earls of Holstein He warred against Lubeck and Eric King of Sweden When Pope Pius IV. desired him by a Nuncio to send some body from him to the Council of Trent he declined it saying that he would have no Commerce with Popes He very much
improved the University of Copenhagen and was a great Admirer of the Learned but especially of Tycho Brahe Sophia his Queen was Daughter of Ulric Duke of Mecklemburg He got by her three Sons and four Daughters His eldest Son Christiern succeeded him but Ulric and John died young and without Issue His eldest Daughter Elizabeth was second Wise to Henry-Julius Duke of Brunswick Ann was given in Marriage to James King of Great Brittain Hedwige to Christiern the Second Elector of Saxony and Augusta to John Adolph Duke of Holstein Christiern IV Son of Frederick the Second Brother of Ann Queen of Great Brittain and Knight of the Garter succeeded his Father at the Age of twelve Years Four Counsellors were appointed to be Regents during his Minority and he was not crowned till the year 1596. In the Month of July Anno 1606 he came over into England to visit the King and Queen He had been long expected when at last News were brought to Court that he was come with eight Ships into the River of Thames and that he anchored before Gravesend This hapned on the seventeenth of July and the next day King James with Prince Henry and divers of the Lords went by Barge to meet this Royal Guest and bring him up to London Where he stayed about four Weeks being entertained all that while with all the Magnificence that could be imagined Both Kings did ride in great state through the City there being Pageants erected in many Places He was shewed the chief Places about the Town as the Royal Exchange the Tower the Monuments at Westminster and that he might have a full Prospect of the City and Suburbs he went to the top of Pauls No manner of Pastime was omitted to divert so welcome a Guest and the Earl of Salisbury feasted him at Theobalds four days together At last on the twelfth of August being conducted by the King the Queen and Prince with many other great Lords he departed to his Ships and arrived in eight days at home In July 1614. he came the second time into England but Incognito and with a small Company The Queen was surprised to see him arrived at Somerset House before she knew any thing of his Coming King James was then in Progress in Bedfordshire who heard no sooner of it but he came back He admired his Frankness as well as his Affection and thanked him heartily for both In return whereof he regalled him with all the possible Marks of Kindness and Gratitude And King Christiern returned Aug. 1 extreamly satisfy'd with his Entertainment A rare thing to see Princes converse together with so much Freedom and not kept asunder with Jealousies of State Anno 1610. King Christiern made War against Sweden In the year 1625. the Protestants of Germany made him Head of the League against the Emperour Ferdinand the Second for the Restauration of Count Palatine of the Rhine to his Estates But he was suddenly beat out of all Jutland by the prevailing Imperialists till he compounded the Business upon very good Terms and was restored to all his own Afterwards he turned his Arms against the Swedes in the year 1644 who got several Places from him but the Peace put a stop to their Conquests He reigned sixty years and died at 70 years of age Ann Catharine his Queen was Daughter of Joachim Frederick Elector of Brandenburg He got by her amongst other Children Christiern and Frederick Christiern was chosen King of Denmark in his Fathers life-time He was a very hopeful Prince but unhealthy so that he died before his Royal Father going to drink some Waters in Saxony His Death made room for Frederick III second Son of Christiern the Fourth He was Archbishop of Bremen in Saxony before he came to the Crown upon the Death of his Royal Father and not long after the decease of Christiern his elder Brother who as I said before was King elect This is that magnanimous Prince who by his invincible Constancy has not long since redeemed this Crown from the hands of the Swedes This is that Frederick whose late Calamities served only to set off the greatness of his Courage And as if the same Rules of Providence were appointed for the Royal Families of England and Denmark whilst King Frederick was struggling for his Crown with the Swedes the late Usurpers here kept the Crown from King Charles And as it was their fortune to suffer both together so they had the Comfort to be both the same Year restored to their Dominions 'T is true King Frederick was fain to part with some of the best Jewels of his Crown But that Loss whatever it is is not Irrecoverable and has already been sufficiently made up on the part of his Subjects by their deep sense of Gratitude in making his Crown Hereditary which formerly was but Elective On the 18th of October 1643 some years before he came to the Crown he married with the Lady Sophia Aemilia of Luneburg by whom he got 1. Christiern V now King of Denmark a Prince of a warlike and generous Temper He was born Apr. 18. 1646 and has got Issue by Queen Charlotte his Royal Consort a Princess of the most Ancient and Illustrious House of Hassia Cassel in Germany 2. Prince George born in the year 1653. Whose Royal Birth and Princely Qualifications as well as other Regards have made him in our King's Judgment a proper Match for the Lady Ann. The Solemnity of which Marriage is at hand 3. Anna Sophia married to John George Elector of Saxony 4. Frederica Aemilia married in the Year 1667. to Christiern Albert Duke of Holstein Gottorp 5. Guilliemetta-Ernestina married in the Year 1671. to Count Palatine of the Rhine 6. Vlrica-Eleonora-Sabina married to the present King of Sweden Charles XI The Titles of the King of Denmark run thus Christiern the Fifth by the Grace of God King of Denmark and Norway of the Vandals and Goths Duke of Sleswick Holstein Stormaren and Dithmarsen Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst c. His Arms are Quarterly 1. Or three Lions passant Vert crowned of the first for the Kingdom of Denmark 2. Gules a Lion rampant Or crowned and armed of the first in his paws a Dansk Hatchet Argent for the Kingdom of Norway What Arms belong to him as Duke of Holstein and Sleswick and Earl of Oldenburg I am as yet to seek Lastly to omit nothing that may be essential to this our present Subject I must give some Account of the Dukes of Holstein as being of the Blood-Royal of Denmark and accordingly holding several Estates of that Crown in Holstein The House of Holstein is generally divided into three principal Branches The King of Denmark is the Head of the first Branch and the standing Protector of the Princes of the House of Holstein The other two Branches are that of Holstein Gottorp and that of Holstein Sunderburg The Branch of Holstein Gottorp so called from Gottorp a Castle near Sleswick in Holstein began with Adolph
second Son of Frederick I. and Brother of Christiern III. Kings of Denmark He came into the World Anno 1526 was made Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth Anno 1560 and dying in the year 1586 left his Estate to John Adolph his Son who married with Augusta Daughter of Frederick II. King of Denmark and died in the year 1620. He left his Estate and Title to his Son Frederick born in Dec. Anno 1597. This is that Duke of Holstein who in the year 1633 sent those two chargeable Embassies to Moscovy and Persia whereof Olearius has made an ample Relation The end of which Embassies was to settle a Commerce of Silk in his Dominions in order to which he caused Frederickstad on the Eyder to be built He died in the year 1659 leaving his Estate to his Son Christiern Albert the present Duke of Holstein Gottorp born in Febr. 1641. Marry'd as I said before to Frederica-Aemilia one of the King of Denmark's Sisters To the Duke of Holstein Gottorp there 's but one collateral Branch viz. of Ottin or Ottingen Which begun with John of Ottin younger Brother to Frederick Duke of Holstein Gottorp born March 19th Anno 1606. He was Administrator of the Bishoprick of Lubeck and an eminent Scholar He died Febr. 18. 1655 and left a Son called John Augustus born August 3. in the Year 1647. The Branch of Holstein Sunderburg so called from Sunderburg a Castle in the Isle of Alsen near the East-Coast of Sleswick began with John second Son of Christiern III. King of Denmark born March 25th Anno 1545. He died Nov. 9th 1621 and left four Sons who made so many Branches Alexander his eldest Son Duke of Holstein Sunderburg was born Anno 1573 and died March 13. in the year 1627. His next Heir and Successor was his Son John Christiern born April 26. 1607. Who dying Anno 1653 or 54 left his Title and Estate to his Son Christiern Adolph the present Duke of Holstein Sunderburg The three younger Branches are 1. Of Holstein Norburg 2. of Holstein Gluksburg 3. of Holstein Ploen or Arnsberg Thus I have unravelled the Pedigree of the Dukes of Holstein who are now increased to a great number and some of them of no great Fortunes The Duke of Holstein Gottorp is the most considerable and yet he was much greater before he lost the King of Denmark his Brother-in-Law's favour by ingaging too far with Sweden to the prejudice of his Blood Whereby he lost to the King his Rights of Sovereignty over the Dukedom of Sleswick and has little or nothing left there besides his Castle of Gottorp Which Rights were formerly extorted from the late King Frederick by the Roschild Treaty In Holstein his Subjects are set under Contribution whilst his Highness resides at Hamburg his Place of Refuge where he has in vain protested against the King's Proceedings This Prince has a Brother Augustus Frederick born Anno 1646. Of the Nobility Clergy and Commonalty of Denmark in relation to Government As also of the chief Order of Knighthood called of the Elephant IN all Governments the Inhabitants are distinguished and divided into several Orders and Degrees commonly called States In England we have but King Lords and Commons But in Denmark they reckon five Orders or States viz. the Blood-Royal the Nobility or Gentry the Clergy Burgesses or Merchants and Countrey-men In our fore-going Discourse we have spoke at large of the Blood-Royal I come now to the next Order which is the Nobility A Bridle to Kings in all Elective Kingdoms but on the contrary a Support of Crowns Hereditary Before the Crown of Denmark was made Hereditary there was no Titular Lords But he only was counted a Noble-man that could shew his Nobility by a long Descent They bore their Arms simple and thought it a disgrace to change or add to them Here is still the Noble Family of the Wrens whose Ancestors were present at the Treaty made on the River Eyder between Charles the Great and Hening King of Denmark which is almost 900 years since As also that of the Whitfelds of which the English Whitfields are an Off-spring who bear the same Arms with the Whitfelds in Denmark and whose Ancestors came over with King Canute To proceed the Nobility or Gentry of Denmark for 't is the same thing there injoy their Estates with high and low Jurisdiction and have as the German Counts the liberty of Hunting hair with hair and feather with feather Their Patrimonial Estates are not held in fief but in free tenure All Castles Lands and Goods as well moveable as immoveable left to them by their Parents are equally divided amongst the Brothers In case of Sisters the Brother has two shares and the Sister but one The Mansion Houses and Castles are kept by the Heir-males but many Lordships are equally divided Noble-men that are so well qualifi'd as to merit the King 's special favour may come to great Preferment and Riches 'T is out of the Nobility that is chosen the Council of State the Senators whereof must not exceed the number of 38. The Crown allows each of them a Competency with some fair Castle in the Countrey for his Retirements whilst he is of that Body The Chief Men of this Council are the Ricks Drost and the Lords Marshal Admiral Chancellour and Treasurer The Ricks Drost is as it were the King's Lieutenant that manages resolves and dispatches the King's Affairs The Lord Marshal takes care both in Peace and War of all Military Concerns and the Admiral sees to Maritime Affairs The Chancellor judges of Civil Causes and the Treasurer receives the King's Revenues The third Order or Degree is the Clergy The Body of which does consist of Ministers otherwise called the Inferiour Clergy And out of these are chosen the Superintendents or Bishops for the Church-Government These are the Overseers Inspectors and Heads of the Clergy Over which there is a general Superintendent and that is the Bishop or Arch-bishop if you will of Copenhagen These Governours of the Church have indeed a Priority both of Place and Power before other Ministers together with some liberal Maintenance in proportion to it They have a Power of Presidence in all Church Assemblies but so that they are to take along with them the Advice of other Ministers From whom they do not otherwise differ either in Order Habit or Title of Dignity All of them in general and in particular are accountable to the Supream Ecclesiastical Consistory as in former times to the Provincial or National Synod Which Consistory is made up of Counsellors of State and the Heads of the Clergy In short both the Revenues and the Power of these Prelates are much Inferiour to what it was formerly before the Reformation so that a Bishop here is little better than Primus inter Pares The fourth Order or Degree consists of Townsmen Burgesses and Merchants who have their Privileges peculiar to themselves Out of these and from the Husbandmens
Children are chosen the Bishops Canons Ministers and Magistrates of Towns Clarks of Castles and Fortresses Ship-Officers Tollmen c. These Magistrates judge the least Causes but for the most part they have a President out of the Gentry But of all the Corporations within this Kingdom none has such Privileges and truly none deserves such as the City of Copenhagen Privileges as to the Freedom of the City and the Increase of Trade Privileges whereby the City has a Vote in all those Deliberations which concern the publick Good To which add their Privileges in purchasing any Lands and Lordships whatsoever and injoying them with the same Rights as the Nobles In not being burdened with any Impositions the Nobles do not bear and not that but by publick Consent in being free from all Contributions or Inquarterings whatsoever in times of Peace and lastly in that the Citizens Children whether Ecclesiastick or Civil are admitted to Honours and publick Offices equally with Noblemens Children provided they be sit and capable for them All which Priviledges and several others the late King Frederick granted this City when besieged by Charles Gustave of Sweden that having the more to lose they might have most reason to defend themselves as they did effectually The fifth Order or Degree is that of the Country-men Which are of two Sorts the one called Freibunden that is Free-holders These enjoy their Living by Inheritance but give some small matter yearly They trade also and have the Liberty of Fishing They are not taxed with Servitude or Bondage neither pay they any Contribution without the Consent of the Senators and Counsellors of the Kingdom The other Sort is of such who have not any Land but what they farm of the King Gentry or Clergy and are bound to do Homage for the same as they make their Conditions The chief Order of Knighthood in Denmark is that of the Elephant Instituted as some say Anno 1478. by King Christiern I at the Wedding of John his Son and Successor The Badge of these Knights is a Collar powdred with Elephants towred supporting the Kings Arms and having at the end the Picture of the Virgin Mary OF THE King of DENMARK'S Foreign Estates And first of NORWAY BEsides the Crown of Denmark the King has several Estates in Foreign Parts both Continent and Islands In the Continent he has NORWAY a Kingdom that lies North and North-cast from Denmark from which parted by the Ocean And 't is from its Northern Situation that it is so denominated Norway quasi Tractus seu Via Septentrionalis And indeed 't is the most Northern Country of all Europe part of it lying in the frigid Zone I mean the North-cast Parts Where you will find the North-Cape in the seventy second degree of Latitude that is about five degrees within the Arctick Circle So that there is no Night in Summer for about three Months together and consequently no day in Winter-time during the same space of time This Country runs as I said before North and North-east from Denmark which way it extends it self about 1000 miles But the Breadth of it is not proportionable the Southwest Parts where it is broadest not exceeding 300 miles in breadth from East to West From whence Northward it grows much narrower Westward it is bounded with the Northern Ocean and Eastward with Sweden Which together with Norway makes up that large and famous Peninsule by the Ancients called Scandia or Scandinavia But before we proceed to the description of Norway let us take a View of the Northern Ocean otherwise called the Frozen Sea as being commonly clogged with Ice in Winter-time In which Sense Pliny called it Mare Amalchium Tacitus Mare Pigrum and the Cimbrians of old Marimorusa Illuc usque tantum Natura here is the end of Nature says Tacitus speaking of this Sea Till the English found the way to Archangel in Moscovy this Sea was commonly look'd upon as Unnavigable Now this North-east Passage was discovered in King Edward the Sixth's time Anno 1553 under the Conduct of Richard Chancellour For which Adventure three Ships were fitted out but two of them perished with Cold and all their Men were the next Year found frozen to death in their Ships Along the Coast of Norway the Sea runs much into Creeks and long Bays and there is a World of Islands But it is most remarkable for that great and famous Gulf or Whirl-pool called Maelstroom or Moskestroom which lies between two Islands near the Coast of Norway A Whirl-pool is a Collection of Waters turning swiftly about and drawing to it self whatever comes within some distance of it and having whirled the same to the bottom casts it up again after a certain time The fury of which Stream being so great has a long time deterred Men from venturing themselves over it So that Whirl-pools were concluded to be unfadomable Abysses of Water Nay some would have 'em to be the origininal Cause of the Flux and Reflux wherein when the Water runs it is Ebb and when it runs out Flood Kircherus in his Tabula Geogr. Hydrogr is of opinion that the Sea runs down this Whirlpool under the Land of Norway and out again at another Whirl-pool within the Gulf of Bothnia part of the Baltick Sea And to strengthen this his Opinion he says there is a high Rock in the midst of the Stream and under that Rock an Abyss through which the Water is swallowed So that there should be first a Vortex or Whirl-pol and within it a Vorago or Gulf that should have its way under Norway and its out-let within the Gulf of Bothnia But Lucas Jacobson Debes a Danish Writer thinks otherwise of it He says that where this Whir-pool lies the bottom of the Sea arises and does not descend in deep Cavities That the Whirl-pool proceeds from round Grounds with Channels or Conduits in them That if there were any deep Ground to make a swallowing Gulf the Water should not run about as it does in such turbulent and boisterous a manner as to be heard some Leagues off at Sea And his Reason is because the stillest Waters have the deepest Bottom But he says that great Noise is occasioned by the narrowness of the Passage for the large Ocean to run through with the Tide to the Continent and to fall back again into the main Sea Besides the round Grounds and Channels under Water where the huge beating and running about of the Sea must needs make a terrible Noise As to what Peter Clauson writes that what whole Trees that Stream draws in come out again rugged with torn Roots and Branches 't is probable enough that happens by reason of those high round and sharp Grounds between which the Trees are whirled about by the strong Stream so as to beat and wear off the Roots Branches Bark and the uppermost of the Trunk thereof Of which sort of Trees sayes my Author there comes many ashore to Feroe and Greenland Which would not be
there besides the Kingdom of Norway Of the Isles of Schetland and of Feroe BEfore I come to a Description of these Isles it will not be improper to take notice in our way of the Orcades which formerly belonged to the Kings of Norway and Denmark They were called Orcades by the Ancients which we call now the Orkney Islands Situate North of Scotland not far from Cathness the most Northern Country of all that Kingdom and separate from one another by some narrow Streights They are in number thirty two but those of chief note eleven The Kings of Notway held these Isles till the Year 1266 when Magnus King of Norway surrendred them up to Alexander III. King of Scotland Which Surrender some of the succeeding Kings did afterwards ratifie But the Claim was finally relinquished by Christiern I King of Denmark and Norway on the Marriage of his Daughter Margaret with King James III Anno 1474. And then some Money was added to make good the Contract without which the Danes would not give up their Claim to these Islands Further Northward about sixty miles lye the Islands of Schetland and of Feroe all of them still subject to the Crown of Norway and consequently to the King of Denmark The Isles of Schetland lye North-east of the Orcades and the Isles of Feroe Northwest But the Situation of these last is something further Northward Those are under the 61 and 62 degrees of Northern Latitude about 60 Leagues West of Bergen in Norway and forty North of Scotland By Cluverius Sanson and other Geographers they are supposed to be the Hemodes of the Ancients One with another they are reckoned to be about twenty six But they are most of them little rocky Islands uninhabited The main Island and that which is worth all the rest is Schetland otherwise Hetland which gives its Name to the whole Cluster But it goes also like the chief of the Orcades by the Name of Mainland 'T is a long but narrow Island reaching from South to North about sixty miles and sixteen where broadest This Island is not much inhabited but by the Sea-side because of Fishing which is the main Thing here Southward there are high Hills and Northward there 's another called Renisfelt on the top of which is kept a great Light for the use of Mariners As the Inhabitants are not very industrious so they are not much inclined to Vices 'T is seldom they drink any strong Liquors to excess and when they do 't is as rare to see one of them mad-drunk For Quarrelling does not attend their Drinking And perhaps this their Temperancy as much as the wholsomness of the Air or the nature of the Country makes them to live so long as they do Mercator makes mention of one Laurentius a Native of this Island who lived in his time This Man says he being above 100 years of Age was yet so vigorous that he marry'd a Wife and when he was 140 years old still he went with his Boat a fishing in a most unruly tempestuous and turbulent Sea The great Dispute amongst the Learned is whether Schetland or Iseland is the Thule of the Ancients Thule which the Poets do so often speak of as Virgil Tibi serviat ultima Thule and Seneca Nec sit Terris ultima Thule Thule which the Ancients did report such strange things of and some of them beyond all belief Nulla per bruman dies says Pliny here 's no day for all the Winter with whom agree Solinus and many others as to that particular Another says more than that nullum ultra eam diem esse that beyond this Isle there was no day in any Place as if here had been the end of the World and Nature But Pytheas in Polybius go's beyond them all when he says that in this Isle there was no distinction of the Elements but a confused Mixture of all together like the Primitive Chaos of the Poets According to these Authors 't is neither Schetland nor Iseland that can be the Thule of the Ancients and 't were a hard matter to find out such a Place in any part of the known World But it is no new thing for remote Places to be strangely represented When all is done I am apt to be of Dr. Heylins Opinion who takes Schetland to be the Thule for these Reasons following First Ptolomy places Thule in the 63 degree of Northern Latitude who differs therein but in one Degree or there abouts from the best of our modern Maps Whereas Iseland is so much further North that a good part of it is within the Arctick Circle Pomponius Mela places Thule opposite to Bergen in Norway which Situation agrees with that of Schetland but not Iseland Multae sunt says Solinus circa Britanniam Insulae è quibus Thule ultima there are many Islands about Brittain of which Thule is the last or farthest off So that in his Judgment Thule must be one of the Brittish Isles which cannot be said of Iseland Insulas quas Orcadas vocant domuit despecta est Thule say's Tacitus speaking of Agricola he subdued the Island called Orcades and made sleight of Thule Now Iseland is so far from being kenned by any one of the Orcades that it is almost 5 degrees distant from the nearest of them And the truth is Iseland was so far from being known unto the Ancients that it was hardly known unto those of Norway till about the ninth Century To which add Gasper Peucerus his Observation that Schetland is by some Mariners called Thylensel which includes the name of Thule After all these Arguments who can almost doubt but that Schetland not Iseland is really the Thule of the Ancients But besides Schetland or Mainland there are two other Islands North-Eastward of a pretty bigness viz. Zell and Wust by some called Yell and Vnst These Islands and the rest being much of the same nature and constitution as those of Feroe I shall not stay to give you a particular Account of those of Schetland but proceed to those of Feroe Which as wild as they are will find us more diversion and variety than far better Countries And therefore I intend to dwell here a while under the principal guidance and conduct of a Danish Author Lucas Jacobson Debes Master of Arts and Provost of the Churches there A Man of Learning and in all likelihood of as great Integrity The Islands of Feroe lye Westward from those of Schetland and somthing more Northward The heigth of the Pole or Latitude thereof is at the South end 61 degrees 15 minutes and at the North end 62 degrees 10 minutes So that there is but little night in Summer Neither are the Winter nights so tedious long as one might imagine because the Crepusculum and Diluculum are somthing longer here than elsewhere which takes off much from the night For in the midst of Winter one may perceive something of the day at eight a clock in the Morning and at four a clock
Winter and foggy nigh the Sea And this is the general Character Mercator and Heylin give us of this Countrey Eastward it is watered with the River Weser which parts it from the Dutchy of Bremen and is one of the chief Rivers of all Germany Some miles to the Westward you will find the Jade a River which at first was but a Brook scarce worth the naming It springs out of a Pool or Lake called the great Meer and by the way parting as it were the Fields from one another it swelled with the Waters that ran into it and so fell into the Meers At last the Banks breaking through the violence of the Storms it drowned all the lower Grounds and made a great Collection of Waters at the Rivers Mouth which makes it look more like a Gulf than a River On this Shore are still to be seen the sad Remainders of seven or eight Parishes that perished in this Flood The chief Towns hereof are Oldenburg and Delmenhorst The first is scated on the River Hont twenty five miles West of Bremen and forty East of Embden which River falls into the Weser about twelve miles from Oldenburg Eastward The Town it self is of no great State or Beauty But the Castle where the Earls of Oldenburg dwelt is still a very good Castle built of well-hewn Stones of an orbicular form with deep Ditches of Water about it This is the Castle which Walpert the first Earl of Oldenburg built about the Year 850 calling it from his Wife Alteburg Alteburgum which by the Germans was turned into Oldemburg Delmenhorst is so called from the River Delme on which it is situate about three Leagues to the Westward of Bremen 'T is a strong Place and of great Importance built in the Year 1247. by Otho Brother of Earl Christian the Second But in the time of Gerard Earl hereof a Prince of an unquiet Spirit always in Wars and always worsted this Place was lost to the Bishop of Munster Having continued in Possession of the Bishops of Munster about sixty four Years it was suddenly surprised on Palm-Sunday morning by Anthony Earl of Oldenburg Anno 1547 and ever since that time Delmenhorst has continued part of this Estate Here is also going from South to North the Towns of Wardenburg Ovelgune Essensham and Beckeren And upon a great Sand that lies betwixt the Mouths of the Jade and the Weser stood formerly Mellum a strong Castle that commanded both the said Rivers Built for that purpose by an Earl of Oldenburg but at last lost in the Sea Adjoyning to this Province is the Earldom of Jevern so called from Jevern the chief Place hereof This Earldom formerly belonged to the Princes of East Friseland and to this day most Geographers do still reckon it as part of that Country where it lies Easterly towards the Sea The same was bequeathed by the last Will and Testament of the Lady Mary Countess of Jevern to John the last Earl but one of Oldenburg So that upon the Death of Anthony the last Earl dying without Issue the King of Denmark as being the next Heir did inherit the Patrimonial Estate But the Earldom of Jevern fell to the share of Anthony's Sister's Children the Princess of Zerbst Now to go farther than we have done yet into the Pedigree of the present Royal Family of Denmark let us take a view of the Earls of Oldenburg from whom it is descended The House of Oldemburg fetches its Pedigree as far as Walpert a Nephew of Wittikind Now Wittikind was the last King of the Saxons who being vanquished by Charles the Great of France Anno 785 was by him made of a King a Duke of Saxony But the Male Issue of Walpert his Nephew failing in Frederick the seventh Earl the Estate came to one Elimar a Cousin German of his by the Fathers side From whom in a direct Line descended Theodorick surnamed the Fortunate the first Earl of Delmenhorst of this Line He had two Wives the first called Adelais Heiress of Delmenhorst and the second Hedwige Daughter of Gerard and Sister of Adolph of Scawemburg Earl of Holstein and Duke of South Jutland c. the Widow of Balthazar Duke of Mecklemburg He died Anno 1440 leaving three Sons viz. Christiern Maurice and Gerard. 1440. Christiern Son of Theodorick by his second Wife Hedwige Sister and Heir of Gerard and Adolph Dukes of Sleswick and Earls of Holstein succeeded his Father in this Estate and enjoy'd it till the Year 1448. When upon the Recommendation of Adolph his Uncle being elected King of Denmark he left his Estate in this Earldom but still reserving the Title to his Brother Gerard the better to take him off from his Pretensions to the Dukedom of Sleswick and the Earldom of Holstem in which he pretended a Share Maurice Batchelour of the Sorbonne and Canon of Bremen married in the Year 1458 and died Anno 1464 having had three Children who all died in their Infancy 1448. Gerard the third Son of Earl Theodorick was surnamed the Valiant and might as well have been called in opposition to his Father the Unfortunate for the Reasons abovesaid Anno 1453. he marry'd with Adelais Countess of Tecklemburg by whom he got five Sons and as many Daughters Those were Gerard Dieterick Adolph Otho and John Gerard the Father died in Exile Anno 1500. 1500. John who succeeded him marry'd in the Year 1498. to Ann a Princess of the House of Anhalt By whom he got three Sons George Christopher Anthony and one Daughter called Ann marry'd to Enno the Second Earl of East Friseland John repaired the Ruines of his Estate and settled the Distractions of it in the time of his Father being then in Exile 1526. Anthony the third Son was by the Consent of his Brothers preferred to the Earldom He marry'd Sophia Dutchess of Saxen Lawemburg by whom he got two Sons John and Anthony and three Daughters Ann Catharine and Claire This is the Earl who by a sudden Surprise recovered Delmenhorst from the Bishop of Munster Anno 1547 which he strongly fortify'd 1573. John Son of Anthony marry'd with Elizabeth Daughter of Count Schwartzburg by whom he got two Sons and four Daughters His Sons were John Frederick who died in his Infancy Anno 1580 and Anthony-Gontier His Daughters were 1. Catharine marry'd to Augustus Duke of Saxony 2. Anna Sophia 3. Mary-Elizabeth 4. Magdalen the Wife of Rodolph of Anhalt Prince of Zerbst This is the Earl to whom the Countess of Jevern in East Friseland bequeathed that Country Anthony Gontier second Son of Earl John was his Successor He was born in Nov. Anno 1583 marry'd in June 1634 or 35. Sophia Catharina Daughter of Alexander Duke of Holstein Sunderburg and died without Issue in the Year 1667. At which time Frederick the late King of Denmark took Possession of Oldenburg as next Heir to it Having said thus much of Oldenburg let us now steer our Course Northward and see what Dominions the King of Denmark has