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
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
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
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
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
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