Split Solle Swaben Santbarch Spar. Spegel Sturen Suinen Staken Stove Siversersen T Trolle Tolten W Wlefeld Walkendorp Wipfert Witfelt Wogersen Wenflterman Wolde Worm Walstorp Wensin Wiltorp Whrup Vonsflet Vartinnen Wken Voien Vlstandt Vren Tho till some of late Creation the Danish Nobles had neither the Titles of Dutchies Marquissates Counties nor Barrony as other States nor do they Quarter their Armes yet t is Customary for many of them to be Dubbed Knights upon any Signal piece of Service rendred to their Prince or Countrey Two Orders of Knight-hood they have in Denmark that of the Elephant and that of Dancbrogh That of the Elephant was first instituted upon the occasion of King Christian the first going in a kind of Pilgrimage to Rome when as he was invested by Pope Sixtus the Fourth with this Order in Remembrance of our Lord and Saviour and at the same time it was Ordain'd that the Succeeding Kings of Denmark should have a Successive Right to be Soveraigns of this Order Whereupon the foresaid King Christian Built the Stately Chappel of the three Kings in the Cathedral at Roschildt where the solemnities of the Order were to be held and the Knights obliged to Assemble for the choosing a new Member upon the Death of any of their Fraternity Into the Number whereof several Kings Princes and Noble Men have been Admitted The chief Ensigne of the Order was the Figure of an Elephant on whose side within a Rundle was represented a Crown of Thorns with three Nails all Bloody in Honour and Memory of the Passion of our Blessed Saviour The Knights were obliged to the performance of Acts of Piety Alms-deeds and certain Ceremonies particularly on those days on which they wore the Ensignes of their Order Some of the Kings of Denmark have been very Zealous to raise the Honour of this Order to the Highest Esteem and especially their King John who wore the Ensignes of it on every Solemn Festival and so promoted its value that our King Henry the Eight and King James the Fifth of Scotland were content to be of the Fraternity Some Danish Writers are not of Opinion that it re eived its first Institution when Christian the First had those many Honours conferr'd on him by Pope Sixtus the Fourth but that the Badge was a meer Millitary Ensigne formerly bestowed as a Memorial and Incitement to the Danish Princes for the Defence and promoting of Christianity against the Infidels Heretofore the Knights wore a Collar of Gold Composed of Elephants and Crosses fashioned somewhat like Crosses Ancrees at which Hung the Picture of the Virgin Mary to the middle holding Christ in Her Arms and surrounded with a Glory of Sun Beams But at this day they only wear a Blew Ribbond at which hangs an Elephant Enamell'd white Adorned with four large Diamonds set in the middle Those Elephants worn by the Knights in the days of Christian the Fourth had in the same place within a Circle the Letter C. and in the Heart thereof the figure of 4. made to signifie Christianus Quartus The Kings of Denmark have Generally conferred this Honour on the days of their Coronation both upon the Nobles and Senatours of the Kingdome Frederick the Third brought into use an Embroidered Glory of Silver Purl wrought upon the left side of their Cloak or Vest on which was Embroidered two Crowns within a Rundle bearing this Motto Deus Providebit But the Motto has changed with the Soveraign for that of the present King is Pietate 〈◊〉 justitia and this the Knights of his Creation now Wear in the middle of the Circle Bâ— all the Knights of his Fathers making aâ— obliged to continue still the former Mottâ—â— The Order of Danebroge or the Knight of the Holy Cross was instituted in remembrance of the Cross which is said miraculously to have fallen into and preserved King Waldemar the Second's Army when that having lost their Standard his Forces were going to yield and give themselves up a Prey to the Fury of their Pagan Enemies the Lifelanders with vvhom they were then Combating This Order was Continued till the Relique was lost it solfe in Ditmarsh after which it was for a long while wholly laid aside until revived again in the year 1673. by the present King Christian the Fifth This Prince ordain'd that the Knights of this Order of which Himself is one should Wear an Enamell'd Cross Edg'd round with Red hung in a string of the same Colour reaching from the Right Shoulder to the Left side Out of the Nobility and the Knights the Senators of the Kingdom were formerly chosen who anciently seldome exceeded the Numbers of Eight but now are a far greater Number As long as they continued in their places they were maintain'd by the Country They had Castles allowed to dwell in by the King paid no Taxes were only obliged to keep a certain number of Light Horse ready for Service upon all Occasions and attend upon the King at his Sunimous upon their own Charges though not bound so to do if he went out of his Dominions and if sent upon Embassy's had an Allowance out of the Treasury Besides these were Pensioners who 〈◊〉 good Services Rendered the Crown had certain Lands for Life or a set number of Years Assigned them by the King for their Maintenance In consideration of which they were to provide so many Light Horse as the King thought fitting and pay in Annually a certain Sum of Money into the Exchequer But since the Reformation of the Government in the year 1660. The number of them is very much Retrenched The Principal Officers of the Crown of Denmark are chosen from out amongst the Nobility and Senators The First is the Grand-Master of the Kingdom who is as the Kings Lieutenant The Second Holger Windt the Lord High Treasurer who receives in and gives Acquittances for all Sums paid into the Kings Exchequer and has under him two Secretaries of the Nobility and a great Number of Inferiour Clarks The Third the Lord High Chancellor Henry Alefelt Count of Exingen and Langland whose Office is much the same as in other Kingdoms The Fourth the Grand Marshal who provides necessaries for all manner of dispatches in the times of War and Peace This Office is now enjoyed by Jâ—â—an Christopher Corbitz The Lord High Admiral Henry Bielek Knight of the Order of the Elephant who take care of the Building and Reparing of all sorts of Ships belonging to the Crown He had under him a Vice-Admiral Niel Juel who Acts by his Commission with Baron Jens Juel and Mounsieur Rodenstein Rear Admirals And Mounsieur Seastede Commissary General of the Holm The Grand-Master of the Artillery The Master of the Horse Mounsieur Axhuisen The Great Cup-Bearer Mounsieur Knoel the First Gentleman of the Kings Bed-Chamber Mess Sebulter and Bierman Secretaries of State Mess Sehuller and Jessen Secretaries to the King In the year 1660. the King of Denmark Established Seven Councils The First of State
are said to have been notorious Pyrats yet at this day hardly any Seas are less infested with Pyracy than those of Norway Not that the Modern Inhabitants are blest with more Honesty than their Ancestors but the Danish sway is so rigorous as not to allow them any Shipping nor any other means to pamper grow resty and head strong but on the contrary fleeces squeezes and keeps them in the lowest servitude Their Diet is what they Export to other Countreys principally Stock Fish and a course kind of Butter and Cheese Their usual Drink Rostock Ale their manner being commonly to drink three Draughts one in remembrance of God the second to the Kings Health and the third to the Queens As the Towns in Norway are very thin so the Buildings for the most part are very poor and miserable generally patched up of dirt and hurdles somewhat resembling our Cotrage Houses in the Fen Countreys As for the Government of this Countrey it is still reckoned a distinct Kingdom from that of Denmark and had formerly Independant Kings of its own who sometimes domineer'd over the very Kings of Sweden and Denmark But the last King of the Norwegian Race who Reigned in their Kingdom was Haguin who in the year 1363 Married Margaret Eldest Daughter of Waldemar the third King of Denmark and so united the two Crowns Now tho this King had only one Son by Queen Margaret who died without Issue yet the Danes having once got footing in and possession of this Kingdom were resolved not to abandon such an advantage nor part from their Station and to secure it immediately clapt strong Garrisons into all the Cities and Fortresses of moment in the Nation For the better Management of the Government it is divided into five Prefectures answerable to the five Castles which command them Now 1. The Prefecture of Masterland or Maestrandt is situated most towards the South and is commanded by the Castle of Bahuy's now in the hands of the King of Sweden That Castle was first Built by Haguin the IV. King of Norway about the year 1309 upon a steep Rock on the Bank of the River Srollet and then esteem'd the best Fort the King had in his Dominions and a sufficient Barrier against the frequent Attacks and Inroads of the Swedes and Westro-Goths Besides the City of Maestrandt noted for the infinite quantity of Herrings caught thereabout there 's two more of less note Congal and Oldawalt The 2. Prefecture contains the Bishopricks of Anslo and Staffenger with the Province of Aggerhuys having under its Command first the Towns of Anslo Opslo or Asloia possess of most repute as being an Episcopal See and the place where the Courts of Judicature are kept for all Norway All Causes and Suits at Law being heard and determined before the Governour who acts as Vice Roy of the Kingdom The Cathedral of this Town is dedicated to Alward who took great pains to Convert the Norwegian Pagans This Church has to show the Sword of Haquin one of their most Primitive Kings being a signal Instance and Proof of the Strength and admirable Art of some Norwegians of former Ages The Hilt of it is made of Chrystal curiously wrought and polished whence some have inferred that the use of Chrystal was anciently much more ordinary in Norway than it is at this day in any part of Europe Not far from Opslo on the opposite side of the Bay stands the Castle of Aggerhuysen famous for the brave resistance it made the Swedish Army in the Year 1567 which laid a close and brisk Seige to it for Eighteen Weeks together but was at last beat off and forced to a shameful Retreat Tonsberg formerly a place of Retreat of the Kings of Norway Hammer in former times a Bishops See but now united to that of Opslo Some Authors do affirm that near unto Hammer a huge and monstrous Serpent doth constantly appear before any great Change in the State or Government of the Kingdom of Norway Saltzburg Frederikstadt and Scheene driving all a considerable Trade from the Copper and Iron Mines which abound more hereabouts than in any other part of the Kingdom In this Province were the Silver Mines above-mentioned first discovered and some of the adjoyning Hills are by the Neighbourhood to this day called Silver Bergen or the Mountains of Silver Now Norway is indebted for the greatest part if not all its Trade to those Mines and the mighty Woods of Fir and Pinetrees which overspread this part of the Country The City of Staffenger lies in 59 deg some reckon 60 and a great many odd min. of Latitude being seated upon a Demy-Island upon a great Bay of the Northern Ocean full of small Islands and guarded by the strong Castle of Doeswick which stands about two English Miles from the Town this City is a Bishops See and is divided into several Districts tho in civil Affairs it is under the Jurisdiction of the Governour of Aggerhuysen Beyond the Bay is seen the Island Schutenes Twelve English Miles in length but scarce two in breadth This Island contains several Villages and between it and the Continent runs a narrow Frith to Berghen which the Dutch Merchants call the Liedt van Berghen The Province of Tillemarch or Thylemarch appertaineth to the Bishoprick of Staffenger The Parish or Hollen in this Parish is very remarkable for a Church-Yard or Burying Place on the top of a Church Dedicated to St. Michael which is cut out of a great high Rock called by the Neighbourhood Vear upon the Lake Nordsce half a Mile distant from Scheen 't is thought by some to have been formerla a Heathenish Temple but converted to Christian uses upon the first planting of the Gospel in this Kingdom Bergenhuis is the third Castle of Command in Norway This Prefecture and Bishoprick being the most fruitful and pleasant part of all Norway lying in the middle or heart of the Kingdom to the North of Aggerhuysen It has its Name from the Stately and Noble Mart Town of Berghen or else from the strong Castle of Bergenhuysen the usual Seat of the Vice-Roy of Norway at a small distance to the North of Berghen Berghen is the Granary and Magazine of the whole Kingdom of Norway for Bahuys it is distant about Fourty hundred English Miles by Sea and Two hundred and forty by Land from Trunthein as many from Scagen the outmost Promontory of Juis Island almost Three hundred and twenty Some Etymologists have derived its Name from the Norwegian Verb Berghen which signifies to hide or conceal because the Haven being surrounded with Hills seems to be a kind of Sculking place for Ships where Vessels of Two hundred Tun and upwards ride in a spacious and most secure Harbour free from any danger of Wind and Weather But the true derivation of the word is this Berghen in the Norwegian Tongues also signifies Mountains and Bergenhuysen a Company of Houses among the Hills The Buildings of this Town till
the yearly Revenue of the King of Denmark which arises from the Rents of Crown Lands Customes and Custome Money Tiths and other Contingencies some guesse may be made of it from the Customes which are paid by the Merchant-Ships which pass the Sound every day Every Ship that passes by Elseneur must pay a Rose-Noble or Four Rix-Dollars for every Mast And it has been observed that commonly Two hundred Ships often Four hundred nay Six hundred pass in one day Now allowing only 200 to pass daily and each pay two Rose Nobles or eight Rix-Dollars for two Masts the Sum will Amount to about Four hundred Pounds of our Money for every day in the year round and for the whole year to about 134400 Pounds And the Tax which is paid for such Cattel as are Exported does not fall much short of this the Customers Exacting a Rix-Dollar for every Beast that goes out of their Kings Dominions The chief strength of the King of Denmark consists in the Number and goodness of his Ships and Seamen And indeed the Danish Mariners may vye with the best of Europe which formerly Rendred them not only particularly succesful by Sea but also in their Engagements with the Sweeds in the last Wars The Naval Forces of the Crown of Denmark were even formerly so considerable as that Christian the Second fitted out a hundred good Men of War for the Succour of Henry the Second the French King against the English Nevertheless this present King has a much larger Fleet of his own alwaies ready for Action And here I cannot forbear taking Notice of the Bravery and Vigour of our Nation that was able to carry on a War with Glory and Fight with success three such Powers confederated together as his most Christian Majesty the King of Denmark and the States General of the United Provinces nay in so Mortifying a Conjuncture as when the Burning of London and the Desolation of the Plague would have enervated any other than English Courages disconcerted their measures and constrain'd 'em to have complyed with dishonourable Terms But to return I will here insert a List of such Men of War of the King of Denmark as I could get the List off  Guns Men. Sophia Amalia 106. 650. Prince Christian 80. 600. Droning Charlotte 60. 500. Prince Charlotte 60. 500. Prince George 80. 550. Fur. Prince 80. 500. Princess Amalies 60. 500. Three Crowns 80. 500. Northern Lion 60. 400. Three Foldigherds 60. 450. Swan 60. 450. Three Lions 70. 400. Victory 54. 350. Lindworm 48. 300. Nettle Leave 54. 300. Oldenburg 48. 250. Spen. 50. 300. Black Horseman 50. 300. Guldenlieu 54. 300. Hope 48. 250. Delmenhorst 44. 250. Copenhagen 40. 250. Black Bear 36. 200. Feroe 40. 200. Christianus Quartus 54. 300. Frederick 3 d. 54. 300. Venus 36. 200. Lobster 36. 200. Goldenfish 20. 100. The Virgin 28. 100. Wildman 18. 20. Flyin◠Hart. 20. 100. Lubeck   The Hunter 20. 100. With many others whereof I cannot at present call to mind the Names The Danish Men of War now are Built much fitter for Service than they were formerly being neither so Large so Bulky nor so unweildy as they were in the foregoing Ages but readier either to Attack Fly or Pursue No Prince in Christendom is better Furnished with all things necessary for the fitting out a Fleet Norway and his other Territories affording him all the Equipage requisite for that purpose He is also pretty well stored with Sea-men and indeed all his Dominions being Islands or Maritime Provinces the Inhabitants are almost Naturally Mariners Nevertheless this Monarch is sometimes forced to have recourse to strangers for Recruits of Men the Northern Countreys not abounding so in People as they did in former times when they Spawn'd and poured forth such shoales as over ran not only most parts of Europe but continued their Incursions into Asia But whether this be imputed to the Abolishing of Poligamy which the Introducing Christianity did reform or that the prevailing of Luxury has debilitated their pristine Vigour and rendred them the less fit for generation certain it is that no parts of Europe are now so thin of Inhabitants as these Northern Regions and that the King of Denmark has not People enough to Man out so many Ships He would be otherwise capable to fit out For without Exhausting or Impoverishing his Coffers He is able to Build Twelve Men of War every year And considering the Scarcity of Men His Land Forces are much more considerable and better Martialized than they have been under some of His latest Predecessors But before I proceed to particularize them it will be convenient to set down the Names of the Principal Officers of the Fleet. Henery Bielek Lord High Admiral Niels Juel General Admiral Monsieur Vlgerwindt Vice Admiral Monsieur Rodenstein Rere-Admiral Mr. Seastidt also Rere-Admiral and Commissioner General of the Holm The standing Army of the King of Denmark consists of the Guards du Corps of the Kings Queens and Queen Mother and of a Company of reformed Officers all Gentlemen who in Buff-Coats with Embroidered Sleeves attend upon the King at Court and upon all great Solemnities with gilt Partizans Feathers in their Hats resembling much the Band of our Gentlemen Pensioners Of the following Regiments with the Officers and Major-Generals having their Quarters as is here set down Zealand Schack Governour of Copenhagen Collonel of a Regiment of Foot Marsaack of Horse Van Osten Collonel of a Regiment of Foot Funen Van Asken Infantry Juitland Leventzo Cavalry Laland Merherin Cavalry Norway Duncam Cavalry Degenfelt Infantry Leyenhielm Infantry Baron Wallis Collonel of the Kings Regiment Schonburg of the Queens Meldrum Prince Fredericks Fox Prince Christians Major Genereral Schack Prince Georges General Weddell Jutland Petto Zealand Rissel Funen Frizen Holstein With some others whereof we have not the Names there being daily Changes made in reforming some and raising others making up in all a Body of about 30000 Men. The Kingdom of Denmark since the Reformation made in that State in the year 1660 hath a Perogative of as large extent as any Monarch in Christendom having Power without consulting the States or his Senate to Declare War make Peace send and receive Ambassadors make Leagues and Treaties with any Foreign States Issue out Commissions for the Raising of Men both by Sea and Land dispose of all Castles Fortresses Ports Havens Ships of War Magazines Ammunition and publick Moneys appoint the Mettal Weight Purity and Value thereof and by His Order can make any Foreign Coyn to be the currant Money of Denmark He can by his Letters Patent Erect New Districts Bishopricks Vniversities Cities Burroughs Colledges Hospitals Schools Fairs Markets Courts of Justice Forrests Chases Free-Warrens He can Enfranchise an Alien and render him a Denison Enabling him to purchase Houses and Lands and bear Offices He can also lay what Taxes he thinks fitting upon ihs Subjects without the previous consent of the States or Senate Rating it District