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A13219 A short survey or history of the kingdome of Sueden Containing a briefe description of all the provinces of his whole dominion: as also the riches of his kingdome, the antiquity, nature, and manners of that nation; with the government of his realme, might, and power of this great King, as well by sea as by land; his great officers, his customes and revenves of the Crowne. With a genealogy and pedegree of the kings of Sueden, of those especially who have reigned these last five hundred yeers, with some of their most memorable acts and deeds, with their alliance and issue or off-spring. Something also more particularly concerning that illustrious invincible great Gustavus Adolphus the II. and of his wars with the Russian, Denmarke and Poland: as also of his most memorable acts since his comming to the crowne, as well before, as since his entring into Germany, untill this present yeere 1632.; Suecia, sive de Suecorum Regis dominiis. English. Abridgments Bure, Anders, 1571-1646.; Hildebrandt, Andreas, d. 1637. Genealogia regum Sueciae. English.; L. S., Sir, fl. 1632.; Story, John, fl. 1632. 1632 (1632) STC 23518; ESTC S120735 49,965 108

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lands and possessions but of his electorate dignity also contrary to the Emperours expectation turning his power against himselfe forces him not onely to a restitution of the captives but likewise to a setled peace and liberty of religion within the whole Germane countryes and so it did here plainely appeare how God brought light out of darknes The Iesuites the incendiaries of the Christian world envying the peace and prosperitie of the same as in other parts so in this countrey of Germany have they laboured to overthrow and subvert both the State of the true reformed Church and common-wealth And although they have been a long time proiecting such a plot yet could it not so conveniently be brought about untill such time as Fredericke primus Palatine Elector having accepted of the Bohemian Crowne being freely and lawfully thereunto elected this viperous generation being of a martiall breed failed not to lay hold on such an offered opportunitie and therefore cease not to incense and stirre up the Emperor Ferdinand the 2. of himselfe sensible enough of any thing that might but in shew derogate from the dignity of the Austrian house to prosecute that which before had been proiected And thus was this Noble Prince deprived not onely of his kingdome of Bohemia but of all his hereditary dominions and electorate dignitie And whereas many ignorant of the Iesuites farre fetched secret stratagems did verily beleeve that now they were attained to the utmost end they aimed at it appeared farre otherwise For now the fire that so long lay covered under the ashes breakes foorth and sets upon a sudden all these flourishing provinces of Germany on fire and the visard now remooved their purpose was made manifest to the blindest eye-sight to wit the totall ruine and overthrow of the true religion in many yea in most places of Germany professed the reducing of them againe to the Romish superstition and utter overthrow of the liberties of the Romane Empire whose designes whosoever in defence of Gods cause and liberties of their owne countrey did any way oppose have been in most barbarous manner prosecuted and persecuted with fire and sword and many forced to forsake their ancient inheritances to save their lives and keepe a good conscience in still professing that religion wherein they had heretofore beene brought up Others againe more pusillanimous and loath to loose all for Christ yet besides a shameful and perfidious abiuration of that truth which before they had professed were yet notwithstanding forced to yeeld to such slavish and servile conditions as the insolency of a victorious enemy was pleased to impose upon them When this tyranny had now at least for the space of tenne yeares beene after a rigid manner prosecuted it pleased Almighty God of his infinite goodnesse all other meanes now failing in pitty and compassion to his poore afflicted Church now destitute of the least appearance of any humane helpe to raise up meanes of deliverance where I am sure it was least expected euen that illustrious and victorious king of Sweden Captaine of the Lords host Gustavus Adolphus King of the Swethens Goths and Vandals arriued in Pomer in February An. 1630. and landed neere unto the Isles of Rugen and Vsdome at a little village called Pennemund with no more at the first then 6000 souldiers Himself comming on shoare falls downe and powres out this vnto God O Lord thou that rulest ouer the Heauens the earth and the vast sea I cannot sufficiently giue thee thanks that thou hast preserued me so graciously in this perillous iourney O Lord I render thanks vnto thee and giue praise vnto thee from the very bottome of my heart beseeching thee seeing thou knowest that this voyage my purpose and intent tends not to my owne but onely to they glory and honour and for the comfort and helpe of thy afflicted Church that if now the time and appointed houre become Assist me further with thy grace and blessing grant are a prosperous wind and good weather that I may behold the rest of my Army with a ioyfull eye which I haue left behind me picked vp out of diuers nations to the end that with them I may aduance forward thy holy worke-Amen The Kings Officers and Councell stepping on land after him and hearing such a zealous prayer comming from him in this manner could not forbeare weeping which the King perceiuing said vnto them Weepe not my friends but pray feruently from the bottome of your hearts the more yee pray the more victory God will giue you for earnest prayer is more then the gaining of halfe a battle It seemes since that time that the Kings prayer hath auailed much with God and how mightily the Lord hath been with him in taking in many countries cities and townes in ouerthrowing the Emperours inuincible Army and that of the Catholike League and the mighty increasing of his Armie since his first landing Other particulars may giue satisfaction to the Reader to God the onely author and giuer of them be giuen immortall praise Amen FINIS Division of the Northern world Antiqnity of the kingdome of Sweden Sueonia Suevia Division of the Kingdome of Sweden Sueovia and the parts thereof Vplandia Conmedities of this countrey Mines in this countrey Division of Vplandia Stockholme Vpsalia Vestmania Rich Mines Dalecharlia A profitable water Nericia Sndermannia Nycopia Strengosia Tolga Torsilia Trosa Northland Gestricia Gerralia Helsingia sometimes a kingdome Helsingian an ancient people Affectionate to learning Helsingia properly so called Hudinswaldia Medelpadia Angermannia Fertility of the soyle Bothnia Lappionia or Lappi● Their manner of life Their innocencie Their apparell Strange thred Their tents Their tents The meetings Nature of the people Good soldiers Diamonds Topazes and Amethists among them Diuision of this countrey Gothia Division of this country Vestrgothia Citties Townes Dalia Vermelandia Carolostadium Ostrogothia Fertility of the soyle Smalandia Good pastures Mines of copper and steele Division of this country Olandia Occasion of warres betwixt the two neighbouring Princes Finlandia VVhy so called Nature of this people Singularities in their languagess When and by whom first subdued Division of the country Cities towns and castles Caiania Townes Savolaxia Lake I-adoga Sea Calse Nystat Tavas●ia Nystat or New-castle Yron made of water Nylandi Townes VViburg Rexholmia Greatest lake of all Europe A peculiar fish Rubies Ingria Alce Elgh or Elent Notteburg Capurio Iamarod Esthonia How it came first under the Swedish Crowne Provinces of this countrey Five severall languages in Livonia Nature of the inhabitants Not so vicious as many other Nations Apparell of this people Their buildings Woodshere very frequent Bread of the barke of trees Adultery there vnknowne Manner of their marriage and betrothing Manner of succeeding in inheritances If the heire be absent Dana arf If the heire be 〈◊〉 owne Their hospitality Robberies seldome heard of among this people Gothish letters abolished The Swedish much addicted to the high Dutch speech Italian language The Spanish French Gothe louers of learning Sixe rankes o● degrees of the Swedish nation Princes of the bloods The Nobility Their titles were not hereditary When made hereditary The clergie or persons ecclesiasticall Bishops lived like Princes in Sweden The military forces The trained ●ands whereof consist the foot forcet The horse forces and how raised Merchants Certain lawes and constitutions have been appointed for traffick and commerce Husbandmen Free-holders Werkers in the Mynes Farmers They have a voice in Parliament Antiquities of the Vestrogothian lawes The whole government of this Kingdome comprehended in certaine societies or colledges a Colledges or societie of Iustice 2 Colledge or societie is that of warre or court Marshall 3 Colledge the court of the Chancery The Lord Chancellours office Colledge me Admirall court 5 Colledge is the Exchequer The Lord Marshals office Particular division of the Provinces into smaller parts Severall Iudges The supreame Iudge Legifer Iudicium praetoriale The Ral or Court Royal. Iustice heire of Scotland Sea forces Number of Ships 〈…〉 Mariness and Sailers His land forces The horse not bigge in bulke This king hireth commonly his horsemen Customes threefold Customes arising from his mynes Great number of brasse Ordnance Customes revenues arifing from the fruits of the earth Customes of all manner of merchandise Customes of furres and rich skins The third fort of custome or revenue arbitrary or voluntary contributions 1 King Magog 2 Swennus 3 Getbar 4 Vbbo 40 Ericus the 3. 41 Goodrichus 42 Haldanus 100 Biorno 124 Ericus Sanctus 4. 125 Charles● 126 Canutus 127 Stercherus 128 Ericus 3. 129 Iohn 1. 130 Ericus Balbus 131 Valdemarus 132 Magnus Ladolos 1. 133 Birgerus 134. Magnus Smech 135. Albert of Meckleburge 136 Margaret the Dane 137 Ericus Duke of Pomerania 7. 138 Christopherus Prince Palatine of Rhene and Duke of Bavaria 139. Carolus Canuti 140. Steno Sture 141 Suanto 142 Steno Sture 2 Something concerning the title the kings of Denmarke pretend to the crowne and kingdome of Sweden Christierne the 2 invades the countrey of Sweden A great ingratitude Extreame barbarous crueltie More then ●nhumane crueltie 143 Gustavus Erickson 1. Reformation of religion in the kingdome of Swedea An. 6560 141 Ericus 8. 145 Iohn 2. 146 Sigismundus The oath of Sigismund Abdication of king Sigismund An act against the accepting of a forreine kingdome unlesse he refine himselfe in Sweden His warres against Denmarke and Russia 148 Gustavus Adolphus 2. His war with the king of Denmarke His war with the Russian Prince The countrey of Carelia corruptly called Reaholme taken in The invincible force of Notteburg The strange manner of taking in the Castle of Noneburg The taking in of the strong fort Iuanogorod Confirmation of the ancient lawes concerning trafficke and commerce betwixt the sea townes The Vniversitie of Vpsalia is by him much enriched and adorned Albert killed Another Albert Emperour Wonderfull greatnes of the house of Austria Charlet the attempted the overthrow of true religion together with the Germans liberty
receiveth and readeth all letters sent to the king and dispatcheth answers Besides in the counsell he propoundeth such heads as they are to consult about and withall he hath the charge of setting downe and publishing all Proclamations all decrees and acts of Parliament Hee is also Iudge of al private complaints and appeales from inferiour courts to the King and finally he hath the oversight of all the Secretaries Clerkes Religious persons and ecclesiasticall ceremonies and all controversies and negotiations with forreine Princes war peace and truce receiving messages from forreine Ambassadors and dispatching their answers This great officer hath ioyned with him for associates or collegues a Vice-chancellour and divers counsellers of the Chancerie besides the kings Secretaries with divers others The fourth Colledge or Court is that of the Admiraltie over which is the great Lord Admirall whose office is to oversee the Navy royall and to see that it be in a readinesse with all things thereto belonging against the time of need He hath under him a Vice-admirall besides Captaines and Commanders of every ship To his court belong all causes concerning trespasses against constitutions made for the preservation of the Navy-royal and many other things concerning maritime affaires The fifth and last is the Exchequer or as the French call it the chamber of accounts where are received all the revenues belonging to the crowne tributes customes subsidies c. Over this Court presides the Lord Treasurer of the kingdome who hath also ioyned with him in commission two others of the Nobility and to this court belong also a number of clerks who are chosen out of the inferiour ranke of people He hath also under his custodie the royall ensignes of the kingdome the apple the crowne the scepter and the sword He payes also all the kings armie and so doth hee all the kings servants their wages In a word hee takes all and payes all being accomptable to no body but to the king himselfe Amongst all the great officers of the kingdome the Lord Marshall is accounted the chiefe being master of the kings houshold and administrator or orderer of the great counsell who by the kings authority hath power to assemble the whole States of the land to command silence and attention to give leave to speake in Parliament to welcome ofrreine Embassadours and to provide things necessary for their entertainment To his office also it belongeth to remove out of the counsell such as belong not thereunto and to see the Kings decrees concerning matters of defamation and punishment of death duly put in execution Hee supplyes also the place of the matter of the ceremonies and suppresseth all tumults and disorders To him belongeth also the oversight of the kings houshold and domesticall servants and to correct the offenders And finally in all publike meetings he beares the great staffe before the king Next unto him in dignitie is esteemed the great Lord Constable the field Marshall the great Sewer the Lord Chamberlaine c. Moreover this whole kingdome is not onely divided into severall Province Duchies and Counties but besides each Province is againe subdivided into certaine territories or iurisdictions commonly called Haradh of the which some containe moe and some fewer parishes Each Province againe hath its governor or lieutenant called Landz-herren or State-haller and each territorie or iurisdiction hath a Iudge called Leensman and besides each parish hath a Iudge called Nembdarius or Nembdemannus Now all these are distinct offices and subordinate one to another and so may the plantise appeale from one inferiour court to a next superiour in due order and forme The supreame governour or magistrate of the Province is called Legifer as it were a law-giver and iudge and are esteemed in dignity next unto the king as being his iudges and uice-gerents Now as many as are the Provinces as many are there of these supreame iudges to eleven under whom are againe above 300. Vicounties or particular iurisdictions not unlike the courts of Parliament of France and the multitude of presidiall courts But the difference is that these supreame Iudges visit every yeare a great part of their Province untill all their Prouinces be visited and when they have travelled the round they returne againe where they first began which the French Parliaments doe not much after the manner of the Iudges circuits in this kingdome And as this course is very convenient for the remedying of the publike diseases of the kingdome so is it also some ease to the subiect these iudges demanding the tribute and taxes by turnes and not all at once of such territories and parishes as they visit that so the people be not all burdened at one and the same time It is yet further to be observed that by the ancient customes and constitutions of this kingdome besides all these aforementioned courts there was yet one generall court commanded to be kept in foure eminent places of the kingdome once or twice a yeere for determining and finishing some cases which by the other Iudges had not beene or could not so well be decided And this they call Iudicium Praetoriale which was a meeting of many Iudges together where controversies were duely and strictly examined and sentence according to equity pronounced This court was by Charles the ninth father to this now reigning king Gustavus Adolphus ordeined to be kept twice a yeere once in Vpsalia in winter at the time of a great faire then kept and the other about Saint Peters day in summer The Iudges were without faile to appeare at the place appointed in proper person sixe weekes after the publication of such a meeting Now whatsoever was in this pretoriall court determined betwixt party and party was to stand firme and inviolable for ever without appeale to any other court whatsoever And because the king will be sure that iustice be duely executed in all his dominions therefore besides all these former courts there is yet another great and solemne court sometimes kept called the court Royall or Ral whereas either the king in proper person or else a deputy or speciall commissioner heares all the grievances betwixt party and party and this is a court of reformation wherin some things which in other courts have not beene so well ordered are here reformed and amended And this court I take to be much like that solemne court sometimes kept in the kingdome of Scotland called the Iustice aire wherein very small offences were severely punished Now the king is sixe weekes before the time of sitting to intimate the same to his subiects And within 14 dayes after whosoever hath a complaint against any he must cause summon his adversary to appeare at the day and place appointed by the kings letters to that purpose to bee read in the first Plac it or Court or where there is none kept then at the next Parish Church Now if any upon this summons shall refuse to appeare the
A SHORT Survey or History of THE KINGDOME OF SVEDEN Containing A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE PROVINCES OF his whole Dominion As also the riches of his Kingdome the antiquity nature and manners of that Nation With the Government of his Realme Might and Power of this great King as well by Sea as by Land his great Officers his Customes and Revenves of the Crowne With a Genealogy and Pedegree of the Kings of SVEDEN of those especially who have reigned these last five hundred yeers with some of their most memorable Acts and Deeds with their Alliance and Issue or Off spring Something also more particularly concerning that Illustrious invincible Great GVSTAVUS ADOLPHVS the II. and of his Wars with the Russian Denmarke and Poland As also of his most Memorable Acts since his comming to the Crowne as well before as since his entring into Germany untill this present yeere 1632. LONDON Printed for Michael Sparke and are to be sold by Iames Boler at the Marigold in Pavls-Church-yard 1632. The Contents or principall heads handled in this whole Discourse 1 OF the division of all these Northerne Countries and antiquity of the kingdome of Sweden together with the large extent of this dominion and the commodities this kingdome affords 2 A more particular survey of the kingdome of Sweden with a short description of the particular parts or Provinces thereof and the benefit they yeeld to the king and subiect 3 Of the nature manners and customes of the Swedish or Suetians and into how many rankes or degrees the people are divided where the Clergie is also comprehended 4 Of the politicke and civill government of the kingdome of Sweden Of their five great Colledges or courts of Iustice and some others also Of the chiefe great officers of the kingdome Of the might and power of the king of Sweden both by sea and land of his horse and foot forces and great store of brasse ordnance Of the great number of warre-ships and other ships or seruice and the great number of marrriners wherewith this kingdome is for all occasions furnished 6 Of customes and tributes or subsi dies ordinary and extraordinary belonging to the king of Sweden 7 A catalogue of some kings of Sweden together with some of their most memorable acts 8 A more particular survey of the last kings of this countrey of these last 500 yeares wi●h some other principall acts alliance issue or off-spring 9 Of great Gustavus Adolphus this present king now reigning with his most memorable Acts both before and after his entering into Germany THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOME OF SWEDEN I. OVr moderne Geographers call all those Northern countries of Europe declining towards the North the Northern world This whole countrey say they is divided into two parts Scania and Dania Scandia or Scandinania by Pliny called an Iland of unknowne greatnesse hems in begirts about all the northermost part of Europe This is a large and vast Region extending it selfe from the 55. to the 72. degree of northerly latitude above 1000. English miles and from the 25. to the 65. degree of longitude or 2400 of our miles On the south side it borders on Germany and Denmarke on the North and West on the Ocean Sea and on the East on Russia The parts of this countrey lying neerest to the South where the Pole is not elevated above 60 degrees is indifferent temperat the Region lying betwixt the 60. degree and the arctick circle are not so temperate howbeit the intemperature of the ayre is well regulated with the fertility of the soyle in such places especially as are not covered over with woods or rocks in the south easterne parts principally But the extreme or most northern parts lying betwixt the arcticl circle and the pole arctick enjoy neither a temporate ayre nor yet a fruitful soile and since by reason of the faint heat of the Sun corne could not there well ripen therefore the wise Creator of all things hath furnished these countries with great variety of wild beasts and divers rivers lakes gulfes furnished with variety of wholesome fishes for the sustaining of the inhabitants lives It would seem that this Scandia was in former times far more populous then it is at this time witnesse these frequent transmigrations and as it were inundations of the Scanzian people into othcr remote regions of the world when as partly by reason of the multitude and naturall fecundity or fruitfulnes of that people partly by reason of dearth of corn partly by their inclination to war and avoyding Idlenes like Bees they sought out new hives for themselves and their children and those great heapes of stones even at this day in the most desarts woods to be seen in former times no doubt gathered together to cleanse the high waies do undoubtedly evidence unto us that in former times all those places have bin peopled and therefore not without great reason did the ancient writers call this country a shop of people officinam gentiū populorū que vaginam from hence have we not only the Normans Suevians Vandals divers other nations but the Westorgoths and ostrogoths also who after many peregrinations thorow many Provinces and Kingdomes whom they wearied out with their wars at length they setled themselves in Spain where even at this day they beare rule This Scandia or Scādinavia comprehends under it 2 northern kingdomes Sweden Norway The kingdoms of Sweden as witnesse the Scanzian histories is more ancient then any of the others from whose Kings hath the ancient families of the Kings of Denmark Norway are desceneded for Dan first King of Denmark from whence this country was called Dania or Danmarchia was the sonne of Humelus the 16 King of Sweden and the Norvegians in their Chronicle before ever they come to their owne reckon vp 25 Kings of Sweden of whom is descended Hwithen by the mother descended of one soluon a certaine Prince of Norway succeeded him in his dominion and haviuing not a little inlarged the same left it to his lawfull heires and successros from whom Haraldus Harsagher being lineally descended in the fourth degree having vanquished and expelled all the other petty Kings did there first of all establish an absolute Monarchy as witnesseth the ancient Chronicle of Norway written by Master Iohn Martinus Slangerupensis and published in Denmarke Anno. 1595. Of this kingdome of Sweden I purpose now to say some thing as I finde it written in the Swedish History howbeit as briefely at I can and speaking of the countrey I shall say something of the several Provinces and Territories belonging to this Crowne the commodities and riches they yeeld both to King and Subject as also concerning the politicke government together with divers customes of this countrey In the next place something shall be said of the might and power of this great King both by Sea and Land his chiefe Officers of State c. and then come wee to
the Kings of that countrey both ancient and of latter times with some of their chiefe acts and the latter Kings alliances In the last place is something more particularly said concerning this great Gustavus Adolphus now raigning and his chiefe acts both before and since his expedition into Germany briefly handled The King of Sweden or Swethland call it as you list although untill now of late yeeres not so much taken notice of in these parts of the world as many other Princes and Potentates yet may it well appeare that hee is on meane Prince nor of small power His chiefe countrey and from which he takes his chiefe denomination is called by some Sueonia and the people from thence Sueones as also and with us most frequently Suevia and the people Swevi now there is in high Germany another countrey sounding somewhat like it called Suevia the people Suevi and in high Dutch Swaben bordering on Bavaria being a colonie in former times come out of this countrey of Sweden of whom my purpose is not here to speake This potent King then hath under his dominion not onely this country of Sweden properly so called but also Gothland Flintland and a great part of Lapland besides some Territories in the dominion of the great Duke or Knez of Russia or Muscovia as hereafter shall appeare This countrey is a very fruitfull soyle a land flowing with milke and honey and yeelding come in great abundance besides the great abundance of mettalls digged out of the bowells of the earth and the excellency of the pastures of this land may from hence appeare that some countrey people of Holland removing their habitation into Sweden affimed that they made as much butter of 60. measures of milke there as they did in Holland of a hundred the like measures This pleasant countrey is replenished with innumerable lakes furnished with most daint y fishes out of these same lakes do run and Issue out many pleasant and profitable rivers This country is in the South parts more plain even but towards the North and VVst more mountainous not without great store of woods very usefull for the fining of those mettals in so great abundance digg'd out of many of those mountaines The maritane pares not of Swethland onley but of Finland also are for the most part environed with high and steepe rocky hils Ilands many of them being scarce covered with greene grasse and this is the cause why it is so hard and difficult a matter for strangers without some skilfull Pilot of the naturall inhabitans to saile neere their shore and strangers at their first approaching wonder that such a country should afford the inhabitants meanes to sustaine life until such time as they are better acquainted with the inner parts of the countrey and this land hath likewise commerce with the I le of Brittaine Denmarke Norway Poland Russia and such other Notherne Regions beyond the 50 or 51 degrees of Northerly latitude that it bringeth forth none of that noble liquor of the grape which is notwithstanding in great abundance brought from other countries and besides they are well furnished with good ale and beere for their ordinary drinke 2. The kingdome of Sweden is divided into Sweden Gothland Finland Ingria and Esthionia Sweden or Swethland called Suecia or Sucovia into Sueovia properly so called and the Northlands Nordlandias Of Sueovia properly so called are these parts or Provinces following Vplandia Vestmania Dalecharlia Nevira and Suedermania This country Vplandia hath most cōmmonly bin graced with the pre-eminence above the rest and where the King hath most commonly kept his Court. This country is very well furnished with plenty of very good corne the which is liberally imparted to these daily diggers of mettalls upon the mountaines It is not destitute of good mines of yron and leed especially and in some places of silver also although not very much It is againe divided into three folk-lands as they call them that is shires or Provinces of three people and these againe sub-divided into smaller parts much answerable to our division of hundred and which name they also attribute unto them Of all the cities and townes uot only of this but of all the other Provinces of the Swedish dominions Stackholme is the chiefe and where the King most cōmonly makes his abode and residence seated in an Iland among the waters as Venice for the which cause it had this name imposed By meanes of the lake Melexus it hath brought from the inland al maner of grain butter cheese and such other commodies usefull for the life of man as also cooper yron and other mettals and again by the same way sends them back such cōmodities as are brought from remote regions and by the sea it is supplied with wine oile salt c. lt is much of the same degree of northerly latitude with the city Aberden in the of Scotland it being seated in the South part of Sweden to wit betwixt the 58. and 59. degree Next unto it is Vpsalia somtime the royal seat of the adjacent northerne parts for there was kept the Kings Court the supreme court of justice and there was also the Archbishops sea with a faire cathedrall Church the which onely of all the rest continueth yet untill this day There there is also a famous Vniversity of the which more hereafter This City is seated as it were in the very center of this rich Province on the banke of the River Sala Besides these there are yet in his Province some others of good note howbeit inferiour to the former to wit Enecopia Sigrundia Oregrundia The next Province of Sueonia is Vestmania in fertility nothing inferiour to Vplandia but in mettalls farre exceeding the same for in it is a very rich silver mine called Salbergh as for good yron and steele there is there also great abundance where mines of copper lead and brimstone are not also wanting The chiefe Citty thereof is called Grosia and commonly Westeras adorned with a Bishops sea and a cathedrall Church where is also a faire stately castle to be seene and heere may one see great store of copper and lead brought from the hils of that countrey There are yet besides this the Townes Arbogia and Koping abounding with the same mettalls but yron especially The Province of Dalecharlia although it be not inferiour to the former in the abundance of mettalls and mineralls yet in the abundance of good copper digged out of these deepe vaults and cavernes to the no small amazement of such as are not acquainted with such sights it doth farre exceede any other and besides copper the same myne yeeldeth yet great store of brimstone alum and copperas And the water which is drawne from thence changeth yron into good copper with the losse of the fourth part if the waight of the yron be in small pieces and the third part only if the pieces be
king or his vicegerent shall notwithstanding his non-appearance unlesse very iust cause may bee shewed proceed to sentence against him Now as concerning their particular lawes statutes and ordinances the times and turnes of their meetings in Courts of Iustice the manner of choosing their Iudges their oaths and what by them to be observed as being too long and tedious for this short tractate I willingly passe by But if any be desirous to know their particular statute lawes he may have recourse to their history and such as have of set purpose collected and set them downe in order I proceed now to speake of the might and power of this great king and then by what meanes it is maintained CHAP. V. Of the might and power of the King of Sweden as well by Sea as by land ANd first for his sea forces it is certaine that the king of Sweden besides his gallies and small ships whereof in those seas he possesseth no small number hath beene many yeeres agoe furnished with fifty brave war-ships upon all occasions ready for service and many of them furnished with 60. 70. or 80. great peeces of brasse Ordnance and now questionlesse hee is furnished with a farre greater number Neither yet is it any hard matter for him to make vp the number of 6000 saile within his dominions not of rowers and ordinary watermen I meane but even of expert sailers pilots masters of ships masters mates c. For all that tract about the sea coast of Finland being at least 40 miles in length together with the coast of the Redeucke sea twice as long besides a number of Ilands afford the inhabitants daily meanes of no small commerce and traffiking by sea by which means the marriners may easily become both bold and expert Besides their maintenance is not very chargeable to the king for the most of their pay is in fish flesh butter and cheese ryce and barly such commodities as many of his countries yeeld him for tribute These ships in time of peace use to be distributed into divers parts of the kingdom The greatest cōmonly ly in Stockholme haven which Port is so fenced against all winds that there they may safely ride against all winds without any anchors besides that there they are also free from any hostile invasion there being no accesse thither for any ships but by 24. miles sailing and that by a number of dangerous rockes The rest of those ships are dispersed into divers other harbours especially those of Finland that so they may be alwayes in a readinesse if peradventure the Russian should make any sudden stirre Some of them againe are bestowed in such ports and haven townes whereas they may inhibite the importation of such commodities out of high Germany as might tend to the ruine of the kingdome and therefore the kings maiesty suffereth no ship to come from thence unlesse they have first a passe granted them subscribed with his maiesties owne hand the which the Merchants of Lubeck often purchase at a round rate And to conclude this king is very powerfull by sea And no lesse powerfull is he also by land for he is able in a short space from among his owne subiects to raise a great armie of foot who by reason of their frequent conflicts sometimes with the Dane sometimes with the Russian but especially with the Polonian have purchased unto themselves no small experience in military affaire having infinitely improved the valour and prowesse derived unto them by their ancestours This king may in a fortnights space call out twelve legions of well experienced souldiers reckoning three thousand to a legion and may carry them whither he list out of the kingdome yea if it were even to the very Indians neither yet is he unfurnished of choice able and skilfull horsemen as well in Sweden as in Finland both these countries being well furnished with exceeding good horses the which how farre in bulke of body inferiour to those of high Germany and other nations so farre perhaps doe they againe surpasse them in bountie And in truth they are very stout and in consideration of their low stature exceeding strong being accustomed to hard labour and easily undergoing any travell or toile and withall contented with any food The lownesse of their stature hath beene the sole cause that heretofore this king hath most commonly hyred his horsemen out of high Germany when he was to wage warre against any potent enemy Now how great forces both of horse foot this mighty Prince is able to bring into the field may not onely by his late war against the Polonian but by this late and last expedition into Germany undertaken for the freeing of many distressed Princes and people from the tyranny of the Austrian house and restoring them againe to their ancient inheritances easily be evidenced and witnessed unto us After ages no doubt will stand amazed at the multitude of his valiant acts with so great celerity valour and magnanimitie atchieved in so short a time who may well with that great conquerour Iulius Cesar say veni vidi vici and gratefull posteritie will eternize his name so long as sunne and moone shall endure and blesse the time that so pious and prosperous a Prince was borne to the Christian world Many things were some yeeres agoe related to the Pope by his Nuncio concerning the multitude and distribution of the military forces of this kingdome concerning their pay also military discipline c. all which although since that time much improoued yet for the present I let passe and proceed to other matters CHAP. VI. Of customes and tribute belonging to the king of Sweden NOW to maintaine all this great charge of warre and other expences there must bee some meanes whereby it may bee effected For this purpose therfore there are certaine tributes and customes yeerely paid into the kings coffers and these are of three sorts The first sort of tribute is that which is raised of his mines out of the which not onely are digged iron copper and lead in great abundance but even silver also of the which are coined the Swedish dollors for finenesse of mettall inferior to no other silver whatsoever Now some of these Mynes are digged at the kings own cost and charges and some at the cost of private persons Of the first the king hath the whole benefit and of the latter but the tenth part as of other commodities Of two copper Mines onely at this time the king receives a very great benefit and besides by reason of this abundance of brasse and copper it commeth to passe that hee is so well able to furnish himselfe with brasse Ordnance and that not for his Castles and Forts onely but for his Ships also the sum whereof is no lesse then 8000. at the least and in the Castle of Stockeholme alone there are at least 400. great pieces of brasse Ordnance and more might yet be