Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	christian_a	king_n	time_n	1,755	5	3.4673	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
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

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

great and thick This countrey yeelds also good store of graine howbeit scarce sufficient to furnish those laborious painefull pioners there being there such a number of them maintained at worke Next unto it is Nericia where although there be a silver myne yet yeelding but small benefit is therefore neglected The mynes of brimstone yeeld also store of alum and copperas It would seeme that all the inhabitants of this countrey are borne naturall Smiths for they send abroad into all the neighbouring countries all manner of yron implements They have but one citty called Orebregia The last is Sudermannia which is neyther destitute of mettalls nor yet of good store of yron especially the parts adjoyning to the great lake Melerus The chiefe city of this countrey is Nycopia a famous port for traficke and with all adorned with a faire castle where the Duke of this countrey most commonly had his abode Next is Strengosia an Episcopall Sea with a Cathedrall Church graced with the dead corps of Charles the 9. of that name and father to the most famous and victorious King great Gustavus now raigning There are yet some other Townes belonging to this teritory to wit Tolga Torsilia and Trosa all very rich and commodious for trafficke and commerce The other part of Sweden is properly called by the name of Northland Of this Northland there are two Provinces Gestricia Helsingia Gestricia had corn enough to supply the inhabitants wanrs and besides is well furnished with yron mynes I hath in it one very good City called Gervalia seated by the Sea-side as well for exporation as importation of all manner of commodities and about halfe a daies journey from the coper mynes By ancient records it appeareth that this Helsingia in former times was a generall name comprehending the rest of the Northern Provinces and the Scanzian Histories doe testifie that this same country in former times was graced with the Title of a kingdome and was governed by Kings until such time as Iugellus King of Vpsalia and father to Olavus Tretelias King of Vermelandia at his coronation burnt to ashes the last Helsingian King with some other moe whose kingdome hee after incorporated to that of Vpsalia Many other things concerning the antiquity and valour of this Nation for brevity I purposely let passe Among all the Swedish people these are most remarkable for their great hospitality and besides they are so affectionate to learning that although publike Schooles for good literature be but rare among them yet are private persons who have attained to any learning so forward to instruct their neighbours that it is a hard matter to find one going at plough but hee can read The inhabitants of his country are either Helsingia properly so call'd or Laplanders Of the Helsingians then the Provinces or these Helsingians properly so called Medelpadia Angermania and Bothnia This Hesingia properly so called was formerly caled Sundhede and Nordslegh The soyle of this country is fruit full enough and the inhabitants much addicted to grazing of cattle and many of them are very industrious in making of linnen cloth and not unskilfull in many other manuall trades some being also addicted to fishing It containeth one good city Hudinswaldia whose inhabitants transport into other countries great store of butter tallow hides and skins pitch and rozen masts for ships clap-boord and the like Medelpadia is much of the same nature quality with Helsingia but that it is somewhat narrow and fuller of woods It is furnished with Z good rivers well stor'd with exceeding good fish as Salmons especially and it is supposed that in former times the Helsingian Kings kept their Court in this Countrey Angermannia although it be full of high and steepe rockes yet are the vallies so fruitfull that if but once in ten yeeres compassed they bring forth every yeere exceeding good corne if the unseasonablnesse of the weather doe not sometimes frustrate the husband-mans expectation It is as it were divided into two armes the one more southerly running towards the West the other towards the Sea and further to the North. It is watered with one faire river abounding with divers forts of good fishes Salmons especially there is in it also one faire city Bothnia is not so hilly as this Angermannia and yet by reason of the sandy soyle and the coldnesse of the climat the countrey is not so fruitfull as the former which defect notwithstanding is well supplyed with the abundance of other commodities It is very well watered with divers great rivers abounding with very good fish Salmons especially It hath in it no city howbeit every Parish is as it were at towne of trafficke and commerce for in sommer they provide store of corne and such other commodities as their neighbour Leplanders want which they buy of such as trafficke into their countrey which commodities in the winter they carry into Lapland where all rivers and rivers and lakes are hard frozen and bring again backe from thence great abundance of rich furres fishes dryed and hardened with the frost and many the like commodities Next followes Lapponia or Lappia called commonly Lapland and the inhabitants Lappones Laplanders This is the northermost Province belonging to this potent Prince a large and vast countrey but hath neyther corne-fields cities nor townes The countrey is full of hills woods rivers lakes and pooles and in many places very good pastures The people are ingenious enough and civill living most by hunting and fishing They live like unto the Tartars travelling in great troupes together with their cattell and settle about some river or lake where there is good pasture for their cattell and when that is all eaten up remove to another place Adultery and murther is scarce heard of among that people nor yet any theft and merchants travelling that way ordinarily leave their wares covered onely with some old cloth to keepe off the snow and after divers daies at their returne never misse any of their goods Their appearrell is made of skinnes of beasts and wollen cloth brought to them from other countries as for linnen cloth they have none but to sew their clothes they make thred of the nerves of sinewes of beasts dryed beaten and dressed like flaxe with the which they both sew their garments cover the same also with tinne as we doe wtih silver and so adorne their garments therewith as we doe with silver and gold lace In former times they were much addicted to sorcery and witchcraft howbeit that is now well reformed In stead of houses they use tents made of the barke of birch sowed together In the winter time they meete togther at certaine places and faile not where both these aforementioned merchants find them to trafficke with the Kings customers to demand their tribute and the Churchmen were wont to come to catechize them

meanes many disorders are by little and little crept into their trafficke and commerce And therefore this illustrious and victorious king Gustavus Adolphus now reigning to testifie and make knowne his love and fatherly affection to his countrey in restoring and repairing the ruines and breaches of the common-wealth among many other things did againe as it were revive and put life into those now almost dead lawes and enlarge the same the which if afterwards they shall be duely observed no doubt but these cities will soone againe returne ●o their former splendor and dignitie The last ranke and degree among this people is that of husbandman the which although lowest in degree yet not of l●ast vse and necessitie a being the very ground and foundation of all the rest and who furnish all the others both with food and rayment And of these there are yet two sorts the first are free-holders having their lands and possessions hereditary and out of the which they use to pay something yeerely to the king the which payment is seldome raysed to any higher rate and withall this priviledge hath beene granted them of old that if they be able to furnish themselves with a good horse and compleat armour being able to serve the king in his warres so long as they or yet any of their sonnes serve in this kind their Manours or Farmes are freed from any manner of payments to the king and this is the reason why many from their very cradle as it were apply themselves to military affaires by which means also the number of the kings horsemen is wonderfully encreased Among these are also to be ranked such as worke in mynes in the mountainous and hilly places of the kingdome who thereby purchase to themselves no small gaine and are for the most part very rich The rest of these countrey people are Farmers who although besides the set rents they pay their landlords they performe likewise diuers services yet by reason of the great benefit and commodity they make by fishing fowling and of wood of the forrests they reape no small commodity whereby they are enabled to live in very good fashion recording to their owne ranke and degree For this is to be undestood that this whole kingdome aboundeth with lakes and rivers full of very wholesome fishes besides the abundance of woods which partly in regard of their number and partly by reason of the remotenesse yeeld oftentimes but small benefit to the owners and for the same reason no where are fish and fowle as also hares cheaper then in this kingdome It is likewise to be observed that in all Parliaments the countrey people this last and sixt ranke I meane have a voyce as well as any of the others And thus it commeth to passe that the meanest or lowest degree is not neglected nor no well deserving subiect hindered to climbe to as high a pitch of honour as his vertues can attaine unto CHAP. IIII. Of the Politicke and civill government of the Kingdome of Sweden IN ancient times each Province of this kingdome had it's severall lawes and constitutions whereof as it is supposed there were divers authours whose names by reason of the long tract of time are now for the most part buried in oblivion And the Vestrogothian lawes are so ancient that it is apparant they were made at such times as the Goths departed out of this kingdome or at least shortly after for there is mention made of the Goths inhabiting Greece and Thracia to wit that none of them should enioy or possesse any of their ancient possessions in their owne countrey unlesse they would returne and dwell there And it is apparent that they dwelt there before the times of Alexander the great who as he affirmed were to be shunned and taken heede of Besides even before the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour they were such a terror to the Romans that they were by them much hindered from inlarging their dominion beyond the Danubius Now these lawes doe for the most part agree with the lawes of the Visigoths set down by Ifidorus although they be farre shorter for the which cause it is not unlike that these same lawes of Isidrus were at the first collected out of the constitutions of the Vestrogoths and after as the titles testifie enlarged by the kings of the Visigoths of Spaine Out of all these Provincial lawes and other constitutions of this kingdome did the Bishops and Senatours thereof above 270 yeares agoe compile this generall law very agreeable to the law of nature and not much differing from the civill law but that by this controverted cases are far speedilier ended But before we speake any thing concerning their lawes we will premit some generalities In this kingdome therefore there are severall principall colledges or societics which comprehend the whole government of the same The first of these is called the Colledge of Iustice in the which ore three degrees or rankes the supreame the middle most and lowest of all In this supreame or highest ranke or order are the noble Senators of the kingdome in the next are such as they call Lagman and in Latin Nomophy laces as if we should say Recorders or Registers In the third ranke or order are the Iudges of particular cities or townes being men of good esteeme and of honest life and conversation and not unskilfull in the lawes of the land In this supreame court are iudged causes of the whole kingdome as well criminall as ciuill and to this supreame court the subiect may from any inferiour Court of the kingdome appeale whereas they determine and iudge whether the inferiour court hath iudged right or no and from this court there is no appeale unlesse it be to the king himselfe in whosepower it is either to qualifie the punishment or to remit the offence Vnder this suprame court are immediatly subiected and subordinate two others that of criminall causes and that of the court or chamber The next to this colledge is the colledge of war wherein are handled all Martiall or Military affaires and is called the Court marshall or martiall To this court belongs the Councell of War wherein are all military matters deliberated and discussed and over this court presides the great Marshal1 of the kingdome His office is when the king cannot be present in his owne person as generall to command over the whole army This great officer hath with him ioyned diuers other associates and collegues amongst whom is chiefly he whom they call Riick-seirs Siigmeister as much to say as master of the Ordnance Besides there is also a field marshall and under him many other commanders both of the horse and foot forces The third colledge or court it that of the Chancerie in which are handled all manner of causes both civill and ecclesiasticall In this Court presides the Lord Chancellour of the kingdom who hath the chiefe charge of the broad seale

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

indeed was that hee banished out of his whole kingdome and dominions the superstitious worship of the Church of Rome and thorow his whole dominions caused them to professe the reformed religion according to the confession of Ausbourg or Augustane confession And because we account the Danes usurpation to haue beene no right possession therefore according to Historians we make him to follow in order 143. immediately after Steno whose daughter some say he marryed howbeit if he so did we reade of no issue he had by her The first wise therefore by whom he had any issue was Katharine daughter to Magnus Duke of Saxony and by her he had 1. Ericus who succeeded him in his government His second wife was Margaret daughter to a noble knight Abraham Loholn governour of Vestrogothia whom he marryed An. 1536. who bare unto him these children following 1 Iohn afterwards king of Sweden 2 Katharine marryed to the Earle of East-Freezland 1559. and bare to him Enno Gustavus Iohn and Christopher Earles of East Freizland 3 Cecilie marryed to Christopher Marquesse of Baden 1564. to whom she bare Edward called the Fortunate Christopher Constans and Phillip 4 Magnus Duke of Ostrogothia and dyed 1595. 5 Steno and dyed a child 6 Anna marryed to George Iohn Count Palatine of Rhene and Duke of Bavaria 1564. to whom she bare George Gustavus Iohn Ruphel Anna Margaret and Vrsula marryed to the Duke of Wittenberg 7 Charles who presently dyed 8 Sophia marryed to Magnus Duke of Saxonie 1568. and bare to him Guctavus Duke of Saxonie who dyed at Holmia 1597 9 Elizabeth marryed to Christopher Duke of Meckelburg who had by her one only daughter called Margaret married to the Megapolitane Duke 10 Charles Duke of Sudermania c. This fruitful Queene dyed in the yeare 1551. After her decease he married againe Katharine daughter to Gustavus Olaus Baron of Torpa 1552. but had by her no children 144 Ericus succeeded his father Gustavus and was crowned in Stockeholme 1561. This king for a certaine time waged warre against the Danes and city of Lubecke and drew upon himselfe the hatred and evill will of all his neighbours and as though this had yet beene but a small matter he irritated his own people whom be exceedingly discontented His brother Iohn who had marryed Katharine sister to Sigismund king of Polands widow did altogether mislike his brothers turbulent courses and enterprizes who in his returne from Revalia into Livonia left with the Polonian king his kins man a great summe of money for the which this being put into his hands as a pledge certaine castles and commanderies in the countrey of Livonia This fact his brother otherwise very suspicious interpreted in the worst sense as though his brother had beene combined and ioyned in league with the Dane and Polonian and for this cause with his whole forces assaults his brother takes himselfe wife and whole family prisoners in a towne of Finland called Ako brings them all with him to Stockeholme where having first openly accused him he cast him into prison where be continued for the space of foure whole yeares besides that he put to death many of his familiar friends and acquaintance But at the foure yeares end the case is quite altered his brother finding a meanes to free himselfe out of prison takes his brother captive and makes him drinke of the same cup he had before made him begin with keeping him in close prison during his whole life time 1568. 145 Ericus thus iustly thrust out of his throne his brother was with the unanimous free and generall consent of the whole State elected king in his brothers turne During his reigne he had also great war with but especially with the Dane the Muscovite or Russian He was born 1537 and crowned 1569 He marryed first Katharine daughter to Sigismund king of Poland by whom he had 1. Sigismund now king of Poland 2. Anne After this Queenes decease he marryed one Gunila daughter to one Axelurs Bielke de Hereseter a noble Knight and governour of Ostrogothia whom he marryed 1585. and by whom he had 1 Iohn who in the yeare 1612. married Mary Elizabeth daughter to Charles the 9. King of Sweden 2 Charles borne 1550 first Duke of Sudermania Neriva and Vermelandia and afterwards also elected king of Sweden This king Iohn constantly maintained the same religion of the Augustane confession which his father had formerly professed although underhand he suffered his sonne Sigismund by his mother Katharine to be educated in the Romish religion which cost him no lesse then the losse of his kingdome of Sweden as hereafter shall ap peare And the better to secure his subiects of his constant perseverance in the religion he profesesed he gave then his brother Charles Duke of Finland whom he loved dearely far a pledge or pawne that no innovation should therein be attempted whom he also appointed by his last will and testament during his sonnes absence to be gouernour of the whole kingdome This king dyed in the yeare 1992. 19. of November 246 Sigismundus sonne to the aforesaid Iohn being before during his fathers life time in 1590 beene designed and appointed king of Poland being during his fathers life time elected king of Poland where he also lived and reigned at the time of his fathers death was in the yeare 1599 crowned king of Sweden and the very day of the Epiphanie was appointed for this purpose Now there was to the kings company one Franciscus mala spina Bishop of Vrlia in Italy the Popes Nuncto whom the king and his followers much desired to performe the solemne rites of the Coronation and this Prelate was of opinion that if the States of Sweden had once given way to this beginning the Romish religion might more easily afterwards be againe introduced But against this with might and maine did Adamus Andracanns then Archbishop of Vpsalia oppose affirming that it was flat against the lawes and coostitutions of the kingdome that any other but the Archbishop of Vpsalia should set the diademe royall upon his head and besides that he must now sweare to maintaine that religion now professed within the kingdome of Sweden according to the Augustane confession exhibited to Charles the fift Emperour professed by his grandfather Gustavus and his owne father Iohn the 3. and by a late synod holden at Vpsalia by the whole states of the kingdome confirmed and that he shall not assigne or grant any Church or Churches in any towne of Sweden to any other religion then that of the Augustane confession And further that during the time of his abode in Sweden he should be contented with the service performed within the private chapell of his owoe palace Against this did oppose the Peeres and Nobles of poland that accompanied the king howbeit the Peeres of Sweden were resolute in their purpose insomuch that some dayes were thus spent in alteration At length about mid Ianuary seeing no remedy it was

agreed that the bishop of Vpsalia should performe such rites as belonged to the coronation which was accordingly performed Ericus Sparce also Chancellour of the kingdome administred unto the king his solemne oath he reciprocally answering him and promising first that he would maintaine iusticc and truth within his kingdome and that he would punish and suppresse all iniustice and lying that he would doe iustice to all the Swedish nation as well rich as poore and that according to the lawes and statutes of the kingdome he should governe the same and that by the counsell and consent of his brother Prince Charles and the senate or counsell of the kingdome that he shall consult with the natural inhabitants of the kingdome and not with strangers that hee shall bring no strangers within the realme that hee shall commit the castles and forts of the kingdome and the deserts of Vpsalia to none but the natiues of the countrey that he shall impose no new tribute or taxe upon the subiect unlesse in case of great necessitie for the defence of the kingdome in feare of any intestine commotion or sedition when the kings sonne or daughter is to be marryed when the king is to make any solemne perambulation thorow his whole kingdome or something for the reparation of the desarts of Vpsalia shall be required Moreover that he should confirme all priviledges and immunities heretofore granted to the Peeres of the land the whole people and the clergie thereof and that by all meanes possible he should procure peace and tranquillitie to all his subiects adding lastly this clause to the oath So God be good to my soule and body as I from my heart sweare to observe all the premisses After this was a solemn assembly of the whole States of the kingdome or a Parliament called at Stockeholme wherein was consulted of the government of the kingdome during the kings absence and divers good and wholesome lawes enacted In the moneth of Iuly next after the king departed againe into Poland But some few yeares after hee was by the same States againe abdicated and quite reiected from ever having any right or interest in the government of the kingdome of S weden and was in a Parliament holden at Stockeholme 1590. confirmed And againe in another Parliament holden at Lincopia 1600. as well he himselfe as all his issue and off-spring are for ever excluded from the succession to the kingdome of Sweden The reasons were diuers but especially for sending an army of strangers into the countrey quite contrary to his oath and promise the which if their plot had taken effect might have overthrowne the whole State besides the ruine of religion There were divers other causes published in print as the story mentions the which I have not as yet seene But withall in the abdication of this king this condition was inserted that if within sixe moneths after the finishing of that no hereditary Prince and heire apparant to the crowne of Sweden shall hencefoorth accept of any forreine kingdome unlesse he resolve neverthelesse to live and continue in the same kingdome of Sweden This noble king after he came to the Crown waged warre with the king of Denmarke and at one and the same time with the Russian also For Iuan Wasilicuitz Suski with many of the Peeres being in his chiefe City Mosco very straitly besieged by the Polonians hee sent for aide and succour to this Charles king of Sweden there being then great danger not of the losse of the king and his Nobles onely but even of the utter overthrow and ruine of his whole dominion This Prince therefore sent with great expedition under the command of Iairus de la Garde Earle of Leccho and Arch-marshall of the kingdome of Sweden a great army wherewith he raised the siege overthrew the enemies forces and set at libertie this distressed Prince and all his Peeres The aforenamed Suski making shew of a gratefull acknowledgement of so great a kindnesse received not onely promised but also sealed some deeds whereby hee freely gave unto this king Charles and to his heires and successours kings of Sweden for ever certaine territories and lordships together with the townes castles and forts thereunto belonging But the mance was not answerable to promise for this unthankfull perfidious Prince sent secretly to the captaine of one of his castles wishing him with some forces to intercept those deeds together with the money agreed upon for the souldiers pay King Charles by such an iniury irritated and blame him not raises againe new forces invades the countrey the Polonian having now likewise seized upon Mosco the chiefe City he takes in Rexholme and possesses himselfe of a great part of the countrey round about But while he is now in the middest of his good successe behold cruell Atropos suddenly cuts the thread of his life and so by this meanes together with his hereditarie dominions leaves likewise this warre to be finished by his sonne Gustavus Adolphus at this time king of Sweden whereof more hereafter He dyed of a great sicknesse in a warre against Denmarke An. 1611. Octob. 30. His first wife was Mary daughter to Lewes Elector and Count Palatine of Rhene whom he married An. 1579 and had by her 1 Margaret Elizabeth and died at the age of 5. yeares 2 Elizabeth Sabina who dyed also young 3 Lewes who died instantly after his birth 4 Katharine borne in 1584. and in 1614. marryed to the illustrous Prince Iohn Casimir Prince Palatine of Rhene and Duke of Bavaria 5. Gustavus who dyed a child 6. Mary who dyed also young This vertuous Queene dyed of her selfe in the yeere 1580. His second wife was Christina daughter to Adolphus Duke also of Holsatis who bare to him 1 Christina who lived not long 2 Gustavus Adolphus the illustrious and victorious king of Sweden and born in anno 1594 Decemb. 9. 3. Mary Elizabeth 1596. who in the yeare 1612. was marryed to Iohn an hereditary Prince of the kingdome and Duke of Ostrogothia 4. Charles Philippe a hereditary Prince and Duke of Sundermania Nericia and Vermelandia 1601. He dyed in Livonia unmarried CHAP. X. Of the Noble Illustrious and invincible Prince great Gustavus Adolphus the 2. King of Sweden Goths and Vandals c. and some of his Acts before his entring into Germany 148 Gvstavus Adolphus borne the ninth of Decemb 1594. as said is being but of a tender age for the swaying of the scepter royall his father dying in 1611. he being then but 17. yeares of age was crowned in 1617 Considering then his young yeares and laying them in one scale and the waight of affaires lying on his shoulders in the other we may most iustly wonder and admire at Gods might and power in making him a fit instrument to effect such matters as I doubt not but after-ages shall admire the same In the yeare 1620. he marryed Mary Elinor sister to the illustrious Prince George William Marquis of

are called Dukes and livings answerable to their birth and greatnesse assigned them The daughters have portions assigned them yet not out of the Kings treasure but of the subiects purses And although the Kingdome be now become hereditary yet doe the Kings alwayes sweare to maintaine religion according to the Augustane confession The Nobilitie is divided into Earles Barons Knights Squires and ordinary Gentry The Earles were of old called Ieri and were by their Kings created as likewise Dukes called Hertzogh for their singular valor worth but none of those titles were hereditary or descended to posterity And by reason those great men had often in rebellion opposed themselves against their naturall Kings therefore for divers yeeres these titles were quite omitted vntill such time as Ericus 14. in imitation of other Kings and Potentates introduced again these titles of Earles and Barons and made them hereditary to posterity As for Knights they ever were as now they are also made for their worth and proofe vpon the atchieving of some noble exploits and descend not to posterity unlesse they succeed in their predecessours vertues and valour As for the other Gentry the chiefest of them are those we commonly call Squires and of old were called aff-wapu Out of these rankes of Nobility above mentioned are elected and chosen the supreme ministers and officers of iudicature and other great employments of the Kingdome and for this cause have great maintenance allowed them As for the clergie and state ecclesiasticall it is composed of these persons following first is the Archbishop of Vpsalia together with seueh other Bishops and besides these there are yet foure superintendents who although in name they differ from the former yet in nature function little or nothing and this last is most commonly the highest title among the Protestant Churches beyond the seas as well Lutherans or others So these Bishops and I superintendents were adioyned the Canons Prebends c. and under them Ministers and Preachers of euery Parish The Bishops in former times were possessors of many strong holds and Castles and great livings and were exceeding rich by reason whereof they were able to live like great Princes as at this day in Germany and other places is to be seen by this means they became so haughty and insolent that sometimes they waged war with their owne natural Princes sometimes expelling them out of their kingdome For this cause Gustavus the 1. of that name lest the like should befall himselfe or his successours assembled the whole estates of his kingdome to take counsell against the Bishops then making preparation for an open rebellion and by their advice and consent annexed unto the Crowne their lands and possessions together with all their strong holds and Castles reserving for these ecclesiasticall persons some part as well of the tythes as other revenues to be for them a fit and competent maintenance In former time these Bishops had place among the chiefe Senatours and counsellours of the kingdome and the Archbishop of Vpsalia and sometimes also the Bishop of Lincopia assumed unto themselves the title of Primate of the whole Kingdome for the which cause in those dayes this dignity was by great Nobles sued for but since this Kingdome made profession of the reformed Religion the clergie of highest title meddle only with Church-affaires and now mens sonnes of the meanest degree and birth merchants or husbandmens are admitted unto such functions And yet this priviledge they still enioy that in every parliament they have a voice as well as any of the Nobility or others Next follow the military forces as well horse as foot which notwithstanding consist not of forreine mercenary forces For the foot forces are culled and pickt out from among the choicest youth of the kingdome by decimation or taking every tenth man After they are once enrolled they are not onely freed from all subsidies impositions or other payments whatsoever but have also a yeerely stipend allowed them of the king who causeth certaine commanders for this same purpose appointed being first furnished with all manner of weapons for certaine yeares to traine them vp at home in the meane time enuring them to endure all manner of hardship and such toyle and labour as sould eours are wonted in war to endure while in the mean time the old bands if need so require be emploied in forreine expeditions And thus if commeth to passe that although the King carry never so great an army out of the countrey against a forreine enemy yet is the kingdome never left unfurnished of sufficient defence ready to serve upon all occasions and by this meanes there is the lesse use of mercenary souldiers unlesse upon urgent and extraordinary occasion as now in this great and memorable expedition against the Austrian house and the whole Catholike league It need not therefore seeme strange that this great King hath even in our memories waged war alone and the same time against all his three potent neighbours the king of Poland of Denmarke and the great Prince or Duke of Russia For whensoever his forces are either wearied or worne out he is able presently to exchange with a new supply who being already inured to hardship and military labor and toile are able to undergoe any difficulty whatsoever Their horse-forces are raised both from among the Gentrie and the common people The Nobles according to the greatnesse of their Lordships and lands maintaine many horsemen for the defence of the countrey and besides these the commons of every Province possessing rich Manors or Farmes to free themselves from all tributes and taxes maintaine according to their meanes certaine horsemen under the command of the Captaine of that place where hee liveth The fifth degree ranke or order is of merchants inhabiting cities and townes These both bring in and carry out of the kingdome divers merchandizabte commodities bought first of the naturall inhabitants from whence they gather no small gaine Now these cities and merchant staples have among them certaine peculiar municipal lawes and constitutions derived from the law of the most ancient city Bitia the which about 600. yeeres ago was the seat Royal where the King kept his Court and the chiefe staple of of the whole kingdome Each of these cities and townes enioyeth also certaine particular priviledges and very laudable constitutions by which it was ordained and determined after what manner the mediterranean cities should trafficke and trade with the inhabitants and maritime to the end that each place might bee an indifferent sharer in the gaine and besides this laudable constitution was also enacted that the benefit gaine or rising of one City should not prove the ruine of another But these laudable lawes and wholesome constitutions by reason of so many wars and broyles wherewith this kingdome hath so often beene troubled have beene by the governours of this kingdome now for a long time neglected and by this

purpose together with many other things whereon for brevity I may not now insist But that he might leave a perpetuall memoriall to the Christian world that he was as well a favourer of Minerva as of Mars hee hath left thereof a sufficient proofe to all after ages During the reigne of Ericus Balbus the then Archbishop of Vpsalia Iezlerus instituted and founded in the same City a colledge of 4 professors and afterwards the number of professours being increased together with an addition of far greater meanes it was in the yeare 1476. by Pope Sixtus the 4. erected into the forme of an Vniversitie and adorned with the like priviledges as that of Bononia This Vniversitie by iniurie of time and devouring warres being much endammaged and having lost much of it's ancient splendour and beauty was again by the late deceased Charles the 9. is it were out of her ashes not onely restored to former dignity and splendor but a good encrease also added to her former beauty And this same invincible king now living to testifie to posterity the love he beareth to learning hath so encreased both the number of learned professors and their maintenance that now it may well be compared with many of the best Vniversities of Europe and lest it should at any time hereafter by reason of the want or uncertainty of meanes come to ruine or decay did in the yeare 1624. out of his owne revenues settle upon the same very great and large means and confirmed the same in most large and ample manner and made the possession of these lands and rents as sure and firme as the best Noblemans of the kingdome This Prince after he had lived a few yeares in peace was againe intangled in a new warre with his Vncle Sigismund king of Polonia in the which he tooke from him many strong townes and forts of no small importance without any losse to himselfe for he made warre in his enemies countrey both in the kingdome of Poland it selfe in the Duchie of Lithuania and in the rich countrey of Prussia so that if this king had continued as he began and affaires of a higher nature and straine had not invited him another way not with standing the ayde the Emperor his brother in law sent him he had perhaps ere now beene deprived of a great part if not of all his great dominion The which by him wisely and in time foreseene he earnestly sued both to our gracious kings maiestie now living and to the king of France to mediate a faire agreement betwixt him and his nephew the which was accordingly performed the 29. of Septemb. 1629. a truce and cessation of armes beeing for sixe yeares after ensuing there agreed upon by vertue of which agreement the king of Sweden restored againe to his Vncle many places by him taken in the kingdome of Poland and Duchie of Lithuania howbeit he reteineth still many good townes and castles in the countrey of Prussia The particular articles of their agreement for avoiding tediousnesse of set purpose I here passe by and who so is desicous to see the same may have recourse to the histories The entring of the inuincible king of Sweden great Gustavus Adolphus into Germanie with a great Armie Anno 1630. with a touch of some principall exploits by him since that time atchieved and brought to passe RAdolphus Earle of Halsburg being in the yeare 1274. crowned Emperour at Aquisgranum or Aix layed the first foundation of the greatnes of the Austrian house This Prince then besides that with many great lordships partly by force and violence and partly by purchase he much increased his hereditary dominions the country of Austria also by want of a lawfull successour fell into this Emperors hands to dispose of which he eftsoone conferred upon his sonne Albertus Into this Austria then were incorporated all these other dominions Radolphus being dead Adolphus Earle of Nassau was elected Emperor and afterwards by the aforesaid Albertus killed who got himselfe afterward chosen Emperour This Prince likewise spared no paines but improoved his utmost power and means for the increasing of this already grounded greatnes And this made him so eager an enemy to the Helvetian liberty labouring by all meanes direct or indirect to hooke in whatsoever he could compasse to make his sons great and to advance the now rising Austrain house yea so eager was he in prosecuting his purpose that he spared not the very monasteries and religious houses but either bought out light what might thus bee purchased or else procured himselfe and his sons to be made patrons and protectors of such ecclesiasticall places a faire way for future possession But the uniust murder of his predecessor being by his own brothers sonne revenged who killed this ambitious Albert and all his covetousnesse and ambition now layed in the dust the Princes of this Austrain house as they had now then their turnes in his supreame authority so were they not wanting to themselves and successors but as time and opportunity were offered went on in their predecessors footsteps At length after the death of Sigismund the Emperour in the yeare 1438. another Albert of this Austrian house and sonne in law to the asoresaid Sigismund was elected Emperour the which his successors having now yet once againe gotten the ball before them have kept close unto themselves almost for the space of 200 yeares even until this very day having also afterwards added to their former greatnesse the kingdome of Hungaria Bohemia with the appurtenances thereof Silesia Moravia the one and other Lusatis and become also at several times Lords and masters of Stiria Carinthin and Sirolie and by marriage afterwards gotten in the 17. Prouinees At length Charles the fifth as though this house had not yet bin great enough brought for his share the kingdomes of Spaine and Portugall together with all the kingdoms and dominions thereupon depending as namely the kingdome of Naples Sicilie and Duchie of Milan besides the West-Indies and all the riches of that Westerne world with some thing in the East-Indies also All this notwithstanding this great Monarch according to his plus ultra not contented with all these dominions aimed yet further at the subversion and overthrow both of true religion and the liberty of Germany and began to act such a tragedy in high Germany as his sonne Philip afterwards attempted in the low countries for the which cause to have Pope Leo the 10. for his friend as he had before anathematized Luther so this Emperor to act his part proscribes him This plot for a while succeeded according to his wishes insomuch that Iohn Fredericke Prince elector and the Landgrave of Hessen Protectors and maintainers of the true reformed religion preached by Luther and the Germane liberty were in open field overthrown their forces dispersed and they themselves taken prisoners But at length Maurice Duke of Saxonie the Emperours Generall and newly possessed not onely of his kinsmans