like a great deluge and inundation they overflowed a great part of the world under the names of Ostrogoths and Westrogoths and under the commandement of Theodoricus Attlalariake Totila Ataulphus c. whose martial and heroicall exploits the Romans highly advancing and lest they should conceale their owne worth have published to all posteritie Vnder Biorno their 100 home-bred king Lewes sonne to Charles the great swaying the scepter of the Westerne Empirethis nation of Sweden first received the Christian faith Sanctus Augerius a monke of Gorbey much furthering then this so worthy a worke Author est Ludolphus de Bchenburg in libro de zelo religionis Christianae CHAP. VIII 124 ERicus Sanctus or the holy after whom the posteritie of Suercherus and Ericus by turnes with much contention as the one or the other grew strongest usurped the gouernment This pious Prince notwithstanding his great agnitie and pietie and paines taken in an expedition to convert the Finlanders to the faith had but a slender reward being bulled by a conspiracy of some of his Nobility Henry King of Denmarke and Magnus his sonne being the ring-leaders of this faction An. 1160. 125 Charles sonne to Stercherus having raigned two yeeres during the raigne of Ericus over the Ostrogoths who in the election of a king dissenting from the Swedish had chosen one of their owne and afterwards for the space of 8. yeares very religiously and vertuously ouer both kingdomes but being now hated by reason of his friendship with the Dane was at length by Canutus sonne to S. Ericus being by some perswaded that this Charles with the helpe of the Dane had contriued his fathers death killed in in the Iland of Visnuga 11â—8 126 Canutus sonne to S. Ericus having done penance for killing king Charles and being by the discreet counsell of the Bishop of Lunden diverted from assailing the Dane dyes 1192. 127 Stercherus sonne to Charles a martiall man wise and eloquent itching for revenge on the posterity of Canutus having altered his former nature gathered great forces out of Denmarke was at length with his whole army utterly overthrowne and againe in another bloudy battle himselfe killed 1210. 128 Ericus sonne to Canutus having escaped Stercherus his hands raigned very prosperously for the space of 7. yeares the which 7 yeares histories mention to have been exceeding fruitfull but in the eight yere with the death of their king this fruitfulnes was also finished 1216. 129 Iohn sonne to Stercherus a very pious young man of exceeding great hopes dyed notwithstanding within three yeares after 1222. 130 Ericus Balbus sonne to the nephew of S. Ericus Against him conspires his kinsman Folchingus expelling him out of his kingdome but within a short space the tyde turning he being killed he left Ericus the peaceable possession of the kingdome after this he converts his forces against the Tavastians sending against them the Prince of the Ostrogoths a man of very eminent virtues whom after hee had subdued and converted he dyes 1150. 131 Valdemarus by meanes of a valiant souldier Iuanus Blaa during his fathers absence was elected king The father being returned from this expedition against the Tavastians alledged that the crowne was rather due to himselfe then to his sonne but being terrified by the stout answer of this brave souldier who affirmed that the could shake a king of Sweden out of his ierkin if as Birgerus alledged there should want one to succeed he was contented to be his sonnes governour wherein he discharged himselfe very worthily But by the fathers death this young king being now left to himselfe by the perswasion of his wife being a Dane hee deales very harshly with his owne brothers untill at length he was taken prisoner by his brother Magnus being therein borne out by the Swedish themselves and was also shortly after by the Peeres of the kingdome deprived of the kingdome of Gothland which his brothers kindnesse had hitherto suffered him to enioy 132 Magnus Ladolos in the yeare 1276 succeeded his brother Valdemarus by the Danes meanes notwithstanding not ceasing still to molest him yet after a once or twice dissembled reconciliation at length by the captivitie of Valdemarus the controversie was composed Hee much wronged himselfe in setting strangers the Danes especially over the affaires of the kingdome for at a friendly feast as he supposed the Danes not regarding sacred hospitality tooke him prisoner And besides he drew upon himselfe the implacable hatred of the whole Swedish nation but principally of the family of Folchingus against whom he bare a great grudge and therefore having cunningly under the color of friendship invited them to a feast he murdered those of chiefe note and almost extinguished the whole race of Folchingus But towards the latter end of his life he much reformed his former carriage giving himselfe wholly to Gods worship and service dyed in the I le of Visingia having left his sonne to succeed him and Turgillus Canuti to be his governour and guide 133 Birgerus sonne to Magnus a dishonour both to himselfe and the whole Swedish nation the ruine and overthrow of his owne brethren a prodigious and unnaturall part the beginning of his raigne having promised better proceedings after the reiecting of Turgillus his cruell nature began to discover it selfe For having at first accused his brethren of treason hee afterwards by force of armes assaulted them by whom being first taken prisoner after a counterfeit reconciliation having invited them to a feast he layes violent hands on them thrusts them into a dungeon there to dye of famine and lest there should be any hope of succor throwes the key into a deepe river running hard by The which barbarous and inhumane crueltie being odious both to the Swedish and Gothish nation they tooke armes and expelled him out of the kingdome who together with his wife died miserably in Denmarke 134 Magnus Smech sonne to Ericus slaine by his brother Birgerus in the yeere 1319. succeeded in the government who no whit terrified by his Vncles example trod still in the same footsteps in so much that for his contempt of religion prodigious lust and barbarous cruelty he was called a robber or spoyler Predo which was the elogie he purchased to himselfe making a shew that he would admit of his sonne Ericus for a consort in his government secretly subornes one to kill him which being prevented yet his owne mother Blanca a French woman poysons him Being taken prisoner by Haguinus the second king of Norway but presently againe let goe he flyes into Denmarke and causing intercept his sonnes spouse Dutches of Holstein by force obtrudes upon him Margaret the Danes daughter and in the meane time while he is a providing great forces against his subiects hee thunders out proscription against them 135 But in the meane time Albert of Meckelburg nephew to Magnus by his sister is by the proscribed Nobles elected king and shortly
after at Stockeholme confirmed Being now setled in the throne royall he proffers agreement to Magnus who refusing the same and being all for warre was at length taken prisoner and so kept close for the space of whole seven yeeres untill he was by his sonne Haguinus released After this being returned from a Parliament held at Wismare he began to contemne despise his subiects of whom in requitall he was as little regarded whom now they could not endure He was shortly after intangled in warre against Queene Margaret to whose side some did encline wherein he was taken prisoner and deteined captive whole seven yeares and at length forced to release his subiects of their oath of fidelitie 236 Margaret the Dane and wife to Haguin king of Norway was now in the yeare 1395 Queene of three kingdomes a woman indeede of a high and magnanimous spirit if shee had bent her will the right way vertuous designe had beene the utmost end she aymed at But she making no more account of any oath shee had sworne whereunto notwithstanding shee was very forward then of childrens sport with insatiable covetoussnesse spoyling all and delivering up the Castles and strong holds of the kingdome into the hands of strangers being extreamly hated of the Swedish fled into Denmarke after she had by terrors and threatnings obtained the kingdome for one Ericus her own sisters sonne a young man about twenty foure yeares of age When she was admonished that shee should not commit the custody of the sorts and castles of the kingdome into strangers hands it was her answer keepe you well your evidences and I will have a care to keepe your castles She dyed and was buried at Flensburg An. 1412. 137 Ericus Duke of Pomerania did too much rellish of the perfidious practises of his aunt keeping no covenant vexing the Nobility with with warre spoyling and impoverishing his subiects at home and marring all commerce abroad was therefore opposed by Engelbertus of a Noble and Princely family and he by Danish treachery being supplanted Carolus Canuti took upon him the government of the Realme Having fled into Denmarke and at length odious also to the Dane sometimes attempting and sometimes againe despairing of his returne in his kingdome which notwithstanding upon keeping of convenant was still ready to receive him at length in his returne hee tooke in Gothland whereby he might the more easily robbe all the ships sailing towards the North. But being at length by Carolus Canuti besieged and now not daring trust the Danes bee fled into his owne countrey of Pomerania and there spent the rest of his dayes in peace and quietnesse Anno 1437. 138 Christopherus Prince Palatine of Rhene and Duke of Bavaria and sisters sonne to Ericus against whom by the Danes meanes he was inticed to come and yet not without great doubting and deliberation and the Danes great commendation would the Peeres give their assent to his election The faire sunne-shine of the beginning of this Princes reigne were eftsoone by the Swedish supplanting one another overclo uded Hee had once a conflict with the English wherein he had the better and afterwards labouring to take in Lubecke and being disappointed of his purpose he suffered shipwracke on the Swedish shore after which hee lost all hope of taking in these townes of the Vandals For his lust and other wickednesse the land was punished with pestilence and famine and afterwards having by sea lost his great treasures he had with him carryed out of the country at length in Denmarke hee dyed childlesse 1448. 139 Carolus Canuti after this nation had been some yeeres without a king was by the Peeres of the land now loathing a forreine yoake crowned king 1458. After he was come to the crowne he subdued Norway and being afterwards invaded and assaulted by the Dane hee damnifies him exceedingly By reason of the insolency and misdemeanour of his governours and officers and by the instigation of the Archbishop of Vpsalia especially the people of the land rebelled and rose up in armes against him and in the meane time that he went to Dantzick for succour from the king of Poland they bring in and crowne Christiernus king of Denmarke But in the meane time Catillus Bishop of Lincopia and nephew to the Archbishop of a Prelate now becomes a man of warre and gathering together what forces he was able expells out of the kingdome both Christierne who kept no covenant nor yet performed any promise and all his favourers and adherents and at length in a memorable battle fought upon the ice overthrowes Christierne and puts his whole army to rout After this the Bishop calls the king home out of Prussia who being now returned and having againe recovered the peoples love and good will and growne now wiser to his cost he places over them such officers as might give them better content At length graced and adorned with as many worthy vertues as dayes and yeares in reigning dyes in 1470. After this Charles some reckon Christierne for 140. Iohn his sonne 141. and Christierne Iohns son 142. although others are of opinion they were titular kings onely and rather intruders then true kings and therefore the next shall be 140 Steno Sture sisters sonne to the aforesaid Charles not onely repelled Christierne and his army now approached neere unto the walls of Stockeholme but put both himselfe his whole army to flight and kept him from invading the countrey any more He subdued also afterward the fame kings sonne Iohn by meanes of some disagreement betwixt him and Swanto by the helpe of the Russians and some factious people brought in and crowned At length bringing backe the captive Queene to her husband Iohn being then in Smalandia having sickned at a feast dyed the 30. yeare of his reigne A great magnanimous and vertuous Prince but yet in this as it were exceeding himselfe in that hee refused the diademe royall being offered 141 Suanto Prince of the Ostrogoths and a counseller of the kingdome was elected king of the Suetians Having made a confederacy with those of Lubecke he made warre against Christerne the second sonne to Iohn whom many for the hatred they bare to the sonne did earnestly desire against whom while at hee is making great preparation hee dyes 1512 and of his raigne the 8. He was a vertuous Prince liberall mild intermingled with a gratefull severitie 142 Steno Sture younger sonne of Suanto succeeded in the government This Prince by his prudence escaped the lying in wait of Christerne king of Denmarke having sent to the private conference whereunto he was solicited Gaddus and Gustavus Ericson Afterwards stoutly and valiantly opposing Christerne now come into the field with a very great army and himselfe valiantly fighting was at length shot thorow with a gunne He being now dead and the Swedish dispersed and scattered Christerne by the Nobles of the Danish faction was crowned king having at a banquet the
very day of his coronation killed all the Nobility by him suspected to bee of the contrary faction But by reason of his extraordinary cruelty the same moneth he came was againe expelled the kingdome Now before we proceed to the orderly succession of the ensuing kings something may bee said concerning the king of Denmarke and the originall of the claime he layes to the crowne of Sweden Christierne the 1. of that name of whom something hath been said already the whole royal race of Denmark being now quite extinguished of an Earle of Oldenburg by the consent of the Peeres of the kingdome was elected king and installed in the throne Royall and that chiefly by the commendation of Adolphus of Holsasia his mothers brother and afterwards there arising some broyles and tumults in the kingdome of Sweden the factious of the kingdome of whom was chiefe Iohannes Benedictus Archbishop of Vpsalia having before reiected their naturall king Carolus Canutus and is the pretended right the Dane claimes to the kingdome of Sweden After his decease Iohn his sonne for the space of thirty two years continued king of Denmark He was in like manner by the factious Goths elected king of Sweden after they had reiected Steno the elder who had succeeded his mothers brother Charles but was in a short space after by Swanto being the meanes of Henningus Gaddus Bishop of Lincopia by the consent of the States of the land elected in the roome of Steno againe driven out and in many conflicts being still put to the worse at length fled into Denmarke This Suanto shortly after dying the Peeres of the kingdome after great altercation the Danish faction willing to set against him Ericus Trollus the memory of paternall worth and vertue prevailing made choice of Steno Sture the younger sonne of the aforesaid Suanto Two yeares after the death of Suanto Christierne the second succeeded in the kingdome of Denmarke the greatest scourge that ever befell the kingdome of Sweden who presently resolves to prosecute the pretended right his father and grandfather had to this crowne Steno their new elected king seeing himselfe now as he thought setled in the peaceable possession of the kingdome giving too much eare to flatterers often too frequent in Princes Courts and by their evill counsel seduced committed many grosse and fowle faults in his government by which meanes there following an alienation of the minds of the Nobility he lost likewise at length the love of many of the commons also The Dane who left no wind unsailed to bring his purpose to passe thinking it now good fishing in a muddy water took eftsoone hold of this opportunity and gathering together a great army he begirt Stockeholme round about but Steno likewise with a great army opposing him raised the siege The wind in the meane time being contrary for his returne into Denmarke for the space of three moneths he was put to an extreame great strait for want of provision for his army Steno who used all possible meanes to winne his love and favour with all meanes of necessary provision for his countrey into Denmarke supplyed his present necessitie granting him free leave to returne without any trouble or molestation But this so great a curtesie and kindnesse was but ill requited For foure yeares after having about some matters of great importance as he pretended desired private conference with Steno hee had almost yeelded to goe aboard the enemies ship Being then thus prevented he wished Steno to send him some men of note as Ambassadors to conferre with him and having sent Gaddus and Gustavus sonne to Ericus and after king against his oath and promise carries them both captive into Denmarke This was but the beginning of the next yeres Tragedie Having then the next yeare gathered together a farre greater army then the former he invaded the country of the Vestrogoths and the battell being fought upon the ice Steno being shot thorow the thigh with a gunne dyes shortly after of this wound upon which followed the dissipation and dispersing of the Swedish army Immediately sfter was Christierne by the Danish faction in the principall city Stockeholme elected and crowned king having also after a solemne manner sworne the confirmation of all their priviledges and promised immunitie and pardon for whatsoever was past But the same day fearing lest afterwards in his absence the sonnes of Steno might by the contrary faction be elected having first commanded the gates of the City to be shut up and invited to a feast the chiefe of all the Nobility of the contrary faction in the fight of all the people now trembling and quaking for feare slew 94. of them leaving their dead bodies in the great Court before the towne hall for the space of three dayes for a terrour to the people The dead body of Steno was by the tyrants command taken out of the grave and as some write after he had like a dogge torne it with his teeth commanded to burne is to ashes with the others lately killed The inhabitants were also by the rude souldiers withour any regard off sexe or age cruelly killed and murdered and young children being hung up their heads were cut off from their shoulders The City was rifled and spoiled by the souldiers and no manner of outrage and insolency omitted After his departure from thence as some write he went into a monasterie where he was entertained after the best manner the Monkes were able but after service being Candlemasse day he commanded to take the Abbot and all his Monkes tying them hand and foot and threw them into a deepe river running by the Abbot having by some meanes untyed himselfe was swimming 'a shore which being by him perceived he caused to follow him with a boat and kill him Having thus committed many ontrages and insolencies the people of the land being much therewith distasted tooke courage and about some 30000. in armes pursued him now fleeing and marching more by night then by day untill at length he came inro Denmarke Bâ—ing now so embrued in bloud he could not refraine from crueltie even against his owne kindred he was at length assanlted by Frederick Prince of Holstein ane those of Lubecke and his conscience now affrighting him with his wife Isabella the Emperours sister and his children flees into Zeland which was the third yeare after the massacre of Stockeholme 1523 CHAP. IX 124 GVstavus 1. called Erickson or sonne of Ericus after long imprisonment escaping out of Prison fled speedily out of Denmark and was at length by the generall consent of the States now surviuing accepted for king of the Realme being thereunto well furthered by those of the City of Lubecke which supplyed him with store of money This noble and praise-worthy Prince liued and reigned very peaceably with the love and good liking of his subiects the whole space of 38. yeares and dyed in 1560. The most memorable of his acts and was it not memorable
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
Besides in that country is great store of wild fowle and wild beasts of severall kinds and among these they hunt most that wilde beast in Latin called Alce in the Swedish language Elgh and in high Dutch Elent These beasts twice a yeere in great troopes passe over the river Nieva for in the spring they passe in great number out of Russia into Carelia and in harvest againe returne the same way into Russia This countrey hath in it many strong forts and castles which have hitherto beene accounted the keyes of the Russian kingdome and no other in all his dominions with them to be compared Notteburg is the chiefest and strongest hold of all the rest and therefore held impregnable howbeit at length taken in by the victorious King now reigning as hereafter shall appeare In the same country are also Capurio Iamarod Castles not onely strong by nature but very well furnished also by the art of man The last of all the Provinces belonging to this Crowne and Kingdome of Sweden is called Esthonia being a part of that vast countrey called Livonia and hath not beene vnder the Swedish gouernment above 60 and odde yeeres and by this meanes came first under that iurisdiction Certaine Nobles who tooke upon them to propagate the Christian religion being sent for into Livonia forgetting the errand they came about gave themselves wholly over to carnall lust and gluttonie and drunkennesse and withall keeping the inhabitants in such a base and slauish subiection that they seemed rather to command ouer beasts then men And for this cause God the auenger of all wrongs and punisher of all wickednesse stirred vp Basilius the tyrant of Muscovia to suppresse their insolencie and punish their pride who subdued a great part of Livonia destroying all in their way that made resistance with fire and sword These poore Livonians now perceiuing themselves puâ— to such a strait implored the ayde of the Emperour Charles the 5. keeping then a dyet or generall meeting of the whole estates of the Empire at Ausbourg 1551. this countrey then being a member of the Empire The Emperour then distracted with other warres not being able to send them any succour wished them to seeke for succour and and ayde of the king of Sweden and other neighbouring Princes The Revalians therefore and the Osclians demand ayde of the king of Denmarke Revalia being heretofore built by Valdemarus a King of Denmarke and from him received their priviledges howbeit to no end And therefore finding no sudden succour against so mighty and potent a Prince they were constrained to implore ayde of Ericus 14. king of Sweden and therefore in the yere 1561. freely submitted themselves under his obedience which petition of theirs notwithstanding his father Gustavus had in his life time denied and therefore some are of opinion that this king Ericus brought vpon himselfe and successours a great deale of trouble His sonne Iohn was as wel successour to this quarrell as to the kingdome and tooke from the Russian many of his strong holds The Provinces of this countrey of Esthionia are Revalia towards the North seated neere vnto the Finnicke gulfe vizia in which are these places Refenburgh Tolsburgh and Borholme Alentakia where is that famous merchant staple Naruia and Nystot â—erviai where is Wittensleyn and Lais and Vickia where are Hapsal Lebal and Lode And to this Esthionia belong these Islands also Dagho Orinso Nuko VVrango Odensholme Nargo Vifso and the one and other Nogho the inhabitants of which places as also of Osilea and most of the maritime parts of the continent speake the Swedish language In this great countrey of Livonia besides the Swedish there are yet foure other seuerall languages spoken the German or high Dutch vsed by the Nobles and better sort in the North-parts towards the Finnicke gulfe the Estthionian or Finnicke in the mediterranean parts the Livonians being now almost quite worne out and finally in the South parts thereof they vse the Letticke speech or of the countrey of Lettow which the people Eureles likewise vse the which is as it were a hodge-podge of many severall languages mingle together And these languages differ not onely in dialects but wholly and totally one from another This whole countrey of Livonia and consequently this Esthionia abound with all such things as are necessary for the life of man and are vsually to be found in these Northerne climats And so much shall suffice shortly to haue said concerning the description of the countrey of Sweden and Provinces subiect to the Swedish crowne CHAP. III. Of the nature manners and customes of the Suecians or Swedish and into how many rankes or degrees all these people are diuided THis people is reasonable wittie and vnderstanding and that not onely for learning and vnderstanding of any mechanicall trade but eve for the learning of the arts and sciences as also any outlandish tongues whatsoeuer For such as are of any eminent ranke and degree or competent meanes content not themselves with their Latine tongue and knowledge of the liberall arts but give themselves also very much to the learning of the Germane or high Dutch French tongues In former times their maners conditions were very plaine and homely and although now somewhat declining from former simplicitie yet are they farre from that height of luxurie and pride whereunto many other nations are now so much addicted The apparell of the vulgar sort is but meant but the Gentilitie are now somewhat given to follow outlandish fashions and to emulate their equalls Private mens houses as well in townes as the countrey are for the most part built low and of wood and that both for warmth and for avoyding the dint of great winds In Stocke-holme notwithstanding and some other walled Cities and townes most of their buildings are either of bricke or free-stone The countrey commonly yeelds plentie of good corne and might yeeld more if some of those vast unprofitable woods were cut downe howbeit there is there seldome felt any scarcitie of corne unlesse sometimes the yeare proue very unseasonable which in hotter climats commeth also sometimes to passe and in such a case the countrey-people are sometimes forced to make bread of the barke of the firre and pine-trees which they esteeme very wholesome agreeing well with their stomacks and free from any maligne qualitie Fish and flesh is here very plentifull howbeit neither in great request fresh but either salted up or dryed in the sunne or smoke They are also well stored with venison as also with wild fowle such especially as are accounted the daintiest The coniugall bed is among them kept undefiled and inviolable Their maides are not there maried without consent of parents or guardians neither yet is it lawfull for any man to betroth or marry such a maide without the presence of 4 witnesses two of the part of the bridegrome and as many on the brides side a
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
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 â—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 lâ—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
made if there were any need And if the country people did not oftentimes conceal some mines newly found out the profit which would arise out of these mynes would amount to a farre greater summe The next way by which the kings revenues are increased is from the fruits of the earth and his customes as well by sea as by land for the king hath the tythes of all manner of graine wheate rye barly c. as also of butter cheese of beasts hides fish and the like the certainty of which reuenues although it be not to us assuredly knowne yet no question ariseth it to no small summe and as is credible to little lesse then 9 or 10. millions say their writers but this must be understood of their owne coine and account not of Sterline money Now concerning his customes the king receiveth custome of all wares transported out of the kingdome or imported into the same And that there be no want of good silver coyne within the kingdome this order hath beene for many yeares agoe established to wit that for every hundreth dollors worth of merchandize transported out of the kingdome they shall pay into the custome-house tenne silver dollors in kind or else tenne ounces of silver for the which they receiue in present pay the worth in other small copper coine of Swedish money currant within the kingdome And for every hundreth dollars worth of wares so transported out of the kingdome the merchant is tyed to bring into the kingdome againe the worth of 90. dollors of such wares as are usefull for the kingdome and for these 90. dollors worth of wares they are to pay into the custome-house tenne dollors or tea ounces of silver of else the worth thereof in other money And whosoever shall faile in any of the premisses for the first fault hee shall pay 20 Swedish markes and the next time all his wares shall be confiscate As for the revenue and custome of rich skins and furs it is sometimes more and sometimes lesse according to the intensenesse and remisnesse of the cold and the abundance of snow For the greater is the snow the greater number of these wild beasts are taken Out of the country of Lapland the Northermost of all his Provinces the king receives a great number of these skins or rich furs And to the end he be not couzned he sendeth thither euery yeare an officer being a clerke who so narrowly inquireth into the number of these beasts so killed that very hardly can he be deceived These rich furs the king disposeth of among his kindred and friends and sometimes also hee exchangeth them with merchants for other wares wherewith they furnish his Court. The third sort of revenue consisteth in voluntary or arbitrary contributions answerable to our subsidies and fifteenes in this kingdome For whensoever the king is to undertake a warre offensive or defensive he calls a Parliament wherin he acquainteth the subiect with his purpose and what charges it is like to arise vnto and then the States of the kingdome agree vpon a certaine summe answerable to the busines to be undertaken But the Nobles and chiefe Gentrie and their tenants are for the most part freed from these impositions unlesse upon very urgent and important occasions But if there be an extreame necessitie and there be not otherwise sufficient supply then their vassals and tenants are tyed to pay halfe of the taxe or subsidie as well as those who are immediately subiect to the king himselfe Besides all this the subiect is tyed to contribute to the marriage of the kings daughters whose do wrie hath been hitherto 100000. dollors neare upon 40000. pound sterling money besides plate and other mooveables unto the which neverthelesse the king may adde at his pleasure as he seeth occasion And whensoever the king permits any of his Court deserving subiects to any preferment he commonly assignes him a certaine number of country people who are esteemed as his vassalls and subiects and are to doe him homage and pay him tribute and certaine duties CHAP. VII Of the Kings of this countrey of Sweden with some of their chiefe and memorable Acts. MOst of the Northerne nations have time out of mind had their Kings by election as the Dane Swedish Polonian and Bohemian The kings of Sweden have beene untill of late yeeres electiue And although it was a matter of no small difficulty among barbarous nations where Mars was more honoured then Minerva and good literature the meanes to eternize heroicall worth scarce heard of in these remote regions to finde out any thing concerning their kings worth the writing yet have we the names of divers kings of that nation recorded of old how be it a constant and continued succession without any interruption wee cannot reade of 1 In the first place then they tell us that Magog sonne to Iaphet Neahs son the founder of the Scythian nation in Europe having passed over the Venedicke gulfe into Gothland by the Latines afterward called by the name of Scythia reigned over those people called Gete Others and that of the more learned ascribe rather the originall of the Goths to Gomer Iaphets eldest sonne and make those two nations Goths and Gete different and distinct nations 2 Vnto Magog as they write succeeded Swennus from whom the nation tooke the name 3 Getbar 4 Vbbo who as they write builded Vpsalia before Abraham was borne And from that time untill our Lord and Saviour they reckon up 35. kings and distinguish them all by their severall names and many of those for their sanctitie of life and conspicuous and eminent vertues were by the rude rimes of those dayes highly commended And besides these divers other kings are yet recorded to have reigned ouer those who under the command of one Berico for feare of intestine warre fled their owne countrey and among those mention is made of one king of the Getes in order 22 Colison by name to whom Augustus Cesar betroathed his daughter Iulia about the which time also Antonius demaunded his daughter in marriage as may cleerely appeare by Suetonius in the life of Augustus Moreover about the time of our Savior reigned Ericus the third surnamed Disertus who for his worth and merit attained to this government To this Ericus succeded to the government of the Swedish nation 41 Godrichus his sonne and next to him 42 Haldanus during the reigne of this king lived that monster of strength for the same cause called Starcherus who is said at singular combats to have killed that great champion Ham which afterwards gave denomination to that famous City Hamburg After those is a long catalogue of their kings recorded but nothing concerning their acts worth the reading recorded that nation then standing more upon the point of valour and honour then upon penning of them for posteritie But farre more fortunate have they beene in their forreine expeditions and transmigrations when as
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
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