Swethland

Sources from old books:

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

The Kingdome of Swethland is an ancient Kingdome, as Pliny witnesseth.* 1.11 It hath on the West Norwey, on the North Lapland and Botnia, on the East •••land, seperated from it by the Botnian Bay, or Finnish Sea, & L••onia 〈◊〉 L•sland,* 1.12 disjoyned from it by the Baltick Sea, called by Ta•••us Mar• p•grum,* 1.13 by the Suc•ians Mare Su•vicum, and on the South Gothia It is a com••• the most fruitfull of all the North parts: it hath a plentifull soyle▪ and seas, lakes, and rivers abounding with fish of divers ••ndes it hath also Mettals, as Lead, Iron, Brasse, and Silver, which is digged up in very p••e oa•e neere Sl•burg: and likewise woods full of wilde beasts and honey. It is thought that it doth doubly exceede Norwey, both in largenesse, fruitfulnesse, and goodnesse of soyle, yet in some places it is •ugged and moorish. This Countrie being for some ages valiantly and happily defended & enlarged by the native Kings thereof, afterward came to the Kings of Denmarke: and having beene subject to them more than an hundred yeares, at last did shake them off, under colour, that the Lawes wh\ich they were sworne unto at their Coronation, were not observ'd, and hence it stood a while in a very uncertaine condition. But now it is returned againe to the natives, out of which it chooseth it selfe a King. There are divers Provinces of this •ingdome, some belonging to the Gothes, as Ostgothia, whereof Lincop is the Metropolis:* 1.14 Westgothia seperated with an ancient Lake from Ostgothia, whereof Scara is the Bishops seate: Also Southerne Gothia or S••alandia, •u•s•ia, Verendia, in which Vexio or Wexo is the chiefe Town. Also Meringia, and the Isle of O•land, fortified with the Castle Borgholm. Other Provinces there are that belong to Swethland, specially so called, as Oplandia, in which is Vpsal in the very centre of Swethland; heere are an Archbishops seat, publick Schooles, and many sepulchres of the Kings of Swethland, magnificently and fairely built. Also Stocholm, a fai•e Mart Towne, and one of the Kings places of residence, being fortified both by Nature and Art. It is seated in a marshie fenny place like Venice, and is named, as aforesaid, because it is built upon stakes. There is a passage to it out of the Easterne Sea, by a deepe channell through the jawes of M•lerus; and it doth let the sea flow so farre into it, that ships of great but then may easily come with full sayles into the Haven. But the towre Waxholme on the one side, and Digna on the other side doe so straighten the entrance, that no ships can come in or goe forth against the Governours will, who keepe watch there. On the Southerne banke of M•le••• lyeth Sudermannia, whose townes are Tolgo, Strengenes the seate of a Bishop, and the Castle Gripsholme. In the third place is N•••ct• in which is the castle Orebo, & toward the West the countrie of Westmannia, and the cities Arosia, neere to which there is such excellent silver, that Artificers can extract out of fifteene pounds of silver one pound of gold and Arboga doe lye neere unto a Lake. From thence toward the West doe lye Westerne Dalia, the Easterne and Sol•es Dalia, so called from the Lake Sol•on; which three Provinces together with the greater part of the mountainous Provinces, are under the Bishop of Sa•••s•. Heere are minerall veines, which stretch themselves Eastward to the Baltick Sea, and to the Bay of Helsing•a, and toward the West they runne almost without interruption through Wermeland to the Westerne Ocean, so that in every part there is digged up some kinde of mettall, as Silver, Coppresse, Lead, Iron, Steele, or Sulphure. Toward the North neere unto Opland are these Countries, first Gestricia, then Helsing, after that Midelpadia, and beyond that the Northerne and Southerne Angermannia. Then is there North-Botnia, divided into West-Botnia and East-Botnia, both of them being large Provinces: and after these towards the North lye z 1.15 Scricfinnia, a 1.16 Lapland, and Biarmia. These or most of these ancient Provinces of the Kingdome of Swethland, the Botnick Bay stretched forth from the Balthick straight Northward to Toronia, & beyond the Artick Circle, doth divide from Finland a large Peninsula: at the Southward point whereof are the Islands of Alandia or Alant, and Abo a Bishops Seate, and on the North point Withurgeum. Finland is divided into the Northerne & Southerne Finland, to which the higher and lower Natagundia, Savolosia, Tavastia, all very large countries are adjoyned. From thence beyond the Finnick Bay is b 1.17 Corelia, the Metropolis whereof is Hexholme or Kexholme: and toward the West Wotichonia, in which is the mouth of the River Lovat, that glideth by Novogardia, which the Inhabitants call Ny: above Copora is Ingria, in which standeth the Forts Iamagrod and Solonseia, wherein standeth Ivanogrod, over against Nerva or Narva; confining upon these toward the South are the provinces of Lieflandia or Civonia, extended even from Nerva to Revalia or Revel, and Prenovia or Parniew, as first Allantacia wherein Nerva is a Bishops See; then Wiria, whereof Wesemberg is a Bishops See: besides Wichia, wherein Habsay is a Bishops seate, and the Isle Dagen or Dachlen, most of which Countries beyond the Finnick Bay were added to the Kingdome of Swethland, in the yeare 1581; by the valour and good successe of King Iohn the third, after that Revalia had willingly yeelded it selfe to Ericus the fourteenth King of Swedes, Anno 1561. Swethland hath many fishing-waters,* 1.18 and many rivers gliding through it. The Countrey it selfe is rugged, being full of mountaines and woods.* 1.19 * 1.20 The subjects are partly Church-men, partly Lay-men;* 1.21 the Lay-men are either Nobles or Commons. The chiefe title of Nobility is Knighthood, which is solemnly conferr'd by the King as a reward of vertue.* 1.22 The provinces are governed by the natives. If the Inhabitants be compar'd with the Germans, they have lesse civilitie, but are more industrious and witty, so that every countrey-fellow with them hath skill almost in all trades, and all mechanick Arts.

1700. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes. CHAP. CCXVII. Of Swethland, and the Trade thereof.

SWethland is bounded on the East with Moscovia, on the West with the Dosrine Hills, on the North with the Frozen Seas, and on the South with the Baltick Seas.

The Commodities that this Country affordeth for Merchandize, are Lead, Copper, and Silver, drawn out of their Mines, and it aboundeth also with Hides of Bucks, Goats and Oxen, Tallow, Tar, Malt, Barly, Rich Furs, and the like.

It containeth five Provinces, Lappia, Bodia, Finland, Gothland and Sweden; of all which a word.

In Lappia I find not any City of note, being cold and comfortless.

In Bodia are the Towns of Vireis and Helsinga.

In Finland are many strong Towns, populous and rich, Albo and Narve, both of great Strength; also those two strong Cities of Veburg and Ruiallia, which cost the Swebes 100000 Crowns yearly the keeping, by nature defending his own, and offending his Enemies Territories.

In Gothland stands the chief City of this Kingdom, Stockholm, seated in the Waters, after the manner of Venice, and the Residence of the Swedish King; next Lodusia, a Town of great Traffick; then Waldburg and Colmar, two impregnable Cities.

In Sweden are the chief Cities of Upsal a Bishoprick, Nicopea a Sea-town of good Strength, and Copperdole, most famous for its abundance of Brass, which is here in such plenty, that there are found 400 Brass Pieces in the Castle of Stockholm; under which I will comprehend the Trade of Sweden.

1652 Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn. 6 The SWEDISH ISLANDS.

And now at last I come to the Swedish Islands, here and there interspersed in the Baltick Seas, betwixt the Isle of Bornholm which belongs to Denmark, and Liefland or Livonia, appertaining to the King of Poland; the principall of which are 1 Gothia, or the Isle of Gothland; and 2 Insulae Vlandae, or the Isles of Oelandt.

1. GOTHIA, or the Isle of GOTHLAND, is situate over against Colmar, a strong town in the Continent of Gothland; in length 18 Dutch miles, and five in breadth. Of a rich soile, but more fit for past•rage then till age, yeelding great heards of Cattell, store of game for hunting, plenty of fish, excellent marble, and aboundance of pitch, which it sends forth to other Countreys. There are in it 18 large and wealthy Villages; besides the Haven town of Wisbich, heretofore rich, and of very geeat trading, as much frequented by the Merchant as most in Europe, but now much decayed, and neither so well peopled, nor so rich as formerly. The trade removed hither from Wollin of Pome•ania (destroyed by Waldemar the first of Denmark, anno 1170) made it flourish mightily: the greatest traffick of the Baltick being managed here: but after that by reason of the long and continuall wars betwixt Denmark and Swethland for the possession of this Isle, it became unsafe; the Factorie was transferred unto other places. For being conveniently seated to annoy the Swedes, the Danes have much contended for it, and sometimes possessed it; but at the present is in the hand of the Swethlander. By some conceived to be the Eningia spoken of by Pliny.

2 OELAND, or the Isles of Vlande, so called in the plurall number because there are many of them, of which this the principall, is situate over against Ab•, the chief City of Finland. Of no great note, but that it is commodiously seated to invade or annoy this kingdome; and therefore very well fortified, and as strongly garrisoned: here being the good towns of 1 Viburg, 2 Vames, and 3 the strong Castle of Castrolm.

Besides which Countreys here described, the King of Sweden is possessed of the strong townes of Narve and Rivallia, and Pernow in Liefland; of Kexholm or Hexholm in Corelia, a Province of Russia; with very fair and ample territories appertaining to them: subdued and added to this Crown by John the second, anno 1581. except Rivallia, which voluntarily submitted to Ericus the second King of this present Race, anno 1561. But being these Townes and Territories are not within the bounds of Swethland; we shall deferre all further discourse thereof, to a place more proper.

The first Inhabitants of this kingdome, besides the Gothes and Finni, spoken of already, were the Sitones, and Suiones, mentioned in Tacitus; together with the Phavonae, the Phiraesi, and the Levoni, whom we finde in Ptolemie, placed by him in the East and middle of this great Peninsula. Which being the generall names of some mighty Nations, are by Jornandes branched into lesser tribes, of the Suethans, 〈◊〉, Vagoth, Bergio, Hallin, Liothida, Athelni•, Gaurigoth, Raumaricae, Rauragnicii, Grannii, Aganziae, 〈◊〉, Arochitamii, Enagerae, Othingi, and divers others by him named. But from what root the name of Sweden, Swedes, or Swethland, by which the chief Province of it, the people generally, and the whole kingdome is now called, is not yet agreed on, nor spoken of at all by Munster or Crantzius, which two, (but specially the last) have written purposely of this people. Gaspar Peucerus deriveth them from the Sucvi, who antiently inhabited in the North parts of Germanie beyond the Albis; from whom the Baltick sea was called Mare Suevicum: which people hee conceiveth to have beene driven by the Gothes and Daci into this countrey, and by the change of one letter onely to be called Sueci. But this hath no good ground to stand on, though I meet with many others which are more improbable. For when they left those colder countreys, they fell into these parts which are still called Suevia (the Schwaben of the modern Dutch) where we finde them in the time of Caesar. And after, in fatali illa gentium commigratione, when almost all the Northern Nations did shift their seats, we finde such of them as had staid behinde, to have accompanied the Vandals in their on-fals into Gaul and Spain. Of any expedition of theirs crosse the Baltick seas, ne•gry quidem, nothing to be found in more antient Authors. We must therefore reserve the originall of this people either to the Suiones, or the Suethidi, or perhaps to both: both being antiently setled in these Northern Regions. Of the Suiones wee read in the booke of Tacitus inscribed De Moribus Germanorum; by whom reported to be strong in men, armour, and shipping: and that they were inhabitants of Scandia, appeares by two circumstances in that Authour. 1 That the people were not permitted to weare weapons, quia subitos hostium incursus prohibet Oceanus, because the Ocean was to them a sufficient Rampart; which could not be affirmed of the antient Suevians, but agreeth very well with the situation of this present Countrey, defended by the baltick, and vast Northern Ocean, from the sudden assaults of any enemy. 2. Because the Sea which hemmed in that people was conceived to be the utmost bound of the World; trans Suiones 〈◊〉, quo cingi claudique terrarum orbis fines, as his words there are: which wee know to hold good of this Countrey. Adde unto these this passage of the old Annals of the Emperour Lewis the second, where it is told us of the Danes, 〈◊〉 patria apud Suiones exulabant, that they were banished into the countrey of the Su•ones, which cannot so well be understood of any place as of this Sweden; being next neighbour unto Denmark. And 4 that this people both by Munster and Crantzius, are as well called Suiones as Su••i or Sue•i: which sheweth what they conceived of their true Originall. Then for the Suethans or the 〈◊〉, whom Jornandes speaks of in his book De•ebus G•tici•, they are by him placed in the Isle of Scandia (for such this great 〈◊〉 was estee•ed to be by most antient writers.) Now that these Suethidi are no other then the present Suethlanders appeareth 1. by the propinquity of the names; 2 In that he maketh the Finni and Finnaithae, the next neighbours to them; and 3 in that they are affirmed by the same Authour, to have furnished the Romans with rich Furs, and the skins o• wilde Beasts, with which commodities this countrey is aboundantly well stored. Now to which of these two Nations, either the Suiones or the Suethidi, those of Sweden are most endebted for their originall, will (I conceive) be no great controversie: the Suethans, and Suethidi of Jornandes, being no other then a tribe of the Suiones, though the greatest and most powerfull of all those triles: placed therefore in the front to command the rest, and so most like to give the name unto the whole.

Their government was antiently under Kings, affirmed so to be by Tacitus, who telleth us also that they were absolute and free, nullis exceptionibus, non precario jure regnandi, not bound in C•venant with their people, nor holding their Estates at the will of the Subject. But their Historians have gone for Antiquity hereof beyond the story of Brute or the Trojan warre, (beyond which very few of that strain have dared to pretend) as high as unto Magog the son of Japhet; reigning here within 90 years after the flood. But letting passe these dreams and dotages of the Monkish times, certain it is, that sometimes they were under the Danes, sometimes under the Norwegians, sometimes had distinct Kings of their owne, and finally sometimes were comprehended with the Danes and Norwegians, under the generall name of Normans, conducted by one King or Captain upon forain actions. Omitting therefore the succession of their former kings, of whose very being there is cause to make great question; we will begin our Catalogue of them with Jermanicus, who entertained Harald King of Denmark, and his brother Regenfride, driven out of that kingdome by Gottricus or Godfrey, the Contemporary of Charlemagne, of whose successours Munster giveth us more certainty.

The KINGS of SWEDEN.

• 1 Jermanicus.
• 2 Frotho.
• 3 Herotus.
• 4 Sorlus.
• 5 Biornus.
• 6 Wichsertus.
• 7 Ericus.
• 8 Ostenus.
• 9 Sturbiornus.
• 10 Ericus II.
• 11 Olaus.
• 12 Edmundus.
• 13 Stinkalis.
• 14 Halsienus.
• 15 Animander.
• 16 Aquinus.
• 17 Magnus.
• 1150 18 Sherco 13.
• 1160 19 Carolus 8.
• 1168 20 Canutus 54.
• 1222 21 Ericus III. 27.
• 1249 22 Bingerius 2.
• 1251 23 Waldemarus 26.
• 1277 24 Mognus II. 13.
• 1290 25 Birgerius II. 23.
• 1313 26 Magnus III. son to Ericus the brother of Byrgerius was also chosen King of Norwey.
• 1326 27 Magnus IV. King of Sweden and Norwey, which last he gave in his life time to Hayvin or Aquinus his second son, and after the death of Ericus his eldest son (his designed successour in this Crown) was outed of this kingdome by the practise of
• 1463 28 Albert Duke of Mecklenburg, son of Euphemia the sister of Magnus the fourth; to the prejudice of Aquinus king of Denmark and Norwey, made King of Sweden, on that quarrell vanquished by Margaret Queen of Denmark and Norwey, widow of Aquinus, anno 1387. to whom desirous of liberty he resigned his Kingdom, and dyed in his own countrey, anno 1407.
• 1387 29 Margaret Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norwey, the Semiramis of Germany, having united the three Kingdomes under her command, caused an Act of State to be passed in Colmar, a chiefe town of Swethland, for the perpetuation of this union unto her successours; the Lawes and Priviledges of each Kingdome continuing as before they were.
• 1411 30 Ericus IV. Duke of Pomeren, adopted by Margaret, of whose sister Ingelburgis he was descended, was in her life time chosen King of the three Kingdomes, into which he succeeds actually after her decease; but outed of them all by a strong faction raised against him, anno 1439. he dyed in a private estate in Pomeren, anno 1559.
• 1439 31 Christopher Count Palatine and Duke of Bavier (in title only) son of the Lady Margaret sister of Ericus succeeded in all three Kingdomes. After whose death the Swethlanders being weary of the Danish Government, broke the agreement made at Colmar for the uniting of the three Kingdomes under one Prince, and chose one Carolus Ca•utus to be their King, anno 1448.
• 1448 32 Carolus Canutus, one of the meanest of the Nobility, and not long pleasing to the great ones: whose displeasure when he had incurred and feared the consequents thereof, hee gathereth together all the treasure he could, fled unto Dantzick, and there ended his dayes.
• 1455 33 Christiern King of Denmark and Norwey, called in by a party of the Swedes, and crowned King of Swethland; but outed againe under colour that he had not kept conditions with them: the kingdome governed after that (for a time) by Marshals.

• 1458 34 John King of Denmark and Norwey, the sonne of Christiern, received king by the Swedes, then overpowered by the Muscovite: but their turne being served they expelled him againe; returning to their former government under Marshals. Of which Marshals (descended from Steno Stur, the Uncle of Carolus Canutus by his Mothers side) there were three in number; viz. Steno, 2 Suanto, and 3 Steno Stur the second, of which the two first dyed naturall deaths, and the last being by Christiern the second slaine in battell, this kingdom was again possessed by the Danes.
• 1519 35 Christiern II. King of all three kingdome, used his victory so cruelly here, and his subjects so insolently at home; that here he was outed by Gustavus Ericus, and driven out of Denmark by his Uncle Frederick.
• 1523 36 Gustavus Ericus descended from the antient race of the kings of Sweden, having vanquished and expelled the Danes, was on the merit of that action chosen king of Swethland; which still continueth in his house.
• 1561 37 Ericus V. sonne to Gustavus 8.
• 1569 38 John II. brother of Ericus, marryed Catharine the sister of Sigismund the second, king of Poland.
• 1593 39 Sigismund the sonne of John the second, in the life time of his Father chosen king of Poland, anno 1586. but was dispossessed of the Crown of Sweden, (after a long warre) by his Uncle Charles.
• 1607 40 Charles II. Duke of Suderman, the youngest son of Gustavus Ericus, and brother of John and Eric, the two former Kings, first governed here as Viceroy for his Nephew Sigismund; but having an aime upon the Crowne (to which he found the Lutherans not very favourable) hee raised up a Calvinian partie within that Realm, according to whose principles he began first to with draw his obedience from his naturall Prince, and afterwards to assume the Government to himselfe: speeding so well in his designe, that after a long war he forced his Nephew to desist from all further enterprises, and made himself king, anno 1607.
• 1611 41 Gustavus Adolphus sonne of Charles having setled his affaires in Sweden, and made peace with the king of Denmarke, with whom his father was in warre at the time of his death; fell first upon his Cousin Sigismund the King of •oland, from whom hee tooke many places of importance in Prussia and Livonia, and in pursuance of that warre was made Knight of the Garter. Afterwards having setled a truce with him, hee passed into Germanie, then in great danger of being absolutely inthralled to the house of Ausiria. In which hee prospered so beyond all expectation, that in one yeare hee passed over the •lb, the Rh•ne, and the Danow (which no Conquerour ever did before): and having twice vanquished the Imperialists led by Ti•y, and restored many of the German Princes unto their estates; was in the current of his victories slaine in the battell of Lutzen, Novemb. 1632. his body royally conveyed to Swethland and there interred.
• 1632 42 Christina sole daughter of Gustavus, of the age of seven yeares, acknowledged Queen of Sweden; the estate governed by the Counsails of the Nobility. After a long warre with variable successe in Germanie, they came at last to this Accord in the treaty of Munster, that shee and her successours Kings and Queens of Swethland, should peaceably enjoy all the Higher Pomeren, with the Isles of Rugia, Wollm, and the Towne of Stetin in Lower Pomerland; the Towne and Port of Wismar in the Dukedome of Mecklenburg; and the whole Bishoprick of Bremen and Verden, and the Prefecture of the Towne of Wilchusen; with the title of Dukes of Brem•n, Pomeren, and Verden, Princes of Rugia, and Lorde of Wismar; and by those titles have a place, as Princes of the Empire, in all Diets and Assemblies which concerne the publick. By which agreement (if it hold) the Swedes have not onely got a good footing in Germanie, a strong influence upon all the Counsels of the Empire, a dore open for more forces (if occasion bee) and a free passage into the Western Ocean, which before they wanted: but may in time prove absolute Masters of the Baltick sea, and make the Hamburgers, those of Lubeck, and possibly the Kings of Denmark and the Empire it selfe, be at their devotion.

But leaving these things to the doubtfull issue of contingencie, let us next looke upon the forces and Revenues of the Crowne of Sweden, before the time of Gustavus Adolphus, or as hee found it at his succession to that Crowne. For though the Swedes pretend their Kingdome to be elective, especially since the failing of the Royall line in Magnus the fourth and Alb•rt of Mecklenbourg; yet still the eldest son, or next heir succeedeth, unlesse put by, by faction and strong hand, as in the case of Sigismund, and his Uncle Charles. Which Charles so ordered his affaires that having engaged the kingdome in a warre agains his Nephew, hee was sollicited at the last to accept of the Crowne: to which he would by no meanes yeeld till a Law was made for the entailing of the same for ever unto his posterity, whether male or female, as an Hereditary Crown, But whether Hereditary or Elective, the King once setled in the Throne is an absolute Monarch: having not onely power to levie taxes on his subjects, as hee seeth occasion, as five, six, seven, eight dollars, or more yearely, upon every housholder, according to the Proportion of his estate; but also to grant a certaine number of Paisants unto such as hee meanes to favour, to bee as 〈◊〉 and va•sals to him, according to his well deserving. And whereas in the constitution of this Government every Parish hath a Landsman or Consul to decide the controversies of the same; as every Territorie hath its Vicount, and each Province his Lamen: there lyeth an Appeal from the Land•man unto the Vicount, and from the Vicount to the Lamen; who if they bee supposed not to judge uprightly, then the Appeale lies unto the Counsell, and from the Counsell of Estate to the King himselfe, (in whom is fixed the Soveraignty and DERNIER RESORT) and not unto the King and Counsell, as before in Denmark.

The Forces of this King are either by Sea, or Land. By Sea, hee is Commander wholly of Bodner, and hath a great power in all the rest of the Baltick: being able to set out 70 good Men of Warre; as John the second did in the yeare 1578. seven of which were good Gallions; and all the rest did carry above 50 cast peeces of all sorts; besides many other good Vessels fit for service. And if a Navie of this size will not serve the turne, hee is not onely furnished with timber, cordage, and all other necessaries for the building of Ships, and with good store of Ordinance and Ammunition for present use; but is able to raise upon a sudden 6000 Mariners, and upon little warning as many more: all which hee entertaineth at no other charges in a manner then to finde them victuals, insomuch as John the second before mentioned did use to say, that that which cost the King of Spaine a Million of Crownes, cost not him 10000 Dollars.

For his Land-forces, they may best be estimated by the Trained Bands, (as wee may call them) in every Province: there being in all 3• Vexill•s (or Ensignes) of Foot constantly trained and mustered in the severall Provinces; each Vexille comprehending 600 or 700 men, amounting in the totall to 20000 Foot, all in a manner Musketiers, ready to march whensoever the Kings occasion shall so require. And then for Horse there are eleven Cornets in continuall readinesse, for Sweden, and Gothland, and two for Finland, maintained at the charges of those Countries, to whi•h the King may adde at his owne charges, as many more as hee pleaseth. And for an instance of what this King is able to doe, without putting his estates in hazard by drayning them too drye of men to make good his kingdome; wee finde that John the second in his Navie of 70 Ships spoken of before, had above 18000 Land-souldiers, besides Mariners: And in the Army which Gustavus Adolphus the late King brought into Germanie, there were mustered no •ewer at one time then 12000 Horse, and 34000 Foot, all Finnes, and Swethlanders. For the accommodating of which Armies with Artillerie, and the like Engines of war, it is thought that the kings hereof are masters of 8000 great peeces, for the most part brasse, with Mortar peeces and Granadoes in proportion to them.

But that which makes his Land forces most considerable is their hardnesse in enduring the extremities of winde and weather, insomuch that it is usuall with th•m to stand Centinell a whole Winters night of 18 houres long without being relieved: their exact Discipline, and obedience to their Commanders, and finally their indefatigable industry in making their owne sh•es, Apparrels, stockes for Muskets, and all other necessaries. Which doth not onely make them fit to endure any labour which is put upon them in the warres; but keepes them from idlenesse, and the pride of Mutinies, the ordinary effect in great Armies of sloth and ease. Nor doe they want incouragement on the Kings part neither; who first, gives to every souldier victuals, which hee accompts not in their pay, and that according to his obedience and desert; 2. If a souldier be taken Prisoner, him the King doth usually redeem at his owne charges: and 3 if a souldiers horse be slain under him, the King supplyeth him with another: which makes the souldiers (very sensible of such obligations) exceedingly conformable unto his commands, how dangerous soever they may seem to be.

Finally as for his Revenues they must needes bee great, there being foure wayes allowed him to amasse his treasures. First the Revenues of the Church, consisting before the Reformation of seven Bishopricks and sixty Monasteries, which enjoyed very great possessions; all seized on by Gustavus Ericus, and by him incorporate to the Crowne; excepting onely what is given back to maintaine the Bishops. 2 Mines, which are here of all metalls in very great plenty, except of Gold and Silver, which they have more sparingly; the tenth whereof in all places belongs to the King, and yeelds him such a fair Intrado, that in the yeare 1578. the Kings part out of two or three Mixes of Copper onely amounted to 30000 Dollars. 3 Tenths, out of all increase, as Rie, Wheat, Barley, Fish, Oxen, Skinnes, and the like commodities; the summe whereof though not certainly knowne (because the increase is so uncertaine) yet it was once computed that the tenth of the Oxen onely came in one yeare to 18000 Dollars, besides provision for his houshold. 4 And lastly, Customes imposed on Merchandise, and paid in all his Haven Townes for all commodities imported, or exported of what sort soever. Be•d•s all which hee hath his Contributions in all times of warre, power of imposing taxes (though moderately used) as his necessities require: and on the marriage of a daughter, the kingdome is to provide her portion, which of late times hath beene fixed at the certaine summe of 100000 Dollars, besides Plate and M•veables. Out of which severall Items to summe up the totall, it was observed that in the yeare 1578. King John the second, (all charges ordinary and extraordinary being first deducted) did lay up in his Treasurie no lesse then 700000 Dollars: which was a vast summe for those times, considering especially the great charge which the King had been at that yeare, in furnishing a Navie of 70 sayle, and raising 18000 Land-souldiers, (besides Horse) for defence of his Realme against the Danes. And yet it is conceived by some knowing men that his Revenues would be much greater then they are, if hee did employ strangers to worke the mines, which the Natives doe not husband to the best advantage; and yet are fearfull to discover them to other Nations, upon some jealousies which they are naturally addicted to: or if hee would turne Merchant, and in his owne ships send out Corn and Cordage with Masts and Timber fit for building, and in them bring back salt and other necessaries, which his kingdome wants, setting them at a farre lesse price then now they goe at, and yet gaining very greatly by it too.

The Armes of this Kingdome are Azure, three Crownes, Or.

There are in Swethland Archbishops 2. Bishops 8. Universities but one, viz. Vpsal.

And thus much for SWETHLAND.