Norway

Sources from old books

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

BRITTAINE being described as faithfully as wee could, that Northerne part of the world now followeth in our method, which the Ancients did call Scandia and Scandi∣navia, Pliny calleth it the Nurser of Nations, and the recepta∣cle of people of a great stature. That part which is neerest to the farthest Northerne shore of Germanie, is distinguished at this time into the three Kingdomes of Norwey, Swethland, and Denmarke.* 1.1 Norwey or Norwegia commeth in the first place to be viewed.* 1.2 The Etymologie whereof is easie to be knowne; for it is so called from Nord which sig∣nifieth the North, and Weg which signifies a way, as if wee should say, the Northway, or Northerne Countrey. It hath on the South Denmarke, on the West the Sea, on the East Sweth-land, and it is bounded on the North with Lapland, from which it is parted with high and rugged Mountaines, covered over with continuall snow. All the Countrie to∣ward the West is unpassable by reason of rocks and sharpe cliffes, and it is also stony toward the South, especially in that part which lyeth a∣gainst the Cimbrick Chersonesus, from whence it is 250 miles distant. But all the Countrie both toward the West and South hath a gentle Ayre, for the Sea is not frozen, neither doe the Snowes lye long.* 1.3 And though the Countrie it selfe bee not so fertile, that it is able to furnish the Inha∣bitants with foode: yet it aboundeth with cattell and wilde beasts, as white Beares of an unusuall bignesse, Beavers and innumerable other.* 1.4 Norwey was somtime a very flourishing, Kingdome, under the jurisdicti∣on whereof were Denmarke and the Isles of the Sea, untill it came to be govern'd by hereditarie succession. Afterward in the Interregnum it was agreed upon by the consent of the Nobles, that the Kings should bee chosen by election. From Suthdager the second to Christierne the last, there were 45 Kings. Now it is under the command of Denmarke. There are at this time in it five royall Castles, and so many speciall Pro∣vinces, whereof the first and farthest toward the South is Bahusia, or Bay. The Townes subject unto it are Marstand,* 1.5 seated on a rocky Penin∣sula, and famous for herring-fishing; and the Townes of lesser note, are Koengeef or Congel, neere Bahus and Oddewold, otherwise called Odwad. The second Castle is Aggerhusia, out of the Province whereof high Masts of ships, oaken and maple plankes and wood fit for building houses, is yearely carried into Spaine and other Countries. The Townes subject unto it are Astoia, the Seat of a Bishop, to which strangers doe chiefly resort, because there is held the Court whither causes are brought for triall out of all parts of Norwey. Also Tonsberg or Konnings∣berg, Fridrichstad, Saltzburgh, and Schin or Schon, where there are Mynes of Coppresse and Iron, also Hammaria the Greater and the Lesser, hereto∣fore being Bishopricks, but now committed to the care of the Asloian Bishop, and divided by the Bay of Mosian, gliding betweene them. The third is the Castle Bergerhusia, under which are the Cities of Bergen, or Berga, and Staffanger. But Berga is the most famous Citie of all Norwey for traffique, and as it were the Barne thereof: heere resideth the Kings Lievtenant, and a Bishop; and heere that delicate fish is sold, which being taken neere the shore of Norwey, is called the fish of Bergen, being transported from hence by Merchants into divers Countries. Heere lye the Factors of the Vandals & the Sea Townes, who continuing heere all the yeare, for traffique sake, doe take up one part of the Citie, which the Inhabitants call the Bridge. Heere is also an excellent and safe Ha∣ven. The Citie Staffanger, although it have the same Governour with Bergen, yet it hath a Bishop peculiar to it selfe, and living therein. The fourth Castle is Nidrosia, called so from the River Nideros & Rosa, which is the name of a Temple, commonly called Trundtheim, and heretofore Trondon; it is the Metropolis of all Norwey, and now reduced into the forme of a Towne. It was the chiefe seat heretofore of the Archbishop, and of the whole Kingdome. It hath a large Jurisdiction, in which much fish and pretious skins are gotten, and afterward carried to Bergen to be sold. And heere is at this day a Cathedrall Church, and such a one as there is scarce an other like it in the Christian world, both for the largenesse of the stones, and for the carved worke. The Border and ground-worke about the Altar in this Church was burnt with fire, in the yeare 1530, and the losse redounding thereby was valued at seven thousand Crownes. The fifth and last Towre toward the North of Norwey is Wardbuise, standing on the little Island Ward; it is now very small, and almost decayed, having neither castle nor munition, yet hath it a little Towne adjoyning unto it, which consists all of fisher-mens houses. In this Towre or rather Cottage, the Kings Praefect liveth in Summer, and governeth this cold Northerne part of Norwey, even to the borders of Russia. Moreover the Westerne shore of Norwey (because it is of an unsearchable depth) in the Spring time is much troubled with Whales,* 1.6 to prevent whose violence, the ship-men use a kinde of Oyle made of Beavers stone, which is a present remedie, for assoone as it is cast into the Sea, and mingled with the water, straight-way that great Sea-monster maketh away and hideth himselfe in the deepe. Heere is good fishing in the neighbouring seas,* 1.7 & especially of Stock-fish, which being dried and hardened in the cold and hung up upon poles, they send into other Kingdomes of Europe.* 1.8 The best taking of them is in the Moneth of Ianuary: for as then in regard of the cold, they are more ea∣sily dried, so the sea doth yeeld more plenty of them and fatter. The commodities of this countrie in generall, are pretious Skins, Tallow, Butter, Hides, the fat of Whales, Tarre, Oake timber, Masts, and Planks and Boards of all sort, to the great commoditie of those who sell them. The Inhabitants are honest,* 1.9 loving and hospitable to strangers, neither have they robbers, theeves or Pirates among them.

1700. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes. CHAP. CCXVI. Of Norway, and the Cities thereof.

* 1.613NOrway is bounded on the North with Lappia, on the East with the Dofrine Mountains, on the other parts with the Seas.

The chief Commodities of this Country are Stock-Fish, Rich Furs, Train Oyl, and Tackling for Ships, as Masts, Cables, Deal-board, Fir, and the like.

Towns are here thin, and the Houses therein poor and miserable. * 1.614The chief of those that are, is Nidrosia, the Archbishops Seat of Norway, Iceland, and Groenland. * 1.615The second is Bergen, one of the four ancient Mart-Towns of Europe; the other three being London in England, No∣vograde in Moscovia, and Bruges in Flanders: and all these but London are decay'd, for this Bergen hath yielded to Wardhouse; Novograde, by reason of the Charge of Navigation through the Baltick into the Northern Passage, hath given way to St. Nicholas; and Bruges being de∣prived of her Traffick by Antwerp, it is now also removed to Amsterdam; for the Hollanders by blocking up the Haven, but especially by keeping of Bergen up Zome, have such a command over the River, that no Vessel can pass or repass without their License. * 1.616But to proceed, Fin∣march also appertaineth to this Kingdom and both to the Dane: the chief Cities are Saman, secondly Hielso, both Sea-towns, * 1.617but the principal is Wardhouse, seated in the very Northern End of all the Country, being a Town of little Trade, but great Concourso of Shipping that this way are bound for Moscovia, which must needs touch here, and it is so called, as seated in a little Island called Ward.

• 1.618In Bergen in Norway the Common Weight is a Pound, the 100 l. of London hath been found to make here 92 l. but weighing with a Sling, as they do, is found to be very uncertain.

The Measure is …

The particulars of the Trade of this Country, here necessarily to be handled, I am inforced to omit, by reason of my Ignorance, therefore intreat the better experienc'd to supply my Defect therein.