Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas Containing his cosmographicall description of the fabricke and figure of the world. Lately rectified in divers places, as also beautified and enlarged with new mappes and tables; by the studious industry of Iudocus Hondy. Englished by W. S. generosus, & Coll. Regin. Oxoniæ.

THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE. CONTAINING FIONIA WITH THE ISLANDS LYING ROUND ABOUT IT. (Book Denmark (4))

SO much according to our Method concerning the Duke∣dome of Sleswicke and Holsatia: Fionia followes with the Isles lying round about it. Fionia,* 1.1 commonly called Fuy∣nen is the chiefe of all other Isles lying in the Bay of Codo∣nus from Zeland. It taketh its name from the beautie there∣of, both in regard of the forme and situation.* 1.2 It is separated from the Continent of Denmarke, by so small and narrow a Sea flowing between them, called Middlesar, that it seemeth almost to cleave unto the Conti∣nent. This Iland as it looketh on the West toward Iutia, so on the East toward Zeland. It is 48 miles in length, and 16 in breadth. The Land (that I may omit the Sea which is full of fish) is a fruitfull soyle,* 1.3 and ve∣ry profitable to the husbandman. For it aboundeth with such plentie of corne, that it sends store thereof yearly to other farre Countries, especi∣ally Wheate and Barley. And the ground, albeit it be very fruitfull and endowed with the gifts of Ceres, yet it is never dunged. Whence the Cities and Townes thereof are annoyed with filthy smells of the dung of cattle, which is cast out, being thereof no use, as Munster writeth. This Countrie aboundeth with so many Droves of Oxen,* 1.4 and breedeth such a number of Cowes and Horses, that it sends yearly into Germany great Heards and Droves of them. And in regard of the many woods which are in the Island, there is great store of game for hunting, as Harts, Hares, and Foxes. In the middle of it is the Metropolis or mother Citie called Ottania, or Ottonium commonly called Ottensel being a Bishops Seat,* 1.5 built as it appeares by many testimonies by Otto the first, about the time when he compeld King Herald to receive the Christian faith. This Citie is a famous Mart for the whole Island, in which about Epiphanie or Twelfetide there is a great meeting of the Islanders and especially the Nobles, as there is at Kile in Holsatia. Fionia is divided into five and twentie Prefectures, sixteene Cities, and six royall Castles. The other cities are in a manner equally distant from Ottonia, which is as it were the Center, and are so built of the Sea shoare, that in regard of the con∣veniencie of the Havens, they traffique not onely in the Balticke Sea, but also exercise their negotiations throughout all Swethland, and Norwey, Russia, the Low-countries, and Germany: the chiefe amongst them are Niburch, Swynburch, Foborch, Assens, Bowens, Middlefart, or Milvart, and Kettemynde, or Cortemund. The chiefe royall castles are Newburg, Hagen∣schow, Hinsgagel, Eschburg, and the Court of Rugard. Here are many Vil∣lages,

and not a few Noble-mens houses. For this Island in regard of the pleasantnesse of the Climate, and fertilitie of the soyle is much esteem∣ed by the Nobles. The sea doth yeeld great plentie of fish, and every Bay is so full thereof, that ships or boats being over set with them can hardly saile or row against them, which yet they do not take with any fishing engines, but with their hands. Those who dwell by the Sea side, besides tillage and husbandrie, doe use fishing, both which do furnish thē with all things necessarie for house-keeping. There are some places in this Island famous for warlike atchievements done not many yeares past.* 1.6 For there is a certaine mountaine called Ochenberg, not farre from the Castle Hagenschow, in which Iohn Rantzovius Knight and Generall of the field, for King Christian the third, in a great battle did overthrow Christopher Count of Oldenburg, in the yeare of Christ 1530, on the ele∣venth day of June, in which conflict were slaine two Counts, the one be∣ing the Count of Hage, the other of Tecklenburg, whose bodies being af∣terward taken up out of the field were brought to Ottonia, and buried in Canutus his Church about the same time also on the Mountaine Fauch∣burg, which is 4 mile distant from the Towne Ascens, some thousands of the Rebels were slaine and put to slight. This Countrie is adorned with many woods in which are great store of wild beasts. In the citie of Otto∣nium there are two famous Temples or Churches, one consecrated to Canutus,* 1.7 the other to Saint Francis. In this latter Iohn King of Denmarke, and his sonne Christierne, when they had spent 37 yeares in banishment and captivitie, were buried in the yeare 1559: about the other is a large and spacious court-yard, in which the King of Denmarke did renew his ancient league of friendship, with the Dukes of Holsatia and Sleswicke, An. 1580, they report also that the mother of King Christian the second did place up a certaine Altar here belonging to the Minorite Friars, a wonderfull curious piece of worke carved in wood, the like whereof is not to be found in Europe.* 1.8 Out of this Island from the Towne Ascen•• it is eight miles into Iuitland or Iutia, and from Nyburge into Zeland is a passage of sixteene miles long through the Baltieke Sea, which is very dangerous, especially if the Sea be rough, for when the East Sea being increased by the receit of many rivers is thrust forward with a violent course, it often happens that contrarie windes do raise such mightie waves, & make the sea so unquiet, that Mariners are many times to great danger drawne in with these gulphlike windings of the waters & some∣times swallowed up by them. And so much concerning Fionia: now let us passe to the other Islands. Under Fionia are contained ninety Islands situated toward the South, and the most of them habitable: the chiefe whereof are these:* 1.9 Langeland, Lawland. Falstre, Aria or Arr, Alsen, Tosing, and Aroe. Langeland is 28 miles in length. In it there is a Towne called Rudkeping, and Traneker a royall Castle, beside many villages, Parishes, and Noble-mens houses. Lawland is separated by the strait of Gronesand from Zeland,* 1.10 and by a small arme of the Sea from Falstre. It is so fruitfull in corne and filberd Nuts, that ship-loads are brought from thence into other Countries. It hath five townes which are these, Nistadt, Nasco, To∣grop,* 1.11 Roth, and Marib: besides royall Castles, Noble-mens houses, many Parishes and Villages.* 1.12 Falstre is 16 miles long, and hath these two Ci∣ties

[illustration] map of Denmark (Funen)

THE FOVRTH TABLE OF DENMARKE.

FIONIA

Stubecopen, and Nicopen, which in regard of the pleasantlesse and beautie thereof is called the Naples of Denmarke Out of this Island neare a royall Pallace, there is a frequent passage into Germany, namely to Warnemund, which is 28 miles long. It furnishes neighbour countries every yeare with much corn. Arta being distant 6 miles frō Elysia, is cloa∣thed with woods, and therefore assordeth much recreation for hunters, it hath three Parishes, and some Noble-mens houses, with the Towne & Castle of Coping. It belongs together with Elysia to the Dukedome of Sleswi••ke, and is under the government of the Duke thereof. Elisia or Al∣sa, commonly called Alsen, is an Island of a reasonable bignesse, for it is 16 miles in length, and 8 in breadth, being not farre distant from the Dukedome of Sleswicke, and looking toward the Bay die Flensburger Wick, it is parted by it from the first seat of the English. The Rantzovian Musae∣um tells us that the Romans did call these Islanders Elisians. As also those who inhabit the next Island, Arians: which appellation or name they still retaine to this day, Ptolomie relateth, that the English were the ancient in∣habitants of the Northerne Countries, by the Sea side: to which Tacitus addeth the Elisit, Arit, and the Mommy, whose names also are still used in the Islands Alsen, Arr, and Moen. There is a Towne in Alsen or Elisia called Sunderburg and a Castle of the same name, with other Townes, as Norborch, Osternholm, Die Holle, and Gammelgard. It hath thirteene popu∣lous Parishes, whence it can set forth many thousands of Souldiers. It is very wooddy, by reason whereof it affordeth Harts, and many kindes of wild beasts for hunting. It hath great store of Sea-fish and fresh-fish, and much wheat, and it is every where fit for feeding and pasturing of cattle. Tussing or Tosinga being the chiefe Isle among all the other Islands, lyeth neare unto a towne of Fionia called Swineburg, and is foure miles in length. In this Island besides Parishes, there is the Pallace of Kettrop, belonging to the Rosenkransians, and Rantzovians. Aroe is situated neare the Dukedome of Sleswicke where they passe to the Towne Alcens in Fionia by the Arsensian Bay, and hath foure Villages. There are also these Islands, Ramso, Endelo, Ebilo, Fenno, Boko, Brando, Toroe, Aggerins, Hellenis, Iordo, Birkholm, &c. Let so much suffice to have beene spoken concerning Fionia, and the Islands lying round about it. And now to conclude, I will here, rather then no where, adde unto the rest a Descrip∣tion of Huena or Ween seated in the Sound, in which is the Castle of V∣raniburg, filled with many accurate and elaborate Astronomicall instru∣ments, The middle of this Island, where this Castle standeth, hath the Pole elevated about 56 Degrees and 55, and is situate from the West 55 Degrees. It is in compasse 8160 paces, every pace being 5 foote, so that the whole circuit of it is equall unto two common German, 18 English miles. This Island being placed in the most famous strait of the whole Kingdome through which many ships saile out of the Easterne into the Westerne Sea: and on the contrarie with a gooly prospect hath in view many chiefe Townes of this Kingdome, which stands as it were round about it; in Zeland Hasnia, 12 miles distant from it South South∣west, also Helsinger, (where those ships that saile or passe by, do pay cu∣stome or tribute) and the Castle Cronaburg both distant from it on the Northwest 8 miles, Helsingburg which lies on the shoare of Scania, is as

farre distant from it toward the North, and on the same shoare is Land∣skrone being foure miles from it: toward the East lyeth Lunda or Londen, which although it be not a Sea-towne, yet is but 16 miles distant from hence. And although the Island be not very great,* 1.13 yet no part of it is bar∣ren or unfruitfull, but produceth great store of fruit, and aboundeth with cattell, it bringeth forth Does, Hares, Cunnies,* 1.14 and Partridges in great plentie, and is very convenient for fishing. It hath a wood of Hasell trees, which are never worme-eaten, but hath no Dormise. Heretofore it was remarkable for foure Castles, whose names do yet remaine, Syn∣derburg, which was seated on the Southerne shoare, Norburg on the op∣posite Northerne shoare. Karheside which stood toward the East side of the Island, and Hamer toward the West, the foundation of these foure Castles may be yet seene, but there are no ruines thereof remaining. This Island lyes very deepe in the Salt-sea, and yet it hath many fresh Rivers and Springs, among which there is one Spring that never free∣zeth with the violence of the Winters cold, a strange thing in these Countries.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fionia whence so called.
• * 1.2

  The Situation.
• * 1.3

  The fruitfulnes of the Soyle.
• * 1.4

  The varietie of living creatures.
• * 1.5

  The Cities.
• * 1.6

  The commodi∣ties of the Sea.
• * 1.7

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 buildings▪
• * 1.8

  The Islands.
• * 1.9

  Langeland
• * 1.10

  Lawland.

  The fertilitie of the Soyle.
• * 1.11

  The Townes.
• * 1.12

  Falstre.
• * 1.13

  The fruitful∣nesse of the Soyle.
• * 1.14

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 living Crea∣tures.