The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

Suecia, or Suethlande.

¶ Suecia, is a kyngedome ryche in golde, syluer, copper,

leade, Iren, fruyte, cattayle, and exceadynge increase of fysshe of the ryuers, lakes, and the sea. And hath no lesse plentie of such wylde beastes as are taken with huntinge.

Towarde the West, it is ended with the mountaynes of Nor∣way from the Castel of Wardhus vnto thend. 51 63 40 Towarde the South, with the line from this ende vnto the degrees .53. 30. 61. And frome thense vnto the de∣grees .61. 60. 30. Aboue the goulfe of Suecia, toward the north, with the south ende of Lapponia from the castel of Wardhus vnto thende .62. 70. Towarde the Easte, it is ended with the line frome this ende vnto the degree .63. 69. &c. Stokholme the chiefe citie. 64. 61. This is the chiefe mart towne of Suecia, and is strongely defended by arte and nature. It is situate in marisshes after the maner of Uenece: and was therefore cau∣led Stokholme, forasmuche as beinge placed in the water, the fundation is fortified with stockes or piles. The sea ente¦reth into it with two armes or branches of such largenes and depth that ships of great burden and with mayne sayles may enter by the same with theyr full fraight. This suffered of late yeares greuous spoyle & destruction to the singular exem∣ple of cruel hostilitie: And such, as the like hath not bin light¦ly shewed to any other citie receaued by league & composition.

In al the tract from Scokholme to the lake aboue the riuer of Dalekarle, which is in the degree. 56. 30. 63. 50. are moū¦taines frutful of good siluer, copper, and leade. They gette great ryches by the salmons and plentie of other fysshes whi∣che they take in certeyne greate lakes.

The dukedome of Agermannia, occupieth the north syde to the consines of Laponia. This tract is ful of wods in the w••i¦che they hunt the beastes cauled Uros or Bisontes, which in theyr toonge they caule Elg, (that is) wilde asses. These are of such height, that the highest part of their backes are equal with the measure of a man holdynge vp his armes as hyghe as he may reach. &c. Upsalia the chiefe citie. 62. 62. 30. here is buried the body of saynt Hericus kynge and martyr.

Copperdalia (that is) the copper valley, is a dukedome southwarde from the dukedome of Iemptia. Under this, is the valient nation of the people cauled Dalekarly.

Oplandia, is a dukedome & the nauil or middest of Scondia.

The citie of Pircho, on the north syde of the lake of Me∣ler, was once a great citie and able to arme .xiiii. thousande men to the warres: but is nowe browght to a vyllage.

All the tracte of Oplandia, hath mynes of syluer, cop∣per, and steele.

Of the Ilandes and rockes that lye abowte Suecia, the myddest is .67 30 61 30. These were cauled of the owlde wryters Done, the reason of which name remayneth to this day. For there are in these innumerable multitudes of byrdes: In so muche that thinha∣bitauntes of the nexte coaste, sayle thyther in the mooneth of May whyle the byrdes syt on theyr egges: which they steale and reserue them in salte for a longe tyme.

Notes

• Golde and syluer.
• wardhus castell.
• The goulfe of Suecia.
• The citie of Stockholme.
• Gold in could reg••ons.
• Fysshe.
• The beaste cauled Uro•• or Elg.
• Upsalia.
• Copperdali••.
• Oplandia,
• Byrdes.
• Egges reser∣ued in salte.