A voyage of the late King of Sweden and another of mathematicians sent by him : in which are discover'd the refraction of the sun which sets not in the northern parts at the time of the solstice, varition [sic] of the needle, latitudes of places, seasons &c. of those countries : by command of the most serene and most mighty Prince, Charles XI, King of Swedes, Goths and Vandals / faithfully render'd into English.

CHAP. VI. The Latitudes of Places observed in our Return. (Book 6)

ON the 21st we observed in the Old Town Luhlea, the Meri∣dian Altitude of the Sun, and thence gathered the Latitude of the Place to be 65 Degrees, and 25 Minutes. And the Declination of the Magnet from the North to the West, to be about Six Degrees. That City was founded in the Year M DC XX II. where there is still an Old Church, yielding to none in that Country, for Structure and Largeness; but for a more convenient Situation New Luhlea was Built nearer to the Sea, in the Year M DC XL II.

but by the Carelesness of the Lapland∣ers, kindling a Fire in the Neighbour∣ing Wood, was Five Years after, toge∣ther with the Wood, destroyed by Fire; nor was it Rebuilt more Fortu∣nately after; for in the Year MDCLIII. it was again ruin'd by an accidental Fire, and from those Ruines, became such an one as we now see it.

On the 24th, in the Old City Bithea, we in vain hunted after the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, the Sky being thick set with Clouds, wholly hinder∣ing our Design; and therefore we went the next Day into the Neighbourhood, to search for it. This Old City was Built in the Year M DC XX I. but af∣ter it was casually by Fire reduced into Ashes in the Year M DC LX VI. for some time the Rebuilding of it was de∣ferred, until some fresh Privileges and Immunities being granted by His Most Serene Royal Majesty, they might un∣dertake the Business. But the New City then beginning to be Built, is di∣stant half a Mile from the Old, being

situated nearer to the Sea, for a more convenient Port, and convenience of exporting Merchandizes.

The next Day, in the Parish of Schelefta, near to the Church, we ob∣served from the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, the Latitude of that place to be 64° 37′ and the variation of the Needle to be equal to the former.

On the 26th and 27th Days we did nothing, the Air being Cloudy, nor was there any thing which deserved the noting; except only that the Church of the Parish Bygde, seems to be the most ancient of all the Churches of the Norlands, provided the Inscription which appears in the Front of the Church, be genuine, and sets down the Year of Christ, 1169. Yet the Chronicle of those Times takes away the doubt, which clearly show, that it was Founded under the Reign of St. Erice, at which Time Religious Worship, altho' Infected with Old Po∣pery, made extraordinary Progress;

And besides, there was the Picture of a certain Religious Person which was placed in a Wood half a Mile and more from thence; where formerly those who were Remote from Church, are said to have met together to Prayers, on Holy-Days; but after the most hap∣py Times of Religion being purged from the Heresies of Papists, as that sort of Worship ceased in our Country, so the Picture was laid up in a certain place of the Temple, in detestation of the Memory of that Matter.

On the 28th in Uhma, near the Old Temple, we observed the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, to be 48° 38′. And thence we computed the Latitude of the place to be 63° 48′ but the va∣riation of the Needle not different from the former. That City is situated in a more convenient place towards the Sea, and is the first and chiefest of Western Bothnia; in which also is the Seat of the Governour of that Province.

On the 29th leaving that Place, and going thro' the Borders of Western Bothnia, which altho' it be more Nor∣therly, yet is happy in a more conve∣nient Soil than the Countries next to the South, which abound in Mountains, and give place to it in Fruitfulness; but the Mountain Scula in Angermannia, is Famous before all others, very crag∣gy and broken, threatning Ruine, as it were to all who pass by it, for it is very near to the Highway. Many Stories are vulgarly reported about it, which relish only of Gentilism. Their only chief City is Hernosand, being fur∣nished with a most convenient Haven, and is situated in the Island, where the Seat of the Super-Intendant is, and the Royal-School, the Seminary of the Youth of Norland. We stayed there three Days, hoping to find the Eleva∣tion of the Pole; but this stay was to no purpose, as in several other Places, by reason of the Rains, and the Sky be∣ing covered with perpetual Clouds.

On the 7th. of July in the Town Medelpadia Sundswald, we endeavou∣red to find the Latitude of the Place; but Heaven also oppos'd it. When therefore all things seemed to thwart our Labours, which we cou'd not stick long to in one Place for our other Af∣fairs; yet we still continued two days not far from this City in an Inn near the Church Niurunda, a Place fit for Observations, expecting but with lost labour the Light of the Sun; and this is the reason why at no Place in Anger∣mannia or Medelpadia we made Obser∣vations.

On the 10th. of July, coming to Hel∣singland, first we sought for the Sun's heighth in Hudwikswald, a neat City of that Country conveniently situated near the mouth of the Sea; but without any Success, by reason of the imminent Tem∣pest.

After that, on the 11th. day, we at length found the Elevation of the Pole to be 61° 12′ in another City of that Country, called Soderhamn, in a fa∣mous Armoury built there. Thence by a crooked way, going to the Copper and Iron Mines, in our Passage we first observed the Elevation of the Pole of the City Gefle, being in the County of Gestrefland, 11 miles from Upsal, and is famous for being the Seat of the Go∣vernor of that Country; and having a Royal School, the Altitude was 60° 31′.

On the 13th. at our coming into Dalecarle, or the mountainous Country, the Elevation of the Pole was found at our Inn Lomsheden, to be a little greater than before, by reason of our Journey's bending to the Northward, viz. 60° 41′ going thence through the Parish of Dalicarton Swerdsio, whose Church was first beautified with a Monument of a gilded Crown, by King Gustavus of most Glorious Memory: Some Antiqui∣ties

were produc'd here by the In∣habitants; let those who please be∣lieve them in a Matter so dubious, and not confirmed by any ancient Monu∣ments.

On the 14th. we came to the City Fahlun, very famous and eminent for being the Seat of the Governour of that Country; and especially being the richest in Copper Mines, of so great An∣tiquity, that the Original of it is very uncertain and doubtful. From this City which we arrived at with so many Windings and Turnings, we did not think it convenient to depart without an Observation; therefore staying there six days before the Sky was as agreeable as we wish'd, at last the grateful Light shone forth on the 20th. of July, by help of which we found the Meridian Alti∣tude of the Sun, and by it the Places Latitude to be 60° 32′; and therefore perceived this City to lye almost in the same Latitude as Gefle.

After that designing to bring our Jour∣ney to an end. (without any Observation because of Showers and Storms) we pas∣sed the several Cities of Westmanland and Hedenore, so well known for its Mer∣chandize, Agriculture, and Fairs; and then Afwestafors famous for Copper Mines of several sorts, and coining of Moneys; and then to Soleburg a very noble Place, and celebrated for one of the most precious and ancient Mines of Silver.

Happily returning to Upsal on the 24th. of July, the Situation and Anti∣quities of which City being described by others, are well known to all People; but the Elevation of that Place's Pole is 59° 54′ for ten Years, and more at several times observed by me, and the Variation of the Compass about eight degrees.

Because we were sensible at our re∣turn, that our most Serene King was at Kongsor, to Review his Army, to whom we were to give an Account of our Expedition, we thought fit to wait on His Most Serene Royal Majesty there; and therefore setting our Affairs in Or∣der in two Days, on the 27th we passed thro' the City Enecopia in Upland, and the Cities of Arosia, Koping, and Westmanland.

On the 28th we came to Kongsor, in that most pleasant place of Suder∣manland, to the Latitude of 59° 34′. si∣tuated by a most pleasant River, where it empties it self into the Lake Galtem, and Malaren.

His Most Serene Royal Majesty re∣ceived us at our Coming with a singu∣lar Clemency; and as we gave him that Account of the demanded Expedition, hearkned to us with a Countenance full of Grace and Maje∣sty;

and the Most Serene Hereditary Prince, and some of the King's Council, and great Ministers of State being pre∣sent, He enquired much about our De∣monstrations; and would have the Rea∣sons of the most minute Matters laid before him; but we wondred at no∣thing more, than that the Most Serene King being loaded with such a weight of Empire, and perplexed with infinite Cares, shou'd, of all the things which he saw or heard the Year before, in the Northern Countries, forget no∣thing; so that we but just returning from those Places, and doing no other Business, did not seem to have a fresh∣er Memory of Things, Events, Places, Persons, and of the Names of Towns and Houses, which we beheld as if we were present, being just come from our Journey, and Instructed with our Jour∣nals; but what need of our Testimony in a Thing so well known in our Coun∣try? Those whom God hath Exalted upon Earth to so high a Place, he hath thought fit to endue with Divine Gifts;

which certainly He hath bestowed with a full Hand on our Most Gracious Mo∣narch.

The next Day being dismissed most favourably by His Most Serene Royal Majesty, we heartily Rejoyced that we had obtained the heighth of our Wishes, that our slight Labours seemed not to displease our Most Gracious Master; and now having dispatched this Business, every one went to his own Home.

Homer relates of his Ulysses;

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

But who can believe that we traver∣sed so many Cities in this Journey; and Northerly waste Part of Sweden; going no more than Five Miles beyond Kongsor, thro' Holmia, before we came to Upsal. We saw besides the said Ci∣ties Orebro, Arboga, Torshella, Strang∣nans, Mariefred, Sodertelus, and Stock∣holm.

So that in all we passed thro' Twenty Four of them in a direct way.