Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

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Title
Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.
Author
Heylyn, Peter, 1600-1662.
Publication
London :: Printed for Henry Seile ...,
1652.
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Subject terms
Geography -- Early works to 1800.
World history -- Early works to 1800.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A43514.0001.001
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"Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A43514.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 19, 2025.

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2 The BALTICK ILANDS.

The BALTICK ILANDS are in number 35. and are so called, because they lie dispersed in the Baltick Ocean. At this day it is called by the Germans▪ De Oost zee; antiently by some, Mare Sue∣vicum; by Pomponius Mela, Sinus Codanus; by Strabo, Sinus Venedicus; but generally, Mare Balticum: because the great Peninsula of Scandia, within which it is, was by some Writers of the middle and darker times, called Balthia. It beginneth at the narrow passage called the Sound; and interlacing the Countries of Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Poland, extendeth even to Livonia, and Lituania. The reasons why this sea being so large, doth not ebbe and flow, are 1 the narrownesse of the strait, by which the Ocean is let into it; and 2 the Northern situation of it, whereby the Celestiall Influ∣ences have lesse power upon it. The principall of this great shole of Ilands, are 1 Seland, 2 Fui∣nen, or Fionia. 3 Langeland, 4 Lawland, 5 Falstre, 6 Azze, 7 Alen, 8 Tosinge, 9 Wheen, 10 Fimera, and 11 Bornholim. Some others of lesse note we shall onely name, and so passe them over.

1 SELAND, the greatest Iland of the Baltick Seas, is situate neer the main land of Scandia, from which parted by a narrow Strait or Fretum, not above a Dutch mile in breadth, commonly called by the name of the Sundt, or Sound. A Straight thorow which all ships that have any trading to, or from the Baltick, must of necessity take their course; all other passages being barred up with impassable Rocks; or otherwise prohibited by the Kings of Denmark, upon forfeiture of all their goods. So that being the onely safe passage which these Seas afford, one may sometimes see two

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or three hundred Ships in a day passe thorow it: all which pay a toll, or imposition to the King, ac∣cording to their bils of lading. And to secure this passage, and command all Passengers, there are two strong Castles: the one in Scandia called Helsinbourg, whereof more anon; the other in this Iland which is called Croneberg. But before we come unto this Castle, we must view the other parts of the Iland, being in length two dayes journey, and almost as much in breadth: the soil so fer∣tile, that without any manuring or charge at all, it yeildeth plenty of all necessaries for the life of man. It was anciently called Codonania, and containeth in it 15 Cities or walled Townes, and 12 Royall Castles. The principall whereof, are 1 Hassen, or Hafnia, the Metropolis of the Ilands; by the Dutch called Copenhagen, or the Haven of Merchants, situate near the Sea, with an handsome Port: the Isle of Amager which lyeth on the East-side of the Town, making a very safe road for all kindes of shipping. The town of an orbicular forme, and reasonably well fortified; but the buil∣dings mean, for the most part of clay and timber, onely to be commended for a spacious Market∣place. Yet herein as the chief town of all the Kingdome, and situate in the heart of these domini∣ons, is the Palace Royall, built of Free stone, in form of a Quadrangle, but of no great beauty or magnificence. Most memorable for the Vniversity here founded by Henry or Ericus the ninth, but perfected by King Christiern the first, by whom, and the succeeding Princes liberally endowed. 2 Fre∣dericksburg, amongst woods of Beech, built for a place of pleasure by Frederick the second, where the King hath a fine House, and a little Park, in which (amongst other forein Beasts are) some fal∣low Deer transported hither out of England in the 24 year of Queen Elizabeth. 3 Roschild, not wal∣led, but counted for a City, as a See Episcopall, the Bishops whereof have anciently had the honour of Crowning, and inaugurating the Kings of Danemark. In the Cathedrall Church whereof are to be seen the Tombs of many of the Danish Kings; some of them very fair and sumptuous, the most mean, and ordinary. 4 Sore, of old times beautified with a goodly Monastery, the Revenues whereof at the alteration of Religion, were converted to the maintenance of a Free-Schoole, built here by Fre∣derick the first. But in the yeer 1623 Christiern the fourth, adding hereunto the Revenues of two other dissolved Monasteries, the one in the Ile of Lawland, and the other in Juitland, founded here a new Vniversity, for the greater supply of learned Ministers for the Churches of Denmark and Nor∣way (which before could not be provided for out of Copenhagen) and furnished it with men of emi∣nence in all Arts and Sciences, for its first Professours. 5 Elsinure, or Helsingore, a village onely, but much frequented by Sea-faring men, as their ships passe by the Sound, upon which it is. Near unto which is 6, the strong and magnificent Castle of Croneberg, built with incredible charge and paine by King Frederick the second, the foundation of it being laid on huge stones sunk into the Sea, and so fastned together, that no storme or tempest, how violent soever, is able to shake it. Well forti∣fied as well as founded, and mixt of a Palace, and a Fort, being since the first building of it the most constant residence of the Kings of Danemark: who from hence may easily discern each ship which sailes thorow the Sundt, each of which addeth more or lesse unto his Revenues. A profitable and pleasing prospect. By the Commodity of this, and the opposite Castle, the King doth not one∣ly secure his Customes, but very much strengthen his Estate: the Castles being so near, and the Strit so narrow, that by the addition of some few Ships, he may keep the greatest Navy that is from passing by him.

Unto the Government and Jurisdiction of this Iland belong many others, the principall where∣of are 1 Amigria, or Amagger, which helpes to make up the Port, or Road of Copenhagen, spoken of be∣fore, planted with Hollanders brought hither by the procurement of Christiern the second. 2 Mund, or Moem-land, the chief town whereof is called Stegoe. 3 Huene, or WHEEN, a little South of Croneberg Castle; a Dutch mile in length, but not quite so broad: remarkable onely for the studies of that famous Astronomer Tycho Brahe, to whom Frederick the second gave this Iland, that living in a private and solitary place, removed from all company but his own Family onely, he might with more convenience attend his Books. At this day most observable for the Castle of Vrano∣polis, or Vrenbourg, in which the greatest part of his Mathematicall instruments are preserved in safety.

III. FIONIA, or FVINEN, the second Iland of accompt in all the Baltick, is situate be∣twixt Seland, and Juitland; from which last parted by a Strait called Middelfar Sundt, so narrow, and of so small a Sea, that the Iland and the Chersonese seemed joyned together. A Country of a pleasant and delightfull situation, and as fruitfull withall; containing twelve Dutch miles in length, and four in breadth, and therein 24 Herets or Prefectures, 16 Townes, and six Royall Castles, be∣sides many goodly Villages, and Gentlemens houses. The chief whereof are 1 Odensee, or Othen∣sche (called in Latine Othonia) an Episcopall See founded here at the first conversion of this people, by Otho the great, whence it had the name. The town not large, but beautified with two fair Churches, the one dedicated to Saint Canut, the other to Saint Francis, situate in the midst of the Iland, from which the residue of the Towns are almost equally distant, and so commodiously seated for trade and Merchandise, as they doe not onely traffick in the Baltick Sea, but in Sweden, Norway, Russia, Flanders, and Germany. 2 Nibourch, 3 Faborch, 4 Suiborck, 5 Middelfar, whence the street so named: 6 Bogens, and 7 Kertominde; all seated on some Haven, or convenient Greek: the prin∣cipall of the Castles being 1 Newbourg, 2 Hagenschow, 3 Eschebourg, 4 Hinsgagell; 5 the Court of Rugard. In this Iland not far from the Castle of Hagenschow is the mountain Ochenberg, where John Ranzovius, anno 1530. discomfited the great Army of Christopher, the Brother of Anthony, Earl

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of Oldenburg,* 1.1 coming in those unsetled times to invade the Kingdome, under colour of restoring Christiern the second, formerly deposed: in which fight the Earls of Hoye and Tecklebourg were both slain in the place, and the Kingdome after that in quiet from the like pretenders.

South of Fionia, and under the Government hereof, are about 90 lesser Ilands, most of them inha∣bited; the chief of which are

IV. LANGELAND, seven Dutch miles in length, in which, besides many Villages and Gen∣tlemens houses, we have the town of Raidkeping, and the Castle of Franeker.

V. LALAND disjoyned from Selandt, by a little narrow strait called Gronesundt; so plentifull of corn and Chesnuts, that ships full fraighted with them, are sent yeerly hence. An Iland, which besides many Castles, Villages, and Mansion houses of the Gentry, hath five good Towns, viz. 1 Nystadt, 2 Nasco, 3 Togrop, 4 Richus, and 5 Mariboane, in which last antiently was a very rich Monastery, the Revenues whereof are now employed for the endowment of the new Vniversity of Sora, founded by Christiern the fourth, as before was noted.

VI. FALSTRE, four German miles in length, affording plenty of corn yearly to some neigh∣bouring Ilands; chief towns wherein are, 1 Nicopen, which for the elegancy of the place, and pleasantnesse of the situation, is called the Naples of Danemark. 2 Stabecopon, from whence there is the ordinary passage into Germany, seven Dutch miles hence.

VII. TVSINGE, not far from Suiborch, or Swineburg a town of Fionia, a Dutch mile in length, situate in a dangerous and troublesome sea; from whence is no safe passage either to Selandt, Fuinen, or Juitland, though much distant from neither. Chief places in it are, 1 Ascens, towards Juit∣land, 2 Niburg, towards Selandt, and 3 the Court of Keltorp, belonging to the noble Family of Resencrantz.

VIII. FIMERA, or FEMEREN, a fruitfull and well-peopled Iland, having in it the townes of 1 Derborch, 2 Stabul, and 3 Piettersborn: A place of great importance to the Crown of Denmark, not so much in danger of being made subject to the Imperialists by the taking of Holstein, and both Juitlands; as by planting a strong Garrison in this small Iland: and therefore with all diligence recovered by the King again, and better fortified then before against all invasions, anno 1628. Of the remaining Ilands which pertain unto Fionia, we finde the names of 1 Aroe, 2 Romso, 3 Endelo, 4 Ebelo, 5 Boko, 6 Brando, 7 Zoroe, 8 Agernis, 9 Hellenis, 10 Jerdo, 11 Birkolm; of which nothing memorable.

Amongst these Ilands, but not subordinate to Fionia, are

IX. ARIA, belonging to the Dukedome of Sleswick, consisting of three parishes, some Gen∣tlemens houses, and the Town and Castle of Koping, supposed to be the habitation of the Arii, spoken of by Tacitus, but a Colony rather of them, as I suppose. And not far off,

X. ALSEN, another little Iland, but of more repute, called in Latine, Elysia; opposite to the Gulf, or Bay of Flensburg, in the Dukedome of Sleswick, to which it also appertaineth. Well sto∣red with Beasts for profit, and Game for pleasure; so populous, that some thousands of men may be easily and suddenly raised in it, consisting of 13 Parishes, and four Townes, that is to say, 1 Gammelgard, 2 Osterholm, 3 Norborch, and 4 the good town and Castle of Sunderburg, one of the ordinary residences of the Dukes of Sleswick, and honoured with the birth of many of the Princes of the Royall Family. Some think it was the habitation antiently of the Elysii, spoken of by Tacitus, and by him placed next unto the Angli. But being the Angli in those times dwelt about the Elb, I rather think, that when some Colonies of the Angli seated themselves in the Cimbrick Chersonese, as before was said; some of the Arii and Elysii might goe along for company, and plant themselves neer them in these Ilands.

XI. BORNHOLM, the last of all the Baltick which belong to Denmark, is situate more East∣ward, opposite to that part of Scandia, which is called Blecking, betwixt it and Pomeren. An Isle of excellent pasturage, breeding plenty of Cattell, wherewith as also with butter, cheese, wool, hides, and some store of fruits, they supply the want of some of their neighbours; besides good quantities of powdered Beef, and Mutton, which they barrell up, and sell to Mariners. It containeth many good Towne, and wealthy Villages; the chief whereof is Bornholm, which gives name to the Iland. Both Town and Iland pawned by some former Kings unto those of Lubeck; from whom redeemed by King Frederick the second, for a great summe of money, after it had been in their possession about 50 years.

These Ilands in the time of Pomponius Mela, were by one general name called the Hemodes, in number reckoned to be seven; the residue either not inhabited, or not taken notice of, are no where men∣tioned in the Ancients. Of these seven, the greatest and best peopled, was called Codonania (supposed to be Selandt) in which the said Author placeth the Teutoni. By Ptolemy it is called Scandia Minor, with reference to the great Peninsula of Scandia, supposed by him to be an Iland. From this, or

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from the sea adjoyning,* 1.2 called Sinus Codanus, the people of these Ilands, and the next Eastern Con∣tinent took the name of Danes: spreading their name afterwards, as they did their Conquests, of which more anon. In the mean time we must crosse over the Sound, and take notice of such other parts of this Kingdome, as lie on the other side thereof in the vast Continent, or Demi-Iland (which you will) of Scandia: of which somewhat must be first premised, in regard, not onely some parts of Denmark, but the whole Kingdome of Norway (the northern Ilands excepted) are contained in it.

Notes

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