CHAP. V.

THE Author, to keep up an old custom, begins this Chapter with a contradiction; for in Sleswick the Commodities for exportation are in no great quantity, and yet it affords Corn, Cattle, Horses, and Wood, to its Neigh∣bours, over and above a sufficient store of each for its own Inhabitants.

When it is his business to describe Danmark, he runs out into an Elabo∣rate Page  41 description of the Duke of Hol∣stein's Residence, and sets forth the Romantick situation of his Castle, p. 32.

It is easie to guess at the Authors Reasons for this digression. Gottorp is a very pleasant and magnificent seat, yet in most things it is not to be compared with the King of Danmark's Pallace, Fre∣dericksborg. The Pallace may have run to some decay, by the late troubles in Holstein; but those who told the Author that the Improvements were pull'd down and destroyed, by order, p. 33. were so far from being sensible Informers, that they were false and malicious. Neither does it stand with common sense, that so ge∣nerous a Prince as the King of Dan∣mark, would give so ungenteel an or∣der, or revenge himself upon the Pal∣lace and Gardens, for any injury which the Master of them might have done him. And after all, the Author found a Library, p. 33. at Gottorp, which was more than he was pleased to do at Copenhagen.

The Holsteiners are so much this Gentlemans Friends, that he strains a point in their favour, p. 36. viz. The Danes when they Travel abroad, chuse Page  42 to call themselves Holsteiners, thinking it more honourable to be born in the consines of the Empire than otherwise. Which in a rational mans opinion, is more honorable? to be born in a little Dutchy; (as Holstein is) and a Feif holden of the Empire or to be a native of one of the most Antient Kingdoms in Europe? I cannot tell what they may do in o∣ther Countries, but when they travel in England and converse among us, they never dissemble their Country, nor desire to be called any other∣wise than Danes.

It is to be noted, (according to this Account, p. 37.) as a great natural defect, that the King of Danmark has not in all his Dominions one Navigable River, for Vessels of considerable Burden. This can be no great defect in such Islands as Danmark consists of, where there is no need of great Rivers, (as the Thames, Humber, &c.) the Sea being on all sides so near at hand. Yet these Islands have some Rivers proportiona∣ble enough to their bigness, as that in Sealand, which goes up to a Town called Nested, and has formerly been Page  43 capable of carrying brave Ships. As for the Continent, Jutland has some pretty good Rivers, but the defect which it may have in them, is abun∣dantly recompenced by nature, with many Friths which the Sea forms, and run far into the Country, as that cal∣led Limesiord by Aalborg; which passes almost into the middle of Jutland.

What he says, p. 37. concerning the design of the Danes during this war, to establish the Toll at Gluckstadt, is rather one of his own suppositions, than any of their real Intentions,

He complains, p. 38. of the Horses of Oldenburg, as not able to last long or en∣dure hard labour, whereas those that have skill in Horses, account them the strongest of any, and they are at pre∣sent generally sought after, to recuit the Cavalry in Flanders.

Come we now to the Kingdom of Norway, of which (if we may believe this Author, p. 38.) little can be said: Or rather in truth he should have turn'd it thus. of Norway I can say but little. For certainly it is more his Ignorance of the Country, than any want of Page  44 curiosities in it: Else those Gentle∣men who have written whole Volumes concerning the description of it, have made a great bustle about nothing.

The History of it has been set forth by several eminent Authors, as Albertus Crantzius, and Snorre Sturleson; [whose great History of the succession and acti∣ons of the Norway Kings written first in Islandish, and then Translated into Da∣nish and Swedish, in a large Quarto or Folio, is as valuable a piece of History as any where is to be found.] Saxo Grammaticus, in his Danish Chro∣nicle has a great deal about Norway, as likewise Jonas Arngrim, in his Crymogaea Islandica, and lately one Jonas Ramus a Clergyman in Norway, has put forth an Ingenious Tract called Nor∣wega Antiqua, & Ethnica: Peter Clauston (another of the same Nation and Professi∣on has writ a great Book of their Descri∣ption of that Country in the Danish Tongue, who is followed by several others, that have discours'd of that ei∣ther in general, or some of its Provinces in particular; and most of the Danish and Suedish Historians fill up half their Books with the Transactions and Af∣fairs Page  45 of Norway. Olaus Wormius in his Fasti Danici, Literatura Runica & Mo∣numenta Danica, has given us as many Rarities and Antiquities of Norway, as he has done of Danmark. This may show the Reader, that contrary to what this Author affirms, there is e∣nough to be said of this vast Kingdom. Now to show you in that little he has said of Norway, how much a man may be mistaken: this Author has an ex∣cellent faculty at crowding a great many errors in a little room; as for ex∣ample, It is subdivided into four Stifts Ampts, p. 38, 39. or principal Governments, viz. Dronthem, Bergen, Christiania and Larwick. The Governors are young Gul∣denlew, Mr. Stockfleet, &c. So it seems, that Norway has of late lost a Stifts Ampt, or chief Government; for the North themselves hitherto reckon'd that they had five. The names of them are Christiania or Aggershus, Chri∣stiansand, Bergen, Trundhiem and War∣dohus. As for Larwick, which this Author would advance to be a Stifts Ampt, it is but a County, belonging separately to his high Excellency Count Page  46 Guldenlew, as Tousborg is another be∣longing to Count Wedel. Truly, Sir, had we taken your Account, Zarwick had been but a small equivalent, for Wardohus; and Christiansand, though a principal Government, had been quite embezel'd. Little indeed may come to be said of a Country, when a Wri∣ters will omit such principal parts of it. When he comes to tell us who are Go∣vernors, he names Guldenlew and Mr. Stockfleet, and passes the rest over with an &c. Sir, I should be glad to know from you a little more of this matter, and whether this &c. be put here for brevity sake, and to spare your Readers trouble, or else to palliate your own ignorance? Had you nam'd us four Governours we should have been content, and not have been so hard as to put you upon assigning a Stifts Ampt to the fifth Province of Norway, which never came to your knowledge.

It is a very barren Country, &c. p. 36. Norway hath never pretended to be so fertile in Corn as Danmark. However it is observable, that where the Ground is fit to be till'd, it yields a greater Page  47 Crop than the Soil of the richest Coun∣tries. If Norway had not so many Sea Towns very populous, and full of Stran∣gers, the Corn growing there would be sufficient, without any Importation, to feed its own Inhabitants. There are some districts up in Norway, as Hede∣mar•en, Todten, Gulbrandsdalen, &c. which in Fertility and good Corn, do not yield to any part of Danmark.

It will not be improper here to re∣mark two things, which the Author formerly advanced, in which Norway clearly convinces him to the contrary.

First, p. •1. There is no other Town or City belonging to the King of Danmark much better than St. Albans; whereas Norway is full of large Sea Towns, such as Bergen, Christiania, Christiansand, Trundhiem, Frideriksstadt, &c.

Secondly, he says, p. 34. That the King of Danmark has not in all his Do∣minions one Navigable River for Vessels: But in Norway are abundance of great Rivers and Friths, running far into the Country, as Sarp near Frederickstadt, •ramen, Lomen, Aggers-Elf near Chri∣stiania, Nideren near Trundhiem, &c. Page  48 One might have expected likewise, that one who treated of Norway should have spoken something of the great fresh Lakes, which are every where in that Country: One of which call'd Mios is a league broad, and near twenty leagues long. And I should the rather have suppos'd, that he would have mentioned these Lakes, because he seems so mightily taken with the places where the Countrymen have good store of fresh Fish; for in these Lakes there is such abundance and variety of Fish, that the Peasants thereabouts have e∣nough not only to salt, dry, and carry down to the Seaside, but likewise to eat fresh as often as they have a mind to it.

He acknowledges there are Silver Mines in Norway, but he questions whether they turn to account, p. 39. He needed not to have questioned it, for he might have been informed, that they have of late years yielded more than they did for∣merly, or could reasonably be expected from them. There is indeed, (p. 36.) an Account of the Commodities from thence exported, but he forgets the Page  49 many Furs and Skins of Mart, Zabel, Beavers, &c. which are sent from thence yearly: As also Copper, and small Nuts, of which quantities are shipt out, and come towards the end of Winter to London.

The beginning of the Character he gives the Norsh is very well, viz. p. 39.) that they are a hardy, laborious and honest sort of People, and that they are esteem'd by others; yet for all this, alas! they must have their share of Scandal too, and the vice of self conceitedness is laid to their Charge. Vincit Amor Pa∣triae, it seems, may be their Motto, as well as our Authors; for he says, i•. they esteem themselves much superior to the Danes; whom they call upbraidingly Jutes. Were such a thing true, as that the Norsh thought themselves superior to the Danes, it might be apt to breed some discord between them. On the contrary, no two Sister Nations can love one another better. Any one who has been in those Northern Countries, knows that none is welcomer in Dan∣mark then a Norsh man, or in Norway, than a Dane: So that it is wonder∣ful Page  50 to see two Nations not conquer'd one by the other, but joyn'd by the Marriage of Princes, agree so very well together. As for the name of Jutes, it was given the Danes, as a spightful nick-name by the Swedes in the late Wars, but the Norsh, no more call them upbraidingly Jutes, than the Danes when they Travel call them∣selves Holsteiners.

Island and Feroe he says, p. 39. are mi∣serable Islands forCorn will not grow there Misery consists not always in want of Corn; since they may have that from o∣ther places, Fish and Cattle they enjoy in great abundance. We see Holland, which is a most happy place in this Au∣thors opinion, fetches all three of them from Danmark and Norway. The Inhabi∣tants of these Islands, are great player at Chess, and our Author says, p. 40. would be worth some curious mans en∣quiry, how such a Studious and Difficult game should get thus far Northward, and become so generally used. So we see that notwithstanding their misery, they have leisure for their Sports, and have Parts able to surmount that game, which Page  51 being difficult must require Study. This curious man need not make very far inquiry about their playing at Chess, it is easily known from reading any of the Northern Antiquities (which the Islandish writers abound with, and have the most plain, simple and un∣corrupted) that Chess has been the proper game of the three Northern Na∣tions. Now the Islanders having pre∣serv'd the old Tongue and Manners of the Goths, old Danes, Norsh and Swedes, it is no wonder they have also kept this Gothick game, and their Ease and Plenty, together with the great Colds in the Winter, inclining them to sedentary lives, make them follow it, and from thence arrive to its Perfection.

As to the Kings Factories in both Guinea and the Indies, they are esteem'd of little consideration, p. 40. yet he has seen several East India Ships return home well laden, but whether the lading were the lawful product of Trade, or acquired by other means, will in time be worth the enquiry of those Kingdoms and States, whose Interest it is to preserve in the In∣dians Page  52 and Persians, a good opinion of the ho∣nesty and fair dealing of the Europeans. I shall always think that such Factories as send home ships well laden, are both of good worth and consideration, and I am the more confirm'd in these thoughts, because, p. 40. most of the men of Quality are the Adventurers.

The looking into the fairness of their Traffick and Merchandise may be let alone at present; for I suppose no Europe∣an Prince, will concern himself with the affairs of Asia, so far as to engage in a War with the King of Danmark for that rea∣son. At least, Holland and England will very probably remain quiet, till the world has in some measure, forgot the proceedings with the great Mogul, and the King of Bantam.

At last, the Author comes to sum up what he has been saying, concern∣ing the King of Danmark's Dominions, and from what he himself has deliver'd, p. 41. infers; that they produce but a mode∣rate Plenty of Necessaries for the Inhabi∣tants, but few Commodities for the Mer∣chants: However from the very worst re∣presentation that can be given it, which Page  53 is this Authors, I shall endeavour from his own words, to evince the quite contrary.

For Sealand, p. 7, 8. has Rye in good quantity, no want of good Hay, the gra•s short and sweet, great Number of the Lakes sufficiently stor'd with Fish; Beech. wood, which is excellent for the pureness of its firings, much Game, as Stags, Wild∣boars, Roebucks, &c. The face of the land is pleasant, in many places abound∣ing with little Hills, Woods, and •a•es in a very agreable diversity. For Sea-ports it hath that most excellent one belonging to Copenhagen &c. One of the best in the World, &c. Funen (p. 27.) is se∣cond to Sealand, whether its bigness or goodness of its Soil be consider'd, it has Plenty of Corn, Hogs, Lakes, and Woods, and some few Horses to be exported by the Merchants. Laaland, p. 28. is a small but plentiful Island, producing all sorts of Corn in abundance and particularly Wheat, wherewith it supplies Copen∣hagen, and all other parts of Danmark. The Hollanders buy yearly and ship off great Quantities of Corn from thence. •astria, Langland and Mune, are fertile Page  54 Islands, the two first export yearly some Corn; Arroe and Alsen abound in Anni∣seeds, which are much used, &c. Born∣holm, Sa•nsoe, p. 28. with the other Islands nourish Cattle, and afford •orn for the use of the Inhabitants. Amack deserves to be particularly remembred: This little Island is, as it were, the R•ehen Garden of Copenhagen, and supplies its Markets plentifully with all sorts of Ro••• and Herbs, besides Butter, Milk, great quan∣tities of Corn and some Hay. Jutland (p. 29.) is a Plentiful Country, abounding more especially in Cattle. The Hollan∣ders transport yearly great Quantities of Corn and Oxen from thence, to their more fertile Soil; where in a short time they grow prodigiously. The Horses and Swine of this Country are excellent, and in great numbers: It affords Corn in sufficient quantity for the use of its own People.

The Dutchy of Sleswick (p. 32.) is in general a very good Country, its con∣venient Situation between two Seas, the Ocean and the Baltick, rendring it con∣siderable for Trade: Some Corn, Cattle, Horses, and wood for Fireing it affords Page  55 to its Neighbours, over and above a sufficient store of each for its own Inhabi∣tants. Holstein, p. 35. is a Country very Fruit∣ful and Pleasant, excellently well seated, for Trade, between two Seas. Stormar and Ditmarsh, p. 38. are for the most part low and Rich Countries, their Soil being fat and in most places resembling Holland, as well in its fertility as manner of Im∣provement. Oldenburg p. 37. abounds in Cattle, and has a good breed of Horses, which are much sought after for Coaches, Delmenhorst p. 38. is pretty well wooded.

Norway, p. 39. has Silver Mines; the Commodities which it yeilds sit for exportation, are Timber of all kinds especially Firr, Stockfish, Masts for Ships and Iron; of these it has a tolerable store. Island and Feroe, p. 39. have good stocks of Cattle. The King of Danmark, p. 37. hath Factories in Guinea, and the East and West Indies: Several East India Ships return home to Copenhagen well laden with the Merchandise of those Countries.

Thus I have given you from the Authors own words, the Qualities of all the King of Danmark Dominions, Page  56 only abating the malicious insinuations of the Describer, and leave the in∣different Reader to judge, which deserves to be thought most contemp∣tible of, such a Country, or such a Writer.