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FƲnen is Situated betwixt Seeland and Juitland, from which last it is parted by a Straight, called Middlefar-sundt, about one German Mile in breadth, and separa∣ted from Seeland by the Beltis sundt, or Baltick Bay, which is so narrow and small a Frith, that the Island and the Chersonese seem joyned together.
The length of this Island from East to West is Ten German Miles, and the breadth Eight: It is looked upon as the Pleasantest piece of Ground in the King of Denmark's Dominions; abounding besides with all manner of Corn, espe∣cially Wheat and Rye, which is hence Yearly Transported in great Quantities unto other Nations. Besides, the Natives have generally great Herds of Cattel, and good Breeds of Horses. The Woods, which overspread almost the whole Island, are exceeding well stored with Deer, Hares, and Foxes. This Island contains Four and Twenty Herets or Prefectures, Sixteen Towns, and Six Royal Castles, besides many goodly Villages and Gen∣tlemens Houses.
The Chief City of Funen is Ottensee, seated in the very center of the Island, and therefore a fit place for the Sessions of the Nobility and Magistracy, which are Yearly held in this place; as were like∣wise the General Assemblies of the King∣dom of Denmark, before the Year 1660. The Buildings in this Town are generally well Built, and the Streets Uniform. Be∣sides other Publick Structures, there are in it two fair Churches, whereof one is Dedicated to St. Cnuts, the other to St.
Francis. Not far from the former of these stands a stately Town Hall upon a very spacious Market-place, where King Fre∣drick the Second renewed the Ancient League between the Crown of Denmark and the Dukes of Holstein and Sleswick, in the Year 1575. When the Quires of St. Cnut's Church was Repaired in the Year 1582, the Work men found in a Vaulta Copper Coffin, gilded and adorn∣ed with Precious Stones, upon which was writ the following Inscription in Old La∣tine-Gothic Characters.
Jam Coelo tutus summo cum Rege Canutus Martyr in aurata Rex atque reconditur arca: Et pro justitiae factis occisus inique; Ʋt Christum vitae sic morte fatetur in ipsa. Traditur a proprio sicut Deus ipse, Ministro. A. D. MLXXXVI.
Other Towns of Note in Funen, are, 1. Bowens, a Port Town of good Trade on the West side of the Island, at the North end of Medelfar sund. 2. Middlefar, seated on the Common Passage from this Island to Kolding in Juitland. On the thirteenth of January, in the Year 1658, Carolus Gustavus, King of Sweden, led his Army over the Ice to this place, and having
Routed the Danish Forces which Opposed him, made himself Master of the whole Island of Funen. 3. Ascens, not far from the Mountains of Ossenburg, memorable only for a Victory gained near it by John Rantzaw, King Christian the Third's Ge∣neral, who levelled the City to the ground. 4. Foborg, upon the Southern Coast of the Island: It was once Burnt by the unruly Souldiers of Christian the Third, whilst Odensee (adhering to the Captive Prince, Christian the Second, who at that time was kept close Prisoner at Sunderburg) Redeem'd it self from the like Fate by a large Sum of Money. 5. Swynburg, over against the Isle of Langland; from this place Carolus Gustavus led his Army over the Ice into Seeland in the Year 1658. 6. Nyburg, the usual Passage from Funen into Seeland. This City was first Forti∣fied with a Moat and Bullwarks by King Christian the Third: It is very Memorable for the Battel fought by the Confederates of the Empire, Brandenburgh, Poland, and the Low Countries, in the Year 1659. against the Swedes, who were beaten in that Rencounter, and utterly Routed out of Schonen.
In Funen there are reckoned up no less than Two Hundred Sixty four Parish Churches.