A New Description of the World, Section 1 · Account of region 9 – Account of region 10
A Description of Denmark, in its Countries, Provinces, &c.
DENMARK, Quasi, Danes-Mark, comprehending its intire Circuit or Territories, is bounded on the East with the Baltick Sea, and a part of Sweedland, on the West with the Main Ocean on the North East, with another part of Sweedland, full North with the Frozen Ocean, and on the South with Germany; lying partly on the North temperate Zone, and partly within the Artick Circle; extending from the middle Parallel of the tenth Clime, or 55 degrees of Latitude, where it joyneth to Germany, and 71 where the Frozen Ocean bounds it; the longest day in the most Southern parts, being 17 hours and a quarter; but for 2 Months and 3 Weeks they have no Night at all in the extream North, and is commonly distinguished in these parts, comprehending the Appendances.
The Dukedom of Holstein, containing Wagerland Dithmarsh, Stormaria and Holstein. The Kingdom of Denmark containing the two Juitlands, and the Hemodes or Baltick Islands, and the Kingdom o… Norway (now in subjection to the Danes) with the Islands in the North Sea, &c. that properly belong to it; and of these in their order.
The Cimbrick Chersonese, in which the two Juitlands, and the Dukedom of Holstein are contained, is in length 120 miles, and in breadth 80, and accounted to have within that Tract of Land; being in a manner a Peninsula, 20 Royal Castles and Pallaces; 28 Cities of note; 4 Bishop Sees, and a considerable number of Villages; in many places very Fruitful, and affording sundry curious Havens; and on the South East is Wagerland, and has for its chief Towns Hamburg on the Elbe. Lubeck seated on the confluence of the Trave and Billew, near the fall of that River into the Baltick Sea; much traded to by sundry Merchants, where they find great store of the Commodities of those Countries which are accounted the most fertile.
Dithmarsh spreads the West side of the Chersonesus, Scituate between the River Albis and Endera, giving Title to the Eldest Son of the King of Denmark, and has Meldrop and Marnes for its principal Towns; and although by reason of the many Marishes and Moorish grounds, the soil in many places is not commodious for Tillage, yet nevertheless it feeds great store of Cattle.
STORMARIA or STORMARSH lying betwen the River Elbe, and the Rivers Billew and Store, and has for its chief Towns Crampe on the Bank of a little River of the same name, falling into the Store, and is well fortified and reckoned one of the Keys of the Kingdom; nor less noted for the great resistance it made against Walestein the Imperial General; who's powerful Army it resisted 13 Months, and at last brought him to good terms of Composition. Tychenburgh on the Banks of the River Elbe; Bredenburg, Jetzebo, Gulick…tadt and others.
South Juitland, or the Dukedom of Sleswick, is that part of the Chersonesus that lyes next to Holstein; having for its chief Towns, Fleusburg on the Baltick shoar Scituate amongst high Mountains: Sleswick on the River Slea; from which the Dukedom of Sleswick has its name, Goterp and Londen a Haven Town upon the Banks of the River Ender.
North Juitland is the most Northern part of the Ch…rsonesus and has for it's chief Towns Halne, Rircopen, Arhausen and Nicopen; the soil very Fruitful, and much abounding with Wheat, Barly, Rice; store of Cattle, producing Butter and Cheese in great abundance; and able Horses for War, or any other service, here are also found Rich Furs.
As for those that are called the Baltick Islands; properly belonging to the King of Denmark though they are 35 in number dispersed in the Baltick Sea, many of them are Inconsiderable, and some not Inhabited; the chief are Zeland, Fionia, or Funen; Arsen or Aria, Langland, Laland, Falster, Mone, Heuen or Wern, Island and Bornholme; of which only the first is very considerable, as having in it 13 Cities, the chief of which is Copenhagen the Residence of the Danish Kings; where the Regal Pallace, though not very stately, is seated; and is a City of considerable Trade, though the Buildings are generally mean, as Erected of Loam and Timber; there is a Market constantly kept, and is the only University within the Government; it is defended with a strong Wall and a Castle, and thither are brought all sorts of Commodities the Kingdom affords.
SCANDIA that part which appertains to Denmark, is in the South of a Peninsula, divided into three Provinces; as Scandia, Hallandia, and Blescida; the first of these is 72 Miles in length and 48 in breadth, reckoned the most fruitful and pleasant of all the Countries lying about it, as being on three parts bounded by Sea, and has for its principal Towns, Lonpen a spacious Haven. Falskerbode, Elbogue and Elsinburg one of the Keys of the Sound.
HALLANDIA is but a small Tract of Land, yet yields much Fruits and Corn▪ many Cattle, and lying South of Scania, has Halaenego for its principal Town, from which it seems to take its name; and is well watered with pleasant Streams.
BLESCIDA lies North of Sweedland, and though it has many fertile Plains, yet it is generally Mountainous or Craggy hilled, having for its chief Tradeing Town, Malmogia and Colmar, a strong Fortress bordering on Sweedland.
A Discription of Norway.
NORWAY, though under the King of Denmark, is however a Kingdom of it self, being bounded on the East with Denmark, on the West with the Ocean, on the North with Lappia or Lapland, and on the South with Sweeden; but lying so much in the extremities of cold, though it is a vast tract of Land, it is for the most part Rocky, Mountainous and Barren, not being furnished with stores of its one Production, fit for the support of these few People it contains, the greatest Commodity it affords being Stock-Fish, Ship Masts, Deal Boards, Tackle for Shipping, Pitch, Tann'd Leather, Train Oyl, Furrs, and Tallow. As for the Towns or Villages, they are very thinn, and the Houses for a great part are made of Dirt and Hurdles, covered with Thatch, and windowed with Lattice; and the whole Country is divided into 5 Praefectures or Governments, according to the Number of the Royal Castles, built for the defence of the Country, known by the Names of Bohus, Ager-Huis, Agger-Huse, Trundheim, and Ward-Huis. The chief Towns in these several Jurisdictions, are Anslo or Astoia, on a Bay opposite to Juitland, an Episcopal See, Bergen, an Episcopal Sea, and the ordinary Residence of the Governour for the King of Denmark; Marstrand seated in a half Island amongst Rocks &c. Trandiheim, Antiently Nidrosia an Arch-Bishops See who is Metropolitan of Norway; and Ward-huis seated in the Island of Ward; and although the Country (abounding with horrid Woods, and desolate Mountains) is naturally Poor, yet at certain Seasons little Beasts, about the bigness of Field Mice, over-spread like Locusts the Fertile Parts of the Field, &c. and consume every thing that's green or pleasant in their way, and then gathering together they die in heaps, thereby occasioning a Pestilential Noisomness, that much afflicts the Inhabitants with Diseases; and these they call Lemmers, affirming them to be dropt out of the Clouds in Tempestuous Weather: Nor do the Whales, that appear on that Coast in great number, less disturb their Fishing Trade, by the indangering the sinking of their Boats and small Vessels; which monstrous Creatures they have lately found the Art of chasing away, by throwing Oyl of Castor into the Sea, at the Scent whereof they fly: And though the People are miserable Poor, they nevertheless hate dishonesty, and greatly delight in Plain Dealing.