I 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1405. 



Concerning this surprise Albertus Krantzius in 

 the sixt book of his history of Norway, and 

 the 8. Chapter writeth in maner following. 



N the meane while Norway enjoyed peace under the 

 o-overnment of a woman : until Albertus king of 

 Suecia, who had now seven yeeres continued in captivity 

 under Queen Margaret, was to be set at liberty. Which, 

 when the common souldiers of Rostok & Wismer, called 



TheVitaRans. the Vitalians perceived, (who, whilest their king was 

 holden captive, in the right of the forenamed cities, for 

 the behalfe of their lord the king being prince of 

 Mekleburg by birth, undertooke and waged warre al 

 the time of his captivitie) banding their forces together, 

 they resolved, at their own costs & charges, but in the 

 right of the said cities, to saile into the 3. kingdoms, and 

 to take such spoiles as they could lay hold on. These 

 common souldiers therfore, seeing an end of their 

 tyrannical and violent dealing to approch, sailed into 

 Norway, unto the towne of Norbern, being a mart town 

 for al the marchants of Germanie : who transporting fishes 

 from thence, doe bring thither marchandises of all kinds, 

 especially corne, unto the scarcitie wherof, unlesse it be 

 brought out of other countreys, that kingdome (as we 

 have said) is very much subject. Departing out of their 

 ships and going on shore, they set upon the towne, and 

 by fire and sword they easily compelled the inhabitants 

 dwelling in weake wodden houses, to give place. Thus 

 these Vitalians entring and surprising the towne conveyed 

 such spoiles unto their ships as them pleased, and having 

 laden their ships with those booties, they returned home 

 frolike unto the ports of their own cities. Without all 



[I. 170.] respect, they robbed and rifled the goods, aswel of the 

 Germanes, as of the Noruagians : and like lewde com- 

 panions, wasting and making havock of all things, 

 prooved themselves never the wealthier. For it is not 

 the guise of such good fellowes to store up or to preserve 



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