564 A. D. 1360. 



\ForJler's Difcoveries in the North, pp. 188, 204 Engl. tranJL'] The 

 fuperior people, here defcribed, mufi: have been the Mexicans, who thus 

 appear to have been known to this native of the Orkneys about 160 

 years before they were invaded by the Spaniards. 



1 36 1 — The traditions of the North give very pompous accounts of 

 the commercial profperity of Wifbuy, a city on the weft fide of Goth- 

 land, an ifland in the Baltic fea. They tell us, that after the total de- 

 ftrudion of Winet and Julin, famous commercial cities near the mouth 

 of the Oder on the north coaft of Germany, and the fubfequent con- 

 flagration of Slefvvick, the whole trade of the peninfula of Yutland and 

 the coafts of the Baltic was removed to Ripen and foon after to Wifbuy, 

 which thereupon became the moft flourifliing commercial city in Eu- 

 rope * ; and the merchants of Gothland, Sweden, Ruflia, Denmark, 

 Pruffia, England, Scotland, Flanders, France, Finland, Vandalia, Saxony, 

 and Spain, had fadories there, and ftreets appropriated to each feveral 

 nation. There all ftrangers were made welcome, and admitted to all 

 the rights and privileges of citizens. The citizens lived fplendidly in 

 houfes built of marble ; and the greateft abundance and profperity 

 blefl'ed the happy ifland, till, in the revolution of human affairs, the 

 commerce, which had rendered Wifbuy rich and happy, was transferred 

 to other places. The invention of fea charts, and a code of maritime 

 laws, are alfo afcribed to Wifbuy ; and we are told, that the merchants 

 of other countries fubmitted their caufes to be tried by the magiftrates 

 of that city. — From thefe exaggerated accounts it feems probable, that 

 Wifbuy had more trade during the dark ages than any other place in 

 the inland fea wherein it is fituated. In the year 1288 the citizens had 

 a quarrel with the other inhabitants of the ifland, after which they for- 

 tified their city with a wall and a ditch ; a circumftance by no means 

 agreeing with the reports of its wonderful opulence in earlier times, 

 for, in thofe days of rapine and violence, no town, that contained any 

 thing worth plundering, could be without walls. Probably we fliall 

 come nearer the truth, if we afTume that date for the commencement 

 of the commercial profperity of Wifbuy f. After that time they be- 

 came very powerful; and, confcious of their naval fuperiority, and in- 

 toxicated, as we are told, with their exceffive profperity, they preyed 

 upon their weaker neighbours. Such condud could not fail to flir up 

 enemies. Waldemar king of Denmark invaded them in the year 1361, 

 threw down their walls, and loaded his fhips with the accumulated riches 

 of the citizens. After doing them all the mifchief he could, he enter- 

 ed into a treaty of friendfhip with them, confirmed all the privileges 



• The authors of ihofe accounts probably knew figncd as one of the principal caufes of the popu- 



uothing of the commercial cities of the Mcdiler- lation and trade of Wifbuy, is dated in 1288 by 



ranean. Eric king of Denmark in his Uijhry of Denmark, 



I The conflagration of Slefwick, which is af- p. 167 in Rep. Dan'ia. 



