238 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



Denmark, ■ as the Danifh is in Norway, and both are regarded 

 with the fame affection and favour by all our monarchs, parti- 

 cularly thofe who have reigned ftnce the fovereignty has been free, 

 and had an opportunity to difeover their impartiality, and natural 

 difpolition, whatever the envious Conringius or others might have 

 iniinuated to the contrary. This is demonstrated in a treatife by 

 the worthy Dr. C. L. Scheid, which may be feen in the Tranf- 

 a&ions of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Copenhagen, Tom.IL 

 N° x. p. 317. edit. Lat. infcribed, Chrift. Lud. Scheidii Diff, 

 de Pervetufta et ilHbata Norvegias libertate, qua cum ante, turn 

 poft unionem Calmarienfem, gavifa eft, cui accedit demonftratio 

 quod regnum hoc neutiquam Daniae, provincial iriftar, fubje&um 

 et confociatum fit. Ex principiis juris publici universalis. 



Concerning the obligations of both nations to brotherly love 

 and unity, Chriftian Reitzer, in his dedication of Thorm, Tor- 

 feus's hiftory of Norway, to king Frid. IV. writes thus: "In hoc 

 mutuo noftro amore, in hac, qua per tot fecula cohaefimus, admi- 

 randa plane concordia, nil poteris illis conferre, ut non et nos ob- 

 liges. Illi noftri flint fratres, illi focii foedere asterno Daniae junclL 

 Illis iideim qui nobis, funt mores; eadem lingua, eadem religio. 

 Eodem gloriamur rege. Prasftitum nobis eft, quicquid preftitifti 

 illis," &c. 

 TheEngiifh. " When king Oluf Kyrre, towards the end of the eleventh 

 century, founded the city of Bergen, and was particularly intent 

 upon extending the trade and commerce of Norway, he granted 

 the Snglifh very great privileges, and gave them a convenient 

 place to build upon." 



Thefe privileges their defcendants enjoyed near 3 00 years, till 

 the year 1 3 1 2, when they fell upon king Hagen's people, upon 

 which they were transferred to the Germans who came in their 

 room, and carried on a confiderable trade there. However, fome 

 of the Englifh remained in feveral of the fea-ports, and there, as 

 it is reported by a continued tradition, built the firft churches, 

 and were the apoftles or firft inftruc'tors of the Norwegians in the 

 The Scotch. Chriftian faith. The fame may be faid of their neighbours the Scots, 

 who have viftted thefe parts rather oftner than the Englifh, being 

 fituated nearer to the Norwegian-coaft. A great number of them 

 have fettled here, efpecially in Hordeland, which is now called 

 North and South-Hordlehn. Thofe peafants about Bergen, di£- 

 3 tinguifhed 



