NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY* 239 



tinguiflied by a particular drefs, and by way of diftinclion called 

 Strile-farmers, are thought to be of Scotch extraction, and a great 

 many Scotch and Englifti families employed in the mercantile way, 

 are fettled here at Bergen. Thefe are ftill diftinguifhed by their 

 names ; and a diftrict in Rye-Kirkens-Sogn, called Skotte-Byen, or 

 Scotch-town, is a farther proof of this. There are likewife in Foffen, 

 now called Chriftianfand, which has the privileges of a trading- 

 city, a great many Englifli and Scotch families fettled, who carry 

 on a great trade. I obferved above, that the Germans, about the 

 beginning of the fourteenth century, fucceeded the Englifh in 

 their trade, privileges, and advantages. Thefe they enjoyed as long 

 as the Hanfe-treaty was in force, and Bergen was one of the 

 principal towns of this aflbciation. Thefe Germans piqued them- 

 felves upon the privileges that were granted them, and behaved 

 with a great deal of infolence, making a bad ufe of them by en- 

 croaching upon the inhabitants, particularly by joining with the 

 mechanics of their country. By this means they became very nu- 

 merous, and conftituted a formidable body of feveral thoufands* 

 till king Frid. II. deputed Mr. Chriftopher Walkendorf to chafthe 

 them, who immediately damped their courage, and fet them 

 their proper bounds. 



At this prefent time the Germans have but little fhare of the 

 trade of the country, and are but few in proportion to their pre- 

 deceflbrs ; for tho' the Nordland-company have as great trade as 

 ever, yet out of fifty-eight houfes which were formerly inhabited 

 by German families, who belonged to that company, there are 

 now but four in their pofTeffion ; all the reft are bought up 

 by the natives, who, partly in the company's compting-houfes, 

 and partly at their own houfes, carry on the trade, which for- 

 merly enriched a great many foreigners. 



It fhewed a great want of judgment and policy in thofe times, 

 to permit foreigners thus to engrofs the whole trade of the coun- 

 try *. Even at prefent there are in this city betwixt four and five 



hun- 



* I have obferved, that fome of our own as well as foreign authors, have con- 

 ceived a very wrong idea of this German-company, which they have conveyed to 

 others, by reprefenting it in a declining condition, or almoft bankrupt ; but the 

 truth is quite the reverfe, in regard to the trade of the company : Their houfes, 

 flock, fervants, and the number of traders, are the fame as heretofore. As for the 

 fimeries, God be praifed, they are more flourifhing than ever. That at Sundmoerike 

 is as large again as it was formerly : but it may be faid very juflly, that its depcn- 

 dance upon the German Imperial cities, fuch as Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck, Roitoc, 



is 



