F R t 
tjiiently fufFered to fall to decay, fo as to be unable to 
vvitliftand the impetuofity of tlie waves, efpecially when 
driven by a ftrong noith-wefterly wind; and by fiich 
breaches the country has been laid underwater, and great 
rumbers of perfons periflied, not to mention the Idl's of 
their cattle. In order as much as poflible to preferve 
themfelves when under thefe calamities, the inhabitants 
raifed feveral eminences, from twenty to twenty-fjve feet 
high, and of confiderable circumference ; to whicli, un- 
lefs by the rapidity of the inundations intercepted, they 
betook themfelves with their cattle and hotifehold furni¬ 
ture, and there remained till the flood fubfided. In pro- 
cefs of time, houfes, or rather whole villages and towns, 
were built on thdfe tumuli. In the year 1570, thedykes 
were ordered to be made liigher and wider, at the charge 
of the public; and fince this the irruptions of the fea have 
been lefs frequent. Friefland may vie with Holland in 
the number of canals with which it is in all parts interfedf. 
ed; and great is the convenience of thele canals, both 
for the carrying off the fuperflnous waters into the fea, 
and likewife for facilitating traffic and intercourfe. The 
principal reaches from Harlingen througlrFraneker, as tar 
as Lewarden and Dokkum, and Groningen, and even to 
the frontiers of Eaft Friefland. In the wliole province are 
eleven towns, and three hundred and thirty-fix villages. 
The inhabitants dill retain tlieir old cullomsand manner 
of living, even to the ancient Friefen dialed!: and accent,- 
which latter circumftance renders the language of the 
country people in particular unintelligible to the other 
Netherlanders. Friefland is famous for its woollen ftiiffi, 
blit-more efpecially for its linen, which is the fined in 
Europe. \ Friedand had princes of its own, afterwards 
dukes, and then kings ; among whom Radbold 11 . was 
particularly famous. Thefe lad were fucceeded by po- 
dedats, eleCded from among the people. So early as the 
year 1436, part of Friefland devolved to the houfe of 
Burgundy. The greater part of it, however, dill conti¬ 
nues under p.odedats. In 1498, the emperor Maximilian I. 
created duke Albert, of Saxony, hereditary governor of 
Friedand; and though this was done on condition that he 
Ihould maintain tlte people in their ancient liberties, yet 
would they never acknowledge him. In 1515, Charles V. 
purchafed of George duke of Saxony his claim to this 
country, and reduced it under his own dominion; but in 
the days of his fon, Philip II. the Friefons recovered their 
liberty, and acceded to the alliance of Utrecht. Lewar¬ 
den is the capital. 
FRIES'LAND (Ead), a principality of Germany; 
bounded on the north by the fea, on the ead by the coun¬ 
ty of Oldenburg, on the foiith by the bifhopric of Mun- 
der, and on wed by Groningen; about thirty-eight miles 
from north to fouth, and thirty-dx from ead towed. The 
air is mold and thick, but much purified by fea breeaes 
tiie fpring and harveds are late, the land is flat, low, and 
defended by drong and lofty dykes againd the vyaves of 
the fea. The land along the coads is rich and fertile, 
chiedy meadow land, with few corn fields. The cattle 
are of an extraordinary fize and goodnefs, as are the 
Iheep and horfes. It is not uncommon for a ewe to yean 
four lambs. The butter and cheefe are abundant and 
rich. In the centre of the country the foil is for the mod 
part dindy, interfperfed with fens and moors, in which 
the inhabitants dig peat for fuel, a circumdance of the 
more importance as wood is fcarce. Fowl and game are 
plentiful, and the geefe in particular of an uncommon 
iize, even to weigh as much as twenty-four pounds a- 
piece. The principal river is the Enis, by means of which 
the trade and navigation of the country are very confider¬ 
able. The exportation principally confids in large horfes, 
horned cattle, cheefe, butter, oats, beans, rape-feed, 
and fine linen which they fell for Holland. Anciently, 
Ead Friedand was divided into a great number of lord- 
fhips, the greater part of which, in 1430, fubmitted to 
Edzard, furnamed Cyrkfena, or Sirklena, whofe fuccef. 
fprs became princes of the empire, in 1454, with the title 
of count. This family becoming extinfl, in 1744, Fre¬ 
deric 11 . king of Prullla feized op ir, in conrequence of- 
the expedtancy granted to the honfe of Brandenburg by 
tlie empeVor Leopold, in i-‘594. On the other h.ind, the 
hoii fe ot BI uni wick Lii neburg, in the perfon of George II. 
king of England, proteded againd ir, and laid claim to 
the principality, on account of an hereditary union entered 
into, in 1691, witii prince Chridian tiberUurd; making 
his pretenlions known to the regency of Ead Friedand 
and to the aulic chamber of tlie empire ; but tlie king of 
PruIIia denying the authority of the emperor or regent''/, 
and threatening to fupporj his aflions by force of arms, 
l)e was fiiffered to remain in poiTeflion. The inhabitants 
are partly Lutherans and partly Cah. inids ; the Catholics 
have a free toleration in many towns, and the Moravians 
at Emden, I.eer, and Norden. The Jews have likewife 
their fynagogues. The ancient language of the country 
is forgotten ; High German and Dutch are equally fpoken. 
The nobility, the towns, and the peafants, form the 
dates, whofe tranfaftions with their princes, joined to 
the imperial ordinances, ferve for the laws of the coun¬ 
try. The dates confent to the taxes, and raife them ; the 
excife is in their hands, and tliey yet retain fome privi¬ 
leges. The principal towns are Aurich, Norden, and 
Emden. The aireinnent for the roman month is fixed at 
192 dorins, and the tax to each chamber term idorixdol- 
lars, eighty-fix kruitzers. The revenue to the fovereign 
is about 300,000 rixdollars. 
FRIES'ACH, a town of Germany, in the- circle of 
Upper Saxony, and Middle Mark of Brandenburg. This 
town was taken by the French, in March 1797 : twenty- 
eight miles north-wed of Berlin. 
FRIES'EN, a town of Germany, in the duchy of 
Stiria : nine miles north-north-ead of Windifchgratz. 
FRIE'SNITZ, a town of Germany, in tlie circle of 
Upper Saxony, and circle of Newdadt; two miles ead of 
Neudadt. 
FRIEZE, \_drap defrife, Fr.J A coarfe 'warm cloth, 
made perhaps fird in Friejland. —Fie could no mo dive 
without his frieze coat than without his Ikin. Addi 
The captive Germans of gigantic fize, 
Are rank’d inorder, and are clad in Jrieze. Drj/de 
FRIEZE, or Prize, f. [in architeflure.] A large flat 
member which feparates the architrave from the cornice; 
of wliich there are as many kinds as there are orders of- 
columns. See Architecture, vol. ii. p. 65. 
Nor did there want 
Cornice or frieze with body fculpturcs grav’n ; 
The roof was fretted gold. Milton, 
FRIEZ'ED, ad']. Shagged or napped with frieze. 
FRI'E'ZELIKE, adj. Refembling a frieze.—I have 
feen the figure of Thalia, the comic mufe, fometimes 
with an entire head piece and a little friezelike tower, 
running round the edges of the face, and fometimes with 
a mafic for the face only. Addifon. 
FRl'GATE, /. \_fregate, Fr. fregata, Ital.] A fmall 
fiiip. Ships under fifty guns are generally termed fru 
gates,. See Naval Architecture.-— The treafure they 
fought for was, in their yiew, embezzled in certain yh- 
gates. Raleigh. 
On high-rais’d decks the haughty Belgians ride. 
Beneath whofe' Ihades our humble frigates go. Dry den, 
FRIGATE BA'Y, a bay on the fouth coad of the 
idand of St. Chridopher: two miles ead-fouth-ead of 
Badeterre. 
FRIGATOO'N,y". a Venetian veffel, commonly ufed 
in the Adriatic, built with a fquare dern, and without 
any fore-mad, having only a main-mad, mizen-mad, and 
bow-fprit. 
FRIGEFAC'TION, f. [frigtts and facio^ Lat.]; The 
adl of making cold. 
To- 
