_Of the Religion of the_ Laplanders.
Having seen the rise and Original of the _Laplanders_, we come now to
speak more distinctly of them, but first of their Religion; not only
what is now, but also what was before Christianity came to be receiv’d
there. For there were _Laplanders_, or at least some Inhabitants of
_Lapland_ before the Christian Religion was introduced: such as the
_Finni_, _Lappofinni_, _Scridfinni_, or _Biarmi_, as is above said; but
it was very long before the _Laplanders_ properly so called embraced
the Christian Religion. At first there is no doubt they were Pagans,
as all the Northern Nations were, but being all Pagans were not of the
same Religion, it may be enquired which the _Laplanders_ profest. And I
suppose it could be no other then that of the _Finlanders_, from whom
they derive their original, and consequently their Religion too. But
what the Religion of the _Finlanders_ was is very uncertain, since we
have no account of the ancient affairs of that Nation. Therefore we
must make our conjectures from the _Biarmi_, and _Scridfinni_, as also
from some remains among the _Finlanders_ and _Laplanders_.
We have already prov’d the _Biarmi_ to be the first Colony that the
_Finlanders_ sent into _Lapland_, of whom this is chiefly recorded in
ancient Monuments, that they worship’d a certain God whom they called
_Jumala_: which _Jumala_ or _Jomala_ is manifestly a different word
from what is mentioned in the History of _St. Olaus_ King of _Norway_,
and of _Herrodus_, for they relate it as peculiar to the _Biarmi_,
and unknown to themselves; who being either _Goths_, _Norwegians_
or _Islanders_, it cannot possibly be any old _Gothic_ word, but of
some other Country, and therefore most probably of _Finland_, where
it is now in use. For _God_, which is by the _Swedes_, _Goths_, and
all of the same original termed _Gott_, or _Gudh_, is by them called
_Jumala_; custom without doubt prevailing that the same name, whereby
in ancient times they called the false God, was translated to the true
One, both by the _Finlanders_, the _Biarmi_ and the _Laplanders_ also
who came out of _Finland_, and being joined with the _Biarmi_ made one
Nation. Besides _Jumala_, it seems the _Laplanders_ had a God whom
the _Swedes_ call _Thor_, which may be gathered, not only because
they worship one _Thor_ at this present among their idols, as shall
be shewn hereafter, but also because in the number of Gods which the
old _Finlanders_, especially the _Tavasti_ adored, there was reckoned
_Turrisas_, the God of War and Victory, which was no other then _Thor_.
This _Turrisas_ is put in one word for _Turris-As_ (i. e.) _Turris_,
_Turrus_, or _Torus_ (for so his name is diversly written) the Prince
of the _Ases_, or _Asiatics_, for those who in former times came out
of _Asia_ into these parts were called _Ases_, of whom this _Turrus_
was the first, who from that time was worshipped by the _Finlanders_
by the name of _Turrisas_; which may farther be proved from _Arngrinus
Jonæ_, who saies the first King of the _Finlanders_ was _Torrus_, one
of the Predecessors of King _Norus_, from whom some think _Norige_,
(i. e.) _Norway_, quasi _Nori Rige_, to take its denomination, it being
frequent for the ancient Kings to take upon them the names of their
Gods. Thus among the ancient _Greeks_ we find many who were called
by the names of _Jupiter_ and _Neptune_. So _Torrus_ the King was so
called from _Torus_ the ancient God of the _Finlanders_, from whom
without doubt he was derived to the _Laplanders_, together with their
language, worships, and other customs. To these two (if they are two)
_Jumala_ and _Thor_, may be added the _Sun_, which I gather from this,
because he is still reckoned among their Gods. Besides he is generally
worship’d in all barbarous and pagan Countries, and if he be adored for
his light and heat by those People, who enjoy the benefit of a warm air
and temperate climate, how much more by the _Laplanders_, who for no
small space endure the hardship of continual night and bitter frosts?
but I shall speak more concerning the Sun hereafter.
These are the chief Gods of the _Laplanders_, whether they had any of
less note may be questioned, tho I doubt it not; because at this day
they worship some others, which the _Finlanders_ did before them, and
probably brought with them into _Lapland_. Of these the _Carelii_ had
_Rongotheus_ the God of Ry, _Pellonpeko_ of Barly, _Wierecannos_ of
Oats, _Egres_ of Herbs, Pease, Turnips, Flax, and Hemp; _Uko_ with
his wife _Rowne_, of tempests; _Kækre_ the Protector of Cattel from
wild beasts; _Hyse_ had the command of _Wolves_, and Bears, _Nyrke_
of Squirrel-hunting, _Hyttavanes_ of Hare-hunting. Some of these the
_Laplanders_ worshipped; especially those whose help they stood chiefly
in need of to the performing of their business, as the gods of hunting
and preserving their Cattel from wild beasts, and such like: others
probably they neglected as useless, because they neither plowed nor
sowed. But I cannot say under what names they worshipped them, because
I find nothing of certainty thereof, either in their ancient records,
or modern customs.
Next we must consider what kind of worship they pai’d their Gods,
which we have already mentioned; but of this also we are in great
uncertainty, unless we make our judgment from the present times, and
deliver those rites which are now used by the _Laplanders_ in their
religious performances, but of this we shall speak more when we come to
treat of the present state of their Religion. We shall only note here
what is read of _Jumala_. He was heretofore represented in the image
of a man sitting upon an Altar, with a Crown on his head, adorned with
twelve gems, and a golden Chain about his neck, which was formerly
of the value of 300 Marks; tho whether the word in the History doth
signify a chain, or may better be rendred a Jewel, ’tis uncertain; for
it is said that _Charles_ lifting his Ax, cut the collar whereon it
hanged: which shews that it was rather gold, artificially carved and
set with jewels, which was (I suppose) the reason why _Herrodus_ doth
not set down its weight, as is usual in the valuing of chains, but
its price. This Jewel called _Men_ from _Mene_ the Moon whose figure
it represented, was, as I imagine, tied to a collar about the neck,
and hanged down upon the brest of the image, as is usual in all such
ornaments at this day. But whether this were a chain or locket, it is
certain the other parts of his habit were agreeable to our description
of him; wherein he was not much unlike the _Swedes_ God _Thor_, as he
is described in our History of _Upsal_: for he also was made sitting
with a Crown on his head, adorned with stars, as _Jumala_ with jewels,
each to the number of twelve, from whence I am almost perswaded that
the _Biarmi_, and after them the _Laplanders_, either worshipped one
God under two names, or if they were two Gods, they used their names
promiscuously. For the true God, whom they knew partly by reason,
and partly by tradition, was by them called _Jumala_: but after the
name of _Thor_ began to be famous, they either called _Jumala_ by the
name of _Thor_, or gave _Thor_ the name of _Jumala_: which I gather
from hence, because at this day the _Laplanders_ attribute that to
their _Thor_, which questionless formerly they did to _Jumala_, _viz._
the power and command over the inferior Gods, especially the bad and
hurtful: also over the air, thunder, lightning, health, life and death
of men, and such like; as shall be shewn hereafter. What his image was
made of, is not known, but I suppose it was wood, because _Charles_ is
said to have cut off his head with his Ax, when he only designed the
cutting of the collar that held the aforesaid jewel, which he could
hardly have don, had it bin either silver or gold. Besides, to prove
it was wood, it was burnt to ashes, together with the Temple, and all
its furniture, excepting some gold, and other precious things; with
which gold particularly they did homage to their God: for the _Biarmi_
in their ceremonies to _Jumala_, did cast gold as a sacred offertory
to him into a golden dish, of a vast weight and bigness, which stood
upon his knees. This Vessel, in the History of _Olaus_, is said to be
of silver, and full of silver coin, for a little before his time both
basin and gold were lost, and the _Biarmi_, never had an opportunity of
getting more. They did not worship _Jumala_ every where, but in some
few places, or perhaps only in that one, where in a thick remote wood
he had a kind of a Temple, not as they are usually built with walls
and roof, but only a piece of ground fenced as the old Roman Temples
were; from hence one might look every way, which could not have bin
don had they bin cover’d at the top. As in the form of their Temples,
so in the situation of them they did imitate the ancients, who for the
most part chose groves to worship their Gods in, and there built their
Temples. So much of _Jumala_, and the ancient manner of worshipping him
amongst the _Biarmi_, as it is transmitted to us by ancient Writers;
but of _Thor_, the Sun, and the other Gods, there is nothing read but
what belongs to the times of Christianity, and the superstition still
remaining amongst them, of which we shall speak particularly in the
following Chapter.