_Of the Government of the_ Laplanders.
We come now to their secular affairs, which are either public or
private: we will treat first of the public, to which belong the form
and constitution of their Government. This in former times, before they
were named _Laplanders_, was in this manner; they were subject to no
neighbouring Country, but were governed among themselves yet so as to
be subject to a King, they chose out of their own Nation. Most of them,
or at least those which bordered on _Norway_, and dwelt near the Sea,
were under this kind of Government, in the time of _Harauld Harfager_
King of _Norway_, cotemporary with _Ericus_ the Conqueror, King of the
_Swedes_, this was 900 years after Christ; he conquered the greatest
part of _Norway_, except these _Finlanders_. The King that reigned over
them at that time, was named _Mottle_. This account was questionless
taken from _Haralds_ expedition into _Biarmia_, and his ruining all
that Countrey, except the part belonging to these _Finlanders_. In
those times the name of _Laplanders_ was neither used, nor known, as I
have shewn elsewhere, but they retained that of their ancestours, which
was also common to all of the same extraction.
Their condition was not much altered, after that they took this name;
which was when they first sent out Colonies into the inland Countries,
on the farther part of the mountains, which divide _Swedland_ from
_Norway_. For they that went out had certainly some Leader, whom
without doubt they chose for King, after they had taken possession
of those Countries; and I believe they would scarcely submit to
any other power whilst that he was living; and this seems the more
probable, because no one in those daies would undertake the conquest
of a company of poor beggarly fugitives, who dwelt among Woods and
Deserts, in continual snow and the greatest extremity of cold. This
was the _Moscovites_ opinion of them, who tho they dwelt near them,
scarcely knew their nature and disposition, and thought it madness to
set upon them with a small party, and an adventure of little profit,
and less honour to raise an Army against a Country already distressed
by poverty. For this reason the _Laplanders_ enjoied their own customs
for a long time. The first King of _Sweden_ that had any thoughts of
conquering them was _Ladulaus_ the great, who florished about the year
1277, who because it seemed difficult to bring them under the Crown
of _Sweden_, promised those that would undertake the conquest, the
government over them. He thought it too expensive to make a public
war upon them, when they were to be dealt with as wild beasts; yet
however could not endure that a neighbouring People, dwelling almost
in the heart of his Country, for they possessed at that time as far
as the Bay of _Bothnia_, should refuse obedience to his Kingdom.
Wherefore he thought upon the before mentioned project, and proposed
great advantages to private persons, upon which the _Birkarli_, their
neighbours, readily engaged themselves, and effected their enterprize
no less successfully. In this design, the plot of a particular person
was most remarkable, as is related by _Ericus_, and recorded by _John
Buræus_. One single man of the _Birkarli_ went towards _Lapland_
to way-lay the _Laplanders_ in their return from _Birkala_, (at
this time no one inhabited on the North side of that allotment) and
ordered his wife to cover him over with snow, in the middle of the
way where the _Laplanders_ must necessarily pass over him. They came
in the night time, and by their passing over him he knew there were
fifteen, which were the chief among them, and to whom the rest were
in subjection; when they were gone, he immediately arose out of the
snow, and going some shorter way, set upon them at unawares, as they
passed by, one by one, which is their usual way in travelling, and
slew them one after another. None of those that followed perceived
the first men slain, it being in the night time, and each of them at
some distance from the others; till the last man finding his fellows
killed, made a stout resistance, but the _Birkarla_ by the assistance
of his wife got the victory, and slew him likewise. Thus the most
powerfull of them being slain, the rest readily submitted. Some think
the _Birkarli_ deluded them by a pretended truce, and that before
it was expired, they assaulted them, not suspecting then the least
danger, and killing several, subdued the Countrey, as far as the
Northern and Western Oceans. We may easily collect from the truce
mentioned here, that before their subjection to the _Swedes_ by the
_Birkarli_, there was some kind of war betwixt both: besides, it was
shewn above, that _Ladulaus_ could not bring them under his Crown.
This perhaps may be _Zeiglers_ meaning, when he describes them as a
warlike People, and free for a great time, that they also withstood
the Arms of _Norway_ and _Sweden_, till they were forced at last to
yeild; but what _Zeigler_ imputes to their valour, proceeded only
from the contemt they were then in, as is plain from the opinion the
_Moscovites_ gave of them. And there is little reason to suppose the
_Swedes_ were not of the same, since they were overcome only by the
allotment of _Birkala_; and _Ladulaus_ did not conquer them out of
any fear he conceived of their forces, but by sleight, foreseeing the
small advantages he should receive would not quit the charges of an
Army. Thus the _Laplanders_ were brought in subjection by the subtilty
and expence of private persons. About the year of our Saviour 1277,
the _Birkarli_ had the autority over them; yet so as to acknowledg
their dependance on the King of _Sweden_. Now whether all of them were
thus overcome, as those that lived beyond the mountains of _Norway_,
near the Sea, which are the _Finlanders_, or _Lappofinni_, is still
in doubt, except we collect it from this, that all from the Northern
and Western Oceans were certainly subjected. But whatever dispute
may arise concerning that, it is manifest the _Swedes_ were the
first Conquerours of _Lapland_, but afterwards the _Norwegians_ and
_Moscovites_ following their example, put in also for a part; thus they
became subject to these three severall Princes. But to pass by the
others, the _Swedes_ enjoyed, for some former ages, half the dominions
from _Tidisfiorden_ to _Walangar_, over the _Lappofinni_, or maritime
_Finlanders_. This was given by _Charles_ the IX, in his instructions
to his Embassadors, sent to the King of _Danemark_, wherein he made
it appear that the _Swedes_ had from former times, till then, enjoied
half the rights, both sacred and civill, whether as to tributes,
punishments, men, or fisherie, with the Crowns of _Danemark_ and
_Norway_. But the _Swedes_ kept only a third part from _Malanger_ to
_Waranger_, those of _Norway_ and _Moscovy_ laying claim to the other
two, till in the year 1595, the _Moscovites_, by a League, delivered
up their part, but the _Swedes_ alwaies possessed the mountainous
and more neighbouring places from _Ladulaus_’s time, for near four
hundred years, and exercised their autority over them. The Government
after the conquest was in the hands of the _Birkarli_, according to
the grant given them by _Ladulaus_, who ruled over those that dwelt
near the Bay of _Bothnia_, imposed taxes, trafficked with them, and
received all the profit of the Salmon fishing, and all other advantages
arising from them; but in acknowledgement to the King, as Supreme,
they paid a certain number of gray Squirrils skins. The _Laplanders_,
by common consent, received and honored the _Bergchara_, that is men
of the mountains, or _Birkarli_, as their Governours, and paid them
very rich skins, and severall sorts of fish, both for their tribute to
the King of _Sweden_, and their own proper uses. Neither were there
any other commissioned by the King in those times to govern them, as
will appear afterwards. He, that was their Governor was honored by
them with the title of King, his autority was confirmed by the Crown
of _Sweden_, he wore a red robe, as the token of his Roialty; now
from this sort of garment, by which the _Birkarli_ were distinguished
from others, it is evident they were the first rulers in those parts;
and perhaps only one governed them, whilst they dwelt near the Bay
of _Bothnia_, but when they enlarged their possessions farther into
the Land, and were divided into severall Counties, each division had
its particular Governor. And that it was so, is manifested from the
Letters of _Gustavus_ the first, where he divides the _Birkarli_ into
_Luhlians_, _Pythians_, and _Tornians_, over which accordingly there
were severall Governors. It may perhaps now be a dispute, who these
_Birkarli_ were, by whom the _Swedes_ subdued _Lapland_; _Buræus_ saies
they were the Inhabitants of the allotment, of _Birkala_, but _Olaus
Magnus_ is of a different opinion, and calls them _Bergchara_, that is,
men of the mountains, from _Berga_ mountain, and _Charar_ or _Karar_
men. What grounds he hath for this, he neither declares, nor can I
easily imagine. But I think them so small that they will find little
credit any where; for from whence, or from what mountains should they
be thus called? not from those of _Norway_, when at that time no body
inhabited there; neither are there any other mountains besides these,
from whence they should take this name: moreover, the _Birkarli_ were
subjects to the _Swedes_, and conversed commonly with the _Laplanders_.
The public records also contradict this opinion, for in them there
is no mention of _Bergcharli_, but _Birkarleboa_. It is yet clearer
also from the Letters of _Cnute Joanson_, written in Latine, in the
year 1318, where he saies in the Parliament held at _Telge_, betwixt
the _Helsingers_ and _Birkarleboa_ in his presence, there was issued
out this Placart, _&c._ This serves to confute _Olaus_. It is more
evident that they came from _Birkala_, an allotment in _Tavastia_, and
described in the Mapps. Next, as to _Gustavus_ the first mentioning
the _Birkarli_, in the foresaid Letters, as belonging to severall
marches, _viz._ _Luhla_, _Pitha_, and _Torna_ it was upon this account:
the _Birkarli_ that descended from those of _Tavastia_, were placed in
these severall Towns to govern the _Laplanders_, and because they only
had the priviledge of commerce with them, they were called Merchants.
They were used in the Summer to buy those commodities of the Merchants
that came to _Bothnia_, which were necessary for the _Laplanders_,
and in the Winter, when the Rivers and Lakes were frozen over, they
carried them up into the Countrey. This way of trafic was used by
all the Inhabitants of _Bothnia_, but perhaps only at first by one
allotment, which growing populous, severall of the Inhabitants removed
farther into the Countrey, and retained the same priviledge that was
first granted by _Ladulaus_, _viz._ that no one, but they, should claim
any priviledges over the _Laplanders_, either as to the Government,
tribute, commerce, or any thing of this nature, which priviledges they
for a long time enjoied, as is confirmed by the Letters wrote by _Cnute
Joanson_, in the time of King _Smecke_, in which it was provided that
the _Birkarli_ should not be molested either in their passage to or
from the _Laplanders_. This priviledge they maintained till _Gustavus_
the first, who made a Contract with them at _Upsal_ on the 4^{th} of
_April_ 1528, concerning the yearly tribute they were to pay to the
Crown, for the great advantages they received from the _Laplanders_.
This tribute was only in respect of the priviledges the _Birkarli_
had from _Ladulaus_’s time till then, these were so largely granted,
that they setled them as hereditary upon their children, and none but
those descended from the _Birkarli_ could enjoy them. This _Gustavus_
also confirmed according to the former grants made to their ancestors,
but with this alteration that they should pay half as much more, as
they did formerly. This Government the _Birkarli_ exercised over the
_Laplanders_ which they got by subtility, had their autority from the
King of _Sweden_, preserved it in their own family, and delivered it
down to their children for near 300 years, till _Gustavus_ the first,
by reason of their insulting over the common People, deprived them
of this state; for when their riches encreased they oppressed the
poorer sort, and extorted so much from them that they left them very
little, but that which was worth nothing. Upon this, complaint was
made to _Gustavus_, who thereupon committed _Henricus Laurentii_ to
prison, and confiscated most of his estate, taking then the tribute
from the _Laplanders_ into his hands, and granted to all People free
trading with them. This _Henricus Laurentii_ was without doubt in that
time the head of the _Birkarli_, and I believe the brother of _David
Laurentii_, who, together with _Jonas Nicolas_, concluded the Treaty
with _Gustavus_ in the name of the _Birkarli_, in the year 1528, for
setling the tribute, and other affairs. From hence we may collect
they lost their priviledges, not long after this Contract; now it was
not only just to deprive them of those priviledges, which they abused
in oppressing others, but prudent, as well from the jealousy of too
great a power granted to private persons over so large and populous
a part of the Kingdome, as out of consideration of its wealth, which
was more necessary to the Kings, for driving out the common enemy,
ane establishing the Kingdomes liberty, then to maintain the pride
of the _Birkarli_, who besides their injustice, were inconsiderable
both in number and strength. _Gustavus_ the first having thus deposed
the _Birkarli_, sent Deputies to gather the tribute, and manage all
things in the Kings name; the Deputies are called by the _Swedes_,
_Lappfougder_, by the _Laplanders_, _Konunga Olmai_, that is the Kings
men; of these there is mention made in the patent granted by _Gustavus_
the first to M^r _Michael_, the first Priest in _Lapland_ in 1559, the
words are to this purpose, _We commend all the Inhabitants of_ Lapland,
_as well Deputies, as others_, &c. These had at first the charge of
all public affairs, as will appear in the following Chapter, as for
collecting taxes, as executing justice among them. But afterwards,
when _Charles_ the ninth divided the Countrey into several parts,
and formed it into better order, more were added to the former, for
examining causes, convicting of criminals, and other such like things,
till at last the state of Government was little different from what it
is now. Next under the King, they have a Provincial Judge called by
the _Swedes_, _Lagman_, under him one of the Senators, _Underlagman_,
next an Interpreter of the Laws, _Laglæsaren_, and divers others
which enquire into causes, and do justice; then they have a Governour
of the Province, _Landzhœfdingh_, a head over the _Laplanders_,
_Lappafougten_, their Officers who perform all other duties. In this
manner the _Laplanders_ are now governed by the _Swedes_.