Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 521
that women, as well as men, drink brandy before their meals; this is falfe. In Sweden,
as in other countries, brandy is the beverage of none but a certain clafs of females, and
is not ufed in good company.
The eftablifhed religion of Sweden is the confeffion of Augfbourg, without any vari-
ation, Allreligions are tolerated freely. There are more than two thoufand catholics
at Stockholm (where they have a church), and within the kingdom at leaft fix thou-
fand: many families are eltablifhed in Finland, and come to Stockholm once every.
year or two to fulfil their duties. ;
We muft mention the Skevikare, who inhabit the fmall ifland, Wermdeun, near
Stockholm. They are a remnant of thofe feétaries who, from a fcrupulofity of con-
fcience, feceded from the Swedifh church in 1738. In the beginning, as they affected
to continue public worfhip, the facraments, and particularly prielts, they neceflarily drew
upon themfelves a perfecution, which even extended to banifhing them the kingdom ;
but in 1746 they were permitted to form an eltablifhment in the ifland of Wermdeeun,
where they bought the eftate of Skevik, whence they are called Skevikare. ‘There is
much whimficality in their doctrine, but their lives are virtuous.
The Swedes are better informed than the people of other nations: all the country
people, without exception, know how to read; hence Guftavus II]. whom nothing
efcaped, and who was reafonably apprehenfive of the effect which news from France
might have among them, forbid any notice, whether favourable or otherwife, of our re-
volution to be taken by the Swedifh Gazetteers ; he confidered he was rendering his
fubjects an effential fervice in keeping them entirely ignorant of the fubject.
The code of laws now followed, were digefted in the reign of Frederic I. They are
clear, wife, and precife: in civil actions each party pays his own colts, the lofer never
being condemned with all cofts, The criminal laws are humane, as they ought to be in
a country where great crimes are extremely uncommon. No perfonaccufed can fuffer
death without confefling his crime. Criminals fentenced to die are beheaded. There
is a latin tranflation of the Swedifh code of laws, in quarto. :
The preface of the law of Upland, ameliorated and publifhed by Birger, fon of Mag-
nus, in 12¢5, begins thus :
** God himfelf made the firft laws, and fent them to his people by his fervant Moles,
the firft great Judge of his people: fo, likewife, the powerful King of Sweden, and
Gothia Byrghir, fon of King Magnus, fends this book of the precepts of Viger, and the
laws of Upland, to all thofe dwelling between the fea, the river Scoeva, GAudmorda (the
northern foreft).
“ Laws fhould be pronounced and executed for the government of all, the rich as well
as the poor; to diftinguifh what is juft, and what unjuft. It ought to be obferved and
pronounced for the protection of the poor; the peace of the wife; it fhould exift for
the benefit of the innocent and virtuous man, and as a bar to the criminal and wicked.
The country ought to be governed by law, and not by violence ; for that country is al-
ways ina good ftate in which the laws are obferved: if all men were jult there would
be no need of laws.
“ The firft inftitutor of thefe laws was Viger Spa (that is to fay the wife), a pagan in
the time of paganifm; he was fent by King Ingiard. What we have found in his col-
leGtion applicable to every body, we fhall tranfcribe into this book ; what is not appli-
cable, and too harfh, fhall omit: what was unknown tothe pagans, that is to fay, chrif-
tian and ecclefiaftical law, we fhall add at the beginning of this book; and in this law
fhall follow our anceftors, Eric the Holy, Byrghir Jart (that is to fay Duke Byrghir),
and King Magnus: but in what thereto is added or omitted, we fhall follow our own
VOL. VI. ax > mature
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
