Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< 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.
6 2 Of the Government
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 Guftavtts alfo
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 aurority from the Kirfg of Sweden, preferved it in
their own family , and delivered it down tO their children for near 303
years, till Grtjlavtts the first, by reaffon of their intuiting over the common
People, deprived them of this Slate; for when their riches encreafed they
oppreSTed 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 Gufltvus, fcho thereupon committed Henricus Laurentii to
prifon , 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 w,ts 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 Guftavus in the name of
the Birkarli, in the year 1528, for fetling the tribute, and other affairs.
From hefice we may colle<fl th£y lost their priviledges , not long after this
Contraft; now it was not only just to deprive them of thofe priviledges,
which they abuftd irt oppreHiflg others, but prudent, as well from the
jealouSy of too great a pcwer granted to private perfons over fo large and
populous a part of the Kingdome, as out of consideration of its wealth,
which was more neceffary to the Kings, for driving out the common enemy,
ane eSlablilhing the Kingdomes liberty , then to maintain the pride of the
Birkarli, who befides their injustice, were inccnfiderable both in number
and Slrength. Guftavus the first having thus depofed the Birkarli, fent
Deputies to gather the tribute, and manage all things in the Kings name; the
Deputies are called by the Swedes , Lappfougder, by the Laplanders,
Ko-nunga Olmai, that is the Kings men ; of thefe there is mention made in the
patent granted by Guftavus the first to M’ Michael, the first Priest in
Lapland in 1559, the words are to this purpofe, We cmmand til the
Inhabitants of Lapland, its well Deputies, as others, &c. Thefe had at first the
charge of all public affairs, as will appear in the following Chapter, as
for colleding taxes, as executing justice among them. But afterwards, when
Charles the ninth divided the Countrey into feveral parts, and formed it
into better order, more were added to the former, for examining caufes,
convidting of criminals, and other fuch 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, Vnderlagman , next an Interpreter of the Laws ,
Lag-Ufaren , and divers others which enquire into caufes, and do juSiice ; then
they have a Govemour of the Province, Landxheefdingh, a head over the
Laplanders, Lappj/ougten, their Officers who perform all other duties.
Iu this manner the Laplanders are now "governed by the Swedes.
CHAP.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
