They are very strong in their limbs, so that in a bow which a _Norwegian_ can scarce half bend, they will draw an arrow up to the head. Their strength is accompanied with such activity withall, that with their bows and quivers at their backs they will throw themselves thro a hoop of but a cubit in diameter. But this seems to be spoken only of some Tumblers, for the People are generally ignorant of such sports; their usual exercises being running races, climbing inaccessible rocks and high trees. Tho they are thus nimble and strong, yet they never go upright, but stooping, which habit they get by frequent fitting in their cottages on the ground. We come now to the habits of their mind, in which ’tis first observable that they are much given to superstition, which is no wonder while they live in Woods among wild Beasts, and maintain little correspondence one with another: but of their superstition we shall treat elswhere. Furthermore they are beyond all imagination fearfull and mean spirited, being frighted at the very sight of a strange man, or ship; above all things dreading War: the reason of all this being the cold to which they are condemn’d, and the meanness of their diet, which cannot supply good blood and spirits; wherefore they are useless in war, and the _Swedes_ who raise men in all the other Provinces, find none in this, as it appears from the ancient Records and Catalogues of all the Souldiers that ever were listed by former Kings. So that ’tis fictitious, and rather an abuse than history, which some have reported, that _Gust. Adolphus_ had several Companies of _Laplanders_ in his Armies; but they were forc’t to find out some excuse for those many defeats, which to the wonder of the World that most victorious Prince gave his powerfull and numerous Enemies; and pretend that those Victories were obtained by the help of the _Laplanders_ and Magic. Wherefore I conclude as I said before, that this opinion is absurd and contradictory, not only to the nature of the People, but to public testimonies and writings. To which we may add that they cannot well live out of their own Country, but fall into diseases and die, being no more able to endure a milder air, or feed upon salt, bread, and boiled meats, than we could upon their raw flesh and fish dried by the Sun: for it has bin often found by experience that they are hardly temted by any reward to come even into these parts, or if they do they die suddenly afterwards, much less would they be induced to march into any more remote Countries. _Olaus Magnus_ gives us an instance of six _Rain-deers_ sent to _Frederick_ Duke of _Holsatia_ by _Steno Sture_ junior Prince of _Swedland_, with two _Laplanders_, a man and woman to be their keepers, and that both they and the beasts wanting their accustom’d manner of living, died all together in a short time. _Ziegler_ indeed on the other side saies they are a valiant People, and that they were a long time free, resisting the Arms both of _Norway_