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