authors saith that it is "loco et
situ commodissimo, inter eximium dulcem lacum Maeler ipsumque Balticum
mare in insula fundatum."

The inhabitants (who should best know it) affirm that the situation of
this town is very healthful, and that notwithstanding the vast quantity
of waters that do surround it, yet they are not troubled with agues, or
other diseases, so much as other parts of the country. It is too, in the
view of it, pleasant and noble for the situation; and the grounds about
it are dry and wholesome, yet fruitful. The streets are some of them
large, others more narrow; most of them are straight, the houses being
equally advanced and set together. In the heart of the city they are for
the most part built of stone or brick, making the fairer show by their
height of four or five stories. From the North Holm or suburbs to the
east is a bridge of wood, very long; from the island where the ships lie
they pass another bridge to another island, both small ones, and at the
mouth of the harbour for the ships of war, extending about half a league,
between which and the continent are the waters of the lake and of the
rivers which pass through the town from the west; from the north to the
east is a park of deer, pleasant with trees and shade, contributing to
the delight and health of the inhabitants; and, taken altogether, from
the prospect of the mountains upon the churches, castle, houses, waters,
and ships, the town appears noble and beautiful.

[SN: Legend of Stockholm.]

Whitelocke having been at the island where the ships lie, and observed it
to be called the Holm, and other islands to have the same name of Holm,
and Holm to be the same which we call an island, and this city named
Stockholm, caused his inquiry of the original of this name of Stockholm;
he was informed, in a kind of pleasant story, which is not without some
probability, and the earnest affirmations of the inhabitants, who from
tradition may be supposed best to know it, that the original of the name
Stockholm was thus:--That there was a certain great and rich town called
Bieurkoo, situate upon the lake between Upsal and this place, whereof
some ruins are yet to be seen. The number of the people in that town
increasing so much that the inhabitants could not be therein contained,
they held a council what was fit to be done; they also consulted their
idol gods, to whom they offered sacrifices and prayers for their
direction. The issue was this: they c