R.W.E.
Hull.
Wisby (Vol. ii., p. 444.).—
"Wisby was fortified about 1200 against its country neighbours; and King Magnus, 1288, quieted another civil war, and allowed the citizens to restore their fallen walls."—Olaus Magnus, ii. 24.
"It was destroyed in 1361 (Koch) by Walderna, King of Denmark, who, taking advantage of the discords in Sweden, and having flattered the King Magnus till he made him a mere tool of his own, conquered or destroyed some valuable parts of the Swedish dominions, and among the rest Gothland."—Johannes Magnus, Rex Suev., xxi. 6.
and in 7.:
"... ob direptum insigne emporium Vis becense."
"As, therefore, it was not an individual event, probably it had not any individual cause, and that the pane of glass story is not true."—Olaus Magnus, x. 16
The same Olaus (ii. 24.) says, that pride and discord were its ruin; that its inhabitants scattered into the continental cities; and that in his time, 1545, there were splendid ruins, iron doors, brass or copper windows, once gilt or silvered.
C.B.
Singing of Swans (Vol. ii., p. 475.).—If your correspondent T.J. will turn to Erman's Travels in Siberia translated by Cooley, vol. ii. p. 43., he will find that the singing of swans is by no means so groundless a notion as Bp. Percy supposed. Erman says the notes of the Cygnus Olor are most beautifully clear and loud—"and that this bird, when wounded, pours forth its last breath in such notes, is now known for certain." There is more also to the same purpose.
A.C.M.