The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume I Part 24

The backs of Whales which they thinke to be Ilands. This fable, like all the rest, was bred of an old, ridiculous and vaine tale, the credite and trueth whereof is not woorth a strawe. [Sidenote: Certain letters sent by Brandan bishop of Breme, to preach Christian faith in the North.] And it is this that foloweth, namely, that the bishop of Breme (called by the ancient Norwaies Brandan, and by Krantzius, if I be not deceiued, Alebrandus) in old time sent certanie Legates with a Couen of Friers to preach and publish in the North the popish faith, which was then thought to bee Christian, and when they had spent a long iourney in sailing towards the North, they came vnto an Iland, and there casting their anker they went a sh.o.r.e, and kindled fiers (for it is very likely that the Mariners were not a litle vexed with the nipping cold which they felt at sea) and so prouided victuals for the rest of their iourny. But when their fires grew very hote, this Iland sanke, and suddenly vanished away, and the Mariners escaped drowning very narowly with the boate that was present. This is the foundation of the matter, but how incredible it is, I appeale to the Reader. But what ailed these Mariners, or what meant they to doe, who in a tempestuous sea, seeing a rocke before their eyes, or (as Munster saieth) a little Iland, would not rather with all diligence haue auoided it for feare of running a sh.o.r.e and shipwracke, then to rest in such a dangerous harbour? But in what ground should the anker be fastened? for Mariners for the most part are dest.i.tute of such long cables, whereby they may let downe an anker to the bottom of the maine sea, therfore vpon the backs of Whales, saith Munster. But then they had need first to bore a hole for the flouke to take hold in. O silly Mariners that in digging can not discern Whales flesh from lumps of earth, nor know the slippery skin of a Whale from the vpper part of the ground: with out doubt they are woorthy to haue Munster for a Pilot. Verily in this place (as likewise before treating of the land-miracles of Island) he gathereth fruits as they say, out of Tantalus his garden, and foloweth hard after those things which will neuer and no where be found, while he endeuoureth to proule here and there for miracles, perusing sea and land to stuffe vp his history where notwithstanding he cannot hunt out ought but feigned things.

But they are called in their language Trollwal. Go not farther then your skil, Munster, for I take it you cannot skill of our tongue: and therefore it may be a shame for a learned man to teach others that which he knoweth not himselfe: for such an attempt is subiect to manifold errours, as we will shew by this your example. For while you take in hand to schoole others, & to teach them by what name a Whale-fish is to be called in our tongue, leauing out through ignorance the letter H, which almost alone maketh vp the signification of the worde, you deliuer that which is not true: for val in our language signifieth not a Whale, but chusing or choise of the verbe Eg vel, that is to say, I chuse, or I make choise, from whence val is deriued, &c. But a Whale is called Hualur with vs, & therefore you ought to haue written Trollhualur. Neither doeth Troll signifie the deuill, as you interprete it, but certaine Giants that liue in mountaines. You see therefore (and no maruel) how you erre in the whole word. It is no great iniurie to our language being in one word onely: because (doubtlesse) you knew not more then one.

Others also do offend in the same fault, for it is not to be allowed that a certaine man being about to publish a Map of Island receiued from Islanders themselues, had rather marre the fashion of all, or in very deed of the most names of Capes, Baies, mountaines, springs, riuers, h.o.m.ocks, valleis, hils & townes (because that being ignorant of our language, he was not able to read those things aright, which he receiued from our countreymen) he had rather (I say) depraue & corrupt them all, then learne of the Islanders themselues, which at that time, namely in the yeere 1585, liued in the vniuersitie of Hafnia, or Copen Hagen, how euery thing ought to be read and written. And we esteeme him for this his wilfull marring of our natiue names and words, (where vpon it came to pa.s.se that we reading the same, could acknowledge very few to be oure owne) that he is no slight offender against our tongue, otherwise retaining the pure and the ancient propertie.

But now we haue after some sort examined most of the myracles of Island, which our writers haue mentioned. Notwithstanding before we enter into any further matter, we thinke it good in this section to touch that which the last forenamed man (in this Map of Island, that he caused to be put forth in the foresaid yeere vnder his own name) hath giuen out concerning two other fountains besides the former: whereof the one should die white wooll black, & the other blacke wooll white. [Sidenote: Who be the Islandish writers?] Which thing where he receiued it, or whence he had it, we can by nomeans imagine: for it is not to be found in our own writers, nor in the writers of other countries. But whence soeuer it be, it is but a tale, & hath not one iote of trueth in it. And although it be incredible That black wooll may be died of a white colour, seeing it is affirmed by Plinie, that blacke wooll (of all other) will receiue no colour: notwithstanding there is some such thing reported by Theophrastus: namely, that there is a riuer in Macedonia which maketh blacke sheepe white. [Sidenote: Speculum regale.]

Also that Norway pamphlet called the Roiall looking-gla.s.se, which I mentioned before, doth attribute these fountains to Ireland, which is also called Hybernia, and not to Island. Which peraduenture deceiued the Reader, reading in a strange language S in stead of R.

That likewise deserueth no better credite which another Author writeth: That there is a certaine great stone in Island which runneth vp and downe the crags and clifs of mountaines by no outward force, but by the owne proper and natural motion. Hee that will beleeue this, what will he not beleeue? For it is such a rare deuise that the Epicures themselues (who yet seemed to Lucian to haue fained many incredible things) I am sure neuer inuented the like: vnlesse perhaps the sayd Author doeth imagine (that a man who is called of the Islanders by the proper name of Stein) should compa.s.se about, and clime vp certaine rockes: which although it be ridiculous to put into a story of wonders, namely, that a man should mooue or walke, yet is it so to bee supposed to saue the credite of the Author, that we may not more seuerely condemne that fable, which is so sencelesse of it selfe and not woorthy to be read.

[Sidenote: Vultures, beares and crows come vpon the drift Ice into Island.]

They are gulltie of the same crime also who haue found out rauens, pies [Footnote: Magpies.], hares and vultures, all white in Island for it is wel knowen that vultures come very seldome together with the Ise of the sea, vnto vs, as beares also (but they seldomer then vultures) and a certaine kind of crowes called by the Islanders Isakrakur. But as for white pies, hares, and rauens Island neuer had any. [Footnote: All modern writers, however, ascribe white hares to Iceland.]

And these in a maner be the things which, in regard of our daily busines, we were able at this present to affoord, as touching the former part of our treatise, which were penned by me for this purpos (as in the beginning I did protest) that the errors of Authors concerning an vnknowen land, and the affected vanitie also of some men might be disclosed, for I am not desirous to diminish any mans good name: but because I consecrated these my labours to trueth and to my countrey, I could not chuse but shew, that those things which hitherto haue bene reported by many concerning our Island deserue very litle credite: and so to addresse my selfe vnto the matters folowing concerning the Inhabitants.

Here endeth the first part of the Commentarie.

Commentarij de Islandia pars secunda: quae est de incolis.

Absolutis hactenus miraculis Islandiae, (c.u.m nonnullis alijs, primae parti annexis) quae dum scriptores, velut Agamemnonios quosdam fontes, im, vt quiddam praeter et contra omnem naturam, mirantur, nec non varie depraedicant, minus veritati ipsi, et authoritati suae cousulunt; monet propositae orationis series, vt ad alteram commentarij partem nos conferamus, quae est de incolis: Vbi quid primum dicam, aut vnde initium sumom, non satis teneo. Tanta enim sunt in nos vltimos Islandos, et tot quorundam ludibria, tot opprobria, tot scommata, tot dicteria, (Atque inter haec etiam nonnulla eorum, qui simplicissimam veritatem profiteri, volunt, nempe historicorum) vt si singula recensere velim, non aliud quam

Icariae numerum dicere *corier* aquae.

Sed, vt dixi initio, non c.u.m omnibus aeque stricto iure agemus. Nam licet Krantzius, Munsterus, Frisius, et alij, nimis audacter multa de gente nostra scripserint: Tamen suis monumentis de studijs liberalibus alioqui bene meriti, etiam apud nos eo erunt in precio, quo merentur. Verum interea, etsi quis velit eos a calumniandi nota liberare, tamen non leue est, eos res quasdam tam absurdas, impossibiles et ridiculas proposuisse, cuiusmodi illa fuerunt, quae hactenus exposuimus, tum impias, et atrocitate mendaciorum horrendas, cuiusmodi iam sequentur aliquot, in historias retulisse. Ast alijs, quicunque; sunt, qui quotidia.n.u.s conuicijs nationem Islandorum incessunt, responsio, quam merentur, parata esse debet: Ex quorum numero, scurra ille fuit, qui rhythmis aliquot, in gentis nostrae contumeliam, Germanica lingua editis, nomen suum immortali dedecori consecrauit.

Quapropter, vt inst.i.tuti nostri ratio exigit, dum scriptorum de hac re monumenta persequimur, etsi quaedam in eis occurrant, quae coutumeliae parum habent, nos tamen plaeraque excutiemus, et errores, vt hactenas, annotabimus: tum si quid veri interea attulerint, id nequaquam dissimulabimus. [Sidenote: Secundae partis distributio.] Ac eo modo, primum Munsterum, Krantzium, Frisium, et si qui sunt alij, audiemus, Graculo illo, c.u.m suis rhythmis Germanicis, dira calumnia infectis in postremum, vt dignus est, relecto loc.u.m. [Sidenote: 1. Capitis huius partis diuisio.] In hunc igitur modum, primum de fide seu Religione Islandorum: Deinde de ipsorum moribus, inst.i.tutis seu viuendi ratione, auth.o.r.es isti scribunt.

The same in English.

Of Island the second part, concerning the Inhabitants.

Hauing hitherto finished the miracles of Island with certaine other particulars belonging to the first part, the which while writers doe wonder at and diuersly extoll as it were the fountains of Agamemnon, yea, as things besides and against all nature, they haue bene very carelesse both of trueth it selfe, & of their owne credite. Now the course of the present speach doeth admonish mee to make haste vnto the other part of the treatise concerning the Inhabitants wherein what I should first say, or where I should begin, I am altogether ignorant. For there be such monstrous, and so many mocks, reproches, skoffes, and taunts of certaine men against vs poore Islanders dwelling in the vtmost parts & the world (and amongst these also, some things of theirs who take vpon them to professe most simple trueth, namely Historiographers) insomuch, that to reckon vp the particulars were nothing els but to tell the drops of the Icarian sea. But as I said in the beginning, we will not deale alike seuerely with all. For although Krantzius, Munsterus, Frisius & others haue written many things too boldly of our nation yet hauing otherwise deserued wel of learning by their monuments, they shalbe still in ye same reputation with vs that they are worthy of. Howbeit in the meane time, although a man would free them from the marke of slanderers, yet is it no small matter that they should broch certaine sencelesse, impossible & ridiculous things, such as those are which we haue hitherto laid downe as also that they should record in histories prophane and horrible vntrueths, some of which kind shal now immediately be discussed. As for others, whatsoeuer they be, who vpbraid the nation of Islanders with daily reproches, they are to haue that answere in a readinesse which such men deserue. In the number of whom, that scoffer is to be accounted, who by a company of rimes published in the Germane tongue, to the disgrace of our countrey, hath brought his name into euerlasting ignominie.

Wherefore as our present businesse requireth, while we are in hand with the writings of Authors concerning this matter, although we meet with some things containing litle reproch, notwithstanding we will examine most of them, noting the errors as. .h.i.therto we haue done in the meane time also when they shall alleage any trueth, we will in no case dissemble it. And after this maner, first we will heare Munster, Krantzius and Frisius, and others also, if there be any more, what they haue to say, reiecting that Paro and his Dutch rimes infected with fell slander, as he is woorthy vnto the last place. First therefore the sayd Authors write concerning the faith or religion of the Islanders and secondly, of their Maners, Customes, and course of life in maner folowing.

SECTIO PRIMA.

Adalbertius Metropolita.n.u.s Hamburgensis, Anno Christi 1070. Vidit ad Christum conuersos Islandos: licet ante susceptam Christi fidem, lege Naturali vuuentes, non multum a lege nostra discrepantes: itaque, pretentibus illis, ordinauit quendam virum sanctum, primum Episcopum, nomine Isleif.

Krantzius his verbis, et Munsterus alibi, fidei seu Religionis Christianae dignitatem Islandis videntur adscribere: Facerentque et se, et veritate dignum, nisi eandem alias n.o.bis adimerent. Nam (vt de Krantzio infra) Munsterus, quae supra prodidit, de fide nostra, seu opinione circa Inferni loc.u.m situmque, omnino est a Christiana pietate alienum: Velle scilicet scrutari arcana, quae Deus sibi soli reseruauit, quaeque voluit nostrum captum excedere: Non enim reperitur de hac re quicquam in literis sacris, vbi locus vel sitis inferni seu ignis aeterni, Diabolo et Angelis ipsius, adeoque d.a.m.natis omnibus animabus destinati, determinetur, aut circ.u.mscribatur: Nullam inquam, infra terram, seu in ea, aut vlla alia huius mundi parte, corporalem seu localem situm illi d.a.m.natorum carceri pagina sacra a.s.signat: quinimo, terram hanc interituram, et terram nouam et coelos nouos, iustorum et sanctorum habitacula, creanda affirmat: Apoc. 2.

2, Petri 3, Esa. 65. Quare Christia.n.u.s rerum ade abstrusarum inquisitionem libenter praeterit: tum dogmata nullis appertis et ill.u.s.tribus scripturae sacras testimonijs stabilita, velut certa et vera recipere, aut alijs tradere, nefas esse ducit. Deut 4. et 12, Esa. 8. Matth, 17. 2, Timoth. 3.

Deinde etiam pugnat acriter c.u.m Religione Christiana, quo Munsterus & Krantzius Islandos ornant, encomium: Eos videlicet, catulos ac pueros suos aequo habere in precio. De quo infra, section. 7. Sic igitur sec.u.m dissidet Munst. dum quos Christianos a.s.sent, inferni architectos alias facit: Item, Krantzius et Munsterus, dum quos fide Christo insertos affirmant, eosdem omni pietatis et honestatis sensu exuunt: qud scribant filios ab his, non maiore cura, quam catulos diligi.

Sed vt ad rem: De Religione equidem nostra, quae qualiseu fuerit, c.u.m Ethnicismus primum fugari coepit, nihil magnifice diceret possumus: quemadmodum nec alia Septentrionis Regna vicina, vti existimo, de suis fidei initijs. Fatendum enim est, et c.u.m serijs gemitibus deplorandum vsque ad illam nunquam satis praedicatam diem, quae n.o.bis velut immortalitatis initium illuxit et repurgati Euangelij doctrinam attulit, tenebras plusquam Cimmerias, etiam nostris hominibus, vt reliquis Septentrionis Ecclesijs, offusas fuisse. Illud tamen pie n.o.bis sentire liceat, apud nos, vt et in vicina Noruegia (nam nolo vltra septa vagari, et de populis ignotis quicquam p.r.o.nunciare) eiecta primum Idololatria Ethnica, sinceriorem longe et simpliciorem fidem seu religionem Christianam viguisse; quippe veneno Papistico minus infectam, quam postea, vbi auctum Romanae sedis fermentum pestiferum, et malum contagiosum maturuit, et per totum orbem virus suum diffudit: Nam vt postea apparebit, multis annus antequam noua Pontificiorum Idololatria vires et incrementum cepit, Islandia Christum amplexa est: et vt laudatissimi duo illi Noruegiae Reges, quibus vt commune nomen, ita commune nominis Christi propagandi studium et professio, nihil nisi fidem in Deum Patrem, Filium, et spiritum Sanctum, sonabat. Dico autem illum Olaum Thryggonis F. qui Anno Christi 968. natus, Anno aetatis 27. imperium Noruegiae adeptus est, et primus, vt accepimus, Noruegis Christum obtrusit: quibus imperitabat annis 5. Et huic cognominem, Olaum nuncupatum Sanctum, Haraldi F. Qui anno Christi 1013. aut circiter, imperij habenas arctius in primis obtinuit. Per annos fere 17. Christi doctrinam audacter tradidit.

Anno Christi 1030. ab improbis parricidis nefarie interfectus, in pago Noruegise Stickla Stodum, pro Christi nomine cruorem fudit.

Habuit etiam nostra patria inter multos alios quendam insignem pietate virum; cui Nialus nomen erat, qui circa annum Christi 1000 vixit in praedio seu villa Berthors huol, sita in Parochia Islandiae, Landenum: Quique rerum humanarum experientia, circ.u.mspecta animi prudentia, sagacitate et consilio, habebatur insignis. c.u.m enim, eius seculo, indomitis Islandia motibus fluctuaret, incolis a nullo fere superiore magistratu repressis, nullis se factionibus immiscuit: Plurimas cauta animi virtute ac industria composuit. Nunquam vim fecit, nec pa.s.sus est, si vltimum tantum in vita diem excipias. Ade studiose seditiones et turbas vitauit aliosque vitare aut euadere cupientes optime iuuit. Nec quisquam eius consilio, nisi maximo suo commodo est vnquam vsus: nec quisquam ab eo, nisi c.u.m vitae et fortunarum penculo deflexit. Tam certum ab eo oraculum petebatur, vt valde mirandum sit, vnde homini tanta futurorum euentuum, et tam certa coniectura et consilium esse potuerit, quanta in ipso deprehensa est. Vnde ipsius cauta, prouidens et consilij plena sapientia, apud nostrates in prouerbium abijt: Nials biita raden: quasi dicas, Niali consilium; vel, Niali consilio res geritur, aut succedit: c.u.m quid prudenter et admirando c.u.m consilio gestum est.

Hic c.u.m domi suae, a 100. viris coniuratis ob caedem a filio ipsius, ipso tamen inscio, patratam cingeretur, et inimicis domum vndique igni succendentibus, sibi videret supremum fatum instare, ait tandem. Haec quidem fato, hoc est, voluntate diuina accidunt. Caeterum spem et fiduciam in Christo sitam habeo, nos (de se et vxore loquens) licet corpus hoc nostrum caduc.u.m, inimicorum flammis, mortalitatis corruptionem subeat, ab aeternis tamen flammis liberatum iri. Sicque inter has voces, et flammarum saevitiam, vitam, An. Christo 1010. c.u.m vxore et filio homicida, finiuit. Vox profect filijs Dei non indigna, animae, c.u.m mortis acerbitate luctantis summum solatium arguens.

Haec ideo addidi, vt ostendam qua coniectura adducar ad extstimamdum mox initio Christianismi (vt sic loquar) apud nos recepti, non fuisse tam deceptas et errorum tenebris immersas hominum mentes, quam nunc, paul ante haec nostra tempora fuerunt.

Ast ver iam postquam Dominus Deus per Lutherum, et Lutheri in vinea Domini collegas, et pios successores, salutis doctrinam ill.u.s.triorem reddidit, mentiumque nostrarum graui veterno et densa caligine excussis, dextrae suae digito, hoc est, spiritu Sancto, (Matth. 12. vers. 28.) cordis nostri auriculas vellicauit, ac oculos, quibus saluificam ipsius veritatem cerneremus, n.o.bis aperuit: Nos omnes et singuli credimus et confitemur Deum esse Spiritum, (Iohan. 4. vers. 24.) aeternum (Esai 40. vers. 28.) Infinitum (Ierem. 23. vers. 24. Psalm. 136. vers. 7. 8. 9.) optimum (Matth. 19. 17.) omnipotentem (Gene. 17. 1. Apocal. 1. 8.) Vnum essentia et natura: Vnum prouidentia: vnum efficentia rerum et administratione (Deut 6. 5. Ephes. 4.

5.) At personis diuinitatis, proprietatibusque distinctum, Patrem, Filium et spiritum Sanctum (Matth. 28. 19. & 3. 17.) Deum Patrem quidem, primam diuinitatis personam, coeli terrae et omnium rerum creatorem (Gene. 1. vers.

1. & sequent.) Sustentatorem et gubernatorem (Psal. 115. 3. Heb. 1. 3.) Patrem Domini nostri Iesu Christi (Psalm. 2. 7. & sequent:) et nostrum per eundem Patrem (Rom. 8. 15.) Animae et corporis curatorem (Luc. 12. 12,) Tum Iesum Christum, secundam diuinitatis personam, filium Dei patris (Iohan. 1.

18. &c.) Vnigenitum (Iohan. 1. 29. Heb. 1. 2.) aequalem patri (1. Paral. 17.

13. Iohan. 1. 1.) Deum verum (Iohan. 1. 2. &c.) ante omnia creata praeordinatum (1. Pet. 1. 20. Apocal. 13. 8. &c.) et statim post lapsum, promissum Messiam (Gen. 3. 15.) Sanctis Patriarchis identidem promulgatum, vt Abrahae (Gen. 12. 3. &c.) Isaac. (Gen. 26. 4.) Iacob. (Gen. 28. 14.) et promissionibus confirmatum (Genes. 49. 9. Esa. 11. 1. 10.) Sacrificijs Mosaicis (Leuit. 1. 2. &c.) Et alijs typis praefiguratum: immolatione Isaac (Gen. 22.) Exaltatione aenei serpentis. (Num. 21.) Iona (Ion. 2. &c.) Prophetarum testimonio proclamatum (Esai 7. 14. &c.) ac tandem in plenitudine temporis vere exhibitum: hominem verum (Iohan. 1. 14. &c. Paul.

Galat. 4.) mortuum pro peccatis nostris: resuscitatum propter iustificationem nostri (Rom. 4. 25. &c.) Ascendentem in coelum (Act. 1. 9.

&c.) ac pro n.o.bis ad dexteram patris sine intermissione interpellantem (1.

Iohan, 2. 1. &c.) per spiritum Sanctum suum qui tertia est diuinitatis persona patri et filio compar et consubstantialis. (Actor. 5. 4.) Ecclesiam sibi verbo et Sacramentis colligentem (Matth. 16. 18. Roman. 10. 14. &c) Et ad vitam aeternam sanctificantem (Actor. 9. 31. &c.) Ac tandem consummatis seculis e coelo, venturum (Actor, 1. 11.) Iudicare viuos et mortuos (1.

Thess. 4. 15.) redditurum impijs secundum opera sua, esque poenis aeternis adiudicaturum (Mat 13. 42. & 25. 41.) credentes ver in nomine ipsius aeterna vita donaturum (Mat 25. 34. &c.) Hunc, inquam, Iesum Christum redemptorem (Mat 1. 21.) Caput (1. Corinth. 12. 27.) et Dominum nostrum (Ephes. 4. 5.) agnoscimus: Nosque illi nomen in sacro baptismo dare ac dedisse (Actor. 2. 38.) Et per baptismum illi insertos esse (1. Cor. 12.

13.) aperte, ingenue, libere ac libenter fatemur ac contestamur: omnesque alios, quicunque aliud nomen sub coelo datum esse hominibus, per quod salui fiant, comminisc.u.n.tur, seri detestamur, execramur et d.a.m.namus. (Actor. 4.

12.) Verb.u.m ipsius sanctissimum vnicam salutis normam statuimus, illudque tantummod, omnibus humanis commentis abiectis et spretis, infallibilem fidei nostrae regulam et amussim n.o.bis proponimus: (Galat 1. 8. Esa. 29. 13.

Ezech. 20.) Quod duplicis Testamenti, veteris et noui appellatione complectimur. (Hebr. 8.) traditum per Prophetas et Apostolos (Ephes. 2.

20.) singulari et immensa Dei bonitate in hunc vsque diem semper in Ecclesia conseruatum et conseruandum in posterum. (Matth. 28. vlt. Psalm.

71. 18. 1. Cor. 11. 26.)

Deo igitur optimo maximo gratias ex animo et toto pectore agimus, qud etiam ad nos, vastissimo interuallo a reliquo Ecclesiae corpore diuulsos et vltimas mundi partes habitantes, lumen hoc suum, concessum, ad reuelationem gentium, et paratum ante faciem omnium populorum, olim pio Simeoni benigne ostensum (Nam in Christo omnes thesauri saptentiae reconditi) quod nunc totam nostram gentem radijs suis saluificis illuminat ac fouet, pertingere voluerit. Haec ita breuiter, ipsam summam perstringendo, fides nostra est, et nostra religio, quaro monstrante spirtu Sancto, et ipsius in vinea Christi ministris, bausimus: idque ex fontibus Israelis.

[Sidenote: Krantzius.] Anno Domini 1070. vidit ad Christum conuersos Islandos.

Dubium n.o.bis est, vtrum his verbis dicere voluerit Krantzius, Islandos primum Anno Domini 1070. ad Christum esse conuersos an ver, prius quidem esse conuersos non neget, sed eo primum anno id Adalberto innotuisse dicat.

[Sidenote: Chronologiae Islandicae gentis antiquissimae.] Vtrumuis autem affirmet, tamen fidem ipsius hoc loco suspectam reddunt annales et chronologiae nostrae gentis antiquissimae, quae contrarium testantur: quibus vtrum malis, de rebus nostris proprijs et domesticis et intra nostrae insulae limites gestis credere, an ver Krantzio, aut cuius alteri in nostratium rerum historia peregrino, sit penes tuum, candide Lector, arbitrium. Ego profecto multis adducor vt nostris potius a.s.sentiar. Nostrates emm nota tantum et fere domestica a.s.serunt: ille peregrina et ignota. Hi suas Chronologias sine aliarum omnium nationum labe, macula et sugillatione contexuerunt tantummod, vt rebus gestis suum verum tempus seu aeram a.s.signarent; ille quaedam c.u.m re et veritate pugnantia in contumeliam gentis nostrae ignotissimae, historiae suae admiscuit, vt paul post apparebit: hi omnium episcoporum Islandiae nomina, annos, ordinem et successum describunt: ille vnius tantum mentionem facit, idque longe secus quam res habet. Porr vt his fidem faciam, panca, quae in ventustissimis nostris annalibus de Islandia ad Christum conuersa, et de Episcoporum in nostris Ecclesijs successione reperi, quorum etiam fides apud nos publice recepta est, c.u.m extraneis communicabo. [Sidenote: Vetustissmum annales.] Quae tametsi leuiuscula, nec omnia prorsus digna quae scribantur, scribenda tamen omnin sunt ad nostrarum rerum veritatem, aduersus Krantzium et alios a.s.serendam: Sic igitur habent.

[Sidenote: 874. Islandia primum inhabituta.] Anno Christi 874. prius quidem, vt ante commemorauimus, inuenta, sed tunc primum a Noruagis (quorum princeps fuit Ingulphus quidam, e cuios nomine promontorium Islandiae orientalis Ingulffs hoffdi appellat.i.tionem traxit) occupata est Islandia.

Hi plures quam 400. c.u.m cognatis et agnatis et praeterea numerosa familia nominatim in annalibus nostris recensentur: nec illorum tantum numerus describitur, sed quas oras, quae littora, et quae loca mediterranea, singuli occupauerint et incoluerint, et quomodo primi inhabitatores, fretis, sinibus, portubus, Isthmis, porthmis, promontorijs, rupibus, scopulis, montibus, collibus, vallibus, tesquis, fontibus, fluminibus, riuis, ac denique villis seu domicilijs suis nomina dederint, quorum hodie plaeraque retinentur et in vsu sunt, aperte narratur. Itaque Noruagi occupatae iam Islandiae 60. annorum s.p.a.cio, aut circiter, habitabiles partes sua mult.i.tudine implent: Centum ver prope modum annis Ethnici manserunt, ci paucissimos, qui in Noruagia forte sacro fonte abluti fuerant, excipias.

[Sidenote: 974.] Annis autem vix centum a primo ingressu elapsis, mox de religione Christiana agi coeptum est, nempe circa annum Domini 974. quae res non sine insigni rebellione plusquam 20 annis varie a multis tentata est.

[Sidenote: Fredericus Saxo.] Commemorantur autem duo Episcopi extranei, qui c.u.m alijs, in conuertenda ad fidem Christi insula, diligenter laborarint: Prior Fridericus, Saxo natione, qui anno 981. ad Islandos venit, atque docendi munere strenue functus est, ac tantum fecit, vt Anno 984, sacrae aedes Islandis in vsu fuerint.

Alter ver ille extraneus Episcopus siue concionator, quem Thangbrandt nuncupauere, anno 997. in Islandiam primum venit.

[Sidenote: Anno Dom. 1000.] Hinc post 26, annorum disceptationem de religione, tandem Anno 1000. in conuentu generali omnium incolarum decretum est, vniuersali eorundem consensu, vt Ethnicorum numinum cultu seposito, religionem sectarentur Christianam.

Rursus in solenni incolarum conuentu Anno 1050. sancitum est, vt leges seculares seu politicae (quarum const.i.tutiones allatas ex Noruagia quidam Vlfliotus, Anno 926. Islandis communicarat) vbique cederent iuri Canonico seu diuino.

Anno 1056. abit peregre ex Islandia Isleifus quidam, in Episcopum Islandiae ordinandus.

Redit ordinatus in Islandiam, et Cathedram Schalholtensem adit Anno 1057.

Moritur 1080. aetatis 74. 4. Kalendas Iulias.

Videbuntur forsitan haec minuta, concisa, vilia, nec narratione satis digna, c.u.m multis forte quae sequuntur: Sed nec historiam Romanam conteximus, nec tam minuta erunt, quin contra Krantzij et aliorum errores conuincendos, prout nostrum est inst.i.tutum, valeant. Et certe, quantum ad fidem nostrarum Chronologiarum, constat Saxonem Grammatic.u.m non parum illis tribuisse: Cuius, in praefatione suae Danae, haec sunt verba. Nec Thylensium inquit, (sic enim Islandos appellat) industria silentio obliteranda: qui c.u.m ob natiuam soli sterilitatem, luxuriae nutrimentis carentes, officia continuae sobrietatis exerceant, omniaque vitae momenta ad alienoram operum not.i.tiam conferre soleant, inopiam ingenio pensant. Cunctarum quippe nationum res gestas cognosse, memoriaeque mandare, voluptatis loco reputant non minoris gloriae iudicantes, alienas virtutes disserere, quam proprias exhibere.

Quorum thesauros Historicarum rerum pignoribus refertos curiosius consulens, haud paruam praesentis operis partem ex eorum relationis imitatione contexui: nec arbitros habere contempsi, quos tamta vetustatis peritia callere noui. Haec Saxo. Quare lubet Episcoporum Islandiae Catalogum persequi, vt ex annalibus nostris continuata diligenter, quoad eius fieri potest, omnium series, his quae de primo Isleifo contra Krantzium attulimus, fidem faciat.

The same in English.

THE FIRST SECTION