The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume I Part 30

VIII.

Brandus an Abbat.

Goeth beyond the seas. 1262 Entreth the Bishop.r.i.c.ke. 1263 Dieth. 1264

IX.

Iorundus.

Entreth his see. 1267 Dieth. 1313

X.

Audunnus.

Entreth his see. 1314 Dieth. 1322

XI.

Laurentinus.

Elected and consecrated. 1324 Dieth in the Ides of April 1331

XII.

Egillus.

Entreth his see. 1332 Dieth. 1341

XIII.

Ormus.

Entreth his see. 1343 Dieth vpon the feast of all Saints. 1355

XIV.

Ionas Sonne of Ericus, sirnamed Skalle.

Being to enter his sea of Holen came into Island. This Ionas 1358 being before time consecrated bishop of Gronland, obteined A Bishop licence of the bishop of Rome to enter the See of Holen, which Gronland was at that time vacant. Whereupon comming and not bringing 1356 with him the confirmation of this dignitie and function, receiued from the Pope hee began to be suspected among the priests of the diocesse of Holen. Wherefore he was sent backe by them into Norway that the matter might bee set through by the iudgement of the king. The king therefore fauouring his part, he obteined the bishop.r.i.c.ke of Holen.

He dieth. 1391

XV.

Peter.

Consecrated the same yeere wherein his predecessour departed out of this present life.

Entreth the see of Holen. 1392 Dieth

XVI.

Ionas Wilhelmus. An Englishman Bishop of English, either borne or sirnamed. Island.

Entred the see. 1432

XVII.

G.o.dschalcus.

Died. 1457

XVIII.

Olaus.

Son of Rogwaldus nephew to the forenamed G.o.dschalcus by the sisters side, both of them being Norwayes.

He was established. 1458 He died. 1497

XIX.

G.o.dschalcus.

The nephewe of Olaus deceased, by the brothers side: also hee being a Noruagian was elected the same yeere wherein his vncle deceased.

He entreth the see. And for the s.p.a.ce of 20. whole yeres is 1500 reported cruelly to haue entreated many of the subiects. In the yeere 1520. when he was in the midst of his cups, and banquetting dishes, and heard that Ionas Sigismundus was departed out of this life (whom with his wife and children, he had for many yeres most cruelly oppressed) he presently fell into a sudden disease, and so not long after changed that violence for miserable death, which in his whole life he had vsed against his distressed subiects.

XX.

Ionas Araesonius.

Entreth the see. 1525 This man was the last and most earnest mainteiner of Popish superst.i.tions. Who stoutely withstanding Gysserus and Martinus bishops of Schalholt, was commanded by the most religious king Christian the 3. vnder paine of banishment to come with all speed into Denmarke. But neglecting the king's commaundement, hee tooke Martine bishop of Schalholt, and committed him to ward. At length he himselfe also being taken by a man of great name (whom before that time, it is saide, he had prouoked) and being brought to Schalholt, was, together with his two sonnes, by the authoritie of the kings Lieutenant beheaded. In reuenge 1551 whereof not long after, the saide Lieu-tenant with some of his company, was villanously slaine by certaine roysters, which were once seruants to the parties beheaded.

XXI.

Olaus Walterus.

Departed his countrey. 1552 Entreth the see. 1553

This man (being as yet in the life time of his predecessour fellow-labourer with him) was the first that kindled the loue of sincere doctrine at Holen in the hearts of many: and then being bishop did openly teache and defend the said doctrine.

He died. 1568

XXII.

Gudbrandus Thorlacius.

The ornament, not onely of his age, but of posteritie also who besides that, by the direction of the holy spirit, he hath most notably brought the worke begunne, and left vnto him by his predecessour Olaus to that perfection which it hath pleased G.o.d to vouchsafe: (namely his labours and diligence in maintayning the trueth of the Gospel, and in abolishing of Popish superst.i.tions) euen in this his countrey hee is the first that hath established a Printing house. For which cause his countrey (besides, for many other books translated into our mother tongue) shalbe eternally bounded vnto him, that the sacred Bible also, by his meanes, is fairely printed in the language of Island. (I say) being at this present, Hee Bishop, when he was about to take his charge: Departed his countrey. 1570 Returned and entred the see of Holen. 1571

Circa haec igitur tempora mentibus nostris e coelo redditta lux est, et regni coelestis ianua per sinceriorem doctrinae Christianae expositionem reserata. Nam et Schola triuialis in vtraque sede Episcopali, laudatissimi Regis Daniae Christiani tertij munificentia et pietate, circa annum 1553.

fundata est: ac subinde patris Christianissimi eximiam pietatem imitante filio, Diuo Friderico secundo rege nostro sanctissimo, Anno 1588. ad coelestem patriam euocato, aucta et promota: quae etiam hodie, clementissimi regis et principis nostri, Christiani 4. fauore et nutu viget floretque: in qua iuuentus nostrae Insulae, artium dicendi et sacrae Theologiae rudimentis imbuta, ad scientiam et veram pietatem formatur, vt hinc ministri Ecclesiarum petantur.

Peruenimus tandem ad hodiernum vsque diem in Episcoporum Islandiae catalogo: quo praedicti viri clarissimi Dom. Gudbrandus Thorlacius, et Dom. Otto Enerus ille Holis, hic Schalholtiae Ecclesiarum sunt antist.i.tes: quorum vtrumque, vt Deus opt. max. Ecclesiae suae saluum et superst.i.tem, propter gloriam nominis sui sanctissimi, diu conseruare velit, omnes seri et ardentibus votis flagitamus.

The same in English.

In these times therefore light is restored vnto our soules from heauen, and the gate of the kingdome of heauen is opened vnto vs by the sincere preaching of Christian doctrine. For in either of the Bishops seats there is a free schoole founded by the liberality and pietie of that most renoumed King of Denmarke Christian the third: and afterward the sonne following the G.o.dly steppes of his most Christian father, the said Free schooles by Lord Friderick the second, our most religious King, being called vp to his heauenly countrey in the yeare 1588, haue beene encreased and furthered: which at this day also doe prosper and flourish by the fauour and authoritie of the most gracious King and our Prince, Christian the fourth, wherein the youth of our Islande being instructed in the rudiments of liberall artes, and sacred diuinitie, are trained vp to knowledge and true G.o.dlinesse, that from hence ministers of Churches may proceede.

We are come at length in the register of the Bishops of Island downe to this present day, wherein the forenamed excellent men Gudbrandus Thorlacius, and Otto Enerus, the one at Holen, and the other at Schalholt are Bishops of our Cathedrall Churches both of which men, that it would please G.o.d long to preserue vnto his Church in health and life, for the glorie of his most holy name, we all doe earnestly and with feruent prayers beseech him.

SECTIO SECVNDA.

[Sidenote: Must. Krantz. Frisius.] Specus habitant plerumque, aut ad montium latera in excauatis mansiunculis. Et mox: Templa habent multa et domos ex ossibus piscium et balenarum constructas. Item: Multi etiam ad pellendam frigoris asperitatem in cauernis lat.i.tant, quemadmodum Africani ad solis aestum vitandum. Item Munsterus. Multi in Islandia hodie costis et ossibus balenarum, domos suas construunt, &c.

Hic membrum secundum initium sumit, de incolarum viuendi ratione et moribus. Et primum, quibus vtantur, edificijs seu domibus: nempe secundum Munsterum, Krantzium, Frisium, &c. Specubus et montium cauernis. Quamuis autem in splendidis aedificijs, alijsque id genus mundani ornatus pretiosis rebus parum inest, quod ad vere beatam vitam conferre queat, tamen nec hic veritatem tacere possumus: dicimusque omnino Cosmographos et Historicos in errore etiam hic versari. Etenim, cuiusmodi gentis publica domicilia esse scribunt, ea sunt tantum in paucis locis, tum magalia, vt opilionum, tum piscatorum casae et receptacula, eo tantum anni tempore quo piscaturae operam dare, aut propter gregem excubare opus habent. [Sidenote: Negotiatio c.u.m Noruagis desijt. Sylua fluctibus maris delatae.] At ipsas domus, seu ipsa hominum domicilia, antiquitus quidem satis magnifice et sumptuose, quoad huius terrae fert conditio, ligno, cespite et saxis habuerunt Islandi constructa, vsque ad illud tempus, quo illis c.u.m Noruagis, qui ligna sufficiebant, negociatio, et mercium commutatio esse desijt, quae inde paulatim collabi incipiunt: c.u.m nec syluas aedificijs aptas habeamus, nec fluctuum maris beneficio iam vt olim ad littora, quod minima ex parte sufficiat, adferatur: Nec mercatores extranei inopiae nostrae succurrant.

Vnde plurima rura ign.o.biliora ab antiqua illa integritate multum declinarunt, et iam quaedam collapsa sunt, quaedam ruinam minantur.

Nihilominus multa sunt praedia, multae villae, quas haud facile recensuero, quarum aedificia veterem illam excellentiam imitantur, et quarum domus sunt maximae, et latae et longae, tum plaerumque bene altae. Vt exempli gratia.

Praedia seu villae, quae cubilia habent plusquam 50. cubitos longa, 10. lata, alta 20. Tum reliquas domus, vt coenaculum, hypocaustum, penuarium &c. huic sua proportione respondentes. Possum multa nostratium aedificia ampla et vasta, nec in speciem deformia, nec ob artis structuram et sumptuosam firmitudinem, seu robur, contemnenda c.u.m aliquot delubris, siue sacris aedibus, solis lignis, antiqua et operosa grauitate et pulchritudine extructis commemorare: Cuiusmodi est templum Cathedrale Holense atrium habens, cuius columnae vtrinque quinque vlnas 14. altae, 5. circiter cra.s.sae: tum trabes ac tigna, et reliquum culmen, huic substructioni proportionaliter respondens. Ligna ad hoc ipsum atrium Anno 1584. horrenda tempestate collapsum, clementissimus Rex noster D. Fridericus cuius n.o.bis sacratissima est memoria, Anno 1588. benignissime largitus est. Ipsum ver templum atrium suum omni quant.i.tate manifeste excedit: tum templi intima pars quae chorus appellari solet, et templi meditullio, et atrio magnitudine nonnihil cedit. Erat autem hoc longe maius olim, vt accepi Schalholtense, quod iam bis concrematum, ad inferiorem magnitudinem redactum est. Praeterea aliquot alia templa nostrae Insulae horum antiquam magnificentiam imitantia licet non aequintia. Sed hic nequaquam res exigere videtur, vt in prolixiorem eius rei descriptionem euager. Vt enim Domus et edificia nostra nihil depredicamus: ita eorundem nos nihil pudet, qud contenti paupertate nostra Christo gratias immortales agamus, qui a n.o.bis vili tecto non dedignatur recipi, qudque templa et domus nostras quas Munsterus Krantzius et Frisius piscium et balenarum ossibus non vere dic.u.n.t extructas, non aspernetur magis, quam illa extraneorum culmina marmorea, parietes vermiculatos pauimenta tesselata reliquumque id genus ornamenti.

The same in English.

THE SECOND SECTION.

[Sidenote: Munsterus. Krantzius. Frisius.] They inhabite for the most part in caues, or hollowe places within the sides of mountaines. And againe, They haue many houses and Churches built with the bones of fishes, and Whales. Againe. Many of them also to auoide the extremitie of colde, doe keepe themselues close in their caues, euen as the people of Africa doe to auoyde the heate of the sunne. Also Munster sayth: Many in Island at this day build their houses with the ribbes and bones of Whales.

Here the second member taketh his beginning concerning the course of life, and the manners of the inhabitants. And first of all what buildings or houses they doe vse namely according to Munster, Krantinus, Frisius &c.

Holes and caues of mountaines. But although in gorgeous buildings, and such other worldly braueries there is very little helpe to the attayning of a life truely happie: notwithstanding, wee can not in this place conceale the truth and we plainly affirme that Cosmographers and Historiographers also doe erre in this point. For such habitations as they write to be common vnto the whole nation, are but in verie fewe places, and are either sheepe-cots for shepheards, or cottages and receptacles for fishermen at that time of the yeere onely when they goe a fishing, and the others stande in neede to watch their flocke. [Sidenote: Traffike with the people of Norway ceaseth.] But for their houses themselues, and the verie dwelling places of men, the Islanders haue had them built from auncient time stately and sumptuously enough, according to the condition of the Countrey, with timber, stones, and turfes, vntill such time as traffike and exchange of wares beganne to cease betweene them and the Noruagians, who were wont to supply them with timber, and for that cause nowe our houses beginne to decay whenas neither we haue woods of conuenient for building, [Sidenote: Drift wood not so plentifull now as in times past] nor yet there are nowe a dayes, as there were in olde time, trees cast vpon our sh.o.r.es by the benefite of the sea, which may in any sort relieue vs: neither doe outlandish Merchants succour our neccessities; whereupon many of our meanest countrey villages are much decayed from their auncicnt integritie, some whereof be fallen to the ground, and others bee very ruinous.