The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume I Part 31

Notwithstanding there be many farmes and villages which I cannot easily reckon vp, the buildings whereof doe resemble that auncient excellencie, the houses being verie large both in breadth and length, and for the most part in height also As for example farmes or granges which conteine chambers in them, more than fiftie cubites in length, tenne in breadth, and twentie in height. And so other roomes, as a parler, a stoue, a b.u.t.terie, &c. answering in proportion vnto the former. I could here name many of our countrey buildings both large and wide neither ilfauoured in shewe, nor base in regarde of their workemanship and costly firmenesse or strength, with certaine Churches also, or religious houses, built of timber onely, according to auncient and artificiall seemelinesse and beautie: as the Cathedrall Church of Holen hauing a bodie the fiue pillars whereof on both sides be foure elnes high, and about fiue elnes thicke, as also beames and weather-bourdes, and the rest of the roofe proportionally answering to this lower building. Our most gracious King Lord Frederick, whose memory is most sacred vnto vs, in the yere 1588. did most liberally bestowe timber for the reedifying of this body being cast downe in the yere 1584. by an horrible tempest. But the Church it selfe doth manifestlie exceed the body thereof in all quant.i.ty: also the inner part of the Church, which is commonly called the quier is somwhat lesse, both then the middle part of the Church, and also then the bodie.

The Church of Schalholt was farre greater as I haue heard in olde time, then this our Cathedrall, which hauing now beene twise burnt, is brought to a lesser scantling. Likewise there be some other Churches of our Island, although not matching, yet resembling the auncient magnificence of these.

But here the matter seemeth not to require that I shoulde runne into a long description of these things. For as wee doe not greatly extoll our houses and buildings, so are we nothing ashamed of them, because being content with our pouertie, we render vnto Christ immortall prayse who despiseth not to be receiued of vs vnder a base roofe, and contemneth not our temples and houses (which Munster, Krantzius, and Frisius doe not truely affirme to be built of fishes and Whales bones) more then the marble vaults, the painted walles, the square pauements, and such like ornamentes of Churches and houses in other countries.

SECTIO TERTIA.

[Sidenote: Munsterus Krantzius.] Commum tecto, victu, statu, (hic Krantzius habet, strato) gaudent c.u.m iumentis. Item: Solo pastu pecorum et nunc captura piscium vict.i.tant.

Haec sunt et sequentia, quae Krantzius suo Munstero praemansa, in os ingessit, ade vt Munstero non opus fuent ea vel semel masticare, quod ex collatione vtriusque patet. Munsterus enim haec opprobria, vt ex Krantzij in suam Noruegiam praefatione hausta deglutierat, ita eadem cruda lib. 4.

Cosmographiae capit. 8. in gentem nostram euomit. Quae hactenus fuerunt, etsi satis grauia sunt, tolerabiliora tamen erant. Hoc ver commentum malignissimum, et quae sequentur, non facile est sine stomacho praeterire.

Nostrum igitur est, etiam hic veritatem a.s.serere, et mendacium in Authoris caput retorquere.

Tecto: Primum igitur quod de commum tecto (vti etiam de victu et statu) c.u.m iumentis dic.u.n.t, falsum et erroneum clamamus, teste non mod re ipsa, si quis id hodie perquirere volet: Sed etiam multorum extraneorum, qui aliquot apud nos annos egerant, et veritati plus quam gentem nostram calumniandi affectui tribuunt, experientia; qui ipsi domos et habitationes nostras viderunt, et norunt in singulis praedijs seu villis, multas esse distinctas domus: nempe in abiectissimis et vilissimis 7. vel 8. in maioribus, nunc decem, nunc 20. In maximis, nunc 40, nunc 50; quae vt plurimum, et tecto et parietibus distinctae, vni possessori vel domino, rar duobus aut tribus, rarissime pluribus inseruiunt, ac vsibus quotidianis et domesticis sufficiunt. Vnde facile intelligis, Lector, quam vere eodem tecto c.u.m iumentis vtantur Islandi, c.u.m singuli rustici in hac domuum varietate, peculiaria bouilia, ouilia, equitia, agnilia, debitis interuallis dissita habeant, quae serui, quoties opus est, petunt, vnde rursus habitationem subinde repetunt.

Qud autem quidam in mappa Islandiae de prouinca Skagefiord annotauit, sub eodem tecto homines, canes, sues et oues, viuere, partim falsum, partim minime mirandum est. De ouibus quidem, vt iam dictum est, et praecipue suibus (c.u.m illa prouincia sues non habeat) falsum: De canibus haud mirum, c.u.m illis nec regum aulae caruerint nec hodie careant, vt nimis omnibus est notum. Sed de canibus paul post Sect 7. huius.

Victu. An iumentorum pabula possint commode victus appellatione contineri, merit dubitauerim. c.u.m Doletus, Ciceronis interpretem agens, dicat: Victum, inquit, c.u.m iureconsultis, ita exponemus, vt victus verbo contineantur, quae esui, potui, cultuique corporis, quaeque ad viuendum homini sunt necessana. Et Vlpia.n.u.s, de verborum significat. Ijsdem verbis victum definit. Hoc loco ver Auth.o.r.es illi, etiam iumentorum pabula, victum appellant.

Caeterum videamus quomodo hic eluceat veritatis et candoris praestantia.

Iumenta non habemus praeterquam equos et boues: His gramina et foenum (nisi vbi foeni inopia obrepit) pabulum, aqua potum praebet. At hi ipsi scriptores fatentur, Islandos piscibus, butyro, carnibus, tum bubulis, tum ouillis, etiam frumento, licet pauco et aduent.i.tio viuere. Non igitur cib.u.m habent c.u.m brutis communem, quod tamen ijdem his verbis a.s.serunt. Communi victu gaudent c.u.m iumentis: Quod quid sit Munstero, ipse paul superius haud obscure docuit. Islandia, innquit, populos multos continet, solo pecorum pastu, et nunc captura piscium vict.i.tantes. Quid autem est pecorum pastus, aliud, quam pecorum cibus? ait Doletus: nisi Munsterus forte pecorum pasium, ipsa pecora ad pastum hominum mactata appellet: cui, vt existimo, vsus Romanorum refragatur, qui, vt homines vesci, ita pecora pasci docuit: hominumque victum pecorum autem, pastum et pabulum vocari iussit. An ver existimem tam dementes fuisse Munsterum et Krantzium vt senserint Islandos graminibus et foeno viuere? Quo miseriae Nabuchodonozor, diuinae vltionis iugum subiens redactus est Dani 4. 30. Facile dabimus multa, quibus homines, non mod nostrates, sed vestrates quoque vesc.u.n.tur, iumenta et pecora forte non reijcere, si familiari pabulo dest.i.tuantur. Vt equi frumento et panibus hordeaceis pasc.u.n.tur: ijdem lac (quemadmodum etiam vituli et agni) et cereuisiam, si offeratur bibunt, et quidem auide. Sed et canes quaevis fercula et cibaria deuorant. An idcirc quisquam dicet, homines communi victu c.u.m canibus et iumentis gaudere?

Iam quaecunque famis gra.s.santis tempore contigere pro vniuersali gentis alicuius consuetudine in historiam referri non debent. Vt non licet n.o.bis de extraneis scribere huius aut illius terrae populos canum murium aut felium vsu vict.i.tare solitos, etsi forte fame siue obsidione, siue alioqui annonas charitate inualescente immissa, id fact.i.tarint.

Potum autem interdum esse multis c.u.m iumentis communem non magnopere contraibimus: nempe aquam limpidissimam, naturalem ilium potum omnibus animantibus a Deo creatum quem etiam ex parte, medicinae consulti comendant, im nec patres Hebraei nec ipse Seruator noster fastidiebat.

Ad amictum ver quod attinet, (Nam et amictum victus vocabulo comprehendimus) nequaquam hic c.u.m iumentis communis est. Illa enim pilis et villis natura (quod Munsterum et Krantzium nouisse iurarim) vestiuit: homines, alioqui nudi, pannis corpus induere necesse habent. Haec indumenta, quae quidem Islandia suppeditat, ex lanis ouium conficiuntur. Sed non cogitaram ide recte dici, amictum esse n.o.bis c.u.m ouibus communem siue eundem. Vtuntur etiam extranei pannis ex ouilla lana confectis, licet artificio subtiliore. Sed de indumentis nihil: Stultum enim est, ex eo laudem vel superbam aestimationem quaerere quod naturae nostrae infirmitatem arguit.

Statu. Restat ille status quem c.u.m brutis habere communem dicimur. Qui qualis aut cuiusmodi sit, aut eum esse velint nostri scriptores, certe non facile a.s.sequor. Status inquit Doletus est vel corporis, vel causarum vel ordinis et conditionis. Certe alium esse statum nostri corporis quam iumentorum (nam praeter duos pedes etiam ma.n.u.s habemus et corpore ac vultu sursum erecto incedimus) alium item ordinem et conditionem nostram ducimus.

Illi boni viri si id de se aut alijs cognitum habent fateantur. Nos haec tam vana et in Deum creatorem nostrum tam contemptibilia irridemus, nec prolixiore tractatu dignamur.

[Sidenote: Occasi harum fabularum.] Caeterum quia nostrum est nec amori patriae, nec vlli rei tantum tribuere, quin plus semper et vbique veritati largiamur: Dicam quid sit quod huic infami scriptorum conuicio occasionem forte dederit.

Sunt in vicinia Schalholtiae, ad littus Islandie australe paroechiolae tres, inter duos rapidissimos amnes Thiorsaa et Olffwis Aa interceptae; quae et syluis et cespitibus consueto gentis ad focos alendos fomite fere dest.i.tuuntur. In istis paroechijs habitantes et si qui sint vicini, quamuis plures eorum, vt de omnibus rebus ad rem familiarem pertinentibus, ita etiam de his, quae ad focos et balnea opus habent, sibi opportune prospiciunt: Tamen sunt inter eos quidam sed infirma tantum sortis coloni, qui quoniam estis rebus domi dest.i.tuantur, nec aliunde petere eas valeant in culinis foeno ad coquendos cibos vtuntur: Ast vbi hyemis niuosae saevitia horrida ingruit, coloni isti miseri ad suum bouile refugiunt illic scilicet exstructis tabulatis interidiu operas domesticas exercentes, a bobus, c.u.m focos habere nequeant, calorem mutuantur, quemadmodum mihi ab alijs narratum est. Sicque illi tantum qui sane paucissimi sunt, communi c.u.m bobus tecto in bruma vti quidem non gaudent, sed coguntur. Verum victum et statum longe alium habent, de qua re hactenus. Haec est in istis Paroechiolis quorundam sors et inopia, quorum conditio idcirco etiam apud nos fabula vulgi effecta est, quamuis non satis iuste. Vbi quo iure toti genti tribuatur, quod vix ac ne vix quidem de istis paucis colonis verum est, libentur quaesierim? Taedet de his pluribus agere: Tantum quia mihi c.u.m Theologis res est illud Saiomonis ijs reponam. [Sidenote: Prouerb 14.] Qui calummatur egenum, deridet factorem eius.

Equidem quia gens haec nostra pauper et egena est et fuit, ad veluti quidam mendicus inter diuites, tot extraneorum probra et scommata tulit. Sed videant cui exprobrent. Certe, si aliud nihil n.o.bis c.u.m illis commune est, tamen omnes ex ijsdem constamus elementis, et vnus et idem omnium Pater, Deus.

The same in English.

THE THIRD SECTION.

[Sidenote: Krantzius Munsterus.] They and their cattell vse all one house, all one food or victuals, one state (here Krantzius hath it lodging.) Also. They liue onely by feeding of cattell, and sometimes by taking of fishes.

Those be the things together with those that followe, which Krantzius hath champed, and put into Munsters mouth, so that Munster shall not neede so much as once to chewe them, which may appeare by comparing them both together. For Munster, as hee swallowed these reproches, taking them out of Krantzius his preface vpon Norway, so he casteth vp the verie same morsels vndigested and rawe against our nation, in his fourth booke of Cosmographie cap. 8. Those things which haue beene hitherto, although they haue sufficiently grieued vs yet will we let them seeme more tollerable: but this most malitious deuise, and those which follow we cannot easily brooke.

It is our part therefore in this place also to auouch the trueth, and to turne the leasing vpon the authors owne head.

House, &c. First, that which they say concerning the same common house (as also liuing, and state) with our cattell, we plainely affirme to be false and erronious, not onely the truth it selfe being our witnesse, if any man would make triall, but also the experience of manie strangers, that haue liued some yeeres amongst vs, and haue more minde to speake the trueth then to reuile our nation: who haue seene our house and habitations with their owne eyes, and knewe that in euery particular farme or graunge there were many seuerall roomes namely, in those that were most simple and base, seuen or eight: In others which were greater, sometimes tenne, and sometimes twentie. In the greatest sometimes fortie, and sometimes fiftie. Which for the most part being seuered, both by roofes and walles, doe serue for the dayly and household affaires of one owner or master, seldome of two or three, but almost neuer of more: whereupon the Reader may easily iudge, howe true it is that the Islanders and their cattell haue all one house to lie in, when euery husbandman in this varietie of roomes hath seuerall oxe stalles, sheepe-cotes, stables lambes-cots separated in different s.p.a.ces one from another, which the seruants goe vnto so oft as neede requireth, and from thence returne backe to the dwelling houses.

But whereas one noted in his Mappe of Island, concerning the prouince of Skagefiord, that vnder the same roofe, men, dogges swine and sheepe liue altogether, it is partly false, and partly no maruell: for sheepe, as it hath been sayde, and especially for swine (when as that prouince hath no swine at alt) it is vtterly false: for dogges it is no maruell, when is not kings courts were euer, or at this day are dest.i.tute of them, as it is well knowen to all men. But as touching dogges afterward in the seuenth section.

Victuals, &c. Whither beasts meate may fitly be termed by the name of Victus, a man may l.u.s.tly doubt: When Doletus interpreting a peece of Tullie, saith: As for Victus (sayth he) wee will so expound it with the Ciuilians, namely that we comprehend vnder the word of Victus all things necessarie for the life of man as meate, drinke, attire of the bodie, &c.

And Vlpia.n.u.s de verborum significatione defineth Victus in the very same words. But in this place the saide authors call beaste meate by the name of Victus.

But let vs see what trueth and plaine dealing is to be found in these men.

We haue no labouring cattel besides horses and oxen: these haue gra.s.se and hay (except where haye is wanting) for their fodder, and water to drinke.

Now, the very same writers confesse, that the Islanders liue by fish, b.u.t.ter, flesh both beefe and mutton, and corne also, though it bee scarce, and brought out of other countries. Therefore they haue not the same foode with brute beasts, which notwithstanding the sayde writers affirme in these wordes: They and their cattel vse all one victuals or food. What Munsters meaning is in this clause, he himselfe a little before hath plainely taught.

Island (saith he) conteineth many people liuing onely with the food of cattell, and sometimes by taking of fishes. But what else is the food of cattell, but the meat of cattell, saith Doletus? Vnlesse perhaps Munster calleth the food of cattell, cattell themselues slaine for the foode of men: whom, as I thinke, the vse of the latine tongue doth gaine say, which hath taught vs that as men doe eate, so beasts do feede, and hath termed the victuals of men, and the food or fodder of cattell. But may I thinke that Munster and Krantzius were so mad as to imagine that the Islanders liue vpon gra.s.se and hay: To this pa.s.se of miserie was Nabuchodonozor brought vndergoing the yoke of G.o.ds vengeance Daniel 4. vers. 30. We will easily graunt that beasts and cattell will not perhaps refuse many things, which men not onely of our countrey but of yours also eate, if the saide beasts be dest.i.tute of their vsuall food: as horses are fedde with corne and barley loaues: they will drinke milke also (like vnto calues and lambes) and ale if it be proffered them, and that greedily. And dogges in like manner will deuour any deinty dishes whatsoeuer. May any man therefore say that men vse the same common victuals with dogges and horses?

Now, whatsoeuer things haue happened in the time of grieuous famine ought not to be recorded in historie for the generall custome of any countrey. As it is not lawfull for vs to write concerning other nations, that the people of this or that countrie, doe vsually liue by eating of dogs, mise, cats, although perhaps in the time of famine or seige or dearth of corne, they haue often bene constrained so to doe.

But that the same drinke is sometimes common to many men with beasts we will not greatly gainesay: namely most pure water, that naturall drinke created by G.o.d for all liuing creatures: which also in some respect Phisicians doe commende, yea, neither the Patriarkes themselues, nor our sauiour Christ despised it.

As touching apparell (for we comprehend apparell also vnder the name of Victus) it is no wise common to vs with beasts. For nature hath clad them with hairs and bristles (as I dare say Munster and Krantzius cannot be ignorant) men, being otherwise naked stande in neede of clothes to couer their bodies. But I had not thought it might therefore haue properly beene sayde that sheepe and we haue all one apparell. Men of other countries also weare cloth of sheepes wooll, although it be more finely wrought. But no more concerning the attire of the bodie. For it is a meere folly to seeke for praise, and ambitious reputation by that, which argueth the infirmitie of our nature.

State, &c. Now, it remaineth that we should speake of that state, which we are sayd to haue common with beasts; but of what kinde or maner it should be, or our writers would haue it to be I cannot easily discerne. State (sayth Doletus) is either of the body, or of causes, or of order and condition. Doubtlesse, that there is another state of our bodies then of beasts (for besides our two feet, we haue hands also, and go with our bodies, and countenances lift vpright) and that we be of another order and condition from them, we are verily perswaded. As for these good fellowes, if they know any such matter by themselues or others, let them disclose it.

We doe altogether scorne these, being so vaine things, and breeding so great contempt against the Maiesty of G.o.d our creator, neither do we vouchsafe them any larger discourse.

But because it is our duty not so highly to regard either the loue of our countrey, or of any other thing whatsoeuer, but that we may be ready at all times and in all places, to giue trueth the preheminence: I will say in a word what that was which perhaps might minister occasion to this infamous reproch of writers.

There be neere vnto Schalholt, vpon the South sh.o.r.e of Island three small parishes standing betweene two most swift riuers Thiorsaa and Olffwis Aa, being in a maner dest.i.tute both of wood and turfe, which is the accustomed fewell of the countrey. And although most of the inhabitants of these parishes and some of their neighbours, as they doe in time of yeere prouide all things necessary for householde, so especially those things which belong to fires and bathes: notwithstanding there be certaine among them of the basest sort of people, who because they want those things at home, and are not able to prouide them from other places, are constrained to vse straw for the dressing of their meat. But when the sharpe rigor of snowy Winter commeth on, these poore people betake them to their oxe stalles, and there setting vp sheds, and doing their necessary businesse in the day time, when they are not able to make fires, they borrow heat from their oxen, as it hath beene reported to mee by others: And so they onely being verie fewe in number, doe not willingly enioye, but are constrayned to vse the same common house with their oxen. But for their liuelihoode and state it is farre otherwise with them then with their oxen, of which thing I haue entreated before. This is the lot, & pouertie of certaine men in those pettie parishes, the condition whereof is therefore made a common byworde of the people amongst vs, though somewhat iniuriously. Where I would willingly demaund with what honestie men can impute that vnto the whole nation, which is hard and skantly true of these fewe poore men? I am wearie to stay any longer in this matter: onely, because I haue to doe with Diuines, let that of Salomon suffice, Prouerbs 17, verse 5. Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him that made him.

And in very deede, because this our nation is nowe, and heretofore hath been poore and needie, and as it were a begger amongest many rich men, it hath susteined so many taunts and scoffes of strangers. But let them take heede whom they vpbraide. Verely if there were nothing else common vnto vs with them, yet we both consist of the same elements, and haue all one father and G.o.d.

SECTIO QUARTA.

[Sidenote: Krantzius Munster] In simplicitate sancta vitam agunt, c.u.m nihil amplius quaerant quam natura concedit. Beata gens, cuius paupertati nullus inuidet. Sed mercatores Anglici et Dani quiescere gentem non sinunt, qui ob piscaturam vehendam terram illam frequentantes c.u.m mercibus omnigenis vitia quoque nostra inuexerunt. Nam et fruges aquae miscere in potum didicerunt, et simplicis aquae haustus oderunt. Nunc aurum et argentum c.u.m nostris admirantur.

Simplicitate. Equidem sanctae simphcitatis laudem n.o.bis attribui, merit gaudemus: Sed id dolemus, qud reperiatur etiam apud nos iust.i.tiae ac legum ingens deprauatio, ac magna anarchia, quam multorum scelerum myriades consequuntur, quod pij et boni omnes quotidie deplorant. Id mali autem nequaquam supremi Magistratus, hoc est, Regis nostri clementissimi, sed verius nostra culpa accidit: qui haec quae clam ipso praepostere geruntur et quae in inferiore magistratu desiderantur, ad maiestatem ipsius non deferimus.

Mercatores. Mercatores porr, non solum Angli et Dani, sed maxime Germani, vt nunc, ita olim terram nostram, non ob piscaturam sed pisces euehendos frequentantes, nequaquam artem illam, miscendarum frugum aquae, Islandos docuerunt. Quippe ipsi Noruagi primi, qud n.o.bis constet, terrae nostrae incolae; a quibus oriundi sunt Islandi, artem illam, sicut etiam aureos argenteosque nummos, sec.u.m ex Noruegia attulerunt; vt initio non fuerit minor argenti et auri vsus apud nos, quam est hodie.

Et quidem ante Danorum, Germanorum, Anglorumue frequentes ad nos nauigationes, terra nostra mult, quam nunc, senescentis mundi incommoda, coelo soloque persentiens, fertilior, in delectis simis quibusque locis, Cereris munera produxit.

The same in English.

THE FOURTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: Krantzius. Munster.] They leade their liues in holy simplicitie, not seeking any more then nature doeth afforde. A happie Nation, whose pouertie no man doth enuie. But the English and Danish merchants suffer not the nation to be at rest, who frequenting that countrey to transport fishing, haue conueighed thither our vices, together with their manifolde wares. For nowe, they haue learned to brew their water with corne, and beginne to despise, and loath the drinking of faire water. Now they couet golde and siluer like vnto our men.

Simplicitie, &c. I am exceedingly glad, that the commendation of holy simplicitie is giuen vnto vs. But it grieueth vs that there is found so great a decay of iustice, and good lawes, and so great want of gouernement amongst vs, which is the cause of many thousande haynous offences which all honest and G.o.dly men doe continually bewayle. This inconuenience doth not happen through the negligence of the highest Magistrate, that is of our most gracious King, but rather by our owne fault, who doe not present these thinges vnto his Maiestie, which are disorderly committed without his knowledge, and which are wanting in the inferiour Magistrate.

Merchants. Moreouer, Merchants, not onely of England and Denmarke, but especially of Germanie, as at this time, so heretofore frequenting our countrey, not to transport fishing, but fishes, taught not Islanders the arte of brewing corne with water. For the Noruagians themselues, the first, to our knowledge, that inhabited this Island, from whom ye Islanders are lineally descended, brought with them out of Norway that arte, as also golde and siluer coine, so that in old time there was no lesse vse of siluer and golde with vs, then there is at this day.

[Sidenote: Corne of old time growing on Island.] And it is certaine that before the often nauigations of Danes, Germans, and English men vnto vs, our land was much more fertile then nowe it is (feeling the inconueniences of the aged and decayed worlde, both from heauen and earth) and brought foorth, in certaine choyse places, corne in abundance.

SECTIO QUINTA.