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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries




XXX.
Otto Knerus.
A graue, godly, and learned man. Being Chosen he departeth his 1588
country. Hee is consecrated returneth, and entreth the sea, 1589
endeuouring himselfe in the labours of his function.

* * * * *

The Bishops of Holen In the yeere
of Christ

I.
Ionas sonne of Augrnundus.
Isleif his disciple. 1106
Consecrated beyonde the seas in the yeere of his age 64, his
surname was Sanctus, vnto whose memorie the 3. of March was by
the inhabitants in old time dedicated.
Dieth the 11. of the Kalends of May. 1121

II.
Ketillus or Catullus.
Consecrated. 1121
Dieth. 1145

III.
Biorno.
Being consecrated came into Island. 1147
Dieth. 1162

IV.
Brandus.
Consecrated 1163
Entreth his Episcopall see. 1165
Dieth. 1201

V.
Gudmundus sirnamed Bonus.
Elected and consecrated. 1203
Dieth. 1237

VI.
Botolphus.
Returneth consecrated. 1239
Dieth. 1246

VII.
Henricus.
Entreth the see. 1247
Dieth. 1260

VIII.
Brandus an Abbat.
Goeth beyond the seas. 1262
Entreth the Bishopricke. 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 bishopricke 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.
Godschalcus.
Died. 1457

XVIII.
Olaus.

Son of Rogwaldus nephew to the forenamed Godschalcus by the
sisters side, both of them being Norwayes.
He was established. 1458
He died. 1497

XIX.
Godschalcus.

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 space 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 Aræsonius.
Entreth the see. 1525
This man was the last and most earnest mainteiner of Popish
superstitions. 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 God to vouchsafe: (namely his labours and diligence
in maintayning the trueth of the Gospel, and in abolishing of
Popish superstitions) 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 hæc igitur tempora mentibus nostris è coelo redditta lux est, et
regni coelestis ianua per sinceriorem doctrinæ Christianæ expositionem
reserata. Nam et Schola triuialis in vtraque sede Episcopali, laudatissimi
Regis Daniæ 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: quæ etiam hodiè, clementissimi
regis et principis nostri, Christiani 4. fauore et nutu viget floretque: in
qua iuuentus nostræ Insulæ, artium dicendi et sacræ Theologiæ rudimentis
imbuta, ad scientiam et veram pietatem formatur, vt hinc ministri
Ecclesiarum petantur.

Peruenimus tandem ad hodiernum vsque diem in Episcoporum Islandiæ catalogo:
quo prædicti viri clarissimi Dom. Gudbrandus Thorlacius, et Dom. Otto
Enerus ille Holis, hic Schalholtiæ Ecclesiarum sunt antistites: quorum
vtrumque, vt Deus opt. max. Ecclesiæ suæ saluum et superstitem, propter
gloriam nominis sui sanctissimi, diu conseruare velit, omnes seriò 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 godly 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 godlinesse, 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 God 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 plerùmque, 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 latitant, quemadmodum Africani
ad solis æstum 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 primùm, quibus vtantur, edificijs seu domibus: nempè secundum
Munsterum, Krantzium, Frisium, &c. Specubus et montium cauernis. Quamuis
autem in splendidis ædificijs, alijsque id genus mundani ornatus pretiosis
rebus parum inest, quod ad verè beatam vitam conferre queat, tamen nec hîc
veritatem tacere possumus: dicimúsque omnino Cosmographos et Historicos in
errore etiam hîc versari. Etenim, cuiusmodi gentis publica domicilia esse
scribunt, ea sunt tantùm in paucis locis, tum magalia, vt opilionum, tum
piscatorum casæ et receptacula, eo tantum anni tempore quo piscaturæ operam
dare, aut propter gregem excubare opus habent. [Sidenote: Negotiatio cum
Noruagis desijt. Sylua fluctibus maris delatæ.] At ipsas domus, seu ipsa
hominum domicilia, antiquitus quidem satis magnificè et sumptuosè, quoad
huius terræ fert conditio, ligno, cespite et saxis habuerunt Islandi
constructa, vsque ad illud tempus, quo illis cum Noruagis, qui ligna
sufficiebant, negociatio, et mercium commutatio esse desijt, quæ inde
paulatim collabi incipiunt: Cum nec syluas ædificijs aptas habeamus, nec
fluctuum maris beneficio iam vt olim ad littora, quod minima ex parte
sufficiat, adferatur: Nec mercatores extranei inopiæ nostræ succurrant.
Vnde plurima rura ignobiliora ab antiqua illa integritate multum
declinarunt, et iam quædam collapsa sunt, quædam ruinam minantur.
Nihilominus multa sunt prædia, multæ villæ, quas haud facile recensuero,
quarum ædificia veterem illam excellentiam imitantur, et quarum domus sunt
maximæ, et latæ et longæ, tum plærúmque benè altæ. Vt exempli gratia.
Prædia seu villæ, quæ 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 ædificia ampla et
vasta, nec in speciem deformia, nec ob artis structuram et sumptuosam
firmitudinem, seu robur, contemnenda cum aliquot delubris, siue sacris
ædibus, solis lignis, antiqua et operosa grauitate et pulchritudine
extructis commemorare: Cuiusmodi est templum Cathedrale Holense atrium
habens, cuius columnæ vtrinque quinque vlnas 14. altæ, 5. circiter crassæ:
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 nobis
sacratissima est memoria, Anno 1588. benignissimè largitus est. Ipsum verò
templum atrium suum omni quantitate manifeste excedit: tum templi intima
pars quæ chorus appellari solet, et templi meditullio, et atrio magnitudine
nonnihil cedit. Erat autem hoc longè maius olim, vt accepi Schalholtense,
quod iam bis concrematum, ad inferiorem magnitudinem redactum est. Prætereà
aliquot alia templa nostræ Insulæ horum antiquam magnificentiam imitantia
licet non æquintia. 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, quòd contenti paupertate
nostra Christo gratias immortales agamus, qui à nobis vili tecto non
dedignatur recipi, quòdque templa et domus nostras quas Munsterus Krantzius
et Frisius piscium et balenarum ossibus non verè dicunt extructas, non
aspernetur magis, quàm illa extraneorum culmina marmorea, parietes
vermiculatos pauimenta tesselata reliquùmque 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 shores 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.
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 butterie,
&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 quantity: 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 cum iumentis. Item: Solo pastu pecorum et nunc
captura piscium victitant.

Hæc sunt et sequentia, quæ Krantzius suo Munstero præmansa, in os ingessit,
adeò vt Munstero non opus fuent ea vel semel masticare, quod ex collatione
vtriusque patet. Munsterus enim hæc opprobria, vt ex Krantzij in suam
Noruegiam præfatione hausta deglutierat, ita eadem cruda lib. 4.
Cosmographiæ capit. 8. in gentem nostram euomit. Quæ hactenus fuerunt, etsi
satis grauia sunt, tolerabiliora tamen erant. Hoc verò commentum
malignissimum, et quæ sequentur, non facilè est sine stomacho præterire.
Nostrum igitur est, etiam hîc veritatem asserere, et mendacium in Authoris
caput retorquere.

Tecto: Primùm igitur quod de commum tecto (vti etiam de victu et statu) cum
iumentis dicunt, falsum et erroneum clamamus, teste non modò re ipsa, si
quis id hodiè 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 prædijs 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; quæ vt plurimùm, et tecto et
parietibus distinctæ, vni possessori vel domino, rarò duobus aut tribus,
rarissimè pluribus inseruiunt, ac vsibus quotidianis et domesticis
sufficiunt. Vnde facilè intelligis, Lector, quàm verè eodem tecto cum
iumentis vtantur Islandi, cum singuli rustici in hac domuum varietate,
peculiaria bouilia, ouilia, equitia, agnilia, debitis interuallis dissita
habeant, quæ serui, quoties opus est, petunt, vnde rursus habitationem
subinde repetunt.

Quòd autem quidam in mappa Islandiæ de prouinca Skagefiord annotauit, sub
eodem tecto homines, canes, sues et oues, viuere, partim falsum, partim
minimè mirandum est. De ouibus quidem, vt iam dictum est, et præcipuè
suibus (cum illa prouincia sues non habeat) falsum: De canibus haud mirum,
cum illis nec regum aulæ caruerint nec hodiè careant, vt nimis omnibus est
notum. Sed de canibus paulò post Sect 7. huius.

Victu. An iumentorum pabula possint commodè victus appellatione contineri,
meritò dubitauerim. Cùm Doletus, Ciceronis interpretem agens, dicat:
Victum, inquit, cum iureconsultis, ita exponemus, vt victus verbo
contineantur, quæ esui, potui, cultuique corporis, quæque ad viuendum
homini sunt necessana. Et Vlpianus, de verborum significat. Ijsdem verbis
victum definit. Hoc loco verò Authores illi, etiam iumentorum pabula,
victum appellant.

Cæterum videamus quomodo hîc eluceat veritatis et candoris præstantia.
Iumenta non habemus præterquam equos et boues: His gramina et foenum (nisi
vbi foeni inopia obrepit) pabulum, aqua potum præbet. At hi ipsi scriptores
fatentur, Islandos piscibus, butyro, carnibus, tum bubulis, tum ouillis,
etiam frumento, licet pauco et aduentitio viuere. Non igitur cibum habent
cum brutis communem, quod tamen ijdem his verbis asserunt. Communi victu
gaudent cum iumentis: Quod quid sit Munstero, ipse paulò superius haud
obscurè docuit. Islandia, innquit, populos multos continet, solo pecorum
pastu, et nunc captura piscium victitantes. Quid autem est pecorum pastus,
aliud, quàm pecorum cibus? ait Doletus: nisi Munsterus fortè pecorum
pasium, ipsa pecora ad pastum hominum mactata appellet: cui, vt existimo,
vsus Romanorum refragatur, qui, vt homines vesci, ita pecora pasci docuit:
hominúmque victum pecorum autem, pastum et pabulum vocari iussit. An verò
existimem tam dementes fuisse Munsterum et Krantzium vt senserint Islandos
graminibus et foeno viuere? Quo miseriæ Nabuchodonozor, diuinæ vltionis
iugum subiens redactus est Dani 4. 30. Facilè dabimus multa, quibus
homines, non modò nostrates, sed vestrates quoque vescuntur, iumenta et
pecora fortè non reijcere, si familiari pabulo destituantur. Vt equi
frumento et panibus hordeaceis pascuntur: ijdem lac (quemadmodum etiam
vituli et agni) et cereuisiam, si offeratur bibunt, et quidem auidè. Sed et
canes quævis fercula et cibaria deuorant. An idcircò quisquam dicet,
homines communi victu cum canibus et iumentis gaudere?

Iam quæcunque famis grassantis tempore contigere pro vniuersali gentis
alicuius consuetudine in historiam referri non debent. Vt non licet nobis
de extraneis scribere huius aut illius terræ populos canum murium aut
felium vsu victitare solitos, etsi fortè fame siue obsidione, siue alioqui
annonas charitate inualescente immissa, id factitarint.

Potum autem interdum esse multis cum iumentis communem non magnoperè
contraibimus: nempè aquam limpidissimam, naturalem ilium potum omnibus
animantibus à Deo creatum quem etiam ex parte, medicinæ consulti comendant,
imò nec patres Hebræi nec ipse Seruator noster fastidiebat.

Ad amictum verò quod attinet, (Nam et amictum victus vocabulo
comprehendimus) nequaquam hic cum iumentis communis est. Illa enim pilis et
villis natura (quod Munsterum et Krantzium nouisse iurarim) vestiuit:
homines, alioqui nudi, pannis corpus induere necesse habent. Hæc indumenta,
quæ quidem Islandia suppeditat, ex lanis ouium conficiuntur. Sed non
cogitaram ideò recte dici, amictum esse nobis cum 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 æstimationem quærere quod naturæ nostræ infirmitatem
arguit.

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