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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

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







CERTEINE TESTIMONIES CONCERNING
K. ARTHUR AND HIS CONQUESTS OF THE NORTH REGIONS,
TAKEN OUT OF
THE HISTORIE OF THE KINGS OF BRITAINE.
WRITTEN BY GALFRIDUS MONUMETENSIS, AND NEWLY PRINTED
AT HEIDELBERGE, ANNO 1587.


Lib 9. cap. 10.

Anno Christi, 517. Arthurus, secundo regni sui anno subiugatis totius
Hyberniæ partibus, classem suam direxit in Islandiam, eámque debellato
populo subiugauit. Exin diuulgato per cæteraa insulas rumore, quòd ei nulla
Prouincia resistere poterat, Doldauius rex Gotlandiæ, & Gunfacius rex
Orcadum vltro venerunt, promissóque vectigali subiectionem fecerunt. Emensa
deinde hyeme, reuersus est in Britanniam, statúmque regni in firmam pacem
renouans, moram duodecim annis ibidem fecit.

The same in English.

In the yere Of Christ, 517. king Arthur in the second yeere of his reigne,
hauing subdued all parts of Ireland, sailed with his fleet into Island, and
brought it and the people thereof vnder his subiection. The rumour
afterwards being spread thorowout all the other Islands, that no countrey
was able to withstand him, Doldamus the king of Gotland, and Gunfacius the
king of Orkney, came voluntarily vnto him, and yeelded him their obedience
promising to pay him tribute. The Winter being spent, he returned into
Britaine, and establishing his kingdome in perfect peace, he continued
there for the space of twelue yeres.

Lib 9. cap. 12.

Missis deinde in diuersa regna Legatis, inuitantur tam ex Gallijs quàm ex
collateralibus Insulis Oceani qui ad curiam venire deberent, &c. Et paulò
post: Ex collateralibus autem Insulis Guillaumurius rex Hyberniæ, Maluasius
rex Islandiæ, Doldauius rex Gotlandiæ, Gunnasius rex Orchadum, Lot rex
Noruegiæ, Aschihus rex Danorum.

The same in English.

After that king Arthur sending his messenger into diuers kingdomes, he
summoned such as were to come to his Court, as well out of France, as out
of the adiacent Islands of the sea, &c. and a little after: From those
adiacent Islands came Guillaumarius king of Ireland, Maluasius king of
Island, Doldauius king of Gotland, Gunnasius king of Orkney, Lot the king
of Norway, and Aschilius the king of Denmarke.

Lib 9. cap. 19.

At reges cæterarum Insularam, quoniam non duxerant in morem equites habere,
pedites quot quisque debebat, promittunt, ita vt ex sex Insulis, videlicet,
Hyberniæ, Islandiæ, Gotlandiæ, Orcadum, Noruegiæ, atque Daciæ, sexies
viginti millia essent annumerata.

The same in English.

But the kings of the other Islands, because it was not their custome to
breed vp horses, promised the king as many footmen, as euery man was bound
to send: so that out of the six Islands, namely of Ireland, Island,
Gotland, Orkney, Norway, and Denmarke, the king had sixe score thousand
souldiers sent him.

* * * * *

A testnnome of the right and appendances of the crowne of the kingdome of
Britaine, taken out of M. Lambard, his [Greek: Arkaionomia], fol 137.
pag. 2.

Arthurus qui fuit quondam inclytissimus Rex Britonum, vir magnus fuit &
animosus, & miles illustris. Parum fuit ei regnum istud, non fuit animus
eius contentus regno Britanniæ. Subiugauit igitur sibi strenuè Scantiam
totam, quæ modo Norweia vocatur, & omnes insulas vltra Scantiam, scz.
Islandiam, & Grenlandiam, quæ sunt de appendicijs Norweiæ, & Suechordam, &
Hyberniam, & Gutlandiam, & Daciam, Semelandiam, Winlandiam, Curlandiam,
Roe, Femelandiam, Wirelandiam, Flandriam, Cherelam, Lappam, & omnes alias
terras & insulas, Orientalis Oceani vsque Russiam (in Lappa scilicet posuit
Orientalem metam regni Britanniæ) & multas insulas vltra Scantiam, vsque
dum sub Septentrione, quæ sunt de appendicibus Scantiæ, quæ modo Norweia
vocatur. Fuerunt autem ibi Christiani occultè. Arthurus autem Christianus
optimus fuit, & fecit eos baptizari, & vnum Deum per totam Norweiam
venerari, & vnam fidem Christi semper inuiolatam custodire, & suscipere.
Ceperunt vniuersi proceres Norweiæ vxores suas de nobili gente Britonum
tempore illo, vnde Norwegienses dicunt se exijsse de gente & sanguine regni
huius. Impetrauit enim temporibus illis Arthurus rex à domino Papa, & à
Curia Romana, quod confirmata sit Norweia, in perpetuum coronæ Britanniæ in
augmentum regni huius, vocauítque illam dictus Arthurus Cameram Britanniæ.
Hac verò de causa dicunt Norwegienses, se debere in regno isto cohabitare &
dicunt se esse de corpore regni huius, scilicet de corona Britanniæ.
Maluerunt enim manere in regno isto, quàm in terra eorum propria. Terra
enim eorum arida est, & montuosa, & sterilis, & non sunt ibi segetes nisi
per loca. Ista verò opulenta est, & fertilis, & crescunt hic segetes, &
cætera vniuersa. Qua ex causa sæpius per vices gesta sunt bella atrocissima
inter Anglos & Norwegienses, & interfecti sunt innumerabiles. Occupauerunt
verò Norwegienses terras multas & insulas regni huius, quas adhuc detinent
occupatas, nec potuerunt vnquam postea penitus euelli. Tandem modò
confederati sunt nobis fide, & sacramento, & per vxores suas, quas postea
ceperunt de sanguine nostro, & per affinitates, & coniugia. Ita demum
constituit, & eis concessit bonus rex Edouardus propinquus noster (qui fuit
optimus filius pacis) per commune consilium totius regni. Qua de causa
possent, & debent prædicti de cætero nobiscum cohabitare, & remanere in
regno, sicut coniurati fratres nostri.

The same in English.

Arthur which was sometimes the most renowmed king of the Britains, was a
mightie, and valiant man, and a famous warriour. This kingdome was too
litle for him, & his minde was not contented with it. He therefore
valiantly subdued all Scantia, which is now called Norway, and all the
Islands beyond Norway, to wit, Island and Greenland, which are apperteining
vnto Norway, Sweueland, Ireland, Gotland, Denmarke, Someland, Windland,
Curland, Roe, Femeland, Wireland, Flanders, Cherilland, Lapland, and all
the other lands & Islands of the East sea, euen vnto Russia (in which
Lapland he placed the Easterly bounds of his Brittish Empire) and many
other Islands beyond Norway, euen vnder the North pole, which are
appendances of Scantia, now called Norway. These people were wild and
sauage, and had not in them the loue of God nor of their neighbors, because
all euil commeth from the North, yet there were among them certeine
Christians liuing in secret. But king Arthur was an exceeding good
Christian, and caused them to be baptized, and thorowout all Norway to
worship one God, and to receiue and keepe inuiolably for euer, faith in
Christ onely. At that time all the noble men of Norway tooke wiues of the
noble nation of the Britaines, whereupon the Norses say, that they are
descended of the race and blood of this kingdome. The aforesayd king Arthur
obteined also in those dayes of the Pope & court of Rome, that Norway
should be for euer annexed to the crowne of Britaine for the inlargement of
this kingdome, and he called it the chamber of Britaine. For this cause the
Norses say, that they ought to dwell with vs in this kingdome, to wit, that
they belong to the crowne of Britaine: for they had rather dwell here then
in their owne natiue countrey, which is drie and full of mountaines, and
barren, and no graine growing there, but in certeine places. But this
countrey of Britaine is fruitfull, wherein corne and all other good things
do grow and increase, for which cause many cruell battels haue bene
oftentimes fought betwixt the Englishmen and the people of Norway, and
infinite numbers of people haue bene slaine, & the Norses haue possessed
many lands and Islands of this Empire, which vnto this day they doe
possesse, neither could they euer afterwards be fully expelled. But now at
length they are incorporated with vs by the receiuing of our religion and
sacraments, and by taking wiues of our nation, and by affinitie, and
marriages. For so the good king Edward (who was a notable mainteiner of
peace) ordeined and granted vnto them by the generall consent of the whole
kingdome, so that the people may, and ought from hencefoorth dwell and
remaine in this kingdome with vs as our louing sworne brethren.

* * * * *

A testimonie out of the foresayd Galfridus Monumetensis concerning the
conquests, of Malgo, king of England. Lib. II. cap. 7.

Vortipono successit Malgo, omnium ferè Britanniæ pulcherrimus, multorum
tyrannoram depulsor, robustus armis, largior cæteris, & vltra modum
probitate præclarus. Hic etiam totam Insulam obtinuit, & sex
comprouinciales Oceani Insulas: Hyberniam videlicet, atque Islandiam,
Gotlandiam, Orcades, Noruegiam, Daciam, adiecit dirissimis prælijs
potestati suæ.

The same in English.

Malgo succeeded Vortiponus which was the goodliest man in person of all
Britaine, a prince that expulsed many tyrants. He was strong and valiant in
warre, taller then most men that then liued, and exceeding famous for his
vertues. This king also, obteined the gouernment of the whole Island of
Britaine, and by most sharpe battailes he recouered to his Empire the sixe
Islands of the Ocean sea, which before had bene made tributaries by king
Arthur, namely Ireland, Island, Gotland, Orkney, Norway, and Denmarke.

* * * * *

The conquest of the Isles of Anglesey and Man by Edwin the Saxon king of
Northumberland written in the second Booke and fift Chapter of Beda his
Ecclesiasticall historie of the English nation.

Eduinus Nordanhumbrorum gentis, id est, eius quæ ad borealem Humbri
fluminis plagam inhabitat, maiore potentia cunctis qui Britanniam incolunt,
Anglorum pariter & Britonum populis præfuit, præter Cantuarios tantùm,
necnòn & Menauias Britonum insulas, quæ inter Hiberniam & Britanniam sitæ
sunt, Anglorum subiecit potestati.

The same in English.

Edwin king of the people Northumberland, that is to say of them which
inhabit to the North of the riuer Humber, being of greater authontie then
any other potentate in the whole Isle of Britaine, bare rule as well ouer
the English as the British nation, except onely the people of Kent: who
also brought in subiection vnder the English, the Isles of Man and
Anglesey, and the other Northwesterne Isles of the Britons, which are
situate betweene Britaine and Ireland.

Another testimonie alledged by Beda to the same purpose. Lib 2. cap 9.

Anno ab incarnatione Domini sexcentesimo vicesimo quarto, gens
Nordanhumbrorum, hoc est, ea natio Anglorum quæ ad aquilonarem Humbri
fluminis plagam habitat, cùm rege suo Eduino, verbum fidei (prædicante
Paulino, cuius supra meminimus) suscepit: cui videlicèt regi in auspicium
suscipiendæ fidei, & regni coelestis potestas & terrem creuerat imperij:
ita vt (quod nemo Anglorum ante eum fecit) omnes Britanniæ fines, qua vel
ipsorum vel Britonum Prouinciæ habitabantur, sub ditione acceperit. Quìn &
Menauias insulas (sicut & supra docuimus) imperio subiugauit Anglorum.
Quarum prior quæ ad austrum est, & situ amplior & frugum prouentu atque
vbertate foelicior, nongentarum sexaginta familiarum mensuram, iuxta
æstimationem Anglorum, secunda trecentarum & vltrà spatium tenet.

The Same in English.

In the yeere from the incarnation of our Lord, sixe hundreth twentie and
foure, the people of Northumberland, to wit, those English people which
inhabit on the North side of the riuer of Humber, together with their king
Edwin, at the Christian preaching and perswasion of Paulinus aboue
mentioned, embraced the Gospel. Vnder which king, after he had once
accepted of the Christian faith, the power both of the heauenly & of his
earthly kingdome was inlarged; insomuch, that he (which no English king had
done before him) brought vnder his subiection all the prouinces of
Britaine, which were inhabited either by the English men themselues, or by
the Britons. Moreouer, he subdued vnto the crowne of England (as we haue
aboue signified) the Hebrides, commonly called the Westerne Islands. The
principall wherof being more commodiously and pleasantly seated towards the
South, and more abounding with corne then the rest, conteineth according to
the estimation of the English, roome enough for 960. families, and the
second for 300. and aboue.

* * * * *

The voyage of Bertus, generall of an armie sent into Ireland by Ecfridus
king of Northumberland, in the yere of our Lord 684, out of the 4. Booke
and 26. Chapter of Beda his Ecclesiasticall Hystorie.

Anno Dominicæ incarnationis sexcentesimo octogesimo quarto, Ecfridus rex
Nordanhumbrorum, misso Hiberniam cùm excercitu duce Berto, vastauit miserè
gentem innoxiam, & nationi Anglorum semper amicissimam, ita vt nec
ecclesijs quidem aut monasterijs manus, parceret hostilis. At insulani &
quantum valuere armis arma repellebant, & inuocantes diuinæ auxilum
pietatis coelitus se vindicari continuis diù imprecationibus postulabant.
Et quamuis maledici regnum Dei possidere non possint, creditum tamen est,
quod hi qui merito impietatis suæ maledicebantur, ocyus Domino vindice,
poenas sui reatus luerent.

The same in English.

In the yeere of our Lord 684, Ecfrid the king of Northumberland sent
captaine Bert into Ireland with an armie, which Bert miserably wasted that
innocent nation being alwayes most friendly vnto the people of England,
insomuch that the fury of the enemy spared neither churches nor
monasteries. Howbeit the Islanders to their power repelled armes with
armes, and crauing Gods aid from heauen with continuall imprecations and
curses, they pleaded for reuenge. And albeit cursed speakers can by no
meanes inherit the kingdome of God, it was thought notwithstanding, that
they which were accursed for their impiety did not long escape the
vengeance of God imminent for their offences.

* * * * *

The voyage of Octher made to the Northeast parts beyond Norway, reported by
himselfe vnto Alfred the famous king of England, about the yere 890.

Octher said, that the countrey wherein he dwelt was called Helgoland.
Octher tolde his lord king Alfred that he dwelt furthest North of any other
Norman. [Sidenote: Fynnes live by hunting and fishing.] He sayd that he
dwelt towards the North part of the land toward the West coast: and
affirmed that the land, notwithstanding it stretcheth marueilous farre
towards the North, yet it is all desert and not inhabited, vnlesse it be
very few places, here and there, where certeine Finnes dwell vpon the
coast, who liue by hunting all the Winter, and by fishing in Summer. He
said that vpon a certeine time he fell into a fantasie and desire to prooue
and know how farre that land stretched Northward, and whether there were
any habitation of men North beyond the desert. Whereupon he tooke his
voyage directly North along the coast, hauing vpon his steereboord alwayes
the desert land, and vpon the leereboord the maine Ocean: and continued his
course for the space of 3. dayes. [Sidenote: The Place wither the whale
hunters trauel.] In which space he was come as far towards the North, as
commonly the whale hunters vse to trauell. Whence he proceeded in his
course still towards the North so farre as he was able to saile in other 3.
dayes. At the end whereof he perceiued that the coast turned towards the
East, or els the sea opened with a maine gulfe into the land, he knew not
how farre. Well he wist and remembred, that he was faine to stay till he
had a Westerne winde, and somewhat Northerly: and thence he sailed plaine
East along the coast still so far as he was able in the space of 4. dayes.
At the end of which time he was compelled againe to stay till he had a full
Northerly winde, forsomuch as the coast bowed thence directly towards the
South, or at least wise the sea opened into the land he could not tell how
farre: so that he sailed thence along the coast continually full South, so
farre as he could trauaile in 5. dayes; and at the fifth dayes end he
discouered a mightie riuer which opened very farre into the land.
[Sidenote: The Riuer of Duina of likelihood.] At the entrie of which riuer
he stayed his course, and conclusion turned back againe, for he durst not
enter thereinto for feare of the inhabitants of the land; perceiuing that
on the other side of the riuer the countrey was thorowly inhabited: which
was the first peopled land that he had found since his departure from his
owne dwelling: [Sidenote: A Desert countrey. Fynnes.] whereas continually
thorowout all his voyage he had euermore on his steereboord, a wildernesse
and desert countrey, except that in some places, he saw a few fishers,
fowlers, and hunters, which were all Fynnes: and all the way vpon his
leereboord was the maine ocean. [Sidenote: Biarmia.] The Biarmes had
inhabited and tilled their countrey indifferent well, notwithstanding he
was afrayed to go vpon shore. [Sidenote: Terfynnes.] But the countrey of
the Terfynnes lay all waste, and not inhabited, except it were, as we haue
sayd, whereas dwelled certeine hunters, fowlers, and fishers. The Biarmes
tolde him a number of stories both of their owne countrey, and of the
countreys adioyning. Howbeit, he knew not, nor could affirme any thing for
certeine trueth; forsomuch as he was not vpon land, nor saw any himselfe.
[Sidenote: The Fynnes and Biarmes speak one language.] This onely he
iudged, that the Fynnes and Biarmes speake but one language. [Sidenote:
Horsewhales teeth commended.] The principall purpose of his traueile this
way, was to encrease the knowledge and discouerie of these coasts and
countreyes, for the more commoditie of fishing of horsewhales, [Footnote:
Or morses.] which haue in their teeth bones of great price and excellencie:
whereof he brought some at his returne vnto the king. [Sidenote: Use of the
morses skins for cables.] Their skinnes are also very good to make cables
for shippes, and so vsed. This kinde of whale is much lesse in quantitie
then other kindes, hauing not in length or aboue seuen elles. And as for
the common kind of whales, the place of most and best hunting of them is in
his owne countrey: whereof some be 48. elles of length, and some 50. of
which sort he affirmed that he himselfe was one of the sixe, which in the
space of 3. dayes killed threescore. He was a man of exceeding wealth in
such riches, wherein the wealth of that countrey doth consist. [Sidenote:
Sixe hundreth raine Deere.] At the same time that he came to the king, he
had of his owne breed 600. tame Deere, of that kinde which they call Rane
Deere: of the which number 6, were stall Rane Deere, a beast of great
value, and maruellously esteemed among the Fynnes, for that with them they
catch the wilde Rane Deere. He was among the chiefe men of his countrey
one: and yet he, had but 20. kine, and 20. swine, and that little which he
tilled, he tilled it all with horses. [Sidenote: The Fynnes trubute.] Their
principall wealth consisteth in the tribute which the Fynnes pay them,
which is all in skinnes of wilde beasts, feathers of birds, whale bones,
and cables, and tacklings for shippes made of Whales or Seales skinnes.
[Sidenote: Note. Cables of Whales and Seales skins.] Euery man payeth
according to his abilities. The richest pay ordinarily 15. cases of
Marterns, 5. Rane Deere skinnes, and one Beare, ten bushels of feathers, a
coat of a Beares skinne, two cables threescore elles long a piece, the one
made of Whales skin, the other Seales.

He sayd, that the countrey of Norway was very long and small. So much of it
as either beareth any good pasture, or may be tilled, lieth vpon the Sea
coast, which notwithstanding in some places is very rockie and stonie:
[Sidenote: A description of Norway.] and all Eastward all along against the
inhabited land, lie wilde and huge hilles and mountaines, which are in some
places inhabited by the Fynnes. The inhabited land is broadest toward the
South & the further it stretcheth towards the North, it groweth euermore
smaller and smaller. Towards the South it is peraduenture threescore miles
in bredth or broader in some places: about the middest, 30 miles or aboue,
and towards the North where it is smallest, he affirmeth that it proueth
not three miles from the Sea to the mountaines. [Sidenote: The bredth of
the mountaines.] The mountaines be in breadth of such quantitie, as a man
is able to traueile ouer in a fortnight, and in some places no more then
may be trauailed in sixe dayes. [Sidenote: Swethland. Queeneland.] Right
ouer against this land in the other side of the mountaines, somewhat
towards the South lieth Swethland, and against the same towards the North,
lieth Queeneland. The Quenes sometimes passing the mountaines, inuade and
spoile the Normans: and on the contrary part, the Normans likewise
sometimes spoile their countrey. [Sidenote: Boats caried on mens backs.]
Among the mountaines be many and great lakes in sundry places of fresh
water, into the which the Queenes vse to carie their boats vpon their backs
ouer lande, and thereby inuade and spoile the countrey of the Normans.
These boats of theirs be very little and very light.

* * * * *

The voyage of Octher out of his countrey of Halgoland into the sound of
Denmarke vnto a port called Hetha, which seemeth to be Wismer or
Rostorke.

Octher sayd that the countrey wherein he dwelled, was called Halgoland: and
affirmed that there was no man dwelling towards the North from him. From
this countrey towards the South, there is a certeine port [Marginal note:
Or streight.] [Footnote: It seemeth to be about Elsenborg--_Original
note_.] called Scirings hall, whither, he sayth that a man was not able
to saile in a moneths space, if he lay still by night, although he had
euery day a full winde. [Sidenote: The description of the Sound of
Denmarke.] And he shall saile all the way along the coast, hauing on his
steereboord, first Iutland and the Islands which lie betwixt this countrey
& Iutland, still along the coast of this countrey, till he came to Scirings
hall hauing it on his larboord. At Scirings hall there entreth into the
land a maine gulfe of the Sea, which is so broad, that a man cannot see
ouer it: [Sidenote: Gotland.] and on the other side against the same, is
Gotland, and then Silland. This sea stretcheth many hundreth miles vp into
the land. [Sidenote: Vandals.] From Scirings hall he sayd that be sailed in
5. dayes to the port which is called Hetha, which lieth betwixt the
countries of Wendles, Saxons, and Angles, whereunto it is subiect. And as
he sailed thitherward from Scirings hall, he had vpon his steereboord
Denmarke, and on his leereboord the maine sea, for the space of 3. dayes:
[Sidenote: Hetha but two dayes sayling from Seland.] and 2. dayes before,
he arriued in Hetha, [Footnote: It seemeth to be Wismer or Rostocke--
_Original note_.] he had Gotland on leerboord, and Silland. with
diuers other Islands. In that countrey dwelt English men, before they came
into this land. And these 2. days he had vpon his leereboord the Islands
that are subiect to Denmarke.

* * * * *

Wolstans nauigation in the East sea, from Hetha to Trusco, which is about
Dantzig.

Wolstan sayd, that he departed from Hetha, and arriued at Trusco, in the
space of 7. dayes, and 7. nights: during which time, his shippe kept her
course continually vnder saile. All this voyage Wenedland [Footnote:
Prussia.] was still vpon his steerboord, and on his leerboord was Langland,
Layland, Falster, and Sconie: all which countreyes are subiect to Denmarke.
[Sidenote: Bargenland or Borholme.] Vpon his leerboord also, was
Bargenland, which hath a priuate king, to whom it is subiect. Hauing left
Bargenland, he passed by Blekingie, Meere, Eland and Gotland, hauing them
on his leerboord: all which countreys are subiect to Sweden: and Wenedland
was all the way vpon his steerboord, vntil he came to Wixel mouth.
[Sidenote: Wixel is the riuer that falleth into the sea by Dantzig.] Wixel
is a very great riuer which runneth along betwixt Witland and Wenedland.
Witland is appertaining to the Easterlings, and the riuer of Wixel runneth
out of Wenedland into Eastmeere, which Eastmeere is at the least 15. miles
in breadth. [Sidenote: Fuso.] There runneth also another riuer called
Ilsing from the East, and falleth into Eastmeere, out of another lake vpon
the banke, whereupon is situated Fruso. So that Ilsing comming out of
Eastland, [Footnote: Lithuania.] and Wixel out of Wenedland, both fall
together into Eastmeere, and there Wixel depriueth Ilsing of his name, and
runneth thence West & North into the sea; whereof the place is called
Wixelmouth.

[Sidenote: The description of Eastland.] Eastland is a very large land, and
there be many cities and townes withtn it, and in euery one of them is a
king: whereby there is continually among them great strife and contention.
There is great plentie of hony and fish.

[Sidenote: Mares milke a chiefe drinke.] The wealthiest men drinke commonly
Mares milke, and the poore people and slaues meade. There is no ale brewed
among the Easterlings, but of mead there is plentie.

* * * * *

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