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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

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




The nauigation of King Edgar, taken out of Florentius Wigoriensis, Houeden,
and M. Dee his discourse of the Brittish Monarchie, pag. 54, 55, &c.

I haue often times (sayd he) and many wayes looked into the state of
earthly kingdomes, generally the whole world ouer (as farre as it may be
yet knowen to Christian men commonly) being a studie of no great
difficultie, but rather a purpose somewhat answerable to a perfect
Cosmographer, to finde himselfe Cosmopolites, a citizen and member of the
whole and onely one mysticall citie vniuersall, and so consequently to
meditate of the Cosmopoliticall gouernment thereof, vnder the King
almightie, passing on very swiftly toward the most dreadfull and most
comfortable terme prefixed.

And I finde (sayd he) that if this British Monarchie would heretofore haue
followed the aduantages which they haue had onward, they might very well,
yer this, haue surpassed by iustice, and godly sort, any particular
Monarchie els, that euer was on earth since mans creation, and that to all
such purposes as to God are most acceptable, and to all perfect common
wealths, most honorable, profitable, and comfortable.

But yet (sayd he) there is a little locke of Lady Occasion flickering in
the aire, by our hands to catch hold on, whereby we may yet once more
(before all be vtterly past, and for euer) discreetly and valiantly recouer
and enioy, if not all our ancient & due appurtenances to this Imperiall
Brittish monarchie, yet at the least some such notable portion thereof, as
(al circumstances duely and iustly appertaining to peace & amitie with
forrein princes being offred & vsed) this may become the most peaceable,
most rich, most puissant, & most florishing monarchie of al els (this day)
in chnstendome. Peaceable, I say, euen with the most part of the selfe same
respects that good king Edgar had (being but a Saxon) and by sundry such
meanes, as he chiefly in this Empire did put in proofe and vse
triumphantly, whereupon his sirname was Pacificus, most aptly and iustly.
This peaceable king Edgar had in his minde about six hundred yeeres past,
the representation of a great part of the selfe same Idæa, which from aboue
onely, & by no mans deuise hath streamed downe into my imagination, being
as it becommeth a subiect carefull for the godly prosperitie of this
British Empire vnder our most peaceable Queene Elizabeth.

For, Ædgaros pacificus, Regni sui prospiciens vtilitati, pariter & quieti,
quatuor millia octingentas sibi robustas congregauit naues è quibus mille
ducentas, in plaga Angliæ Orientali, mille ducentas in Occidentali, mille
ducentas in Australi, mille ducentas in Septentrionali pelago constituit,
vt ad defensionem regni sui, contra exteras nationes, bellorum discrimina
sustinerent. [Footnote: _Translation_: "Edgar the Pacific, looking
forward to the benefit and peace of his kingdom, collected Four Thousand
Eight Hundred powerful ships, of which he stationed One Thousand Two
Hundred on the East Coast of England, One Thousand Two Hundred on the West
Coast, One Thousand Two Hundred on the South Coast, and One Thousand Two
Hundred on the Northern Coast, in order to be prepared for war in defence
of his kingdom against foreign nations."]

O wisedome imperiall, most diligently to be imitated, _videlicet,
prospicere_, to foresee. O charitable kingly parent, that was touched
with ardent zeale, for procuring the publike profite of his kingdome, yea
and also the peaceable enioying thereof. O, of an incredible masse of
treasure, a kingly portion, yet, in his coffers remayning: if then he had,
(or late) before any warres, seeing no notable taxe, or contribution publike
is historically mentioned to haue bene for the charges leuied: if in peace
he himselfe flourished so wealthily: O marueilous politicall, & princely
prudencie, in time of peace to foresee, and preuent, (and that most
puissantly, and inuinciblly) all possible malice, fraude, force, and
mischiefe forrain. O most discreet liberalitie to such excellent vses,
powring out his treasure so abundantly. O faithfull English people (then,)
and worthy subiects, of such an Imperiall and godly Gouernour. O your true,
and willing hearts, and blessed ready hands (then,) so to impart such
abundance of victuals for those huge Names maintenance: so (I say) as
neither dearth of famine, seemed (fondly) to be feared of you, for any
intolerable want likely to ensue thereby, nor prices of victuals complained
of to be vnreasonable enhaunsed by you, finding, for their great sales so
good, and rare opportunitie.

This peaceable king Edgar, was one of the perfect Imperiall Monarches of
this British Empire, and therefore thus his fame remaineth (for euer)
recorded.

[Sidenote: Charta Regis Henrici secundi.] Anglici orbis Basileus, flos, &
decus Ædgarus, non minus memorabilis Anglis, quàm Cyrus Persis, Romulus
Romanis, Alexander Macedonibus, Arsaces Parthis, Carolus Francis, Anno vitæ
37. Regni sui cùm fratre, & post 21. Idibus Iulij obijt, & apud Glascon
sepelitur. [Footnote: _Translation_: "The king of the English realm,
that flower (of kings) and renowned Edgar, not less famous amongst the
English than Cyrus amongst the Persians, Romulus amongst the Romans,
Alexander amongst the Macedonians, Arsaces amongst the Parthians, Charles
(the Great) amongst the Franks, in the 37th year of his age and 21st year
of his reign with his brother and alone, died on the Ides of July, and was
buried at Glastonbary."]

O Glastonbury, Glastonbury, the treasurie of the carcases of so famous, and
so many persons (_Quæ olim mater sanctorum dicta es, & ab alijs, tumulus
sanctorum, quam ab ipsis discipulis Domini, ædificatam fuisse venerabilis
habet Antiquorum authoritas_) how lamentable is thy case nowe? howe hath
hypocrisie and pride wrought thy desolation? though I omit here the names
of very many other, both excellent holy men, and mighty princes, whose
carcases are committed to thy custody, yet that Apostolike Ioseph, that
triumphant British Arthur, and nowe this peaceable and prouident Saxon king
Edgar, doe force me with a certaine sorowful reuerence, here to celebrate
thy memorie.

[Sidenote: Ranulphus Cestrinis.] This peaceable king, Edgar, (as by ancient
Recordes may appeare) his Sommer progresses, and yerely chiefe pastimes
were, the sailing round about this whole Isle of Albion, garded with his
grand name of 4000. saile at the least, parted into 4. equall parts of
petie Nauies, eche one being of 1000. ships, for so it is anciently
recorded.

Idem quoque Ædgarus 4000. naues congregauit, ex quibus omni anno, post
festum Paschale, 1000. naues ad quamlibet Angliæ partem statuit, sic,
æstate Insulam circumnauigauit: hyeme verò, iudicia in Prouincia exercuit:
& hæc omnia ad sui exercitium & ad hostium fecit terrorem. [Footnote:
_Translation_: "The same Edgar collected Four Thousand ships, of which
each year, after Easter, he placed One Thousand on each side of England,
and thus sailed round the Island in summer; but in winter he rendered
justice throughout the country; and he did all this for the practice of his
own navy and the terror of his enemies."]

Could, and would that peaceable & wise king Edgar, before need, as being in
peace and quiet with all nations about him, and notwithstanding mistrusting
his possible enemies, make his pastimes so roially, politically and
triumphantly, with so many thousand ships, and at the least with ten times
so many men as ships and that yerely? and shall we being not assured of
such neighbors friendship as may become to vs as cruel and tyrannicall
enemies as neuer king Edgar needed to dread the like, and they as many and
mighty princes, as neuer king Edgar coped with the like, shall we (said he)
not iudge it some part of wisdome, to imitate carefully in some litle
proportion (though not with so many thousands) the prosperous pastimes of
peaceable king Edgar, that Saxonicall Alexander? yea, prosperous pastimes
these may be iustly counted, by which he also made euident to the whole
world, that as he wisely knew the ancient bounds and limits of this British
Empire, so that he could and would royally, iustly, and triumphantly enioy
the same, spite of the deuil, and maugre the force of any forreine
potentate. And al that, so highly and faithfully to the glory of God
finally intended and brought to passe, as the wisest and godliest prelates
and counsellors of those dayes (so counted of and recorded) coulde best
aduise and direct him, or perchance, but sincerely commend and duetifully
incourage him in, he being of himselfe so bent, as purposing first
inuincibly to fortifie the chiefe and vttermost walles of his Islandish
Monarchie, against all forreine encombrance possible. And in that
fortification furthering and assuring to trust best his owne ouersight and
iudgement, in yerely viewing the same in euery quarter thereof, and that as
it were for his pastime Imperiall, also in Sommer time, to the ende that
afterward in all securitie, hee might in Winter time (_vacare_) be at
conuenient leisure on land, chiefly to set foorth God's due honour and
secondly to vnderstand and diligently to listen to the causes and
complaints of his commons. For as Mattheus Westmonasteriensis of him to his
Imperiall commendation hath left vs a remembrance.

Habebat autem præterea consuetudinem, per omnes Regni prouincias transire,
vt intelligeret quomodo legum iura, & suorum statuta decretorum, a
principibus obseruarentur, & ne pauperes à potentibus præiudicium passi,
opprimerentur diligenter inuestigare solebat; in vno fortitudini, in altero
Iustitia studens & Reipub. regníque vtilitati consulens in vtroque. Hinc
hostibus circumquáque timor, & amor omnium erga eum excreuerat subditorum.
[Footnote: _Translation_: "He had, besides the habit of travelling
through all the provinces of the kingdom, to ascertain how the enactments
of the law and the ordinances of his decrees were carried out by those in
authority; and he was careful that the poor who suffered injury from those
in power should have justice done them, promoting courage in one, justice
in another, in both ways benefiting the Crown and State. Thus on every side
the fear of his enemies and the love of his subiects increased."]

Thus we see how in opportunitie, this peaceable Edgar procured to this
Empire such prosperous securitie, that his true and faithfull subiects, all
maner of wayes (that is at home and also at sea, both outward and inward)
might peaceably, safely and sccurely employ their wits and trauels for the
marueilous enriching of this kingdome and pleasuring very many other,
carying forth the naturall commodities of this land, abounding here aboue
our necessity vses (and due store reserued) and likewise againe furnishing
the same with all necessary and not superfluous forreine commodities, fet
from farre or foreign countreys. This was in deed (as before is recorded) a
kingly prouidence. Reipub. Regnique vtilitati consulens, &c. besides with
great vtilitie and profite publique foreseene and by his meanes enioyed, he
himselfe vsed most gladly the aduantage of that securitie, in ministring of
iustice or causing the same to be executed all his kingdome ouer not
squemishly, frowningly or skornefully shunning the ragged and tattered
sleeue of any suppliant, holding vp to him a simple soiled bill of
complaint or petition, and that homely contriued, or afrayde at, and
timerously hasting from the sickly pale face or feeble limmed suter,
extreemely constrained so to speake for himselfe, nor parcially smoothering
his owne conscience, to fauour or mainteine the foule fault and trespasse
vnlawfull of any his subiects, how mightie or necessary soeuer, they (els)
were, but diligently made search, least Pauperes a potentibus præiudicium
passi, opprimerentur.

Thus did publique securitie from forrein foe abroad, and true loue of his
owne subiects, garding him at home, and the heauenly spirit directing all
his good purposes, cause iustice and equitie in all quarters of this Albion
to flourish. For which his peaceable and prosperous benefits at the
eternall king his hand obteined, hee became not insolent or declined to
tyrannicall regiment (as some princes in other countreis haue made their
liues Comicotragical) but with all his foresaide inunicible Sea-force,
aboundant wealth, triumphant peace, with securitie and Iustice ouer all his
Monarchie preuailing, his heart was continually, and most zealously bent to
set foorth the glory, laude and honour of the Almightie Creator, the
heauenly and euerlasting king, by such principall and princely meanes, as
(then) were deemed to God most acceptable, as many monuments yet to our
dayes remaining, do of him vndoubtedly testifie: As this, for one
[Footnote: Ex charta fundationis Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Wigorniæ.]

Altitonantis Dei largiflua clementia, qui est rex Regium, Ego Ædgarus
Anglorum Basileus omniúmque Regum, Insulatum, Oceanique Britanniam
circumiacentis, cunctarúmque nationum quæ infra eam includuntur, Imperator,
& Dominus, gratias ago ipsi Deo omnipotenti, Regi meo, qui meum Imperium
sic ampliauit, & exaltauit super regnum patrum meorum: qui licet Monarchiam
totius Angliæ adepti sunt a tempore Athelstani (qui primus regnum Anglorum,
& omnes Nationes, quæ Britanniam incolunt, sibi Armis subegit) nullus tamen
eorum vltra eius fines imperium suum dilatare aggressus est. Mihi autem
concessit propitia Diuinitas, cum Anglorum Imperio, omnia regna Insularum
Oceani, cùm suis ferocissimis Regibus, vsque Noruegiam, maximámque partem
Hyberniæ, cùm sua nobilissima Ciuitate Dublinia, Anglorum regno subiugare:
Duos etiam omnes, meis Imperijs colla subdere (Dei laudente gratia) coegi.
Quaproptcr & ego Christi gloriam, & laudem exaltare, & eius seruitium
amplificare deuotus disposui, & per meos fideles Fautores, Dunstanum, viz.
Archiepiscopum, Athelwoldum, & Oswaldum episcopos (quos mihi patres
spirituales, & Consiliatores elegi) magna er parte, secundum quod disposui,
effeci, &c. [Footnote: _Translation_ "By the wide-extending Grace of the
mighty God of Thunders, who is king of kings, I, Edgar, king of Angles and
of all Kingdoms, and Islands, and of the Ocean lying around Britain,
Emperor and Lord of all the nations therein contained, return thanks to
that same, all-powerful God, my king, who has thus extended my Empire and
exalted me above the state of my forefathers, who, although they held sway
ouer all England from the days of Athelstan (who first conquered the
kingdom of the Angles and all the nations which inhabit Britain) yet none
attempted to extend his empire beyond the frontiers of Athetstan's kingdom.
Favouring Providence, however, has permitted me, together with the throne
of England, to add thereto all the kingdoms of the Islands of the Ocean,
with their warlike kings, as far as Norway, and the greater part of
Ireland, with its very powerful city of Dublin, all of whom, by the help of
God, I have compelled, to bow the neck to my power. Wherefore I desire to
exalt the glory and praise of Christ, and increase His worship, and by my
faithful counsellors, viz., Dunstan the Archbishop and Athelwold and
Oswald, bishops (whom I have chosen to be my spiritual Fathers and
Aduisers), I have in a great measure performed what I intended etc."]

And againe this in another Monument. [Footnote: Fundatio Ecclesiæ
Cathedralis Eliensis.]

Omnipotentis Dei, &c. Ipsius nutu & gratia suffultus, Ego Ædgarus Basileus
dilectæ Insulæ Albionis, subditis nobis sceptris Scotorum, Cumbrorum, ac
Brytonum, & omnium circumcirca Regionum, quieta pace perfruens, studiosus
sollicitè de laudibus creatoris omnium occupo addendis. Ne nunc inertia,
nostrísque diebus (plus æquo) seruitus eius tepescere videatur, &c. 18. mei
terreni Imperij anno, &c. Anno Incarnationis Dominicæ, 973.

Ego Ædgarus totius Albionis Basileus hoc priuilegium (tanta roboratum
authontate) crucis.

Thaumate confirmaui. [Footnote: _Translation_ "In the name of Almighty God,
etc. Strengthened by the favour and grace of God, I, Edgar, king of the
favoured Isle of Albion having made subject to us the kingdoms of the
Scots, the Cumbrians, the Britons, and all regions around, in the enjoyment
of quiet peace, being anxious, to increase the praise of the Creator of all
things, in order that lukewarmness may not appear to render His worship
less earnest in these our days, etc., in the 18th year of my earthly reign,
and the year of the Holy Incarnation 973. etc., I, Edgar, king of all
Albion, haue confirmed that privilege, etc."]

So that by all these rehearsed Records, it is most euident that the
peaceable king Edgar, was one of those Monarchs, in whose handes (if life
had suffised) the incredible value and priuiledge granted by God and nature
vnto this British monarchie might haue bene peaceably purchased in such
sort, as the very blessing and fauour of the diuine Trinitie hath laid
meanes for our industrie to attaine to, and enioye the same by.

And though sundry other valiant princes and kings of this land I could
recite, which in times past haue either by intent gone about or by wise and
valiant exploit, haue meetely well prospered towards this Islandish
appropriate supremacie attaining, yet neuer any other reasonable meanes was
vsed, or by humane wit, or industrie can be contriued, to al purposes
sufficient, but only by our sea forces preuailing, and so by our inuincible
enioying al within the sea limites of our British royaltie contained.

To which incredible political mysterie attaining, no easier, readier or
perfecter plat and introduction, is (as yet) come to my imagination then is
the present and continuall seruice of threescore good and tall warlike
ships, with twentie smaller barkes, and those 80. ships (great and smal)
with 6660. apt men furnished, and all singularly well appointed for seruice
both on sea and land, faithfully and diligently to be done in such
circumspect and discreet order as partly I haue in other places declared,
and further (vpon good occasion offered) may declare.

This grand name of peaceable King Edgar, of so many thousand ships, and
they furnished with an hundred thousand men at the least, with all the
finall intents of those sea forces, so inuincible, continually maintained,
the order of the execution of their seruice, the godly and Imperial
successe thereof, are in a maner kingly lessons and prophetical
incouragements to vs left, euen now to bee as prouident for publique
securitie as he was, to be as skilful of our sea right and royal limits,
and wisely to finde our selues as able to recouer and enioy the same as he
was, who could not chuse, but with the passing and yeerely sayling about
this British Albion, with all the lesser Isles next adiacent round about
it, he could not chuse I say, but by such ful and peaceable possession,
find himselfe (according to right, and his hearts desire) the true and
soueraigne Monarch of all the British Ocean, enuironing any way his empire
of Albion and Ireland, with the lesser Islands next adiacent: with memorial
whereof, as with one very precious iewel Imperial, hee adorned the title
and crowne of his regalitie, as with the testimonie annexed of the states
and nobles of his Empire, to commit to perpetuall memorie, the stile of his
chiefe worldly dignitie, in this very tenor of words before also remembred.

[Sidenote: Note the Queenes Maiesties royaltie ouer the British Ocean sea,
round about the British Empire.] Ego Ædgarus Anglorum Basileus, omniúmque
Regum, Insularum, Oceanique Britanniam circumiacentis, cunctarúmque
nationum, quæ infra eam includuntur, Imperator, & Dominus.

* * * * *

The voyage of Edmund and Edward the sonnes of King Edmund Ironside into
Hungarie, Anno D. 1017. Recorded by Florentius Wigorniensis pag. 391.

[Sidenote: An. Dom. 1017.] Dedit consilium Edricus Canuto regi, vt
clitunculos Eadwardum & Eadmundum regis Eadmundi filios necaret. Sed quia
magnum dedecus sibi videbatur, vt in Anglia perimerentur, paruo elapso
tempore, ad regem Suauorum occidendos misit. Qui, licèt foedus esset inter
eos, precibus illius nullatenùs voluit acquiescere, sed illos ad regem
Hungarorum Salomonem nomine misit nutriendos vitæque reseruandos. Quorum
vnus scilicet Eadmundus processu temporis ibidem vitam finiuit. Eadwardus
verò Agatham filiam Germani Imperatoris Henrici in matrimonium accepit, ex
qua Margaretam Scotorum reginam, & Christinam Sanctimonialem, & Clitonem
Eadgarum suscepit. [Footnote: "Pus par le conseil le duc Edric aveit il en
pense de aver tue les fiz le re Edmund; cest a dire, Eduuard e Edmun. Mes
pur ceo ke il fust avis ke ceo eust este grant honte ali, si il les eust
fet tuer en Engleterre, e pur ceo ke il se duta ausi ke se il demorassent
en Engleterre ke il pensent en prendre contre lui, il les envea al rei de
Sueue, e ly manda ke il les meist ala mort: ki ne, voleit unkes fere sa
priere mes les envea a Salomon le rei de Hungrie pur nurir. E tant com il
furunt la, Edmund morust tost, e Eduuard prist a femme Agathe la filie le
emperour Henri, de la quele il engendra Margarete, ki pus fust reyne de
Escoce, e Edgar" (_Le Liuere de reis de Engleterre_, MS in Trinity College,
Cambridge.)]

The same in English

Edric counselled king Kanutus to murther the young princes Edward and
Edmund the sonnes of King Edmund. But because it seemed a thing very
dishonourable vnto him to haue them put to death in England, hee sent them,
after a short space, vnto the king of Sweden to be slaine. Who, albeit
there was a league betweene them, would in no case condescend vnto Canutus
his bloody request, but sent them vnto Salomon [Footnote: An error for
_Stephen_ the Holy, who married the sister of Henry II William of
Malmesbory makes Agatha the niece of Henry and daughter of Stephen.] the
king of Hungarie to be nourished and preserued aliue. The one whereof
namely Edmund in processe of time there deceased. But Edward receiued to
wife Agatha daughter vnto the Germane Emperour Henry of whom he begot
Margaret the Queene of the Seots, and Christina a Nunne, and Clito Edgar.
[Footnote: Edgar Atheling]

* * * * *

Chronicle of the Kings of Man, taken out of M. Camdens Chorographie.

In the yeere of our Lord 1066, Edward King of England, of famous memory
deceased, whom Harald sonne of Godwin succeeded in his kingdome, against
which Harald the king of Norwaie called Harald Harfager fought a battel at
Stamford bridge, where the English winning the fielde put all the
Norwegians to flight: [Footnote: "Memes cel an Harald le rey de Norweye,
frere Seint Olaf, ariva al flum de Tine a Nof Chastel ou plus de Ve granz
neofs, a ki le connte Tostin, le frere le rey Harald de Engletere, vint ou
sa nauie, si com il aveient fet covenant en semble, e vindrunt sus a
Richale (_Richmond_) e destrurent tut le pais de Euerwyk (_York_) E Kant
ceo out oy Harald, le rei de Engletere, tant tost se mist conntre eus ou
son ost en vn liu ki hom apele Stamfordbrigge e la twa il le rey de Norweye
e Tostin son frere de meine, e grant partie del ost. Mes IX. de ses
chivalers pus le lesserent, pur ceo ke il ne les voleit ren doner de la
preye ki il prist des Norreis." (_Le Liuere de reis de Engleterre_ MS in
Trinity College, Cambridge.)] out of which flight one Godredus surnamed
Crouan (the sonne of Harald the blacke, who had before time fled out of
Island) repaired vnto Godred sonne of Syrric who then reigned in Man and
was right friendly and honourably enterteined by him.

[Sidenote: Fingal.] In the very same yeere William the Conquerour subdued
England and Godred the sonne of Syrric, king of Man, deceased, after whom
succeeded his sonne Fingal.

In the yeere 1066. Godredus Crouan gathered a fleete of ships, and sailed
vnto Man, and giuing battell vnto the people of the countrey, was
vanquished and put to flight. The second time also hauing gathered his
armie and ships together, hee came vnto Man, fought with the inhabitants,
lost the victorie, and was chaced away. Yea, the third time [Footnote: in
1077] he assembled a great multitude, and comming by night vnto the port
which is called Ramsa, [Footnote: Ramsay] hid 300. of his men in a wood
standing vpon the side of the hill called Scacafel. The Sunne was no sooner
vp, but the Mannians arranged themselues and with great furie set vpon
Godred. And in the midst of the skirmish, the foresaid 300. men rising out
of their ambush, and comming vpon the backes of the Mannians, molested them
so sore, that they were enforced to flie. But when they saw that they were
ouercome and had no place of refuge to retire vnto (for the tide of the sea
had filled the chanel of the riuer of Ramsa [Footnote: The riuer Colby])
and seeing the enemie so fiercely pursuing them on the other side, they
which remained, with lamentable outcries beseeched Godred to spare their
liues. Then hee being mooued with compassion, and pitying their extreme
calamitie, because hee had bene of late sustained and nourished among them,
sounded a retreat and forbad his souldiers to make any longer pursuit. The
day following Godred put his souldiers to their choice, whether they would
diuide Man among themselues and inhabite it, or whether they would take the
wealth of the countrey, and so returne vnto their owne home. Howbeit, it
pleased them better to waste the whole Island and to enrich themselues with
the commodities thereof, and so to returne from whence they came. Nowe
Godred himselfe with a fewe Islanders which had remained with him, tooke
possession of the South part of the Island, and vnto the remnant of the
Mannians he granted the North part thereof, vpon condition, that none of
them should at any time afterward dare once to chalenge any parcell of the
said ground by title of inheritance. Whereupon it commeth to passe, that
vnto this day the whole Island is the kings owne Fee-simple, and that all
the reuenues thereof pertaine vnto him. [Sidenote: Boats hauing not past
three yron nailes in them] Also Godredus subdued Dublin vnto himselfe & a
great part of Lainestir. And he so tamed the Scots, that none of them durst
build a ship or a boate, with aboue three yron nailes in it. Hee reigned
16. yeeres and died in the Island called Yle. [Footnote: Yell, a northern
island of the Shetland group, seventeen miles by seven.] He left behinde
him three sonnes, Lagman, Harald, and Olauus. Lagman being the eldest
chalenged the kingdome and reigned seuen yeeres. Howbeit Harald his brother
rebelled against him a long time, but being at length taken by Lagman, hee
was gelt and had his eyes put out. Afterward Lagman repenting him that he
had put out the eyes of his brother, did of his owne accord relinquish his
kingdome, and taking vpon him the badge of the crosse, he went on
pilgrimage to Ierusalem, in which iourney also he died.

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