CATALOGUS CHRONOLOGICUS EPISCOPORUM ISLANDIÆ.
Anno Episcopi Schalholtenses Christi I. Isleif. 1056 Ordinatur peregrè. 1057 Redit et Schalholtensem cathedram adit 1080 Anno ætat 74. Moritur 4. Kalend. Iul.
II. Gysserus. 1082 Ordinatur peregrè, 1083 Redit in Islandiam cum Episopatu. 1118 Moritur 5. Kalend. Maias qui fuit dies Martis.
III. Thorlacus Runolphi. F. Anno ætatis Ordinatur eodem anno, quo prædecessor. 32: Gysserus vita excessit, sed tamen ante illius obitum 30. die 1133 Moritur.
IV.
Magnus
1134 Ordinatur.
1148 Postridiè festi omnium Sanctorum in villa sacerdotali Hittardal
comuiuans, coenaculo fulmine percusso, cum viris 70. flammis
absumptus est.
V. Klaingus. 1151 Eligitur. 1152 Cathedram adit. 1176 Moritur.
VI.
Thorlacus.
Eligitur biennio ante obit, prædecessoris
1178 Ordinatur.
1193 Moritur.
VII.
Paulus.
1195 Ordinatur.
1211 Moritur.
VIII.
Magnus.
1216 Ordinatur.
IX.
Siguardus.
1239 Cathedram adit.
1268 Moritur.
X.
Arnerus.
1269 Cathedram adit.
1298 Moritur.
XI. Arnerus Helgonis F. 1304 Ordinatur. 1305 Cathedram adit. 1309 In Noruagiam abit ligna à rege Noruagiæ petiturus, quibus templum Schalholtense reædificaretur, quod eodem anno fulmine tactum conflagrarat. 1310 Redit ex intinere. 1320 Moritur.
XII. Ionas Haldorus. 1321 Eligitur. 1322 Ordinatur Kal. Augusti. 1323 Cathedram adit. 1338 Moritur.
XIII.
Ionas Indridi F. Roruages
1339 Cathedram adit.
1341 Moritur.
XIV.
Ionas Siguardi F.
1343 Cathedram adit.
1348 Moritur pridiè Diui Magni.
XV.
Gyrthus.
1349 Ordinatus Asloiæ Noruagorum, ab Episcopo Asloensi Salomone.
1356 Abiens peregrè fluctibus vitam finit.
XVI.
Thorarinnus.
1362 Cathedram adit.
1364 Moritur.
XVII.
Oddgeirus.
1366 Cathedram adit.
1381 Moritur in assumpt. beatæ virginis, in portu Noruagiæ Burgensi, è
mercium aceruo in imum nauis delapsus. Sepultus Bergis in æde
Saluatoris.
XVIII.
Michaël Danus.
1385 Cathedral adit.
1388 Resignat profectus in Daniam.
XIX.
Wilhelmus Danus.
1394 Cathedram adit. Moritur.
XX.
Arnerus.
Hic cognomento fuit Milldur. i. liberalis. Gessit vna pæfecturam
Islandiæ tertius: Episcopatum Schalholtens. & vice Episcopatum
Holensem.
1420 Obijt.
XXI.
Ionas Gerichso.
1432 Suecus siue cognomento siue natione præest Ecclesiæ Schalholtensi: ac posteà ob quædam nimis audacter tentata, à quodam Thorualdo de Modruvallum (vt fama est) captus, & aligato ad collum saxo in amne Schalholtensi, qui à ponte nomen habet, viuus submersus & strangulatus est.
XXII.
Gosuinus.
1445 Præest Ecclesiæ Schalholtensi.
XXIII.
Sueno.
1472 Dictus sapiens præest.
XXIV.
Magnus Riolphi F.
1489 Præest.
XXV.
Stephanus.
1494 Cathedram adit.
Deinde Godtschalco episcopo Holensi, qui crudelis nomen meritus
esse videtur, Synchronos similem cum illo clementiæ & iusticiæ
laudem reportauit.
1519 Moritur: aut circiter.
XXVI.
Augmundus.
Eligitur anno obitus Stephani
1522 Cathedram adit.
Hoc episcopo, prefectus regius cum comitibus aliquot Scalhotiam
inuitatus, in ipso conuiuio à coniuram quibusdam interfectus est,
eò quòd impiè passim in incolas & bona ipsorum grassatus esset.
Augmundus vcro tanquam istius cædis author, quanquam se iuramento
purgarat in Daniam transuectus, Obijt.
XXVII. Gysserus. 1540 Eligitur viuente Augmundo 1541 Cathedram adit, Papisticarum traditionum abrogator circa coniugium 1544 sacerdotum: Eius nuptiæ Schalholtiæ celebratæ.
XXVIII.
Martinus.
1547 Præest, & sequentibus.
XXIX.
Gislaus Ionas.
Hic statim, Augmundo episcopo, coepit iuuenis veræ pietatis &
purioris doctrinæ Euangelicæ studio, & amore flagrare, eandemque
pastor ecclesiæ Sclardalemsis diligenter propagare, qua ratione
Pontificiorum odium adeò in se deriuauit, vt illorum insidijs ac
rabiei cedere coactus, Hamburgum se contulerit, vnde Haffniam
Danorum profectus, in coepto veræ Theologiæ studio strenuè
pergens, in multorum, præcipuè verò in summa D. D. Petri Palladu
tum temporis Episcopi, familiaritate et gratia viuebat.
1556 Postea, inde in patriam reuerso, Martinus sponte cessit.
1587 Moritur et hic 31. annos plus minus Euangelium Iesu Christi professus: nec tantum viua voce, sed et quocunque demum potuit modo, docendo, dicendo, scribendo, re et consilio Ecclesiam Dei iuuit et promouit.
XXX.
Otto Knerus
Vir grauis, pius et eruditus.
1588 Electus abit patria.
1589 Ordinatur.
Redit et cathedram adit, susceptique muneris labores aggreditur.
* * * * *
Anno Episcopi Holenses.
Christi
I.
Ionas Augmundi F.
Isleifi discipulus.
1106 Ordinatur peregrè: anno ætat. 64. cognomentum illi, sanctus: curus
memoriæ dies 3. Martij, apud Islandos est antiquitùs dicatus.
1121 Moritur 11. Kalend. Maias.
II.
Ketillus siue Catullus.
1122 Ordinatur.
1145 Moritur.
III.
Biorno.
1147 Ordinatus venit in Islandiam.
1162 Moritur.
IV. Brandus. 1163 Ordinatur. 1165 Cathedram adit. 1201 Moritur.
V.
Gudmundus, cognomento Bonus.
1203 Eligitur et ordinatur.
1237 Moritur.
VI.
Botolphus.
1239 Redit ordinatus.
1246 Moritur.
VII.
Henricus.
1247 Cathedram adit.
1260 Moritur.
VIII. Brandus. 1262 Abbas peregrè abit. 1263 Cathedram adit. 1264 Moritur.
IX.
Iorundus.
1267 Cathedram adit.
1313 Moritur.
X.
Audunnus.
1314 Cathedram adit.
1322 Moritur.
XI.
Laurentius.
1324 Eligitur & ordinatur.
1331 Moritur Idib. April.
XII.
Egillus.
1332 Cathedram adit.
1341 Moritur.
XIII.
Ormus.
1343 Cathedram adit.
1355 Moritur in festo omnium Sanctorum.
XIV.
Ionas Erici F. cognomento Skalle
1358 Cathedram Holensem aditurus venit in Islandiam. Hic Ionas, olim in
Grondlandiæ Episcopatum Gronlandis ordinatus, à Pontifice Romano
Episcopus impetrauit, vt liceret sibi Episcopatum Holensem adire, qui
1356 tunc temporis vacabat. Vnde cum confirmationem huius dignitatis
ac munerus, à Pontifice acceptam, veniens non proferret, apud
Presbyteros dioecesis Holensis, suspectæ fidet esse coepit.
Quare abijsdem in Noruagiam relegæus est, vt ea res arbitrio
Regis componeretur. Rege igitur ipsius partibus fauente
Cathedram Holensem obitnuit.
1391 Moritur.
XV.
Petrus.
Ordinatur, quo anno prædecessor rebus mortalium exemptus est.
1392 Cathedram adit Holensem.
Moritur.
XVI.
Ionas Wilhelmus.
1432 Anglus, siue genere, siue cognomine, præfuit Ecclcsiæ Holensi.
XVII.
Godschalcus.
1457 Moritur.
XVIII.
Olaus Rogwaldi F.
1458 Prædicti Godschalchi ex sorore nepos, vterque Noruagus, eligitur. 1497 Moritur.
XIX.
Godschalcus.
De mortus Olai nepos ex fratre, et ille Noruagus, eligitur eodem
anno quo patruus decessit.
1500 Cathedram adit, ac per totos 20. annos multos ex subditis duriter
exercuisse fertur.
Anno 1520. cum inter pocula et voluptates conuiuales versaretur
audirétque obijsse Ionam Sigismundum, quem cum vxore et liberis
multos annos crudelissimè vexauerat, in subitum morbum repentè
incidit, et sic paulò post, eam, qua in tota vita in miseros
subditos vsus est vim cum miserabili morte commutauit.
XX.
Ionas Aræsonius.
1525 Cathedram adit: etiam hic papisticarum superstitionum vltimus et
acerrimus assertor. Qui, cum Gyssero et Martino episcopus
Schalhotiæ acriter resisteret, à pientiss. Rege Christiano
1548 tertio iubetur sub poena exilij protinus in Daniam aduentare.
1550 Sed hoc neglecto, captum Martinum Schalholtiæ Episcopum custodiæ
mandauit. Tandem et ipse à viro quodam magni nominis, quem
prius vt fertur, lacessiuerat, captus, ac Schalholtiam adductus,
ibidem cum filijs duobus, authoritate regij præfecti, capitis
1551 supplicio affectus est. In cuius vltionem, non multò post
præfectus ille regius, cum socijs aliquot, à quibusdam sicarijs,
decollatorum olim famulis, nefarie occisus est.
XXI.
Olaus Bialterus.
1552 Abit patria.
1553 Cathderam adit.
Hic primus sincerioris doctrinæ apud Holenses amorem in multorum
animis, etiam adhuc prædecessoris sui collega, accendit: Deinde
eandem doctrinam Episcopus apertius docuit et propugnauit.
1568 Moritur.
XXII.
Gudbrandus Thorlacius.
Ille non modò suæ ætatis, sed et posterntatis ornamentum. Qui
præterquam quod inchoatum opus à prædecessore Olao sibi relictum
ducente S. S. optimè ad eam, quam dedit Deus perfectionem,
deduxit, (dico labores et diligentiam in asserenda veritate
Euangelica, et papisticis superstitionibus abrogandis) etiam in
hac patria sua officinam Typographicam primus Islandorum
aperuit. Cui idcirco patria inter libros complures in linguam
vernaculam translatos, etiam sacrosancta Biblia, elegantissimis
typis Islandica lingua in officna ipsius excusa, in æternum
debebit.
Hic inquam Episcopus præsens, officium suscepturus.
1570 Abijt.
1571 Redit Cathedram Holensem ingreditur.
The same in English.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE BlSHOPS OF ISLAND.
The Bishops of Schalholt. In the yeere
of Christ
I.
Isleif.
Consecrated beyond the seas. 1056
Returneth and entereth the Bishops sea of Schalholt. 1057
Dieth in the yere of his age 74. the 4. of the 1080
Kalends of Iuly.
II.
Gysserus.
Consecrated beyond the sea. 1082
Returneth into Island with his Bishopricke. 1083
Dieth the 5. of the Kal. of May being tuesday. 1118
III.
Thorlacus sonne of Runulphus.
Consecrated the same yeere, wherein his predecessor. In the year
Gysserus deceased, but yet 30. dayes before of his age 32
his death. Dieth. 1133
IV.
Magnus.
Consecrated. 1134
On the morrowe after the feast of all Saints, in his 1148
parish towne of Hiitardal, the house being striken
with lightning, hee, and 70. men with him were
consumed with fire.
V.
Klaingus.
Chosen. 1151
Entreth the see. 1152
Dieth. 1176
VI.
Thorlacus.
Chosen two yeres before the death of his predecessour.
Consecrated. 1178
Dieth. 1193
VII.
Paulus.
Consecrated. 1195
Dieth. 1211
VIII.
Magnus.
Consecrated. 1216
IX.
Siguardus.
Entreth his see. 1239
Dieth. 1268
X.
Arnerus.
Entreth his see. 1269
Dieth. 1298
XI.
Arnerus sonne of Helgo.
Consecrated. 1304
Entreth the see. 1305
Saileth into Norwaie, to craue timber of the king of Norway, 1309
wherewith the Church of Schalholt might be reedified, which the
same yere being toucht with lightning, was burnt downe.
Returneth home. 1310
Dieth. 1320
XII.
Ionas Haldorus
Elected. 1321
Consecrated the first of August. 1322
Entreth his see. 1323
Dieth. 1338
XIII.
Ionas, sonne of Indred, a Noruagian borne.
Entreth his see. 1339
Dieth. 1341
XIV.
Ionas sonne of Siguardus.
Entreth his see. 1343
Dieth on S. Magnus euen. 1348
XV.
Gyrthus.
Consecrated at Aslo in Norway by Salomon bishop of Aslo. 1349
Going beyond the seas he was drowned. 1356
XVI.
Thorarinnus.
Entreth his see. 1362
Dieth. 1364
XVII.
Oddgeirus.
Entreth his see. 1366
Dieth vpon the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, in the port of 1381
Bergen in Norway, falling downe from a packe of wares into the
botome of the ship. He was buried at Bergen in the Church of our
Sauiour.
XVIII.
Michael a Dane.
Entreth his see. 1385
Resigneth, and saileth into Denmarke. 1388
XIX.
William a Dane.
Entereth the Bishopricke. 1394
Dieth.
XX.
Arnerus.
Arnerus sirnamed Mildur, that is to say Liberall. He was at one
time Lord President of all Island, bishop of Schalholt, and
vicebishop of Holen. He died. 1420
XXI.
Ionas Gerichson.
Sueden either sirnamed or borne is made Bishop ouer the Church of 1432
Schalholt and afterward for certaine bolde attempts being taken
by one Thorualdus de Modruuollum (as it is reported) and a great
stone being bound to his necke, hee was cast aliue into the
riuer of Schalholt, (which taketh name of the bridge) and was
there strangled.
XXII.
Goswinus.
Bishop of Schalholt. 1445
XXIII.
Sueno.
Called the wise, bishop of Schalholt. 1472
XXIV.
Magnus sonne of Riolphus.
Bishop &c. 1489
XXV.
Stephen.
Entreth the See. Then (liuing at one time with Godschalchus bishop 1494
of Holen, who seemed worthy to be sirnamed cruel) he had the
same commendations for mercy and iustice, that Godschalchus had.
He died: or thereabout. 1519
XXVI.
Augmundus.
Chosen in the yeere wherein Stephen deceased.
Entreth the see. 1522
While he was Bishop, the kings Lieutenant with some of his
followers being inuited to Schalholt, in the time of the banquet
was slaine by certaine conspirators because hee had in all
places wickedly wasted the inhabitants and their goods. But
Augmundus as the authour of that murther (although he purged
himselfe with an othe) being transported into Denmarke there
ended his life.
XXVII.
Gysserus.
Elected, Augmundus yet liuing. 1540
Entred the see. 1541
He was the abolisher of Popish traditions about Priests marriages:
his owne marriage being solemnized at Schalholt. 1544
XXVIII.
Martinus.
Bishop &c. And the yeeres following. 1547
XXIX.
Gislaus Ionas.
This man presently, in the time of bishop Augmund began in his
youth to be enflamed with the loue of true pietie, & of the pure
doctrine of the Gospel, & being pastour of the Church of
Selardal, diligently to aduance the same, by which meanes he did
so procure vnto himselfe the hatred of Papists, as being
constreined to giue place vnto their craft & crueltie, he
departed ouer to Hamburg, from whence comming to Copen Hagen in
Denmarke & painefully proceeding in his former study of
diuintie, he liued in the familiaritie, and fauour of many, but
specially of D. D. Peter Palladius: who was at that time bishop
there. Afterward returning into his countrey, Martine gaue place 1556
vnto him of his owne accord. This man died also, hauing for the 1587
space of 31. years or there abouts, professed the Gospel of
Iesus Christ: neither did he helpe & further the Church of God
by the sound of his voice much, but by all other meanes to the
vtmost of his abilities, by teaching, preaching, writing, by his
wealth & his counsel.
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.