America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

Not far from Haven Halneford is a Cliff in a Rock of an unknown depth, and no Water to be discern’d by those that look down into it, but if a Stone be cast in, it shall make a noise for half an hour together, as if it were striking against a Brazen Vessel, and all this while the Water will be rising till it comes up to the brim, and then will be so long sinking again as the Stone was falling.

Mountains of Iseland.

There are also three Mountains in Iseland not to be left unmention’d, the Mountain of the Cross, the Mountain Snenelstockel, and the Mountain Hecla; the two first are chiefly considerable for their wonderful heighth, and for the dreadful noise of Thunder which is heard on the top of them, when in the adjacent parts below, the Air is calm and clear; the third lying in the North of the Island, and not very high, is one of the most prodigious Vulcans in the World, for the casting forth of Flames, black Ashes, and Pumice-Stones, insomuch that there is no possibility of Habitation within six Miles of it round about; and it is a receiv’d Opinion of the Inhabitants, that it is the place of Torment for the Souls of the Damned; from whence there hath risen such a company of strange Stories and Fables, that it would make up a Volume of it self to relate them. The occasion of the great Eruption of this Mountain is not without much reason imputed to the inflammation of the Sulphur, of which there are several Mines or Pits in the Countrey, though none of any sort of Metal.

First planting of Christian Religion here.

Waldemarus, King of Denmark and Norway, being consequently Master of this amongst the other Norwegian Colonies, Planted the Christian Religion in this Island in the Year of Christ 1398. and Ordain’d two Bishops, one in Schalholden, in the East part, another in Hollen, in the West; and after the Reformation was begun, Christianus, King of Denmark, took care to propagate the Reformed Doctrine there, as well as in other parts of his Dominions; and to that end sent over a Printer thither, that the BIBLE, together with the Works of Philip Melancthon and Urbanus Regius, might be publish’d in the Vulgar Tongue of the Countrey. But these Proceedings were mainly oppos’d by the Bishop of Schalholden, who animating the People to Rebellion, they slew the King’s Lieutenant: Whereupon the next Year Paul Holfelt, a Knight of the Danish Order, being sent over with an Army, overthrew the Rebels, and taking off the chief Heads of the Rebellion, committed the Charge of the Government to another Nobleman of Denmark, whom he left upon the Place. But one Tadde Bonde, a great Man of the Countrey, meditating a Revolt, drew divers Persons of principal note into Conspiracy with him, and was advancing to a formidable Power, had not the Bishop given continual Intelligence of their Proceedings to the King’s Lieutenant, who thereupon employ’d Agents to the chief Accomplices of the Faction, and what with fair Means and threatnings so wrought with them, that they return’d to their Obedience, and forsook Todde, insomuch that he flying with a small Party, betook himself to a fastness at the Foot of Heckelveld, where being hemm’d in, those about him were slain, and he himself taken Prisoner; and because no Man to whose safe custody he was offer’d durst receive him, so much dreaded was his Power, one Jonas, a bold courageous Fellow, slew him with his own Hand, and thereby put an end to all farther Tumults and Seditions.

The People Iseland addicted to Sorcery and Superstition.

So much have the People of this Island been ever addicted to Sorcerie and Superstition, that notwithstanding the Profession of Christianity, and the frequent Preaching against those Sins, especially since the Reformation, the generality of them are still wedded to many of those old diabolical Customs, which were practis’d there in time of Paganism; and amongst other things they are said to be serv’d, many of them, by Spirits, which constantly attend them, and as Olaus Magnus writes of the Finlanders, they are oftentimes dealt with by Strangers, to sell them prosperous Winds for Money, and (doubtless by the help of the Devil) perform the same; as also on the contrary, they are said by their Enchantments to stop the Course of a Ship, and make it as it were immovable, though in the Stream of never so prosperous a Gale. They are a proud, haughty People, and for the most part endu’d with vast strength of Body; their Habit so promiscuous, that neither Sex can be distinguish’d by it. They are not onely forward to prostitute their Daughters to those Germans that Trade with them at Hafnefords, but that Virgin who hath had to do with a German, shall be sure to be so much the more esteem’d and Courted.

Towns and Places of note.

The onely Towns and Buildings of note here, and those created but of late Ages, are 1. Hafnefords, a Haven Town, chiefly frequented by Dutch Merchants for Traffick with the Natives.

2. Bedstede, the Residence of the Lord Lieutenant or Governor for the King of Denmark.