3. The Bishops See of Halsar, having four Monasteries belonging to it, viz. Pingore, Remestede, Modor, and Monkeniere.
4. The Bishops See of Schalholt, to which also doth belong four Monasteries, viz. Vedey, Pernebar, Kirkebar, and Schirde.
Their Place and manner of Judicature.
The Nobles of Iseland are call’d Bonden; their Justiciaries or Judges, being twelve in number, Lochmaders, that is, Men of Law or Justice, who are said to meet once a year on the twenty ninth of June, to administer Justice in a place ordain’d for that purpose in the midst of the Island, appearing like some feigned Paradice, so pleasant a place it is represented to be at that time of the year, being (as the Tradition goes) from a high burning Mountain like Hecla, consum’d to a Plain, and so environ’d with Rocks, that there was left but a small Passage for one at a time to enter. Here the Governor having first given the Charge, leaves the Trial of all Matters to the Lochmaders, who having diligently heard every Cause argued on both sides, withdraw for a while to Consult together, and then proceed to Sentence, the same Persons being both Jury and Judge; but if any Case of difficulty or scruple arise, they consult the Governor.
Angrimus Jonas’s Relation of Iseland.
Angrimus Jonas’s Relation of Iseland differing much from what hath been deliver’d by Blefkens, is not to be omitted. He saith it was first discover’d by one Naddocus, a Pyrate, who going towards the Farensian Islands, was cast by Tempest upon the Shore of East-Iseland, near the Mountain Reidarfial; and as he departed from the Coast, perceiving the tops of the highest Mountains cover’d with a very deep Snow, call’d the Island Snælandia, that is, Snowy Countrey.
Gardarus’s Voyage to Iseland.
Upon the fame of Naddocus’s Discovery, one Gardarus, the Son of Suavarus, a Swede, was desirous to make a Voyage thither, and arriving near the Eastern Shore, Winter’d in the Bay of Skialfanda, or North-Island, in the Year of our Lord 864. and call’d the Haven Huscawick, from the Houses or Wintering-places built there, as the next Haven to it was call’d Nartarawick, from Natrare, an eminent Mariner in this Expedition. Gardarus returning home about the beginning of the Spring, call’d the Countrey from his own Name Gardarsholm.
Flocco’s Voyage to the same Place.
The next that follow’d his Example, was one Flocco, a famous Pyrate, whose Daughter Geirhilda being drown’d upon the Coast of Schetland (anciently Hietland,) gave the Name of Geirhildarwata to the Sea thereabouts: Not having the use of the Mariners Compass, he made use of Ravens for the steering of his Course, and having sent forth two without success, by the guidance of the third he had sight of the Eastern side of the Island; and Steering Southward, he found a very wide Bay, between the Promontories Renkanes and Snæfesness; which Bay, from Faxa a Scottish Mariner that accompany’d him, he nam’d Faxaos, that is, The Mouth of Faxa, though from its many Havens it came afterwards to be term’d Hafnafiordur. Sailing along the West side of the Island, he entred the Bay Bredafiord, and took up his Quarters at Watnesfiordur, a Haven in the Province Bardostraund (for by these Names these Places came afterwards to be known:) Having stay’d here two Winters, he return’d back into Norway, and is said to have been the first that gave this Countrey the Name of Iseland, from the great quantities of Ice which fill’d the Seas thereabouts, he also gave it the Name of Rafnaflock, from the Ravens which serv’d him in stead of a Compass.