The same in English.
To the reuerend, learned, and vertuous, Master Hugh Branham minister of the
Church of Harewich in England, his brother and felow pastour, &c.
I much marueiled (euen as you your selfe, reuerend sir coniectured that I would) at the first sight of your letters, that being a stranger I should be saluted in writing by one altogether vnknown vnto mee. Howbeit, reading a little further I found my selfe, if not otherwise, yet by name at least (which procedeth of your courtesie) knowne vnto you: And also, for that I sawe you desirous of the credite and honest report of vs Islanders, I greatly reioyced. Wherefore I my selfe will be a meane, that your vertue and good name (because you congratulate with vs for the gospel of Christ here published, and doe thinke and write so louingly and honourably of our nation) may sease hereafter to be vnknown amongst vs.
[Sidenote: This is the brief Commentarie of Ionas Arngrimus immediatly going before.] As touching the monuments of antiquitie which are here thought to be extant, there is, in very deede nothing (except those particulars, whereof mention is made in the Commentary of Island which you write vnto me that you haue seene) worthy to be read or written, which I may communicate with you. And as concerning our neighbor Countreys we haue litle to shewe, besides the history of the Kings of Norway, (or rather some fragments of the same history) which others haue otherwise described: howbeit they are all in a maner such things as Crantzius neuer mentioned: vnlesse it be some fewe relations. Moreouer, as touching Grondland, we holde this from the opinion of our ancestours, that, from the extreeme part of Norway, which is called Biarmlandia [Marginal note: Biarmia.] and from whence the saide Gronland is not farre distant, it fetcheth about the Northren coast of Island with an huge circuit in maner of an halfe Moone. [Sidenote: Gronland in old time had Christian Bishops.] Our Chronicles likewise doe testifue that our owne countreymen in times past resorted thither for traffique, and also that the very same countrey of Gronland had certaine Bishops in the dayes of Poperie. More then this we cannot auouch. But now it is reported that your Englishmen (whom I may almost call the lordes of the Ocean sea) make yeerely voyages vnto Gronland: concerning which matter if you please to giue me further aduertisement, you shall doe me an especial fauour. Moreouer, whatsoeuer newes you heare concerning the the affaires of England or of other Countreys thereabout, I pray you make vs acquainted therewith. Thus (reuerend sir) wishing you long life, for the seruice of God, for the increase of learning, and the benefit of the people committed to your charge, I bid you farewel. From Island vpon the feast of the visitation of the blessed Virgine Mary, Anno Dom. 1595.
Yours Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Hola in Island.
INDEX.
Where the same Document is given in Latin and English the reference is to the English Version.
NB—The large print indicates that the whole section refers to the subject mentioned.
ADAMS, Clement, mentioned
AFFRICA, daughter of Fergus of Galway, marries Olavus
AFRICA, a peninsula
—Circumnavigated
—Portuguese trade with
AGATHA marries Edward Atheling
AGINCOURT, battle of
ALCOCK, Thomas his voyage
ALEPPO, Elizabeths communications with
ALEXANDER (the Great), mentioned
ALEXANDRIA (Egypt), mentioned
ALFRED mentioned
ALGESIRAS or Algezar, mentioned
ALGIERS, English at
AMERICA, discovered
ANGLES, mentioned
ANGLESEY, conquered
—CONQUEST OF BY EDMUND
ANTIOCH, taken
AQUITAINE, mentioned
ARABIA, Felix, mentioned
ARABIAN Gulf, mentioned
ARDOK (River), visited by Jenkinson
ARDOVIL, mentioned
ARGYLE, mentioned
ARISTOTLE, quoted
ARMADA, The Great
ARMENIA, English in
ARSACES, mentioned
ARTHUR, King, mentioned
—THE CONQUESTS OF
—Buried at Glastonbury
—Alluded to ( note)
ASAFI, English at
ASCHILIUS, King, submits to Arthur
ASTRAKHAN, English at
ATHELSTAN, mentioned
ATHELWOLD, Bishop, mentioned (note)
ATLANTIS, mentioned
AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of Britain
AUGUSTUS, mentioned
AUSTRO HUNGARIAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION, mentioned (note)
AZORES, mentioned
BAATU, mentioned
BABYLON, Elizabeth's communications with
BALE, mentioned
BALSARA, Elizabeth's communications with
BALTIC, mentioned
—Described
BARBAROSSA Frederick, HIS TREATY WITH HENRY II
—Biographical Notice (note)
BARENTZ, mentioned (note)
BARGENLAND (see Borhalme)
BEDE, Venerable, quoted
—HIS ACCOUNT OF THE CONQUEST OF ANGLESEY AND MAN
—THE VOYAGE OF BERTUS
—HIS TESTIMONY TO THE IMPORTANCE OF LONDON VNDER THE SAXONS
BEDFORD, John, Duke of, defeats the French
—Defeats Genoese
BENGORION, Joseph, quoted
BENIN, English in
BERGEN, mentioned
BERTUS, mentioned
—Account of his voyage into Ireland
BIARMIA described
—Mentioned
BLEKINGIE, mentioned
BOATS, limited to three iron nails
BOKHARA or Boghar, mentioned
—Visited by Jenkinson
BONA SPERANZA (Cape of), Englishmen double
BORHOLME, mentioned
BORIS, Emperor, mentioned
BORISTHENES, mentioned
BOSTON (Lincolnshire), mentioned
BOWES, Jerome, mentioned
BRABANT, mentioned
BRACTON, Henry, quoted
BRAZIL, first English trade to
BREMEN, mentioned
BRISTOL, mentioned
—Its trade with Norway and Ireland
BRITTANY, mentioned
BRUNSWICK, mentioned
BURLEIGH, Lord, mentioned
BURROUGH, Hubert defeats the Welsh
BURROUGH, Stephen, mentioned
BURROUGH, William, assists Hakluyt
—His voyage
BUTE, mentioned