A.D. 

 1595- 



This is the 

 hr'tefe Com- 

 mentarie of 

 Jonas Arn- 

 grimus im- 

 mediatly 

 going before. 



Biarmia. 



Gronland in 

 old time had 

 Christian 

 Bishops. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



your courtesie) knowen unto you : And also, for that 



I sawe you desirous of the credite and honest report of 

 us Islanders, I greatly rejoyced. Wherefore I my selfe 

 will be a meane, that your vertue and good name (be- 

 cause you congratulate with us for the Gospel of Christ 

 here published, and doe thinke and write so lovingly 

 and honourably of our nation) may cease hereafter to be 

 unknowen amongst us. 



As touching the monuments of antiquitie which are 

 here thought to be extant, there is, in very deede, noth- 

 ing (except those particulars, whereof mention is made 

 in the Commentary of Island, which you write unto 

 me that you have scene) worthy to be read or written, 

 which I may communicate with you. And as concern- 

 ing our neighbour Countreys we have litle to shewe, 

 besides the history of the Kings of Norway, (or rather 

 some fragments of the same history) which others have 

 otherwise described : howbeit they are all in a maner 

 such things as Krantzius never mentioned : unlesse it 

 be some fewe relations. Moreover, as touching Gron- 

 land, we holde this from the opinion of our auncestours ; 

 that, from the extreeme part of Norway, which is called 



II Biarmlandia, 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. 

 Our Chronicles likewise doe testifie that our owne coun- 

 treymen 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 avouch. But now it is reported that 

 your Englishmen (whom I may almost call the lordes of 

 the Ocean sea) make yeerely voyages unto Gronland : 

 concerning which matter if you please to give me further 

 advertisement, you shall doe me an especial favour. More- 

 over, whatsoever newes you heare concerning the affaires 

 of England or of other Countreys thereabout, I pray 

 you make us acquainted therewith. Thus (reverend 

 sir) wishing you long life, for the service of God, for 



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