212 W. E. Ourtis — Pre~Golambimi, Vatican Docimients. 



aforesaid islands to absolve clerics, whether in the above men- 

 tioned or in whatsoever other islands of the same sea, from the 

 aforesaid sentence according to the form of the church, and to 

 dispense them from this kind of irregularity. 



Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, January 31, 1279. 



Letter from Pope Nicolas III to Master Bertrand Arnabrie, 

 dated June 9, 1279, concerning the purchase of wine and altar 

 bread for the churches in Greenland. 



(Translation.) 



Nicholas III to the same (Master Bertrand Amabric) : 



We have lately been informed by thee that certain revenues 

 have been assigned by the piety of the faithful in the cathedral 

 churches of Denmark and Sweden for the special purpose of 

 Ijrocuring wine and altar-bread for the clergy of the churches 

 within the said kingdoms. As, however, thou hast consulted 

 the apostolic see as to whether tithes should be taken from such 

 revenues, we, while commending thy diligence, do by apostolic 

 letter leave the matter to thy discretion, so that, if the revenues 

 be so considerable that thou art certain a large sum is left over 

 after the furnishing of wine and altar-bread, we desire that tithes 

 be paid thereof. If, however, little or nothing remains of the 

 said revenues, nothing is to be paid, out of reverence for worship 

 and the sacrament of the Lord. 



Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, June 9, 1279. 



5. 



988. Letter of Pope Martin IV to the archbishop of Dron- 

 theim, dated March 4, 1281, instructing him as to the skins and 

 whalebone contributed as tithes by the people of Greenland. 



(Translation.) 



Martin IV to the archbishop of Drontheim : 



Thy fraternity has informed us that the tithes which are being 

 paid in the Iceland and Faroe islands, in the kingdom of Nor- 

 way, consist of various articles which cannot easily be exchanged 

 or sold, on which account the same cannot well be sent to the 



