The Tithes of Greenland. 213 



Holy Land or to the apostolic see. Thou hast added, moreover, 

 that the only tithes which can be collected in Greenland consist 

 of skins (probably) of the elk or of the musk-ox or of seals (coria 

 hovina elphocerum), teeth ropes of whales (Junes halnearum), which, 

 according to thee, can hardly be sold for any suitable price. 

 Wherefore thou hast asked instructions of the apostolic see as 

 to what thou shouldst do in the premises. Accordingly, whilst 

 we praise thy zealous solicitude, we answer thy question to this 

 effect : thou wilt endeavor to exchange the tithes of Greenland 

 and the aforesaid islands to the best possible advantage, either 

 for silver or gold, and will forward this same as soon as thou 

 canst, together with the other tithes collected in the kingdom 

 for the relief of the Holy Land, faithfully informing as to the 

 nature and amount of what thou sendest. We likewise write 

 to our most dear son in Christ, the illustrious King of Norway, 

 asking him not to prevent nor to allow any one to prevent the 

 free exportation from his kingdom of the tithes which are to be 

 applied, according as the apostolic see shall see fit, to the relief 

 of the aforesaid Holy Land, and effectually to endeavor to repeal 

 the prohibition decreed against clerics of the said kingdom, for- 

 bidding any layman of the same to sell sterlings or other silver. 

 Given at Orvieto, March 4, 1281. 



6. 



989. Letter from Pope Nicolas V, dated September 20, 1448, 

 to the Irish bishojis of Skalholt and Holar concerning the con- 

 dition of the church in Greenland. 



(Translation.) 



Nicholas, etc., to our venerable brothers, bishop of Skalholt and 



bishop of Holar, health, etc. : 



In directing the government of the universal church by virtue 

 of the apostolic charge delivered to us from above, it is our 

 solicitude in God's name to secure the salvation of souls re- 

 deemed by the precious blood of our Saviour, not only by calm- 

 ing the storms of impiet}^ and error which sweep over them, but 

 also by sheltering them when exposed to calamities and the 

 whirlwinds of persecution. From the natives and inhabitants 

 of Greenland, an island said to be situated in the most distant 



