■ " 



Ifaac PoKianus Ac Bjtb. 

 D*mcu» 



30 A M E %,l C A. Chap. II. 



way to YJland, over which the Norwegians Rul'd above a thoufand years fince 5 fo 

 ftomYJland through Fric^land to Groenland, and from thence to EJlotiland, being 

 a part of the Main Continent of Jmerica. 



From Frie^land fome Fifhers went thither (as he fays) two Centuries be- 

 This Opinion is largely fore the Spaniards touched that Shore . which John de Laet contradicts. And in- 

 deed what Reafons can be given, Why the Americans of the Straights, between 

 (Panama and Nombre de ©ioj,lying Northerly, fhould have another original than 

 thofe that live to the South, feeing the fame Straights are neither divided by 

 Mountains nor Rivers ; and the Spaniards found no alteration in the Cuftoms 

 and Languages betwixt them that liv'd above or below thefe Straights. And 

 who will believe that Norway, which was but indifferently peopled, could af- 

 ford fuch numerous Colonies as could plant the Northern' America, which far 

 exceeds the South, and chiefly, when the great Iflands that lie near the Eaft 

 and Weft, are added to it ? Moreover it is certain, (if the Yflander Angrim 'Jonas 

 is to be credited) that fome Families fled out of Norway from their enraged 

 King to YJland in the Year 874. which at that time was but meanly inhabited. 



Forty years before, he^o'vs the Juft put the YJlanders under the protection of 

 Pope Gregory the fourth, who gave the Government of the YJland Church to 

 An/gar Archbifhop of Hamburgh. But how comes it that there is not the leaft 

 jfpark of Cbrijlianity found amongft the Northern Americans , if they are derived 

 from the YJland Chrijlians ? and why did the YJlanders remove, to colder Coun- 

 treys than Groenland and Frie%land y or their own native Soil, and for the moft 

 part not inhabited ? 



Concerning Groenland and Frie^land, it is known by our Englijh Navigators, 

 that they arc joy n/d together, and both to the Northern America - y but not with- 

 out vaft Bays and Inlets, which betwixt Groenland and America are obftru&ed 

 with floating Caftles of Ice } fo that the PafTage is very dangerous. And full 

 as troublefom, if not altogether impoflible, would the Journey be by Land, 

 becaufe the Earth lies fo thick cover'd with Ice and Snow, efpecially the Val- 

 leys, that no Traveller is able to get through. 

 The voyage of two z- Moreover, that which Grotius fays farther of the Fifhers which firft difco- 

 ver'd EJlotiland, is grounded on the Relation of the Venetian Knights, Nicholas 

 and Marcus Zeno, two Brothers. Anno 1380. Nicholas Zeno fuffer'd Shipwrack 

 on the Friezjand Coaft ; Marcus informed thereof, fteer'd his Courfe thither; 

 fourteen years they fpent before they came to EJlotiland : at laft they return'd 

 again to Friezjand, where Nicholas died : But Marcus returning home publifh'd 

 Math Man. zmmi: his Journal . wherein he relates, That EJlotiland is above a thoufand Leagues 

 diftant from Frie^land, and was difcover'd by Fr/e^wt/Fifher-men that were 

 driven thither by Storm. But he hath fet down many things that have little 

 xefemblance of truth,according to what is fince found by credible Navigators, 

 and therefore we cannot depend on Zenos Difcovery. 



John de tact accounts it a great miftake in Grows, that as a teftimony of the 

 Americans original out of Norway ^ he compares their Languages. He reckons 

 up fome Places to be Northward of Manama, which end their words with the 

 fyllable Law in {lead of Land, becaufe the Spaniards have left out the -Letter 2) 

 at the end thereof. It is certain, that in the Northern America lie Cimatlan, 

 (joatian, Guefcolan, Artlan, Quaxutatlan, Icatlan, Japatlan, Cinacatian, Tenucliitlan, 

 {omklan, Met^itlan, Gnatitlan, Necotitlan, Curcatatlan. Befides, that moft of thefe 

 Names are not of Countreys, but of Towns and Villages, and therefore no 

 ways fitting to have the termination of Land : and it is well known that ma- 



The Jmeritcau Tongue 

 is nothing like the Nor- 

 wegian. 



ny 



