154 



OLATSE.N AN I) POVE-tSENS 



hi6 history, which is filled with prodigies and miracles, still exists 

 in Iceland. His coffin or sarcophagus which is in the form of a 

 small house, is seven feet long, five high, and three wide: it is 

 covered with black leather, trimmed and embellished with brass 

 ornaments. There is no relic in this sarcophagus except two 

 fragments of bone, which are said to have belonged to the scull 

 of the saint. These bones were held in high estimation ; and 

 some annals assert to the credit of Bishop Wilchin, who helcf 

 this office at the death of the saint, that he caused his skull to be- 

 completely covered over with silver, and in the two fragments that 

 remain in the coffin, there may be perceived the marks of small 

 fcails as well as pieces of the metal. One is naturally inclined to 

 ask how this could have been done,, since the head is not now to he 

 found ; but the relics themselves will furnish us with an answer; 

 for they are nothing more than pieces of large cocoa-nut. These 

 nuts were formerly very scarce in the north, and perhaps totally 

 unknown to the mass of the people; and it is certain, that they 

 \vere not allowed to examine attentively the remains of the saints* 

 11L A crucifix at KaMaderaces in the time of the reformation 

 of Luther was greatly honoured and adored throughout the coun- 

 try for the innumerable prodigies which it was said to have effected. 

 It was richly covered and decorated with velvet shoes, pieces of 

 gold and silver, and other ornaments that had been presented 

 to the image. Gissur the first Lutheran bishop caused the image 

 to be taken from the cross, forbade the people to adore it^- 

 and despoiled it of its ornaments; but they~ had it privately re* 

 placed: on w hich bishop G isle Jonsen hearing of their supersti- 

 tious proceedings, went in 1587 to Kaldadernces, caused the image 

 to be taken down a second time, aud carried it to Skalholt, where 

 he had it cut to pieces and burnt; but this bishop happening to- 

 die soon afterwards, the fanatics attributed his death to the ven- 

 geance of the figure. Lrom an ancient poem composed in ho- 

 nour of this image, we learn that it had been brought into Ice- 

 land, as. was supposed from Rome; and was purchased at the 

 port of Einershaya at Oi eback, 



OF ANTIQUE ARMS. 



They shew at Skalholt an ancient axe or halbert, which be- 

 longed to the hero named Skarphedin, who, according to the 

 Nials-Saga, died in 1010. It is much consumed by rust, and 

 the handle which is of pine shod with iron, is six feet and a half 

 long. 



At Hlidarende are preserved two sabres and a lance ; the for- 

 mer are not remarkable. They are of the same size, and 

 the blades which are very rusty, are three inches broad. — 

 The handle of one of them is nearly a foot longhand ornamented" 



