The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

A letter written by the graue and learned Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Holen in Island, concerning the ancient state of Island and Gron∣land, &c.

Reuerendissimo viro, eruditione & virtute conspicuo, D. Hugoni Branham, Ecclesiae Hareuicensis in Anglia pastori vigilantis∣simo, fratri & symmystae obseruando.

MIrabar equidem (vt conjicis, reuerende domine pastor) primo literarum tua∣rum intuitu, ignotum me, ab ignoto, scriptis salutari. Caeterùm, cum vlterius progrederer, comperime, si non aliter, certè nomine tenùs, tibi (quae tua est humanitas) innotuisse: Simulabque; quòd te nominis Islandorum studiosum ex∣perirer, exanimo gauisus sum. Vndè etiam faciam, vt tua pietas, tuúmque no∣men, de Euangelio Iesu Christi nobis congratulantis, déque gente nostra tàm benignè támque honorificè sentientis & scribentis, apud nos ignotum este desinat.

Quòd verò ad antiquitatis monimēta attinet, quae hic extare creduntur, nihil sanè est (preter illa, quorum in Commentario isto de Islandia, quem vidissete scribis, fit mentio) de hac nostra insula lectu scriptuuè dignum, quod cum humanitate tua communicem.* 1.1 De vicinis itidem ter∣ris pauca, praeter historiam Regum Noruegiae, seu veriùs eiusdem historiae fragmenta; que alijs alitèr descripta sunt: sunt tamen talia, quae Krantzius non attigerit, aut eorum certè pauca. De vicina quoque Gronlandia, id veterum opinione habemus, eam magno circuitu ab extrema Noruegia, vbi ‖ 1.2 Biarmlandia nuncupatur, & à qua haud vasto interuallo sita sit, circum quasi Islandiam exporrigi.* 1.3 Illic nostrates aliquando commercia exercuisse, & eam terram tempore Ponti∣ficiorum suos Episcopos habuisse annales nostri testantur. Cetera nobis incognita. At hodiè sama est, vestris Britannis (quos ego propè maris dominos appellarim) quotannis esse in Gronlan∣dia negotiationes: de qua re, si me certiorem feceris, non erit iniucundum. Etiam velim quae∣cun que noua erunt de rebus vestratium aut vicinorum regnorum, ea non omittas.

Vale foeliciter (reuerende Dom. pastor)

Deo, musis, & commisso gregi quàm diutissime su∣perstes, Amen.

Ex Islandia in festo visitationis D. Mariae Anno 1595

.

Human. tuae studiosus Gudbrandus Thorlacius Episcopus Holensis in Islandia.

The same in English.

To the reuerend, learned, and vertuous, Master Hugh Branham minister of the Church of Harewich in England, his brother and felow-pastour, &c.

I Much marueiled (euen as your selfe, reuerend sir, coniectured that I would) at the first sight of your letters, that being a stranger I should be saluted in writing by one altogether vn∣knowen vnto mee. Howbeit, reading a litle further, I found my selfe, if not otherwise, yet by name at least (which proceedeth of your courtesie) knowen vnto you: And also, for that I sawe you desirous of the credite and honest report of vs Islanders, I greatly reioyced. Wherefore I my selfe will be a meane, that your vertue and good name (because you congratul••te with vs for the Gospel of Christ here published, and doe thinke and write so louingly and honourably of our nation) may cease hereafter to be vnknowen amongst vs.

As touching the monuments of antiquitie which are here thought to be extant;* 2.1 there is, in ve∣ry deede, nothing (except those particulars, whereof mention is made in the Commentary of Island, which you write vnto me that you haue seene) worthy to be read or written, which I may communicate with you. And as concerning our neighbour Countreys we haue litle to shewe, be∣sides the history of the Kings of Norway, (or rather some fragments of the same history) which others haue otherwise described: howbeit they are all in a maner such things as Crantzius neuer mentioned: vnlesse it be some fewe relations. Moreouer, as touching Gronland, we holde this from the opinion of our auncestours; that, from the extreeme part of Norway, which is called ‖ 2.2 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 like∣wise doe testifie that our owne countreymen in times past resorted thither for traffique, and also that the very same countrey of Gronland had certaine Bishops in the dayes of Poperie.* 2.3. More then this we cannot auouch. But now it is reported that your Englishmen (whom I may almost call the lordes of the Ocean sea) make yeerely voyages vnto Gronland: concerning which matter if you please to giue me further aduertisement, you shall doe me an especial fauour. Moreouer, whatsoeuer newes you heare concerning the affaires of England or of other Coun∣treys thereabout, I pray you make vs acquainted therewith. Thus (reuerend six) wishing you long life, for the seruice of God, for the increase of learning, and the benefit of the people commit∣ted to your charge, I bid you farewel.

From Island vpon the feast of the visitation of the blessed Uirgine Mary, Anno Dom. 1595.

Yours Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Hola in Island.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Commentarius breuis de Islan∣dia: per Arngri∣mum Ionam Islandum edi∣tus, 1593.
• ‖ 1.2

  Biarmia.
• * 1.3

  Gronlandia olim suos habuit Episcopos.
• * 2.1

  This is the briefe Com∣mentarie of Io∣nas Arngrimus immediatly going before.
• ‖ 2.2

  Biarmia.
• * 2.3

  Gronland in old time had Chri∣stian Bishops.