§. II. A discourse of the first Inhabitants of the Northerne World, supposed to be Giants expelled from Canaan. Of the Islanders Houses, Fewell, Victuall.

[ 50]

MOreouer concerning some of the ancestors of Norus:* among whom his father Porre (whom they call Thorro) King of Gotland, Finland, and Kuenland: an excellent Prince of his age, from whom the moneth of the old Noruegians, and now Islanders hath the name of Thorre, which in the Iulian Calender beginneth the 10.11.12.13.14.15. or 16. of Ianuary: for it hath a moueable beginning after the manner of their Calender. And seeing King Thorro this month accustomed to sacrifice vnto his gods; the Kuenones instituted yerely sacrifices in the same month to him, being dead, as to a certaine god, in token of an happy yeere, which they began with the winter, after the maner of the old Lacedemonians; & called the same month Porre, [ 60] of Thorro; no otherwise then the Lacedemonians gaue diuine honor to Lycurgus being dead▪ building a Temple in memory of him, where hee was honoured for a god; to whom his familiar friends instituted set Feasting-dayes, and solemne assemblies which remained a long time, and the daies wherein the assemblies were celebrated, they called Lycurgidae: concerning which matter looke Cragius in his third booke of the Common-wealth of the Lacedemonians.

Page  660Of the Ancestors also of Norus, all are mentioned euen to his Great-grandfather, who was Fermotus King of Finland:* Moreouer, one of the three sonnes of Fermotus, and therefore Great vncle of Norus, called Logie, which signifieth a flame; who for the excellencie of his beautie was called Halogie, that is to say, an high or excellent flame. Hee was Monarch of the Halongi∣ensian Prouince, bordering vpon the Prouince of Nidrosia.

*Goe also the daughter of Thorro, by the sister of Norus, is there recorded, for recouerie of whom, being stolne away (as Cadmus was sent by his father Agenor to seeke his daughter Europa) Norus was sent by his father Thorro: which, that it might more happily succeed, Thorro institu∣ted new sacrifices to the Gods, in the moneth next following the former (afterwards called Thorra) and intituled the same moneth with the name of Goa, after the name of his daughter [ 10] Goe: which name of the moneth likewise the Islanders that now liue doe yet retaine. Further∣more, ancient Histories make mention of Gorus, the naturall brother of Norus: as also the nephew of Gorus,* named Gyluns, hauing the soueraigne authoritie in Suecia, in whose time Odinus hap∣pened to come (others call him Othinus) Standerd-bearer of the Asian Immigration, made in the foure and twentieth yeere before Christ was born, which we mentioned before: and Gyluns had a father called Geiterus, and an Vncle Beiterus, the sonnes of Gorus; from Beiterus, the Hauen neere the Citie Nidrosia, is named Beitstod.

I thought good to exhibit these things in a Table.
• Fermotus King of Finland,
  • H•ur. The same also is Agier, which other-wise signifieth the Sea; hee is supposed an∣other Neptune, to haue do∣minion ouer the Sea.
  • Kare. That is to say, the Winde, for in the number of the Gods, af∣ter death, he is thought to be another Aeolus, to rule the Windes.
    • Froste. Otherwise called Iokul, both from the Frost and Cold.
      • Suaer.
  • Logi•. Signifieth a Flame, honoured in stead of Vulcan after death (as hauing power ouer the Fire) and for the excellency of his beautie was called Halogie, so named of the Prouince of Ha∣logaland• [ 30] in Norway.

That is to say, S••we: surnamed the Ancient, because hee is reported to haue liued three hundred yeeres▪ he left one sonne, and three daughters.

• Dryfa. A snowy shower.
• Porre. King of Goth∣land, Kuenland, and Finland.
  • Goe. A daughter.
  • Nor. Of whom Norway is named, and the first Monarch.
  • Gor. Beiter-Geiter.
    • Gylui. The said Asian immi∣gration happened in the time of this Gylui.
• Fanun. Signifieth Snowe ga∣thered together in thicke heapes by a Tempest.
• Miol. Is thin Snowe descending [ 40] without winde.

From this Norus, Haraldus Pulcricon•us is the twelfth of them that descended from the right Line, whom some make the first Monarch of Norway, but amisse, being ignorant of Antiquitie: seeing hee was the third Restorer of the Monarchy of Norway: for betweene him and [ 50] Norus, Hemngus the sonne of Odinus * obtayned the Monarchy also.

These (I say) besides many other things, are the manifest tokens of the Inhabitants of the Northerne World, farre more ancient then the immigration of Odinus: of whose originall not∣withstanding, there is not one word. But because it is most repugnant to a Christian man, know∣ing the Bookes of Moses concerning Originals, to affirme themselues to be Autoch•••a, as both others, but especially the Greekes did concerning their Ancestors (yet with better leaue then the rest of the people of Europe: who next to the Chaldoes, Egyptians, and Iewes, might worthily boast of Antiquitie in comparison of other people.) It were better truly to confesse the vnknown originall of Ancestors,* then to be carried away with the opinion and error of Earth-bred men: [ 60] left surely wee should heare some such thing, as sometimes one wittily vpbraided the Grecians with, so much boasting by reason of their pretended selfe-originall, to wit, that Moses the Law giuer of the Iewes, was more ancient then the Gods of the Grecians.

In the meane space, because through the onely confession of ignorance or doubt, truth doth Page  661 not so soone appeare; some what is to be alleaged touching the proposed question: that the hi∣storicall Reader may haue some thing here which hee may either confu•e or confirme. Wee are therefore by probable reasons to inquire, who were the first inhabitants of the Northerne World, and from whence they came: then, when they began to inhabit this our World: that from hence some coniecture may arise concerning the originall of the language. And that I may here acquit my selfe without circumstances; I thinke the first inhabitants of the Northerne World, were of the number of Giants, nay, mere Giants; men that inhabited the mountaines of an huge and sometimes a monstrous body, and of monstrous and exceeding strength:* and that they were the posteritie and remnant of the Canaanites, expulsed from the Territories of Pale∣stina, about the yeere of the World 2500. by Iosua and Caleb remoouing into Palestina through [ 10] Gods pleasure and direction: and that this Countrey of the World euen vntill those times, or peraduenture longer, remayned altogether not inhabited.

For thus Saxo Grammaticus argueth in the Preface of his Dania. But (sayth he) the stones of ex∣ceeding bignesse fastened to the Tombes and Caues of the ancient, testifie that the Countrey of Den∣marke was sometimes troubled with the inhabiting of Giants. But if any doubt, that it was done by monstrous strength; let him looke vp to the high tops of certayne Mountaynes, and say, if he know it well, who hath brought Rockes of such huge greatnesse to the tops thereof? For euery one that considereth this Miracle, shall perceiue that it is beyond common opinion, that the simple labour of mortalitie, or v∣suall force of humane strength should rayse so huge a weight (hardly, or not at all moueable vpon the plaine ground) to so high a top of mountaynous sublimitie.

[ 20] This Saxo writeth, who shall be a sufficient Author vnto vs concerning the first Inhabitants of Denmarke, that is to say, his owne Countrey. So concerning Norway and Suecia, and the bor∣dering Countreyes, as whatsoeuer is most ancient; so it most resembleth a Giant-like disposi∣tion and nature. Whereof examples are to be taken out of Histories,* which would bee tedious here. For that I may omit ancient examples, those things are knowne of late memory to haue beene done: Concerning the Giant Doffro, inhabitant of the Mountayne Doffraefiall in Nor∣way; and Foster-father of Haraldus Pulcricomus King of Norway. Also concerning Dunubo who liued in the time of Droffon: from whom the Bay Boddick or Bothnicke: in time past was called Dumbshaff, who in a Sea-fight, encountring eighteene Giants alone, sent twelue of them [ 30] first to Hell before he himselfe was slaine. Of thirtie Giants at once destroyed by fire, by Dum∣bos Sonnes left, in reuenge of their Fathers death. There is yet a later example of certayne Giants of Norway, destroyed by authoritie of Olaus Triggo King of Norway, about the yeere of Christ 995. But the latest in the yeere 1338. Magnus the Sonne of Ericus,* being King of Nor∣way, that a Giant of fifteene Cubits was slaine by foure men: as it is found recorded in the Chro∣nicles. Hereunto adde, that a certayne Prouince of Norway, or bordering vpon Finmauchia, in ancient time was called Risalande, that is to say, the Land of Giants (for En R•se, and Rese, sig∣nifie a Giant) from whence Iotum Heimar, that is, the habitation of Giants is not farre dissonant (whereupon as yet, En Iaet, is said to be a Giant) that I may speake nothing heere of Iotumland: by which name, that which at this day is called Iijtland,* was sometimes called by our Countrey [ 40] men, and very many other also, the Land of the Cimbri, or Chersonesus: the same name also be∣ing giuen it of Kemper, that is, fighting Giants of Nephilheimar, and Karnephill, else-where, and peraduenture by others shall be spoken, as also of the Gotthes, and Getts (peraduenture also Ietts) and such like others. Moreouer, the remnant of the Giants came into Island, whose Names, Habitations, worthy Acts and Enterprizes, are sufficiently knowne, and before our eyes. See∣ing therefore Giants first inhabited this our World; it is demanded, when, or whence they came?

Gilb. Genebrand. Chronol. Lib. 1. The first Age, sayth hee, (from the Creation of the World vnto the Floud) seemeth to haue beene passed and spent within the mid-lands of the World, and that they came not to the borders of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Bodinus sayth, that Moses wrote the Historie of the whole World (he meaneth inhabited) euen to the yeere of the World, 2450. [ 50] And Genebrand againe, Lib. 1. Chronol. pag. 11. As the first Originall of Mankind was in Ar∣menia, Mesopotamia, Chaldaea, and Syria: and men before the Floud dwelt only there: so other Coun∣treyes themselues, were first inhabited after the Floud. Also Genebrand sayth yet further, ibid. pag. 35. Before three thousand yeeres (for hee wrote in the yeere of Christ 1597.) almost all Europe was emptie, that is, about the yeere of the World 2541. which is chiefly to bee vnderstood of the Northerne World, if of the rest of Europe. But hee said, almost, not altogether, that hee might not take away the migrations of the Nations then presently beginning after the yeere of the World 2500. wee doe not therefore tye the time (wherein this further Europe began to bee inhabited) to the yeere of the World 2500. But wee say, that that troublesome time wherein [ 60] the Nations (and among them the Giants of Canaan) were cast out of their places and dwel∣lings, and compelled to seek new habitations, euen in Europe, happened in this yeere; as was pro∣posed by vs in the beginning. And that Europe receiued her Inhabitants from hence, among the Ancient, Procopius is my Author, a Writer borne at Caesaria of Palaestina, Collector of the wor∣thy Acts of Iustinianus, about the yeere of the Lord 530. who to proue this very thing, allea∣geth Page  662 diuers Writers of the Historie of the Phoenicians. The words of Procopius are these, in his fourth Booke of the Warres of the Vandalls, not in one place only, cited by D. Cythraeus: out of the which, among other things, I gather mine opinion. The Hebrewes (saith Procopius) af∣ter they returned out of Egypt, and remayned still in the borders of Palaestina, Moses (who led them in their iourney) dieth: whom Iosua the sonne of Nun succeeded, who also brought the people into Palaestina, and shewing strength and courage far beyond the nature of man, obtayned the Country; where∣by destroying Nations, he easily vanquished many Cities, seeming inexpugnable vnto all. Then therefore all the Countrey vpon the Sea-coast, from Sidon euen to the borders of Egypt, was called Phoenicia: ouer which one long since raigned; as all witnesse, who writ the ancient History of the Phoenicians; here great multitudes of people dwelt: the Gergasites, Iebusites, and others named in the Hebrew Volumes, [ 10] who when they saw the Armie of the strangers to be inexpugnable, leauing their Country bounds went into Egypt next adioyning, and there increasing in number and posteritie, when they found not sufficient, and conuenient place for so grat a multitude, they entred into Africa, where inhabiting very many Cities, they possessed all that Coast, euen vnto the Pillers of Hercules, vsing the halfe Phoenician Tongue and Dia∣lect, and built the Towne Tingen in Numidia, most strongly fortified in the situation thereof: where two Pillers of white stone are erected neere the great Fountayne, whereon in the Phoenician Language these Letters are ingrauen. Nos sumus Cananaei, quos fugauit Iesus Latro. For Iosua in the Hebrew is Iesus. This Procopius writeth, to which purpose the Historians of the Hebrewes are cited by Ge∣nebrand: Iosua (saith he) partly expelled the Canaanites; and partly slue them. The remnant of these are reported to haue gone into Germany, Sclauonia, and the next adioyning Countreyes, &c. Into Se∣der [ 20] Olam, &c. Also: And surely in that Age, that the whole West was emptie and vnpeopled, saue that the Nations of the East came by little and little into the Countreyes thereof, it appeareth by the often in∣fusions. This Genebrand writeth. And Bodinus Method. Hist. chap. 9. The Canaanites being cast out of the Land of Palaestina, by the Hebrewes, went into Illyricum and Pannonia (to wit, by those migrations and remoues, which out of the place before alleadged by Procopius, wee vnderstand) as Rabbi Dauid Kimchi witnesseth at the end of Abdias.

*The ancient Islander seeme to haue beene ordayned for great frugalitie, wherein first their habitations or buildings are briefly to be touched, next their food and manner of apparell: and lastly, the rest of the exercises of their common life.

For first as touching their habitations, the Islanders haue followed the first and most ancient [ 30] manner of dwelling. To wit, not by Cities and Townes; but as Tacitus speaketh of the Ger∣manes of his time, they dwelt asunder, as a Field, as a Fountayne, as a Wood, as an Hill, or Val∣ley, Shoare, or Bay of the Sea pleased them: Not only imitating here the example of the first Age of the World, but also of the latter Age: as the people of Athens and Laconia, in the begin∣ning dwelt by Villages (as they write) not together or by Cities: and as in the time of Tacitus, about the yeere of Christ 120. with the Germanes there was no vse of Mortar nor Tyles: (whereupon any man may rather judge the like concerning the Northerne World) so, nor after, with the Islanders, but they built their houses with Timber and Turffe. Nor surely was it mo∣mentany worke which lasted but a while,* nor yet deformed in shew, the walls were sometimes made only of Turffe, sometimes of rough Stones, adding Turffe in stead of Mortar: which af∣terwards [ 40] they couered with workmanship of plankes, as also the raftering it selfe; especially in more notable buildings. And so you might see the Roofe with the walls before mature old age ouer-growne with greene grasse euery yeere, for you must vnderstand, that the Roofe and walls were couered with greene Turfe. Windowes were made in the Roofe, seldome in the walls, and certayne Roofes not very high, such as is reported the building of houses with the Easterne people was wont to be. The Inhabitants had store of Timber, cast vpon the shoare by the swel∣ling of the waues of the Sea; through the miraculous testimonie of Gods Prouidence, conside∣ring their Woods at home yeelding plentie, as I thinke only of Birches, were not sufficient for their huge houses: which yet were a great helpe also; with those which the Inhabitants, as oft as they would, fetched out of bordering Norway, and peraduenture also out of Groneland: for the [ 50] Islanders sayled yeerely to both a long time. Euery one therefore had the houses of their Villa∣ges almost joyning together on their ground: besides the stalls of their Herds, seated some di∣stance from the houses themselues.* Also certayne piles of fuell, not altogether joyning together, to auoid the danger of fire: peraduenture also certayne store-houses, which being solitary, might better receiue the Ayre and drying winds.

Some maintayned their fires with home-growing Wood: others with clammie Turfe (as I thinke H. Iunius aptly calleth it) whereof there are two kindes with vs:* the one soft and spongie, growing vnder the superficies of the Earth; which wee call Su•rd•r: Another more thicke, and therefore more weightie; which peraduenture wee may very well call digged Turfe, by the opinion of the same Iunius: because it is taken out of the deepe Quarries or Mines, dig∣ged [ 60] a great depth out of the Earth. And both kindes of Turfe (but this much more) must bee first baked with the Sunne and winde, before it be fit to burne. This latter kind we, as also some of the Germanes call it Torff: the inuentor whereof in the Orchades a certayne Orchadensian Duke is said to be; one Einarus the Sonne of Rangu•aldus a Norwegian Duke of M•re, in the Page  663 time of Pulcricomus King of Norway, who was therefore called Torffeinarus. He had a brother called Rolfuo, whom Crantzius nameth Rollo, who possessed part of France, afterwards called Normandie of the Normans, or Noruegians. The Inhabitants chiefly wanted fewell to expell the distemper of cold, besides other vses sufficiently knowne: especially in the Winter time,* when Hot-houses and Chimneyes are in vse, heaped together of Rocks and stone, through which the flame might easily breake forth; which as soone as through the force of the fire they were throughly heat, and when the Hot-house began now to leaue smoking, the cold parts of the Chimney were besprinkled with hote glowing stones: by which meanes heate vseth effectually to disperse it selfe throughout the whole house, which also is very well so preserued by the wall, [ 10] and Roofe couered with Turfe.

Yet lest the Islanders might seeme through meere pouertie or want of knowledge, to haue v∣sed rude buildings and poore houses;* I can cal to remembrance certayne houses of an hundred and twentie sixe foot long, and some of one hundred thirie fiue, as I haue before declared concerning the buildings of Ingulfus: and some of one hundred and twentie feet in length, and sixtie feet broad: whereof we shall hereafter speake; some also, whose hollowed rafters, and boarded seeling of the walls carued by art, report the ancient Histories, of worthy and memorable Acts. They therefore inclosed their habitations built after this manner, with certayne spaces of fruit∣full fields ordayned for tillage, which spaces through toylesome labour, they afterwards com∣passed about with a banke cast vp, to keepe out the Heards of cattle. Moreouer, suff•cient huge [ 20] pastures were assigned to euery Farme or plot of ground, diuided by certayne limits, or inclo∣sures from others, whereof we shall speake in the eight Chapter. And euery Farme or Habita∣tion for the most part, and in like manner euery plot of ground receiued the name from the first Founders: sometimes also from some other: so Mountaynes and Riuers as hath beene aduer∣tized before; so that by this meanes the places themselues, euen by their names only declared to all posteritie their first Inhabitants, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

I proceede from buildings to their victuals, and tillage of the field and ground,* which part∣ly succeeded well to the first Inhabitants, to procure Corne and fruit from thence: but I know not whether euery where alike. Yet in the meane space, that Hiorleifus mentioned before, exerci∣sed his slaues in tillage of the ground: and one Gunnerus of Lidarenda, sowing his Seed,* was [ 30] wounded by the enemie on the ball of the cheeke: and likewise Hoschuldus Huitarnesgode busi∣ly imployed in sowing the Seed, was slaine. Hence from the fields there are proper names of cer∣tayne places. Hence came that Law concerning the gathering together, and carrying of Corne after Haruest (where they speake of the seruices which the Lawyers call praediall.) All which are manifest tokens of the tillage of the ground, amongst the first Islanders: which also, euen vnto this day, I heare, is practised by some Inhabitants of South Island, but with lesse increase: the ground and temper of the Ayre degenerating from the first goodnesse thereof after so many Ages: peraduenture also the care of the Husbandmen beeing lesse diligent, may bee the cause; since Corne comming from forreigne parts began more to be in vse. And because that tillage of the ground seemed in the beginning either not vsed of all, or lesse [ 40] fruitfull for Corne, and all manner of graine; a peculiar manner of tillage of the ground pre∣sently began: whereby they compassed with dunge those fields or spaces, which I said they in∣closed within their owne circuit, especially with kowes dunge, at the mowing of the best hay, to the intent they may the betterfeed the Heards; and especially the Kine, that they might yeeld the more plenty of Milke. Which tillage of the ground is yet retayned: and they only exercise thesame for the most part, almost by mid-land Inhabitants: seeing such as dwel vpon the Sea-coast liue most by fishing: whither also those more remote or mid-land people yeerely send their Seruants to fish▪ Both Plaines, that is to say, the ground and the Sea, was to bee ploughed after a sort by the Islanders, for the comforts of life. To whom besides insteed of victuals, Sheep, Oxen, Swine and Kiddes, sufficiently abounded: and also fishes of diuers kindes, besides Sea-fish out of the Flouds, Lakes and Riuers, they met with euery where:* so that they [ 50] might take them as it were out of a certayne weele, especially in that Age: also Milke and White-meate, with goodly plentie of Butter from the Heards of cattle. Besides Fowle in great number, some tame, as Hennes and Domesticall Geese, or Fowle of another kind liuing in the open Ayre, wandring also solitarily in Mountaynous places: which the posses∣sors marked in the feet, that euery-one might more easily demand his owne. They had others also not tame, which they tooke by certayne ginnes: as Geese and Duckes of the Medow, Par∣tridges, and Swannes: and very many Sea-fowle, whose names and properties I doe not know. But Fowle of either kind tame or wilde, they either presented their Egges or themselues, or both, for the vse of men. Besides the naturall Drinke or pressed Whay of Milke (where∣of [ 60] the great plentie is so much the better, as the Milke is more excellent:* so that halfe an ounce of water mixed with an ounce of Whay, doth not wholly diminish the taste thereof; but that it relisheth more of the Whay then of the water) they also boyled Barley Flowre, some∣times adding thereto the Honey Combe, or Water mingled with Honey: sometimes also a Liquour made of certayne Berries growing heere. Moreouer, the ancient Islanders,* Page  664 brought in drinke made of Corne, from forreigne parts, as also all manner of graine, and other things: for they were furnished with ships of their owne, wherewith they yeerely visited at their pleasure, Denmarke, Norway, Suecia, Scotland, Saxonie, England, and Ireland.

Our ancient Islanders wanted not honest Banquetings and meetings: and that surely with∣out miserable sparing, whether we respect the number of the guests, or the time of the Ban∣quets exhibited. For Theodorus and Thorualdus, brethren, and Citizens of Hialtaedat of North Island, solemnizing the Funerals of their Father Hialta, made a Banquet for fourteene dayes to∣gether, of twelue hundred persons, presenting the men of better note with some gift. And an Inhabitant of West Island, surnamed Olaus Pa, with his two brethren, were at the charge to banquet nine hundred men, euen for fourteene dayes space; not sending the chiefe men away [ 10] without reward.

I find money was not vsuall with the Islanders, I meane, those of ancient time: but siluer was weighed by the ballance: and bartering of Merchandizes was very commonly vsed. Moreouer, Rings of Gold, and Bracelets, were both often sent for tokens of remembrance from Superiours to priuate men, or from one friend to another.