Lie hid in the former speach, might pierce
the eares of our Kings most excellent Maiestie, before whom, on thy behalfe
I doe bewaile the publique miseries, which in this respect especially doe
arise, because wee are so farre distant from the seate and royall presence
of our King, that many therefore take more libertie, and promise more
securitie of offending vnto themselues. But we will commit all these
matters to the most iust Judge of heauen and earth who beholdeth all things
in equitie.
Nowe it remaineth (my beloued Countrey) that thou wouldest take in good
part these my labours employed in thy seruice, and accept them with that
fauourable and courteous minde which I haue expected. And although they be
not of such worth as I could wish, yet sith a willing minde is worth all, I
would not therefore giue ouer because I mistrusted my selfe as one
insufficient to contend for thine innocencie, for thy reputation, and thine
honour, my deare Countrey. But rather whatsoeuer it be (if it be ought) and
how mickle soeuer which for my slender abilitie I was able to afford in thy
defence, I thought good not to suppresse it: for I esteeme not those men
worthy of commendation, who despairing
To ouergrow the limmes of Lyco stoute,
Neglect to cure their bodies of the goute:
And in very deed, it doeth no whit repent me of my labour, if this little
treatise shall tend neither to thine, nor to mine owne disgrace. But if it
shall any thing auaile to thine honour or defence, I will thinke my
trauaile right well bestowed. Yea, if by this my slender attempt, I may but
onely excite other of thy children, and my natiue Countreymen, being farre
my superiours both in learning and industrie to take thy cause in hand,
either nowe or hereafter what reason is there why any man should say that
it is not worth my labour? Nowe, if they addresse themselues to write,
howsoeuer my fame shalbe obscured, yet wil I comfort my selfe with their
excellencie, who are like to impaire my credite: for albeit a man ought to
haue speciall regard of his name and fame, yet he is to haue more of his
Countrey, whose dignitie being safe and sound, we also must needes esteeme
our selues to be in safetie.
Written at Holen Hialtedale in Island, the yeere of our Lord 1592. the 17.
of the Kalends of May.
* * * * *
A letter written by the graue and learned Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of
Holen in Island, concerning the ancient state of Island and Gronland, &c.
Reuerendissimo viro, eruditione et virtute conspicuo, D. Hugoni Branham,
Ecclesia Hareuicensis in Anglia pastori vigilantissimo, fratri et
symmysta obseruando.
Mirabar equidem (vt conijcis, reuerende domine pastor) primo literarum
tuarum intuitu, ignotum me, ab ignoto, scriptis salutari. Caterum, cum
vlterius progrederer, comperi me, si non aliter, certe nomine tenus, tibi
(qua tua est humanitas) innotuisse: Simulque quod te nominis Islandorum
studiosum experirer, ex animo gauisus sum. Vnde etiam faciam, vt tua
pietas, tuumque nomen, de Euangelio Iesu Christi nobis congratulantis,
deque gente nostra tam benigne tamque honorifice sentientis, et scribentis
apud nos ignotum esse desinat.
[Sidenote: Commentarius breuis de Islandia: per Arngrimum Ionam Islandum
editus, 1593.] Quod vero ad antiquitatis monimenta attinet, qua hic extare
creduntur, nihil sane est (prater illa, quorum in Commentario isto de
Islandia, quem vidisse te scribis, fit mentio) de hac nostra insula lectu
scriptuua dignum, quod cum humanitate tua communicem. De vicinis itidem
terris pauca, prater historiam Regum Noruegia, seu verius eiusdem historia
fragmenta; qua alijs aliter descripta sunt: sunt tamen talia, qua Krantzius
non attigerit, aut eorum certe pauca. De vicina quoque Gronlandia, id
veterum opinione habemus, eam magno circuitu ab extrema Noruegia, vbi
Biarmlandia [Marginal note: Biarmia.] nuncupatur, et a qua haud vasto
interuallo sita sit, circum quasi Islandiam exporrigi. Illic nostrates
aliquando commercia exetcuisse, et eam terram tempore Pontificiorum suos
Episcopos habuisse annales nostri testantur. Catera nobis incognita.
[Sidenote: Gronlandia olim suos habuit Episcopos.] At hodie fama est,
vestris Brittannis (quos ego prope maris dominos appellarim) quotannis csse
in Gronlandia negotmiones de qua re, si me certiorem feceris, non erit
iniucundum. Euam velim quacunque noua erunt de rebus vestratium aut
vicinorum regnorum, ea non omittas.
Vale foeliciter (reuerende Dom. pastor) Deo musis, et commissio gregi quam
diuttssime superstes, Amen. Ex Islindij in festo visitationis D. Maria Anni
1595.
Human. tua 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 you 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 vnknown vnto mee. Howbeit, reading
a little further I found my selfe, if not otherwise, yet by name at least
(which procedeth of your courtesie) knowne 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 congratulate with vs for the gospel of Christ
here published, and doe thinke and write so louingly and honourably of our
nation) may sease hereafter to be vnknown amongst vs.
[Sidenote: This is the brief Commentarie of Ionas Arngrimus immediatly
going before.] As touching the monuments of antiquitie which are here
thought to be extant, there is, in very 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.
