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.
