King Sigurt the Hierosolomites Brother being then but 5 year old went over with his Mother Gonild and his Father in Law Vnas to Bishop Roar in Feroe who was his Father in Laws Brother and stayed there till he should be ordained Priest But hearing then of his Mother that he was the â—on of King Sigurd Haroldson he said he would not change the Kingdom of Norway for a Priests living in Feroe and therewith threw aside his Gown and went to Norway to take in the Hereditary Kingdome of his Fore-fathers After this King Suerre a man of Feroe called Erling raised up himself giving out that he was this King Suerre's Son and went to Norway on the Ship of Hiner a districts man whereof see further the Chron. of Norway in the 589 page From which example it appeareth plainly that not only Bishops but also districts men that should take care of the Kings affairs and gather his contributions were constituted in Feroe by the Kings of Norway and therefore Feroe hath since that time been subject to the Kings of Norway with contributions and all other duties but it cannot be known in what year this begun neither is it much worth enquiring after For as this Bishop Roar is not found in the description of Norway amongst the Bishops of Feroe in the Catalogue and the Historian hath neither mentioned that this Bishop was the first nor when or by whom he was established so the Author hath neither cared for when Feroe was laid under the Crown of Norway as a thing which did not properly belong to the scope of his Treatise Feroe having ever since the time mentioned been a Province subject to the Kingdom of Norway it hath not only happened that the principal men thereof as Members of that Kingdom have been made use of in businesses of great importance as we read in the Chronicle of Norway pag 635. that in King Hagen Hagensens time who was King Suerres Grandchild Swerke Bishop of Feroe was with others in the Assembly of the States in the year of Christ 1223. when King Hagen Hagenson was by all the States sworn and judged to be the true Heir of the Kingdom of Norway but they have also as faithful subjects received Justice from the Kings of Norway in doubtful causes as appeareth by a particular Law called Soide-Breffvet or an ordinance about Sheep declaring how one must deal therewith that the one may not wrong the other There is a great errour in the date thereof mentioning it to be given at Opsloâ— in the year of Christ 1040. which time is but a short while after Charles the Tender was kill'd in Feroe whereas it hath been proved that Feroe was not then under the Kings of Norway And this error is not only proved hereby but also by these arguments First it is mentioned in the Sheep Ordinance that it was Hagen Duke of Norway King Magnus the Crowned Son that gave it out and there is found no King Magnas before then till the time of King Magnus Oluffson The first King Magnus that was Crowned was King Magnus Erlingson who reigned in the year of Christ 1164. and had one Son called Hagen neither did any of his Children rule in Norway being himself kill'd by Suerre and all his Progeny driven out and destroyed Secondly there is named in the Sheep-Ordinance Bishop Erlander who in the Catalogue of the Bishops of Feroe is the third after Suerquire of whom is said above that he was in the year 1223. in the general Assembly of the States whence it plainly appeareth that there is a great errour in the time it was given out But that we may come to some certainty about the date of this Sheep-Ordinance we find in History that King Magnus Hagenson Lagebetter who Reigned over Norway in the year 1263. had two Sons Erick and Hagen Erick became King after his Father and was called Erick Priesthater who reigned 19 years and died in the year 1299. In this King Ericks 19 years reign his Brother Hagen was as a Duke in Norway though History doth not speak plainly of it yet it can be easily concluded by the circumstances for antiently since the time of Harolds Pulchricomus the Kings of Norway's Sons were called Graves or Earls but Hagen Hagenson the Father of King Magnus the Crowned brought first the Title of Duke over into Norway making his Queen's Father who was before an Earl or Count to be a Duke After which the Title of Duke was ever given to the Kings Sons whence it appeareth that this Sheep Ordinance was given out in the 19 year of that Duke when his Brother Erick dyed and he became King that is in the year 1299. The circumstances of History does much confirm this opinion in other manner for as Duke Hagen calls himself for Honors sake the son of King Magnus the Crowned so there are none of the former Kings so remarkable by their Coronation as this King Magnus who was Crowned during his Fathers Life without any contradiction but rather with the desire of all which never happened before for which reason it may be he was called King Magnus the Crowned This King Magnus bettered the Law wherefore he was called Law-betterer He writ also a particular law for those of Island as also the Ordinance of Christianity which was sent over to those of Feroe whereupon it seems they found something to complain of as appeareth by the Proeme to the Sheep-Ordinance of which it seems those of Feroe took then occasion to desire of his Son that particular ordinance concerning Sheep much misdemeanour being used therein which had in that long space crept amongst the commonalty of which law we will further speak in the sixth Chapter when we treat of their Policy This ordinance concerning Sheep was confirmed by Christian the IV. King of Denmark of happy Memory and Printed upon the humble desires of the Inhabitants of Feroe though this fault was left uncorrected but this must be imputed to the simple negligence of the Inhabitants who have had a Copy of that Law kept by them during so long time the original having been robb'd away As they have received Laws and particular ordinances from the Kings of Norway so they have from time to time sworn Allegiance to the said Kings for one readeth in the Chronicle of Norway pag. 707. that in the year of Christ 1240. the Inhabitants of Norway Orkeny Hetland Feroe and Island swore Allegiance and Fidelity to young King Hagen Hagenson which custome may well have been followed as well in regard of the succeeding Kings of Norway as of those of Denmark though nothing of it be noted in the Annals The same duty being also performed in our days for in the year 1649. the high and mighty Prince Frederick the Third King of Denmark Norway of the Gothes and Vandalis now Deceased sent to Island and Feroe the Right Honourable Lord Henry Bialk Lord of Elling-Guard Knight Governour of Island his Majesties Rix
have been clean or no. I have also an example that the Father hath been unclean and yet the Children healthful It has also been taken notice of that two living together in Marriage though the one be found infected they live together as before as long as one doth but murmur of it till the Magistrate doth separate them and yet the sound remaineth uninfected whereas another is often taken with the Disease by a very little conversation Here are examples yet before our eyes that poor Cripples clean but helpless have been put among the sick in the Hospital eat with them converse dayly with them and are not infected in the whole time of their lives what is this but that God confirms the truth of his word taking pleasure in them that live in a just Wedlock and wander in Lawful ways putting their hopes in him that neither fire nor Water contagious disease nor dangerous Pestilence shall hurt them CHAP. VII Of Religion And first of Teachers SOmething above 100 years after Feroe was inhabited with people it pleased God out of his Grace according to his Divine Providence and Promise in the 66th of Isaiah I will send some of them that are delivered to the Heathens a long the Sea and far out to the Islands where none hath heard of me nor seen my glory c. to settle his Domicil and build his Tabernacle here in Feroe For King Oluff Trygeson in the fourth year of his Reign and in the 1000 year of Grace when the word of God was Preached in Denmark did send Sigismund Brosteson a man of Feroâ— of whom is said before that the King caused him to be Baptized to Feroe who Baptized all the people there Though the Inhabitants of Feroe did not after the Death of Sigismund break the contract of their Baptisme with Christ as is perceived and concluded by the History of King Olaus the Holy who not only acquired friends in Feroe but also called them to him and made them take their oath which he had not done if they had not confessed themselves to be Christians having continual work with those of Island that came to him to be converted to the Christian Faith as the Chronicle of Norway plainly teacheth Nevertheless one may well perceive that the beginnings of Religion were very mean the Inhabitants in a long time refusing to acknowledge the Kings of Norway for their Soveraigns Whence we find also that it was long before they got any Bishops in the Country for Bishop Sarquir that is the fifth in the Catalogue of Bishops which Mr. Peter Clauson reckoneth lived 200 years after Sigismund Bresteson for he was Bishop in the time of King Hagen Hagenson in the year 1223. as is said before in the 4th chapter Wherefore if the Preaching of the Gospel had continued without interruption there would needs have been more then four Bishops in two ages though there may be an errour in the Catalogue since we find that there has been a Bishop in Feroe in the time of King Magnus Erlingson in the year 1277. whose name was Roar by whom King Suere was brought up whose name though the most renowned amongst them is left out of the Bishops Catalogue it might therefore more probably be that some of their names are left out of whom we find nothing in History yet howsoever it be all beginnings being difficult specially the light of the word being obstructed by the Prince of darkness it may very well have been so in matters of Religion here in Feroe till at last there came Bishops into the Country but we cannot find when that was possible in King Sigurd the Hierosolumites time in the age 1100. when the Kings of Norway were well setled wherewith the Catalogue of Bishops doth best agree When the said Bishops came first higher they had their residence at Kircke boe in Stremoe where there hath been formerly many stone buildings that are now ruin'd there only remaining a stone house with a great Parlour of Timber built after the antient fashion The Church which they had then in that place is yet standing and is made use of it is built of free-stone but of a very poor and low structure There stands besides another new Church-wall which one of the last Bishops called Hillarius did build it is a curious Edifice of even stone and the frames of the Windows are of Stone purposely cut for that use The Wall is yet in some manner unhurt and one might yet build a Church of it if the hearers would not spare their pains The Bishops in those days here as in other places have had great revenues of the Country but the Priests have fared very meanly It is not certainly known how many Bishops have been in Feroe Mr. Peter Clauson in his Description of Norway reckoneth up the following Sudmunds Mathias Kroll Suein or Swerke Peter Gauti Serquir Erland or Ellendar Loden Sigvar Giaffvard Hanard besides these there is found Bishop Roar in the History of King Suerre who it seems should be the third in order and besides the said Bishop Hillarius that built the new Church wall Arrild Huitfield in the Chronicle of King Frederick the I. in the year 1532. writes that Amund Oluffson was chosen Bishop of Feroe being a Canon of Bergen and gave the King 1000 Gilders of Feroe for his confirmation for Kings took then that pretended due which the Popes of Rome received of Bishops pro pallio or the Investiture having at last better discovered the covetousness of the Pope This Amund was the last Roman Catholick Bishop of Feroe King Fredâ—rick dying the year after his Son Christian the III. as soon as he was settled in his Kingdom removed all his Lord Bishops in all his Kingdoms and Provinces Since which time here hath been but one Evangelical Bishop called Mr. Jens Riber that lived here during some years till at last he was several times rob'd by French Pyrates and being an antient man he returned from hence to Copenhagen from whence he was sent to Stawanger in Norway and was there Bishop in the year 1556. after whom his Majesty of happy Memory King Christian the third Ordained that there should always be a Provost over the Churches there who was under the Bishops of Bergen as long as the Trade of Feroe was established there afterwards he was subjected to the Bishop of Copenhagen when the Comerce of Feroe was removed from Bergen to the Burghers of that City which the conveniency for travelling by Sea hath been the cause of His Majesty hath been Graciously pleased to grant a Mannor in Andesâ—â—rd in Osteroe called Gaard Hodcle to the said place of Provost the first whereof was Mr. Heine Haugregster as we have said above in the History of Magnus Heineson after whom was Provost Mr. Oiden in Osteroe Mr. Tolle Priest of Feroe in Osteroe Mr. Christian Marsing Parish Priest of Thors haven Mr. Jens Skrwe Parish Priest of Sundoe Mr. John Rasmussâ—n Feroe Parish Priest of
as other great Fishes The Fowl wherewith the Sorcerer did present Myggyness is the sule described above which is neither found any where in this Country except there this is sold for the price it cost Though many things happened in those dark times amongst the Children of infidelity both there and other places that seem now in this our light to be very disconsonant and incredible as yet dayly many things are perpetrated by Witches which the childten of light cannot apprehend much less imitate them therein The Inhabitants receive also sometimes a considerable profit from the Whales that are pierced at Sea which come sometimes floating hither to the Land Here are besides seen under the Land great living Whales as the Roar and Witch-Whale on which the Inhabitants dare not venture The Roar is very great and long and the Witch-Whale very dangerous for it will play with Boats sometimes it riseth from under the water under the Boat so that it standeth fast on its back as upon a Rock which often bringeth the people in great danger But God and Nature have revealed them a strange secret means to drive away such dangerous Monsters namely Castoreum which usually they carry in the head of their Boat boaring a hole in the Wood and putting Castoreum in it which they stop afterwards with a peg others have it inclosed in a piece of wood whereunto they link their Fish lines and carry it always with them in the Boat and when the Witch-Whale comes under such a Boat or that they cast that piece of wood upon it it sinketh to the bottome as a Stone This Whale must have a very good scent and cannot suffer the smell of Castoreum wherefore it retireth presently to the deep It is believed here by old experience that Castoreum hath this property that if a man hath any about him and cometh in danger upon the water he cannot save himself but sinketh to the bottome as a piece of Lead and drowneth for it hath been proved by experience that a person that could swim well perished at Sea having Castoreum about him being sunk and drowned whilest others that were in the Boat and could not swim saved their lives whereof the samous expert and learned Dr. Thomas Bartalinus writeth in his Centuries of Anatomical History Cent. 2. Hist 17. The Inhabitants say also that if they have no Castorum they carry with them Juniper wood whereof they cut Chips and cast towards the Whale whereby it also sinketh It was a great while before I would believe this till the Provincial Judge a very prudent man named Jonae Poulson that is well inform'd in the proprieties of this Country assured it me to be true I would nevertheless hardly believe it a long time till I had found the natural cause of it which is this Since Castoreum that can drive down the Whale hath the vertue to drive the dead Foetus out of its mothers Womb by which vertue the Whale is also driven and the Oyl of Juniper hath the same vertue as Castoreum to drive out the Foetus it may also be that Juniper Wood whereof the Oyl is prepared may also drive the Whale and there must be a great Antipathy between the Whale and such things which by reason of its acute scent it presently perceiveth and is weakned in its nature so that it must presently sink to the bottom by which reason it followeth also that all other Medicaments expelling the dead Foetus have also the vertue to drive down the whale as are Assa Foetida Myrrha Galbanum Oppoponax Scammony Brimstone Cinnamon and Mace or these Herbs Rue Sabina Foenum Gracum Hollow Hearb Felworth Matricary as also these Herbs which grow in Feroe Samphire Mugworth Tyme and others though part of the Species aforesaid be but the ingredients of those Medicaments Experience must further teach what is hidden in nature if it be so as is argued of this Species and if Castoreum hath the propriety and vertue to depress a man down to the bottom of the Sea so that he must drown notwithstanding he can swim it followeth also that the aforesaid Species have that propriety to the depression of a man One doth besides often hear that when people come in danger sometimes the greatest part are easily saved one or two perishing some can neither be sav'd by others nor save themselves as if it was so disposed by God that they before others should infallibly dye such a death and could not escape as might be proved by example if it were needful who knows whether any of them had not about him some of the things aforesaid which might easily and ordinarily happen with Mace and Cinnamon Much is hidden in nature that is yet undiscovered and in time will be brought to light For a conclusion as in my time during my abode in Feroe the said Sea-monster namely the Whale-dog was seen so in the year 1670 there was seen at the West of Feroe before Qualboe plaine a Mair-maid close by the Land during two hours and a half by many men not only of Qualboe but also of other places of Suderoe she stood upright above the water having long hair on her head spread on the water round about holding a Fish in her hand with the head downwards it was also told me that the same year the Fisher men of Westmans haven in Stremoe had seen a Mermaid at the North of Feroe whether these Monsters do 〈◊〉 Feroe any evil hereafter time will teach us that consisting Whales in the providence of God passing by what other Monsters have appeared in Feroe in the Figure of Boats whereof we have mentioned something already CHAP. IV. Of the Inhabitation of Feroe and the Facts of the Inhabitants THese Islands of Feroe lying in the mid'st of the storming Sea far distant from other Countryes have during a long time whilest Navigation was not so much practised as in these later times been uninhabited being only visited by the Fowles of Heaven till the time of Harold Pulchricomus first absolute King of Norway when as we are taught by the Chronicle of Snore Sturleson this land was first possessed by men and inhabited in the year of our great Monarch Jesus Christ's Nativity 868. having been uninhabited from its creation during the time of 48â—5 years and hath been tilled till the date of this book a little above 800 years The cause of its inhabitation being this It happened that Harold Haldanson Pulchricomus principal Ness or Promontory King in Norway beginning to reduce the Kingdom under him made War upon the Inhabitants upward of 10 years from the year of Christ 858 to 868 and having during that time put to death a part of those little Kings and Princes reduced a part of them under himself driven another part out of the Land and the last year some Kings and principal men having made alliance to resist him and raised a great Army King Harold destroyed their Forces after which time he found
their possessions to the King by committing Murthers and other misdeeds as one might prove by example almost within the remembrance of man some in the Popish times forfeited their estates to the Bishops for eating of flesh as many can yet relate for the Bishops forbad their hearers to eat flesh in Lent and they being us d thereunto and desiâ—ous to eat it as a meat that was plentiful in the Country could not observe such interdictions wherefore those that were discovered were forced to give their Estates as a Mulet except they would fall under Excommunication some also gave away their possessions willingly in that time of superstition for the saving of their souls to Bishops Sees and Churches and those Bishops being removed at the time of the Reformation all such goods came under the Crown so that now the King is Proprietor of most part of the Country What Lands the owners did keep have since been divided by their heirs in so many small parcels that they cannot live thereof so that it seems those that were in the beginning the richest and most powerful are now grown the poorest and most indigent of the Country for the Inhabitants born to Land as they call them or freeholders are the poorest people those that possess the Kings Lands being the principallest and richest men Here are nevertheless found some noble mens Lands as the Benckestockers the Resencranthel and the Lady Adeluzies whether they are come to them by inheritance of these Chiefetaines or they have purchased them is uncertain Here are also certain Lands called Rytter's Lands that were purchased here in the Country by one Mathias Rytter It seems nevertheless that some of the Nobles Lands are possessions bought of others there being some that reckon themselves born heirs thereunto The said chiefs of the Land enjoy'd the Government of Feroe till they were reduced by the Kings of Norway There is nothing found in History of their orderly succession the first that is read of being Trund of Gote who was an old Chiefetaine during the Reign of some Kings ruling over the North and Eastern Islands Those that were Rulers with him were Breste and Beine two Brothers and Kinsmen of Trund that governed other Islands It is possible they may have been the first Chiefs that have both taken the Land in possession and governed it or else their next successors since they liv'd in Harald Greybeards time for they liv'd then long in the Land as some do yet But the aforesaid Trund being an infamous bad and deceitful man caused his Cousins and Fellow Rulers Breaste and Berne to be treacherously kill'd that he alone might have the Supreme Government In the mean time he took to himself their Sons Sigismund Breaste's Son and Torgild Berne's Son under preteuce of breeding them up but sold them afterwards privately as two Slaves out of the Country of whose remarkable History we will hereafter make further mention and so he governed the Country alone till the time of King Oluff Tryggeson That Sigismund Breastes Son came again to Feroe to revenge his Fathers death and killed Trund of Gote remaining so only Chiefetain over Feroe a long time till he was murthered by Turgrine Ilde and his Sons in Suderoe after which the Son of Trund of Gote ruied over the Land being also called Trund like unto his Father in name and deeâ—s though he ruled but over the North and East Islands Leiff Asseâ—son being Chieftain over all the Southern lived in King Oluff Haraldson the Holy's time they also having then a Pâ—â—vincial Judge called Gilke see the Chronicle of Norway p. 269. It is not known who succeeded them afterwards though the Country hath a long time after had its own Governours Though the Inhabitants have not been very powerful to resist the mighty absolute King of Norway they kept nevertheless their liberties under these their chiefetains by reason of the great division and civil war between the Sons of Harald Pulchrycomus and their Successors specially between the Sons of Erick Softear and Hagan Jarle the good that reduc'd the whole Kingdom of Norway to his obedience till King Oluff Harald Son the Holy's time who took care not only to amplifie the Kingdom of Christ but also his own wherefore he undertook to reduce the Feroes under his obedience but he durst not venture to do it by force fearing it may be the courage of the Inhabitors as also the dangerous access of the places wherefore he endeavoured to do it by good deeds and made many friends in Feroe whereby they gave themselves under his power But putting afterwards burthens upon them whereunto they were not accustomed they fell off from him presently again wherefore the King sent a message to Feroe that the best men of the Land should come to him in Norway Gille the Provincial Judge Lieffe Asserson Torrulff of great Diemen and many other Countrymens Sons made themselves ready to go into Norway but that cunning Fox Trund of Gote pretended sickness and went not with them When all these came to the King they were obliged to take their oath they would remain his subjects and promised they would send him a Tribute and that the Folks of the Land should be his Subjects And the King made them gifts and presents and dismissed them bountifully which the courteous Reader can find more largely exprest in the Chronicle of Norway pag. 246 247 248 c. But what loyalty the Inhabitants intended to have for King Oluff appeared in time presently afterwards see the Chronicle of Norway pag. 249. for when the King sent a Ship to Feroe to fetch his Tribute the Ship was lost so that he could never come certainly to know what was become of the Ship or men But having the next year had some relation that they were lost at Sea he sent again another Ship with men but it happened to them in the like manner and there were many opinions what might be become of the Kings Ships for in the Chronicle of Norway pag. 268. King Oluff keeping often his Court with his Chiefs in Sundmor gave out that he would send to fetch from Feroe the Tribute which they had promised him complaining for the men he had lost on that Voyage and named out some men that should Sail thither but they said all nay and refused to undertake the voyage Then rose up a great man well armed having a red Coat on a Helmet on his Head his Loins girt with a Sword and a great Halbert in his hand saying you have a good King but your selves are cowardly men that you dare refuse the voyage which he commands you having received so much honour and benefit of him I have not hitherto been the Kings Servant neither hath he been a gracious Lord unto me but I will now proffer my self to go to Feroe if there be no other remedy The King asked who he was and what was his name that answered him so undauntedly for he knew him not The
man answered my name is not considerable though I think you have heard it named before I am called Charles the Tender The King answared it is true Charles that I have heard thy name before and a time hath been that if we had met thou shouldst not have carried the news of it abroad but I will pardon thee altogether since thou wilt undertake this voyage for me and thou shalt be my guest to day that we may speak further about it This Charles see the Chronicle of Norway pag. 269 had been a cruell Robber by Sea and Land and the King had often sent out his men to kill him but he escaped always he was of a great Family and very couragious valiant and expert in all things he made himself ready for his Voyage to Feroe and had about 20 men with him he got a good wind and when he came to Feroe he arrived at Thors haven in Stremoe and let summon all the people to a Court. There came Trund of Gote with many Folks as also Leiff Aserson and Gille the Provincial Judge the Kings sworn men with many people When they had pitched their Tents they came to Charles and embraced him Charles saluted them from the King and expounded then his friendly commands to raise and pay in the Tribute shewing them a token from the King they promised to promote his errand amongst the people and to give him their best assistance Then came Trund of Gote that base Traitor and Saluted Charles inviting him to a winters meal Charles excus'd himself because he had taken his lodgings by Leiff Aserson but he desired that Trund would gather the Tribute of the East and Northern Islands Trund promised he would do so In the winter Leiff raised the Tribute of the South Islands of Feroe The next Spring Trund grew very sick and amongst other diseases was much troubled with pain in his eyes he came nevertheless to the Assembly as he was wont and incamped under a black Tent and when Leiff and Charles came to him to receive what Tribute he had gathered he could not come out to them by reason of the weakness of his sight wherefore Leiff went into him in his black Tent and Trund gave him a bag with mony which he carried out to Charles and cast the mony in his Shield stirring them about and Leiff ask'd Charles what he thought of it who answered I believe that all the false mony that could be found in the Northern Islands is come hither Trund heard this and asked Leiff if it was not good Silver Leiff said it was false mony Trund put the fault upon his Servant that had gathered the Tribute whilest he was himself sick Leiff went in and took another purse of mony from him for Charles and when they viewed them they were neither so good that Leiff would receive them for the Kings Tribute Trund's Cousin Gautt the Red arose on the Bench whereon he laid and said it is an old Proverb The older a man grows the worse he is It is now so with thee Trund that sufferest Charles the Tender to search in thy mony so often this day Trund sprung up and was angry at Gaute's words and bad Leiff come in and take another bag saying my own Tenants have brought me this though I can see little yet the Shirt is nearer then the Doublet and he desired Leiff to go out to Charles and weigh the mony for him for he could not be present himself Leiff and Charles went out into the Fields and all their Folks were in arms as if they had gone to a war Charles took his Helmet from his head and cast the mony in it and they found 't was good Silver but as they were sitting they saw a man coming to them that had a Pole Ax in his hand this was Gaute the Red he stuck his Pole Ax in the ground and said have a care thou Tender Charles thou doest not get a mischief to day of my Pole Ax there came at the very same time a man running calling to Leiff Aserson and desiring him to come straight ways to Gills the Provincial Judges Tent for there had rushed in Siugurt Tolakson Trunds Kinsman and had deadly wounded one of the Judges men Lieff went presently thither and all his folks with him and Charles remained sitting with his people standing round about him Then came Gaute the Red and Thoer the Short and Gaute struck over a mans Shoulder and hit Charles on the head though it hurted him not much but Thoer struck presently with the Pole Ax that stood in the ground so that the Ax struck in his Brains and there came many people out of Trunds Tent. Trund shewed as if this action had much displeased him and paid the mulct for his Cozen but Leiff and Gille banished Sigurt for the Judges man whom he had killed and Gaute and Thoer for Charles whose men return'd to King Oluff and told him the news The King grew very angry and protested he would revenge it but he was hindered of it by the wars which were made against him and there were great disputes between Trund and Leiff ever since that day Thus far Snow Sturleson Thus Charles the Tender got to know what men were those of Feroe whereby they shewed sufficiently what was become of the two other Ships though it may be also they perished King Oluff Haroldson the Holy having thus been hindered by the defection of his Subjects and the oppression of Canulus the Great King of Denmark that took the Kingdom from him those of Feroe were for a time their own Masters not only under King Canuius the Great that had more weighty affairs to think on but also under King Magnus the Son of Oluff the Holy that was disturb'd with wars in Denmark against King Swenoe Estredson till the day of his death as also during the time of King Harold Redhair who during his Reign was troubled with foreign wars till he was discomfited in England His son King Kyrre lived in quiet and was contented with what he had but his son King Magnus Barefoot sought much forreign Countreys and thereby lost his Life in Ireland It seems also that he did not then forget Feroe though History maketh no mention of it and Feroe having not been reduced by him because he made many forreign wars and reigned but ten years it seems it was put under the Crown of Norway in King Sigurd the Hierosolomite's time or in the Century of years 1100. since in this Century there were not only Bishops constituted in Feroe but districts men that had the power of these Chieftains For it is related in the Chronicle of N way p ag 500. that when Erling Shack with his Son King Magnus Erlingson who ruled 30 years after Kiug Sigurt the Hierosolomite's death in the year of Christs Nativity 1163. did endeavour to destroy all the Kings line Male Suerre Sigurtson who was the Grand child of Harold Gilde
Admiral President in the Councel of Admiralty and Assessor in that of State with Gabriel Ackelâ—ye Knudson Secretary to take the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty of all the Inhabitants which was done by the Inhabitants of Feroe with what Solemnity that Country could afford in Thors-Haven the third of August in the year aforesaid as Jens Lauritson describes in his Norrigia Illustrata In the year 1662. the States of Denmark having chosen his said Majesty King Frederick the third and his Successors to be Soveraign Hereditary Lord of Denmark and Norway arrived the second time the 14 of August his aforesaid Excellency the Lord Rix Admiral Henry Bialke to take of the inhabitants of Feroe the Oath of their Hereditary Allegiance to his Majesty whose Hereditary Throne the King of Kings establish for ever and continue his seed till the end of the World which they presently with greatest devotion performed When it pleased the great Lord of Heaven to call the said high and mighty Prince Frederick the third first Soveraign Hereditary Lord and King of Denmark and Norway from this Temporary to his Eternal and Heavenly Kingdom in the year 1670. the 9. of Feb. and his beloved Son The great and Mighty Hereditary Prince Christian the Fifth sate on his late Fathers Royal Throne to be Soveraign King over Denmark and Norway and the Subjects and States of Denmark had sworn Loyal Fidelity and Obedience to his Majesties absolute Government his Majesty the same year the 23. of April graciously dispatch't his Commissary the Honourable Jens Rodsteen Hereditary Lord of Leer Beck his Majesties Vice Admiral and Assessor in the Councel of Admiralty to Island and Feroe with full power in the name of his Majesty to take the Oath of the subjects and Inhabitants thereof where the said Commissary Jens Rodsteen arrived from Island and put into Thors haven in Feroe on Tuesday the 16 of August and on Friday the 19. of the same moneth all the Deputies or Inhabitants of Feroe themselves were gathered together and after the Service of God was performed took their ready and submissive Oath first together in a body and afterwards every one particularly under his Hand and Seal according to every ones State and quality Neither must we here omit to his Royal Majesty our most Gracious Hereditary Lord and King King Christian the Fifth's Immortal Praise and Clory and to the subjects of the Land both that now live and will hereafter succeed their admonition and remembrance to keep exactly the Oath they have taken in all its points and clauses not out of compulsion and fear but by an humble free and loving devotion till Death that his Majesty was graciously pleased to prevent the Inhabitants in giving them notice by his Patent that whatsoever either the States or any private man for himself had to petition and sollicite his Majesty for they or he should deliver it to his Royal Commissary and he receive it to carry unto his Majesty with a most gracious assurance that his Royal Majesty with a particular care and favour would be concern'd in what could be judged beneficial to them according to the time and occasion The wise King Solomon in the 19. chap. 12. verse of the book of Proverbs compareth admirably such Royal grace to the Dew that falleth on-Grass for as Dew vivifieth withered and down-fallen Grass so that it riseth again and groweth bravely up so hath this his Royal Majesties Grace reviv'd the hearts of the Inhabitants of Feroe which were almost fainting away for one cause or another and therefore the Subjects both Ecclesiastical and Temporal delivered the said Royal Commissary several Petitions concerning some of their grievances wherewith the said Commissary on Sunday the 21 of August after the Service of God departed from Feroe for Denmark Thereupon in the year 16-2 three deputies were sent over with full power humbly to represent the Lands necessities and his Majesty was graciously pleased to give the Inhabitants a very profitable Ordinance to prevent and take away all damage and ruine from the Land Whilest the Inhabitants of Feroe were under the subjection of the Kings of Norway and Denmark or before that time one doth not find much that any have been famous for their valiant actions though they have been a hard nation from the beginning except two namely Sigismund Bretteson and Magnus Heirson whose Histories excepted the one out of Snore Sturleson and Mr. Peter Clauson's Writings the other out of Jens Lawritson's Norrigia illustrata and a credible Manuscript of Feroe are for the Readers sake worthy to be here inserted After Trund of Gote of whom we have made mention before had treacherously let murther his fellow Governours of Feroe and his Kinsmen Breste and Beine sâ—lling their Sons Sigismund Bresteson and Fâ—rgill Beinson privately out of the Country to perpetual Slavery it happened that he that bought them was bâ— stâ—rm and bad weather set from 〈◊〉 course with his Ship to the East of Norway there ran the two boyes away from him and got up into the Country â—ow there had been in the Country some time before a young mâ—n whose name was Torkild that waâ— an excellent Huntsman and Shooter and lay usually out on Snow and Ice in the night seeking to kill Wild Beasts caring neither for cold nor frost whence he got the name of Torkild endure Frost he fell in love with a considerable man's daughter called Ingeborrig whose Parents refusing to give her unto him he took her in the Wild Woods but her Father Brothers and Kinsmen sought her out and took her back again Torkild came to her the second time and she went away with him but considering that he could not be in quiet for her kindred on that side of Dorfields he went therefore over the Mountain and setled his habitation close at the North of it in a great Wilderness and savage Forrest where no body came through there being a great way from thence to Towns where people lived and his Servants went into the district of Trundhein to sell skins and hides of wild beasts buying therewith what he had need of and he lived there many years having changed his name Sigismund Bresteson and Torgild Beinson being fled from their Master as aforesaid went up into the Country intending to go into the North of the District of Trund heim but when they came on Dor fields they lost their way and wandered some days â—â—ill at last they came down to the place where Torkild Endure Frost liv'd and went in His Wife received them well giving them meat and desired them to tarry there the night over When Torkild came home from the Woods she went to meet him and told him there were come to them two beautiful Boyes desiring him that he would do them no harm he grew angry because he had forbidden her to receive any body in the house or shew any one the way from thence saying we shall doubtless be found out and taken
in the Countrey taking away without exception whosoever came before them It happened the same time that the Priest of that place called Mr. Paul Erasmuson fled upon a Rock with a little child the Turks pursued him and took first the Child which he had laid down and afterwards pursued the Priest wherefore he leaped down from a very high promontory under which many people had hidden themselves from the enemy and God made it come to pass so wonderfully that he stopped upon a Turffe of Earth that was soft and well overgrown with Grass there being round about nothing but Clifts and Stones yet though his body was not endamaged his mind was nevertheless very much distracted by that high fall Wherefore his Majesty of Denmark King Christian the IV. rig'd out a Ship commanded by the Honourable George Daa who likewise did his utmost to destroy such a company of Thieves Amongst other he surpriz'd an Irish Pyrate in Westmans-haven in Stremoe A part of the Pyrates crew run presently over the Land and took one of the Inhabitants Boats wherewith they fled from Feroe to Hetland those that were left behind were taken and hanged After the said Daa his said Majesty commanded other Ships to cruise under Feroe which harboured usually in Skaale fiord in Osteroe whence it is that the harbour hath gotten the name of Kings haven But there going more charges yearly to fit out such Ships then the revenue which the King received of the Land could import King Christian the IV. was pleased to cause to build a Fort in Thors-haven against the unexpected invasion of all enemies There being not only kept the Kings contributions but also all Merchandize for the maintenance of the whole Country which was done after the Turks falling into Suderoe and since that time they have in some manner been free from such Sea-robbers except when there hath been war between Denmark and the neighbouring Kingdoms for tâ—â—n as is probable they have often been disturb'd by neighbouring enemies It is not heard or read of any civil war or inward tumult in Feroe as in Island though there be an old tale of some troubles in the Country and there hath been shewed me a valley in Calsoe above the village of Migledal where two armies of the Inhabitants have fought together and two hills under which they say the dead are buried though they know not the true ground thereof I am almost of opinion that this happened in the time of King Ingi Baard's son in the year of Christ 1211. by Erling Suerrison of whom the Hystory of Norway pag. 581. maketh mention in this manner There was a man in Feroe called Erling that gave himself out for King Suerreson his Mother was Astride Rois Daughter He march'd about in the Islands with some gathered men doing great violence and oppression he had 7 Children and went since for Norway in the Ship of Einar the Sheriff ren â—ring himself to Philip and the Lady Christina she received him very well and acknowledged him for her Brother he dyed some years after of an effusion of blood after blood letting It may be that he as an heir to the Crown of Norway would reduce Feroe to obedience but that he was discomsited and forc'd to go out of the Country to seek the assistance of his Sister Christina and that his design vanished by his death Here is also spoken of another uproar that happened for a good while since by some few that gathered themselves together and would possess themselves of Feroe putting to death all those that would not be of their Faction which company they call to this day the Flock men from their thus flocking and being gathered together The Inhabitants of Feroe having thus continually been as well free from civil as from foreign wars except what oppression the Sea-robbers and those of their party did them they have during their long tranquility taken great care to cultivate the ground having not only till'd Planted aud built the places that are now inhabited but other places besides that are now left untill'd and are seldome renewed They devide the ground which they till into acres the acre being subdivided into ells so that by an acre of ground is understood 320 Hamborough Ells four square whereunto belongeth also a part of the ground that is without the Inclosure yet there is a great difference in the greatness of the divisions though every acre of Land be reckoned for 320 ells And the Acres consisting in that sort of measure the poor free-holders know to divide it after their deceased Parents in many small parts namely in 80 60 40 20 and 10 ells and an acre of ground costing according to the ancient price of Land sixteen Gylders of Feroe they call usually such small parts a Gylder namely 80 Ells about 4 Gylders 40 Ells 2 Gylders and so forth till it comes to be so little that it amounteth but to five Skins of earth which is Land for 10 pence This division being very damageable to the Country for it maketh many poor people they do not plow their ground but dig it making deep furrows laing the earth which they dig out of them on the ground close together the dung being laid under it before Neither is each Field above 3 ells broad usually with a ridge on the one side that water may always have its fall into the furrow and continually flow away there falling here very much rain afterwards they break the Earth that was laid over with a spade instead of harrowing it and when they have sowed their Seed they clap the earth over with flat pieces of Wood instead of rowling it over So that they have a great deal of labour and pain in the Tillage of their ground which cannot otherwise be because of the Lands propriety The ground which they thus Till they let rest 8 or 10 years for it will not bear fruit every year but in the mean time it yields excellent Grass for Hay which they only mow and not that which groweth in Moorish grounds as they do in other Countreys As they have a great deal of labour in the Tillage of their ground so they have no less about their Corn for they cut it off with an ordinary Knife and puck every Ear from the Straw drying them afterwards in a Kilne the Corn not coming here to perfect Maturity Afterwards instead of Thrashing Women tread the Ears of Corn with their bare feet all this labour about their Corn taking up a great deal of time almost unprofitably which might well be remedied but they are so minded in general that they will not change their old customes no more in this then in many other things CHAP. V. Of the Qualities of the Inhabitants IT is so ordered in nature alas that Tares will commonly grow amongst Wheat It is here even as in other places where there are bad and good and since the bad ones cannot be much praised for their vertue we