they are carried thither by a whirlewind for the Sea it self when it is most boisterous seldome casts any Fish on Land but rather Seaward from the bottom for as little as strong wind can hinder the flight of Birds as little can the strongest motion of the Sea hinder the swimming of Fishes but if either wind or water grow too strong for their inhabitants as Birds hide themselves in trees holes and nests so the small Fishes that lie under the Land float on the deep to save themselves there as long as the storm lasts as is frequently seen in Feroe Wherefore those Herrings were carryed there on Land by a kind of Whirle wind called Typhon which in the Danish Tongue is named Oes That sort of Whirlewind is formed amongst the Clouds and strikes from thence on the Sea and Earth with such a sudden and mighty whirle that if it falleth on Land it takes up Trees Bushes Stones Flesh and what else it meets with and where buildings are too great it strikes them down and breaks them to pieces If it falleth on the Sea it takes up an incredible quantity of water so that one may see deep Cavities in the Sea till the water runs together again and what Fishes are then in that water are drawn up by such a whirlewind Marriners that have tryed the dangers of the deep can speak enough of this whirlewind and have first given it the name of Oes because it draws up the water of the Sea Expert Seamen when they are aware of it let presently fall all their Sails or else they would lose them and sometimes come in great danger of their lives What this Oes takes and draws up from one place it lets it fall on another when it hath wrought out and left its strength whence it comes that one seeth in some places rain down Stones Flesh Mice and particularly the Lemmings or Cats of Norway and in this manner are also these Herrings rained down on Kolter The Hurricane of the West Indies which is sufficiently known is doubtless of this sort of Wind. Sandoe lyeth two miles south of Stromoe and Hestoe stretching it self most to East and West it is eight miles long and four miles broad having but one Creek on the South side neer Sand neither is it a very good Haven At West towards the North point there is a little Isle called Troldhoffret edging off from the North East side to the South West with a high Promentory thereon feed wild Oxen and Sheep Skuoe lyeth two miles to the south of Sandoe stretching it self to the East and West being three miles long and one broad it is a high Land with high Clifts Store Diemen or great Dam liethhalf a mile at the Southeast of Skuoe it is almost round a good mile in Diameter it is a high Territory for the most part flat and green above with great Clifts round about If this Island were garrison'd with thirty warlike men it would not be easie for any Potentate to take it in there being no way to get up except in one place at East and that difficulty for one man at a time and therefore could easily be so strengthned by art that none at all could come up Neither could Ships lye on the Sea about the Island because of the strong current nor could they be taken by Famine there being Cattel Sheep and Fowle enough on the Island It hapned some years ago that the Countrymans Wife on that Island kept secret love with the serving man and they both murthered the Master VVherefore that they might avoid the punishment of the Magistrate they held out the Island a long time but the innocent being unwilling to keep such continual watch with the guilty and they at last being grown secure some nimble men of Feroe by the Bailiff of the Countrys order came on the Island by the East side and took the Delinquents Prisoners who afterwards received their just punishment Lille Diemen lyeth two miles from Store Diemen at South South East it is inhabited and to be accounted for an Isle it ariseth from the Sea as a round and sharp Clift thereon feed wild Sheep Suderoe is the last and Southest Island lying two miles south of Lille Diemen It is almost twenty miles long and eight miles broad where it is broadest bowing with one end to the South the other end stretching it self to the Northwest it is full of Hills having on the VVest side many Clifts neither can one land on it but in four places and yet with difficulty At East it hath four long Creeks namely on the North end Qâ—ailviig neer the close second Qualboe whence a Valley stretcheth it self on the VVest side a mile long then Trungesvaag within which Inlet is a very good little harbour called Punthaven besides which between a little Isle and the Land one may fasten Ships with a Rope and go from Shipboard to Land on a Planck There is besides every where in the Inlet good Harbouring in Summer Finally here is also Vaagesfiord whence there runneth also a Valley a mile long on the Southside In that Inlet there is a bowed Creek where there is one of the best Havens in Feroe called Lebroe It appeareth by the premises that Feroe doth consist of seventeen inhabited and Cultivated Islands namely Fugloe Suinoe Wideroe Bordoe Kunoe Kalsoe Osteroe Nolsoe Stromoe Waagoe Myggeness Kolter Hestoe Sandoe Skuoe Store Diemen and Suderoe and four little Isles or Holms to wit Tintholm Myggenessholm Trolehofred and Lille Diemen whereon only Pasture VVild-Sheep Besides here are several other Holmes whereof the most notable and necessary to be known of Marriners are these Hossvigsholm Kirckboeholm and Comboeholm There are also under the Land several Rocks arising out of the Sea whereof two are considerable for Marriners to know the Land by the one at North of Fugloe called the Bishop which is a round and pretty high Rock it doth not lye so far from the Land as it is set in the Map but only a stone cast or a Musquet shot off The other is at the South of the Land a pretty way at South East of Sumboe it is also a round high Rock called the Monck Neer this Monck is a dangerous whirlepoole which in still weather draweth Ships to it self and brings them in great peril for the waves strike every where into the Ship nay in the very Mast and the Ship cannot be steered but one must let it drive as the stream will have it till it be appeased It is most dangerous in still weather for then one cannot easily get from thence with a Gale of VVind one may take a care not to come into it Jautoe which Mr Peter Claason speaketh of in his book called a Description of Norway is not extant but is only an inclosure called Gote and is twofold namely North Gote and South Gote Neither is he to be blamed for it since he hath written with others pen and seen with others eyes It
it round about but Ships are in no danger of it Towards the South East Bordoe stretcheth it self out into three branches or points so that they seem at Sea as several Islands and constitute too long Inletts whereof that which is most Eastward is called Arnefiord the other Baardevijgs from Baardevijg's Inlet there runs a little valley half a mile long to the North west side where there is a safe harbour called Klack From hence the Land stretcheth it self again to the North along Videroe a matter of six miles or less all these branches and arms are for the most part streightning on both sides into long and sharp points on the North West Bordoe embraceth again with two arms or branches another little Island called Kunoe Kunoe is a long and narrow Island about six miles in length and a good mile in breadth growing sharp on both sides consisting in a long sharp hill separated from Bordoe by a narrow straight in some places half a mile broad and in some others less stretching it self most to the South and North from Mule on Bordoe till the Harbour of Klack which it shuts up with its southerly end and renders it safe against all Currents of the Sea Kalsoe lyeth Westward oâ— Kunoe separated from it by an inlet called Calseefiord which is two miles broad and this Inlet is open from South to North so that all Ships may safely run through it especially when the Stream is with them Kalsoe is a little longer then Kunoe and a little broader stretching it self to the South and North without Haven or Creek on the West side it is a very steep promontory on the East side the hill is edged and runs sloping to the Sea side all coloured withgreen Osteroe lyeth West of Kalsoe and Bordoe stretching it self most Northward towards East it is almost twenty miles long but inequally broad for some places are two miles broad others four or six miles broad according as the points stretch themselves far out the Land consisting in many long branches or arms on the East side towards Kalsoe Bordoe and the main Sea it hath six long branches or arms that constitute five Inlets or Creeks namely Funding fiord Andâ—fiord an indifferent Harbour Englefiord a good Harbour Joteviig and Lammehauf viig afterward the Land stretcheth it self to the South East in a long point called Ostness from which neck three miles Northward begins again another inlet far in the Land two miles long called Skaalefiord at the beginning of the Inlet there is a good harbour called Kings haven because formerly when his Majesties Ships did Cruise here under the Land after Pirats they took Harbour there on the West side from South to North the Land is almost even without any Inlet or Creek and the inlet between Câ—lsoe and Osteroe is in some places but a mile and half broad and safe for Ships to sail through the North end of Osteroe is very notable for Senmen for it stretcheth out it self with a little round point to the North west with a round hill upon it Nolsoe lyeth two miles Southward of Osteroe or Ostres extending it self most N. W. to N. and S. E to S. it is 4 miles long and a mile and half broad where broadest having on its west side Stromoe at the distance of two miles and half There is almost on the midst of the Island a high Hill sloaping by little and little to the South side where the Island is even on the top and not very high North of the Hill there is a little plain and West of it towards Stromoe a little Harbour called Nolsoeviig an indifferent good Summer Harbour Stromoe is the largest Island in Feroe and 24 miles long and where it is broadest eight miles in breadth it lyeth West of Osteroe and Nelsoe stretching it self North west to North and South West to South being full of many high Hills amongst which Skelingsfels over goeth all the rest in height standing like a high house above the others it is very notable for Seamen that are bound for Thorshaven for when they get sight of it and sail there unto they fall before the Northern entrance of Thorshaven That Island hath also several Creeks and Harbours on the East side from the South end is first of all Thors-haven where the general Commerce is established it is a little but a good harbour whereunto there are two entrances over against North Nolsoe between Stang and Ostness and over against South Nolsoe between Baarn and Skadlehoffoed afterwards there is Kalbacksfford then Kollefiord next thereunto Thorsviig and Qualviig one cannot come further with Ships for on the North of Qualviig Stromoe and Osteroe are as it were bound together by a ground that is between the Islands over which runs a very rapid stream and there is no Current on either side of the ground From this stream it is that Stromoe is so called at North of Stromoe is Haldersviig an indifferent Harbour into which one enters on the North side on the north side there is a very fair Harbour called Westmans Haven which is sheltered by Waagoe lying over against it Waagoe lyeth West of Stromoe being divided from it by a straight called Westmans haven seund a mile and a half broad thorough which there is a safe passage The Land of Waagoe is almost of a Triangular or Quadrangular Figure being eight miles in Diameter it is cut in by two long Creeks first by one on the South East side called Midvaage a good Summer Harbour then at West there is another Creek called Sorvaage The Land it self is all full of Hills hard by the South point of Sorvaage there lyes two little Islands with high clifts on them called Tineholm and Gaaseholm Myggeness lyeth out at the West of Sorvaage two miles from the Land it is three miles long and one and a half broad having a high territory with high promontories round about it there being but one place to come on Land it stretcheth it self most to the North East and South West Towards the South West end of it lyeth Myggeness Isle having a high clift round about it is flat above though sloaping like the roof of a house on the North East side it is separated by a little Riff three or four furlongs broad Kolter lyeth three miles to the South-East of Waagoe and above two miles to the West of Stromoe it is a little Island a mile long and about half a mile broad stretching it self most to the South and North having a high Mountain at the North end but at the South end it is low and narrow having a high Promontory on the West side Eighteen years since in the middest of Summer there was found on the highest top of the Mountain of Kolter the quantity of many tomies of Herrings spread along The Mountain where the Herrings were found is above two hundred fathoms high The vulgar sort will perhaps ask how these Herrings could come there whereunto is answered that
to a fit matter from which it receiveth force and can exercise its Functions and Earth again receiveth Fire lovingly that it may be warmed by it and produce its fruits As Salt D. adhears to Gold A. as to its fit subject wherein 〈◊〉 can operate so Gold again receiveth Salt joyfully as its kindest Friend of whomi it receiveth food and nourishment More over as we thus find a natural Sympathy between the things now mentioned we find also an Antipathy between them for as Gold A. cannot suffer Brimstone C nor Silver B. Salt D. who as their respective Enemies stand opposed in the Figure so the Earth A. cannot abide the air C. nor the water B. the Fire D. which therefore stand also over against one another in the figure and yet they are bound together by an orderly Sympathy for air it self cannot be shut up within the Earth and if it happeneth so it doth not tarry long in that Lodging but breaketh out with great force and causeth those terrible Earth quakes neither can the Earth remain above in the air but stayeth in its proper Seat and if the Sun draweth any thing from it into the air that gross unpolished guest knoweth not how to behave himself in that subtile habitation neither can the Air well abide it and therefore there ariseth a quarrel between them with terrible Thunder and Lightning In the same manner Fire cannot be united with Water without one of the parties destruction as is known to every body Notwithstanding that the Elements are in their nature so contrary to one another neverthelese the one will not nor can be without the other suffering each other by a temperature but when that is wanting so that there be either excess or defect nature then suffereth and is moved by Antipathy by which reason this unexpected motion doth happen in the water over those grounds that are called Boffves For it is seen in Feroe when the Air is very warm so that there ariseth a Fog from the Sea rendring the Air dusky that not only the Currents run a great deal swifter and stronger then at other times but the Sea also groweth stormy beating against the Land and the Boffves break out though it be still weather which happeneth because of the Antipathy that is between Water and warmth in its excess whereby Water suffereth in its nature Quite contrary this happeneth also when there will come a strong Frost and Snow in Winter the Currents grow then stronger The Sea beats the Boffves arise though it be very still weather because there happeneth a deficiency in the temperature of warmth water being forced to lose a part of its natural heat and therefore cannot keep its innate fluiddity but must by suffering in its nature let it self be chang'd to a standing rigid matter namely Ice which affect the Elements do perceive afore hand and by the vertue of their Magnettical Antipathy move themselves This Motion is also perceived in houses for it happeneth in Feroe that when there is a great storm and the wind cannot have its passage between those many hills as in plain ground that it is sometimes quite still in the Valleys so that one may go with a light between the houses and on the contrary the gathered wind comes afterwards a great deal stronger and more terrible but before such weather cometh or that one can perceive any thing of it as the water ariseth before the coming of a hard Frost so are the houses moved before this stormy weather cometh so that every nail of the house cracks though the houses be scarce moved afterwards when the storm beats upon them they being low and Fortified about with thick walls of Turffs and Stones which motion must therefore necessarily happen in the manner aforesaid But that the Boffves break when there comes a Boat over them hath a far more hidden cause though it may happen by the aforesaid Magnettical Sympathy We have declared above how it is with the Loadstone in that Countrey on the Rocks near Sumboe Munk and I doubt not but there being so strong a Magnet in those Rocks that are so little above the water there may also be a Magnet in such grounds whence it comes that when a Boat passeth over them the Loadstone by its Sympathy attracts the Iron of the Boat which that shallow water not being able to endure riseth it self though I leave herein every one to his own judgment Concerning the Current of the stream it runneth very swistly about the points of Land especially in the new and full Moon eight men in a Boat not being able to overcome it but must stay till it hath run out and turneth it self by reason of which it happeneth often that when the poor Inhabitants are at Sea about their Fishing and there cometh an unexpected storm the stream being against them they must stay on the same place at all adventure untill the turning of the stream and till they get the Current with them towards the Land but if the storm groweth too strong those poor people often come to misfortunes It cannot be well exprest with a pen how fierce the Sea is nor to what height it raiseth it self when the wind and the stream are against one another And it is observable as is said above that when the Current runneth against the wind the wind bloweth with greater force then it doth else and when the stream runneth before the wind it stilleth it self so that they seem at first to strive against each other as two enemies and afterwards to grow milder when one of them doth fly I must here relate an Example of the Sea's terribleness by the reason aforesaid The little Island Kolter which is described above is exposed to the open Sea on the west side and there is towards the Main a Promontory thirty Fathoms high where the Sea almost every winter breaks over with a Western wind and that in such quantity that the Inhabitants are sometimes in danger though the Sea has yet 50 Fathoms to run without the Clifts before it reacheth the Land It happened for some years ago that there lay a large stone six foot long and four foot thick and broad on a corner of the said Promontory which stone the proud Sea tumbled about and threw some paces from the place where it lay before that seems incredible if one considers the bigness of the stone and the height of the Mountain and one might well say how is it possible that the Sea can rise fifty Ells up in the Air but it is nevertheless a perfect truth for it hath not only been related to me by the Countrymen of the Island but it lying in my Parish I have my self been there and exactly considered the place and he that takes good notice of it may rather wonder then conceive how it can be so The Fishers say also that when there hath been some days such a strange storm of water and wind and the wind afterwards
the Sea vapours having further inquired after this business and found that the Sheep grew first spotted about their legs afterwards on their thighs then under their Bellyes and finally all over Wherefore the cause is in the earth whether it be Brimstone or Salt Peter which both are found there that causeth it I leave to the judgement of others The riches of the Inhabitants doth consist in their Sheep for those that have many of them though few grow rich thereby those means being very casual for when there cometh a hard Winter and Sheep dye they are almost all equally rich Besides Sheep God hath plentifully blessed the Land with several sorts of Fowle whereof the greatest part serveth for the food of man and are taken every year in great numbers a part of them being Land Fowles and the other part Sea fowles whereof some fly away towards Winter and some stay here the whole year over those that fly away are a kind of Land Fowl being a manner of Snâ—pe called Lofver and Spofver and some water Fowle Those that stay here continually are some profitable as Doves Stares Grellings and Snow Fowle which is seen but one time of the year namely towards the Spring VVhen there cometh sharp Frost and Snow and never else though they tarry continually in the Land and keep themselves on top of the highest Mountains the Damageable ones are Owles Sparrow-Hawkes Crows and Ravens which last doth a great deal of damage on young Lambs and weak Sheep wherefore they are much hated and there hath been an ordinance in the Land which is yet sometimes observed that every man that roweth in a Boat must bring at St. Olaus Tide every year into the Session-house the Beak of a Raven which Beaks are laid on a heap and burn'd and he that hath brought none must pay a Raven-fine that is for every one that hath neglected it one skin which makes two pence half penny Amongst those Ravens there are found some white though few but those that are half white and half black are fit when they are taken young and have the Tongue string cut to be taught to speak I have made a notable experiment upon a young white Raven whole Tongue string was cut and yet I had no thought of teaching him but calling usually in the morning upon my Boy whose Name was Erasmus and the Raven cominually in the morning hearkning to that word Erasmus begun at last to call out Erasmus before the chamber where the Boy lay forming its voice exactly after mine the Boy hearing it answered anon Master and therewith arose and came into the Chamber to know what I would have but I telling him that I had not called him he went to bed again but was again called in the same manner and was so deceived by the Raven several Mornings till we perceived it was the Ravens voice and nevertheless the Boy was often since deceived thereby not being in a long time able to discern whether it was I that called or the Raven When I perceived that the said Raven could speak I begun purposely to teach it and as long as I would inform it would not go from before me though it were the space of two hours and what I taught it in the day time it repeated early in the morning putting the Syllables together till it could at last speak out the whole word as children do when they learn to spell in the Schools This Raven was at last killed without my knowledge for the mischief it did Besides here cometh a Fowl with half a cloven foot that liveth both on Land and Water called a Teale and in Norway a Sea pye it is a Fowle as big as a Crow having a yellow long round and obâ—use bill it is the Ravens enemy for being swift in its flight it flyeth hastily to the Raven striking it with its stump Beak so that the Raven cryeth out wherefore the Raven often hideth it self from it whence it comes that the Country-men make much of the Teile and will not suffer it to be destroyed because it driveth Ravens away amongst Water Fowles some are here continually seen as many sorts of Ducks and Plovers Eiders Maws and Teisters A Teister is a good Bird to eat it changeth its colour in Winter and becometh Grey the Eider cock is brown as the Hen when she is young but when he is old he groweth almost white and is called Eider-blick from this Fowle is gotten Eider down which the Eider plucks off from its Breast and layeth in its nest about the Eggs when it hatcheth them and when they are come out and are fled away with their dame this Downe is taken up from the Nest being then full of Moss and Straw wherefore it is dryed and cleansed over a Basket the Down which is pluckt off at other times from the Eider is good for nothing for it is fat and rotteth Here is besides seen a strange water Fowl called Imbrim that is never found on the Land the Inhabitants take it to be the Halcyon or the Kings Fisher but it doth not agree with the description which Francius hath in his Historia Animalium sacra Chap 17. for he writeth that the Kings Fisher is no bigger then a Sparrow and is blew with other of its qualities that do not at all agree with the properties of this Fowl for this is bigger then a Goose having a long Neck and a pretty long Beak it is grey on the back checquer'd with white spots its neck is also grey something whitish down towards the breast having a white ring about the middle of the neck The cause wherefore it is thought to be the Kings Fisher is they have heard and read that the Kings Fisher hatcheth its young ones on the Sea which they believe the Imbrim doth also since it is never found on Land and can neither come upon it for its feet stand too much back and are so weak that it cannot go with them besides its wings are so little that it cannot fly therewith In the third place there are two holes one under each of its wings capable to hold an Egg wherein they suppose it hatcheth its eggs till the young ones come out neither is it ever seen with more or less then two young ones which conceit seems not unreasonable it being possible that it might be of a larger proportion in cold Countreys then in hot it is often seen near the Land in Harbours when it is either bad weather or like to be so and then it cryes out so that one presently perceiveth its arrival if a man waveth a white linnen to them the young ones will easily be allured to Land that one may shoot them but the old ones are more wary Here cometh also a water Fowle in Summer called Liomen not unlike the Imbrim in bigness and voice its legs hang also back so that it cannot go and its wings are so little that it can hardly fly wherefore when
that hath also a felling Club to strike with when the Seals lying on dry ground begin to see the Light and men they will flee to Sea wherefore the old ones rise themselves on their paws with their Jaws open directly against the man specially if it be a He for then he will not flee from the man but the man must avoid him and when he strikes at him he meeteth the blow with his jaws snatching the Club from the mans hands and casting it on that side where there is no body Then comes the other man with his Club and strikes him over the neck but if it be a Shee she is not so fierce and fleeth from the man if she can When they hit them right over the head they fall down in a sound and then the men are presently ready so cut their throats When they have done so with all the old they come to the young ones that lye all still far from the water and never take notice of men nor light till they come and kill them when the slaughter is finish'd they hale the dead Kobs to the Water side and tye them fast to the Rope wherewith those in the Boat without pull them to them Last of all the men get out with the Boat that is within but if the waves be great the said Boat and men are also haled out In this manner they get sometimes many Seals often half a hundred in one Cave the old Kobs are as big as an Ox or Cow and so fat that one can get three Loads of Fat from them they use their skins for Shooes and eat the flesh of them they melt the Fat into Train Oyle and salt a part thereof to eat There are found several sorts of Whales under this Land amongst which there cometh one sort called Grind-Whale Grind according to the explication of Mr. Peter Clauson signifieth all sort of grates or Trellices either of Iron or Wood and because this sort of Whale swimmeth side to side by one another when they go on coupling such a Flock of Whales is called a Whales Grind. These Grind-Whales are not great the biggest being but five ells long and the young ones an ell and a half they come in great Flocks under the Land when it is dark or foggy weather so that they cannot see it which is therefore called Grind-weather When the Inhabitants are out about their Fishing and see a Flock of Whales those that see them first call and make signs to the other Boats that are about them who leaving their fishing come presently together and go to the Whales to drive them in towards the Land but when the Whales will turn back towards the Sea they cry out and make the most noise they can in the Boat throwing stones and what else they can find at them till the Whales turn again and then when God giveth his blessing they can drive them where they please as if it were a Flock of Sheep or Cattle When they come to Land they send a man or two to give notice every where and this messenger must go speedily day and night and is called Grind-message Those then that get notice of it presently kindle a brand on a certain place that they on the next Island where the message is not come may get timely notice of it who can know by the place whence the Fire or Smoak ariseth what it signifieth whereupon there cometh speedily a great number of Folks together some by Land and some by Water having their Whale Spears with them When they have then brought as many Boats together as they think needful they drive the Whales into an Inlet or Creek where they know there are good Whale-banks and flat sandy grounds whereon they drive the Whales with great crying noise and casting of Stones driving them as fast as they can upon the Sands then if it be necessary the Boats divide themselves into two companies the one lying below in the form of a half Moon to meet the Whale if it wou d flee away during the slaughter the other advancing into the midst of the Whale Flock thrusting their Whale Spears into their bodies in the mean time some of the people lye in an ambush on the Land till the Whales are come on ground and wade to them as deep as they can and then kill them chiefly with their Weapons with such fury on both sides that the water becometh as red as blood whereby the Whale is also blinded so that it cannot see to run away it is a strange thing to see that these strong creatures make no resistance but only plunge as well as they can before the boats and people till death cometh upon them and then they strike terribly about with their Tayles so that they beat sometimes the boats to pieces and the men come in danger if they do not know how to have a care of them Some of them get again loose from the Sands and carry sometimes the boats a great way with them on their backs over-turning them here and there and striking them full of water yet those that are below drive them in again but if they are not able to force them thereunto the rest come to their help so make them return though it happeneth also sometimes that they will at last suffer themselves to be driven in no more plunging and diving so much and a long way under the water that they must let them go the same happeneth also at Sea when they see them first and will drive them to Land for then they plunge sometimes so much that they must give them over whence one may conclude that this work doth only consist in a blessing of God When they have killed as many as they can get which lasteth well a whole day or longer they hale them on Land and those that are killed at Sea float up the next day and are also driven thither When all the Whales are thus brought on dry ground and are toll'd first the Tithes are taken of them then the Finding-Whale for him that saw them first the rest being divided into two parts the one whereof belongs to the people that took them and the other part to the owner of the Land under which they are taken whether it be the Kings some Noblemans or belongs to some Free-holders son sometimes the whole Flock of Whales cometh into the Inlets of it self in foggy weather no body driving them sometimes they come in with the Tide in a dark night running on the Sands where they lye dry when it is low water so that when folks come out in the morning they see sometimes the Sand covered with dead Whales which happened also for few years since in Tiorneviig In antient time there came greater multitudes of Whales and oftner then in our days though it happened that in the year 1664 there were taken in two places about a thousand Wherefore the Lord as also for his other benefits be
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
Faeroe Foeroa Referata THAT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE Jslands Jnhabitants OF FOEROE BEING Seventeen Islands subject to the King of Denmark lying under 62 deg 10 min. of North Latitude Wherein several Secrets of Nature are brought to Light and some Antiquities hitherto kept in darkness discovered Written in Danish by Lucas Jacobson Debes M. A. and Provost of the Churches there Englished By J. S. Doctor of Physick Illustrated with Maps Printed by F. L. for William lâ—es at the Flower-de-Luce in Little-Brittain over against St. Bartholomews Gate 1676. TO Thomas Henshaw Esq late His Majesties Extraordinary Envoy to the King of DENMARK SIR THere is so much variety in the Works of Nature attending the difference of Air and soyle that man the scope of whose Creation is to be an Admirer thereof and to praise God therefore cannot sufficiently effect what he was created for but by travelling or at least reading the Relations of those whose affairs either gave them occasion or permitted them to transport themselves on the places where those wonders are dayly seen These considerations Sir and your own incitements imboldned me having read in Danish this Description of Feroe wherein many strange effects of Nature and odd customes are described to undertake its translation into English That the Curious Inhabitants of this Island might not be ignorant of a Country not far distant from them which having now finished many reasons make me presume to Dedicate it to your Favour for though in the manner aforesaid it can be but of little use unto you that have with a dilligent eye not only surveyed the most and best parts of Europe but also perused most of these Relations that are extant of the whole world yet the many obliegements you have been pleased to put upon me and my thankfulness for them seem to vindicate as a duty in my judgement what a more severe one will perhaps think an effect of my boldness and a trouble to you Besides the Authors person and Ingenuity being known unto you it cannot but conciliate some authority to this Treatise since you were beyond Sea several times pleased to invite him and discourse about the Contents of his Book Be pleased then Sir to accept of this small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of my Gratitude indulge some expressions that perhaps retain something of their innate plainness and continue to favour Sir Your most Humble and most Obliged Servant John Sterpin To the READER Courteous Reader APerson to whom my disobedience would have been as much a want of duty as of thankfulness and respect inviting me to translate this Description of Feroe I did nevertheless undertake it with some Reluctancy both as distrusting to my Abilities and knowing certainly that the Northern plainness if not inelegancy of its expressions would hardly keeping to the sense afford a Polished Stile in English which being the only Praise an Interpreter can aspire unto I had little encouragement to spend my time in a thing wherein I thought my labour would at best meet but with an ordinary acceptance Yet the matter being something extraordinary and few having cared to attain to the perfection of the Language wherein it was written whose will or conveniency might be to undertake such a Translation being perswaded that judicious men would have a more then ordinary Indulgence for a Stranger that endeavoureth to communicate unto them the Description of a Country though not far distant hitherto little known unto them I prepared this Treatise for the Press wherein thou art the best Judge of my success Accept of it as of a thing I thought might conduce to the improvement of Natural History And though in Philosophical Discourses some Hypotheses yet received in those parts of the World be absolnte in ours take thereof as much as will be to thy satisfaction and for information and matter of Fact believe no truer Relation can be had the Author being both Godly and Judicious I have in most places for thy conveniences reduced the measures of those places to those of England reckoning a Danish or German League for four English Miles and a Danish Yard for two Foot or very neer for the rest I beseech thee to take in good part this Information of Feroe And when it pleaseth thee for a diversion to steal some hours from thy more serious occasions imploy them in its perusal The wondrous effects of Nature and odd customes of that Country will convince thee that God is as admirable in the variety of his works as in any of his other attributes Farewell THE AUTHORS Preface to the READER Courteous Reader THe Wisdome of God doth principally consist in shewing the Excellency of his workmanship in poor despicable and contemptible things For an Artist is more to be esteemed that can perfectly make the Image of a Flie then be that carveth out an Elephant gross work requiring less skill then subtile So the Creator hath shewed more wisdome in the production of a Flie then of an Elephant Whence followeth That if one would undertake to consider the Makers Art in the forming of a Flie and write a Treatise thereof one might perhaps make as the Proverb saith of a Flie an Elephant for Nature is most Artificious and admirable in her least productions shewing most mystery therein Wherefore the wisest of men King Solomon that discoursed of Trees from the Cedar of Libanon to the Isop growing by the way side that spoke of Beasts and Birds Reptils and Fishes hath of none almost left us any doctrine but of the little contemptible Gnats the example of good house keeping consisting in the diligence and forecast that is to be seen in these poor little creatures for having neither Prince Leader nor Lord they provide their Bread in Summer and gather their food in barvest If any could intrude into their habitation be would be astonished to see how orderly their domicill is divided and fortified Who can sufficiently dive into the nature of the Bee which hath given many matter enough to write of The ancient could not too much admire the prosit thereof which they expressed by this question and Enigme what is lesser then a Mouse bigher then a House and more profitable than a Country mans Ox a Bee Who can sufficiently admire that Master piece of Nature the Spider that not only can so well according to the rules of Geometry spin and tye its Web to a Post or the branch of a Tree but also can fasten it in the air where there is no Basis Thus it hath pleased God to shew his power in infirmity and depose the Treasure of his wisdome and omnipotence in the least and meanesi beings Having undertaken to write of Ultima Thule which is a poor little Land in comparison of other Countrys and Provinces I found God had not omitted to distribute there some signs of his Almighty power in several things that all may wonder at which hath caused me to communicate them to others
is related by a part of the Inhabitants that North of the Land there hath at several times appeared a Floating Island not only by the relation of our Predecessours but also by that of those that yet live who verily relate that they have seen it during some hours discerning hills and dales on it and running Rivers flowing through the Valleys and could perspicuously fee that it was green in the Valleys below Last year the 28 of April 1671 came to Feroe a Skipper Paul Badsted with his Ship and both he and two young Priests which he brought over with him to Feroe namely Mr. Gregory Peterson and Mr. Peter Clementson relate that they on their voyage to Feroe being by storm driven out of their course to the south thereof perceived an Island and being come neer to it saw it perfectly with the Hills Promontories and Rivers thereof running down the Island green with Grass towards the sea side with Rocks and Clifts neer the Land not unlike in all Circumstances to the Islands of Feroe but perceiving no other Islands by it they found themselves to be deceived and therefore made to the North and after some sailing found the Islands of Feroe and the Master related that according to his conjecture they had found that Land eleven Leagues from Feroe at south east If there had been any steady Island in that place it would have been found longago those that sail to this Island often sailing by that place and all Ships that come from the South and will go to the North of Heâ—land directing always their Course to Feroe and therefore do necessarily pass by it so that if that Island had been fast it would long since have been discovered The Island of Enckhupson found and so named by the Hollanders which lay under the 65 degree of Northern Latitude 45 Leagues North VVest of Feroe seems to confirm that opinion since it is no more to be found I leave herein every one in his own opinion whether such a mass of hard Rocks could Float and now again sink If it were of the nature of a Pumill Stone it might very well do so but then it would ever Float as Floating Islands in fresh water that are grown together with roots and covered with a little loose Eearth deckt with grass The Inhabitants besides rehearse a Fable of Suinoe that it was at first a Floating Island and believe that if one could come to the Island so often seen and cast Steel thereon it would remain fast which agreeth with the superstition of Duckers or Divers that lay Steel upon what they find at the bottom of the Sea that Spirits may not remove it when they are hoysed up which otherwise they find to be removed Many also tell much of these Floating Islands and believe there are such in Nature but I cannot give faith to any of them nor to any ones superstition If this were not described by the proprieties of many Islands I would say it were a Mountain of see that came Floating from Greenland which if it be not I believe stedfastly it is some deception or illusion of the Devil who is in himself a thousand fold Artisicer for he hath often before deluded them in many other manners it being almost every mans talk in the Land how formerly Satan in the dark when they were risen early in the morning in Winter as they yet always do to go a Fishing did appear to them in the Figure of a Boat with Fishermen and all instruments belonging to Fishing did speak with them gave them Fish baits and told them where there was good Fishing to be found and many can yet relate Satans words when he discover'd them where there was good ground for Fishing If Satan could then in the Figure of a Boat delude the Inhabitants he may also do it now in the Figure of an Island possibly to allure the Children of the unbelievers to him and bring them into mischief This Province of Feroe with the Islands belonging to it above named stretcheth it self in its greatest length from North to South 60 miles and in breadth 40 miles or a little above having at East Stat in Norway at South East Orkeney and Scotland at South Ireland at West the South end of Greenland at North West Island The height of the Pole or Latitude of Feroe according to the supputation of all is at the South end 61 degrees 15 m. and at the North end 62 degrees 10 m. though I have found the Land according to the height of Thors Haven at 62 degrees 2 m. which I have several times taken to lye something more Northwards I have as much as possible sought the Longitude and have found the length from the Meridian of Euraniburgh 20 degrees 20 min. which makes one hour 21 min. so that the Longitude of Thors Haven is 16 degrees 20 min. reckoning from the Pico of Teneriffe in the Canary Islands if I can discover it better in time I shall notifie it where it will be convenient And since the Land lyeth under 62 degrees there is but little night in Summer not fully 5 hours When the Sun is in the Sign of Cancer there is no night perceived for a whole month because the Sun doth not go 18 degrees under the Horizon whence it comes that in the middest of VVinter they have but little day though the Crepusculum and Diluculum are something more longer here then elsewhere especially when the Sun is in the South or Northerly Signs for when it is at highest and makes the longest day after 62 degrees Latitude it riseth at 2 of the Clock and 7 minutes and goeth down at 9 of the clock and 53 m. and then the day is 19 hours and 46 min. long and the night from Sun-setting untill it riseth 4 hours and 14 minutes during which time there is no difference to be perceived between day and night the Sun being then but 4 degrees 29 min. under the Horizon and cannot therefore make any difference for a whole month there being then also but little difference in the Suns declination whence it comes that we have no considerable might untill the 17th of August when the Sun first comes 18 degrees under the Horizon which is its right depth so that one can perceive nothing of its splendour Now the Sun rising in the mid'st of VVinter at 9 of the Clock 53 min. and setting at 2 a Clock and 7 m. and there being therefore but 4 hours and 14 minutes of day The Crepusculum and Diluculum add much to its length since one can perceive something of the day in the mid'st of VVinter at 8 a clock in the morning and at 4 a clock at night whence it comes that they have not in Feroe such tedious long nights as one might well imagine These Islands of Feroe consisting of a hard Stone there is found here and there a Loadstone therein on which if one setteth a Compass it will vary very much in
stilleth it self so that the Inhabitants dare row out on Fishing There is nevertheless an extraordinary great motion every where at Sea so that sometimes they are as it were lifted up to the Heaven and presently come down as it were to the Abyssm as David saith Psal 127. which motion of the Sea they call Alda and certifie that when they are sunk in it they can see no land though it be above 300 Fathoms high As for the motion of Tides themselves they perfect their course according to the Moon here as well as in other places where there are ordinary tides by an ebb of six hours and a Flood of the like space of time Yet their course is different according as they beat against the Rocks and points of Land and as the ground is under them whence it comes that the particular streams alter their course and run directly against the general Tides such streams being called here Ider Concerning the general Currents here the Seaman that is not much acquainted with the Land may have this for information In the first place where the streams run even between the land there is a principal Current as between Suderoefiord Staapenfiord Kalsoefierd Skuofiord and Fugloefiord When the Current runneth here to the West it is called West-fall and when it runneth to the East East-fall but in Kalsoefiord the East-fall runneth Northward and the West-fall Southward because of the points of Land Secondly it doth not run with equall rapidity during the six hours but its course can be divided into three parts In the first third part it runneth prerty fast changing and augmenting its force more and more In the second third part it is very rapid and is here called Braaddew In the last third part it loseth its force by little and little till it comes to turn and then the stream is as it were half dead In the third place the Tide is not allways equally strong but it is strongest in the new and full Moon three days before and three days after losing after of its force till the first and last quarter and it renews its strength again from the first and last quarter till the new and full Moon though according to the Moons vertue it be neither always equally strong but in the Spring and Summer when the Sun acteth most on the earth so that the warmth reflecteth thence and in the Dog days when the air is hottest by reason of the heat of the Canicule it is stronger in every change of the Moon then it useth to be in Autum or Winter from which effect may doubtless be concluded that the Sun together with the Moon and the inward warmth of the Earth doth produce the motion of the Tides For the 4 th when the stream runneth in the Inlets at E. or when it is East-fall it is then West-fall by the land and in the Iders and so quite contrary so that when the Master of a Ship cannot advance his voyage in the middle of the Inlets he must seek his advantage by the Iders for they stretch themselves in some places a mile from the Land Fifthly the Tide beginneth that is the water riseth at West fall and when that is out and it is Braaddew it is Floud or highest water that is West-fall in all the principal streams of every Inlet but afterwards cometh the East-fall from the Land beginning thereby by little and little to grow low water but how high or low the water riseth or falleth in Feroe cannot be exactly described there being a great inequallity in it both by reason of the changes of the seasons of the year and of the Moon wherein the streams are strongest Notwithstanding the stream ariseth much higher at west of the Land then at East usually seven Fathoms at West and but three at East In the sixth place it is very needful for a Pilot to know when it is high water or West-fall in Feroe not that he might thereby run securely over Rocks and grounds for he hath no great need of that in Feroe but that he may know how the stream runneth and advance his voyage accordingly all Marriners having erred therein till this day even the Sea expert Hollanders who in their Sea Mirrour write that a South and North Moon maketh highest water in Feroe Those that have traded in this Country and in their Voyage have taken notice of the Tides have found it otherwise and believe quite contrary that an East and West Moon giveth highest water wherein they doe not much erre but I have enquired about this business of old understanding men who nevertheless take little notice of highest water nor know wherefore it is so observable but only note their West and East fall which they nevertheless only mark by Flood and low water not understanding what an East or West Moon signifieth and they say altogether that the second day after New or Full Moon it is perfect West-fall that is highest water at six of the Clock in the morning and East-fall or Low-water at twelve of the Clock at Noon whence an expert man can conclude that a North East Moon and a South West make highest water the first day the Moon beginneth to fill that is at five a Clock and fifteen minutes in the morning and then they have highest water or West fall in new or full Moon in Feroe a North East and a South West Moon making highest water in all the principal Streams above mentioned In the other particular Streams it is high water at different hours in some before and in some after the ordinary time for in Leerviigs-fiord an East North East and West South West Moon maketh highest water that is when it is four a Clock and a half in the Morning In Nolsoe fiord an North East and South West Moon that is at three a Clock and in Westmans haven and Myggenessfiorda North West and South East Moon that is at nine a Clock in the forenoon so that here is a strange difference in the rising of the water between these many Islands which cometh altogether by reason of the points of Land I dare not undertake to explicate the several Streams with their Iders there being often in one Inlet five different Currents that run against one another so that I verily believe if the Learned Philosopher Aristotle were here himself to undertake that work he would find no less difficulty therein then in his Euripe Nevertheless I cannot forbear writing something of the little stream between Stromoe and Osteroe which seemeth very strange Though that stream on both sides of the water be wholly still and dead and there be a very short way over the grounds between both Lands it runneth nevertheless forward and backward according to the ordinary Changes of the Moon so swiftly that it is impossible to row against it but one must expect till it returneth Whereof the cause is this There goeth neither Ebb nor Tide at South of the stream but at
being hollow veines in many places of the Earth and Rocks the water doth run through them and those Conduits being narrow the Sea lyeth heavy thereon and presseth them so that the lesser water must needs rise above and seek a way to get out where it can find it whence come Springs and Fountains Thus far Scaliger Out of this meaning of Scaliger the Ingenious Reader can easily perceive that there are many trooked Veines or Conduits under the Earth and Rocks but yet it doth not follow that they cause or help the ascent of the Water for it cannot ascend directly up as we see it doth not through a hollow Post By the help of nature and art Archimedes invented a screw to make Water ascend from the place where it lyeth still which Screw was a hollow Leaden Pipe that was twined about a round and long staffe in the manner of a Screw but it was to be turned about and so the water was screwed up such are not naturally found in the Earth and though there be no such crooked Conduits in the Earth the water can nevertheless ascend from the lowest part of the Earth to the highest top of the Mountains as shall be demonstrated hereafter Besides it is to be noted that the water of the Sea doth not throng or press up the water of the Fountains because it is more abundant or heavier then the water that is in the veines of the Earth for if one layeth a horn on the back so that both ends are equally high Horizontally and one filleth it full of water though there be then much more in the thicker end then in the smaller which it seems by reason of its gravity should endeavour to seek the bottome of the Horn and so drive out the lesser water it cannot nevertheless do so for the greater water cannot drive the lesser higher up then it self lyeth high whence it followeth that the water of the Sea is as high yea higher then the highest Mountain on whose top there springeth Fountain water which must be proved All Mathematicians do truly affirm that Earth and Water make a round Globe together as it may be perceived by the Eclipse of the Moon when the Earth lyeth between it and the Sun for what is then darkened is round because the interposed Earth is of a round Figure That Water is absolutely round as the Earth is proved by the custome of Seamen who when they will discover Land climb up to the Main mast whence they can discover it when no body else can see it in the Ship the cause whereof is the roundness of the Water for if it were flat they could as well see the Land below in the Ship as above on the Mast Finally the whole is like its parts and therefore if a drop let fall on a Table or on a Cloth formeth it self round the whole Mass or body thereof must have the same nature and propriety That Fundament being firm and without contradiction the wide Sea can soon mount in the roundness of its figure higher then any Mountain on Land is high And therefore naturally according to the aforesaid nature of Water can easily weigh up and press the lesser water through the Conduits of the Earth though they be not crooked and that as high as the Sea is in its highest Superficie which is demonstrated by the following Figure Let this round Figure be the whole Globe consisting of Water and Earth let D. E. and F. G. and H. I. be three parts of the Land and the space between water Let A. be here the highest Superficies or uppermost part of the water let K. L. be a Spring on the high Mountain D. K. L. now water presseth on its highest near A. down towards the Center C. through which it cannot come to the lowermost Superficie and therefore seeks a passage through the earth and amongst many let there be a veine near M. running up either straight or crooked from M. to I. K. as may be seen in the Figure which it can easily do till B. lying first Horizontally with A. but the Sea cannot drive up the least drop thereof to N because it is higher then A The Water therefore runneth thus from K. down the Mountain over the Plain near L. and thence into the Sea by O. which it will do as long as the World lasteth and since the perpendicular of the Mountain I. K. is a third part of the length of the earth semidiameter C I. which alter the supputation of Astronomers is 859 Leagues so the Mountain is high perpendicularly 286 Leagues no Mountain being so high no not Mount Olympus that is esteemed the highest in the World And this supposition sheweth the rising of the Sea in the motion of its waves expounded pag. 64. for if there be so great a difference of Floud in the space of ten Leagues what difference is there then in hundreds of Leagues This Demonstration is confirmed by a rare example of a water in Feroe for there is on Suderoe towards the South near a little Village called Famoien a little Lake pretty high on the Mountain that hath ordinary Ebb and Floud with the Sea but it hath doubtless larger Conduits then other veines of water through which it can easier rise and fall so that this example is a singular proof of the demoustration aforesaid for if that Lake had Ebd and Floud immediately of it self other fresh waters that lye still would also have the same nature but if this happens mediately by reason of the motion of the Sea it followeth that fresh water ascendeth from thence That there runneth salt water in the Conduits of the Earth and cometh out again fresh is by this reason since all Mettals and Minerâ—ls as Chymists prove clearly are produced of Salt and the Earth hath its fatness of the same they draw then the Salt from the Water for their maintenance and nourishment as the flesh draweth from the blood in the veines of a mans body that whereof the body hath its increase and fatness And wheresoever there are Mettals and Minerals in the Earth the Water Attracts their qualities and is tinged according to their nature whence doth proceed several healing waters that Earth draweth Salt to it self is proved by an Artificial Experiment for if one will bind a piece of linnen Cloth over the one end of a bottomless Cask and fill the Cask full of Earth pouring on the earth a quantity of Salt water and letting it sink through the Earth two or three times the Water at last will come out fresh the Earth having drawn to its self the Salt thereof If any would conclude fresh Springs to come of rain water because when it raineth there runneth out more water at the Spring then when it hath been a long time dry weather the Spring being then drained and producing no water It is answered thereunto that rain cannot be the cause of Spring water on Feroe the Land consisting in hard
stony Rocks and high Steep Mountains through which the Water can find no passage and because of their steepness must presently run down nevertheless the water floweth more abundantly from the Springs when it raineth in Feroe and less when it is corystan drought some of the Springs growing then wholly dry which cometh from the harmony that is between the Air and the Earth For it happeneth constantly and naturally that when the Air is resolv'd into moisture the Earth also produceth then its humidity as may be seen on the Stones of Walls and when the Air is a long time dry the earth is so likewise and when the Earth is moistened by the Air it sucketh from the Sea Water nothing but the Salt but when the Earth is dry it thirsteth and therefore sncketh in not only the Salt but also the water whence it comes that little Springs are dryed up in long droughts but where there are great veins as there is also difference amongst Conduits the water is indeed diminished but not wholly dry'd up for we have sometimes great droughts in Feroe so that the Earth splits it self to the very Rock Water is then wanting in some places but in some other never Fire and Water being almost the two chiefest necessaries of mankind nature having denied this Land Trees so that there grows here none except some little Junipers that grow in some few places near the Earth nature hath recompensed that defect with abundance of Turf whereof though the Earth be fast there are found many sorts excellent good in several places so that some of them are made use of by Smiths to work Iron with instead of Sea-coals which is not found here except in one place of Suderoe unto which yet a man can hardly come The Air of these Islands of Feroe is no less considerable then the Water In Summer it is temperately warm not very hot at any time neither is the Winter very cold though the Land lyeth under 62 degrees of Northern Latitude it freezeth seldome a moneth together neither is the Frost then so hard as to produce Ice in the open Inlets wherefore all Horse and Sheep go into the Fields during the whole Winter and never come under shelter the cause of such mild eir is the Salt Sea wherewith the Island is embraced round about which being warm both by its saline nature and perpetual motion produceth ever a warm vapour which tempers th e Air and taketh away the rigour of its coldness and together causeth a moist air so that there falleth most melted Snow miâ—ling and rain in the Valleys though it freezeth upon the Mountains from this moist air and watery Clouds is produced much storm and terrible winds which sometimes tear up the stones from the ground turn up the Earthen crust from the Rocks and rowle it together as one might rowle a piece of Lead and those stormy winds are very variable according as the Gapps are between the tops of the high Mountains betwixt which the winds gather and throng themselves through with a wonderful force when sometimes it is amongst the Folks that dwell in the Valleys under these Mountains during such a storm so still that one may goe from one house to another with a light burning and then afterwards it cometh again so terribly by Gusts as if the the Hills would be torn to pieces and it is worth consideration that before the said impetuous wind cometh or is perceived the houses crack and make a noise as if they would streight fall down which afterwards though not much moved being low built and on all sides well defended with thick Walls made of green Turff and Stones Otherwise there being such high Hills so that the wind cannot blow straight forwards but now hitts against one corner then against another and so against a third one of those strong winds thus meeteth another and as it were begin a Fight together whereby are caused terrible Whirle-winds which having a long time stormed about between the hills come down over the Inlets and whirling round about run again through them some whereof are above three miles lone a great way into the Sea and then it is very dangerous for Boats that are met thereby which must presently let fall their Sails or else they are overturned men and all it also happeneth often though the Sail be not up that the Whirle-wind overturneth the Boat and the people as many examples do witness and as Boats are in danger by such Whirle-winds so ships have sometimes no less cause to fear those Gusts from the Mountains when they fail in greatest security for they in the like manner fall down from the Mountains when it is still weather as hath been expressed of several contrary Stormy Winds which Forreign Marriners that come with their Ships between these Lands must well observe or else they may possibly come in danger thereby Specially it is to be noted about these Whirle-winds that sometimes on Land between these Rocks when it is pretty good weather and there is no danger one of them will come on a sudden so furious that it beateth a man down from his Horse yea beareth down Man and Horse as also striketh down those that are going on Foot sometimes hurting them wherefore those that are used to the Countrey can easily perceive its coming for it is heard before with a terrible boistering between the Clifts when the weather is also very quiet wherefore the Rider alighteth from his Horse and layeth himself on the ground holding fast to the Grass or to a Stone as he thinks himself securest That sort of Whirle-wind happeneth but seldome and is doubtless of that sort which naturalist call Exnephia that are caused by the Clouds on the top of the Mountains as Kircherus relateth that it happeneth on the Mountain called Table Mount at the Cape of good Hope on which Mountain there is perceived by the people a little cloud before whence is caused such terrible and unlooked for whirl-winds which Cloud when they see on the Hill they run amain to their Ships Lanch from the Land and so preserve themselves and their Shipping There is told a strange Story which is said to have happened in this Countrey by reason of a Whirle-wind which the most part of those that read it will perhaps not believe though it be true It happened a pretty long time since that a Priest of Suderoe called Broder Anderson travelled to one of his Parishes namely Sumboe and when he came in those parts in a place called Sumboe Horse which is a very high Clift above 200 Fathoms high and hath several points by reason of which besides the height of the Mountain whether the wind bloweth from the Land or to the Land there may be caused a strong Whirlewind and the high way being very near the edge of the promontory where there is always a pretty storm though it be still weather every where below which happeneth by reason of the
promontories height and hinderance of the Airs free passage happened that the Priest coming that way towards Sumboe Horse there came a strong Whirlewind that took away the Priest and Horse together and carried him beyond the edge of the Promontory and another whirlewind coming directly against it threw him again on the Land without any hurt Though this seems incredible to many it is nevertheless told for a truth by many worthy of belief I have my self been at and visited the place according to the Scituation whereof it seems that it might naturally happen a stronger whirlwind having overcome that coming from the Land it may then according to the nature of a whirlewind have driven both the weaker wind and the man to Land again which I do not only grant might naturally be but believe also that God by his Omnipotency and the Protection of his Angels hath contributed thereunto others may believe hereof what best pleaseth them Otherwise the ordinary winds that blow here are for the most part West and South West specially in the Spring and Harvest these Winds being very moist and it happeneth usually that on the side of the Land where the wind bloweth there is Rain and bad weather whilest on the other side it is fair and clear which cometh by reason of the Lands great height Here being no very hot Summer neither is there any thunder heard during that season but only in Winter when there is a great Storm and there falleth Rain which is the more terrible all being then turbulent By reason of the Premises there flowing almost by every mans house a running stream washing away all impurities that might infect the air and the salt vapour of the Sea keeping it from corruption as salt keepeth bodies from rotting and though finally some poisenous vapours might ascend into it it is nevertheless continually cleansed by the perpetual Strong Wind and Thunder that happeneth usually in Autumn Winter and Spring there is usually in Feroe a wholesome Air free from Pestilence Infection and Contagious Diseases which do never range here except they be brought in by other sick people Neither are any here troubled with Agues but it is experimented that they who had it and could not be quit of it in other places by the use of Medicaments have been freed of it coming hither by the Lands nature without using any other Medicine whence it comes that the people live longer here then usually in other places Neither are children here plagued with the Small Pox as else where this sickness not being known here except it be brought from Forreign parts and then here is seen a great misery Men and Women Children and Servants old and young lying then at once in bed of that sickness so that none of them can help the other and the Sound shunning the Infected as death it self In the Year 1651. when I arrived first into this Countrey there came a young man the same Summer from Denmark to Thors-Haven who had been sick of the Small Pox and had brought along with him the Shirt he lay in unwashed which he gave a Woman to wash that was straight ways infected by the damp of the said Shirt and by her again others that did not know the Disease at first wherefore when I came to that place there was a great calamity almost every one both old and young lying a bed of the Small Pox it being a great misery not only by reason of the Disease it self that took away old and young but also because the Sound shunned the sick and refused to bury the dead the Peasants durst not come to Thors-Haven to buy their necessaries and though they all so much shunned the sickness they were nevertheless Infected with it till it had spread it self over the whoâ—e Countrey even over Suderoe that lyeth most out of the way Though the Air as aforesaid be wholesome the land nevertheless is not therefore free from Sickness but this Country as well as other hath its particular Diseases for the air being first cold and moist whereby Flegme is dayly augmented the Inhabitants are almost all troubled twice a year with a strong Rhume which they call Kriim in the Spring and after Harvest for it falleth at once on the Nose and Lungs with a strong Cough and Spitting head ach and pain in the Limbs so that many must lye a long time in bed and some dye of it Against this Sickness they drink sower Whey as hot as they can suffer it but this sickness is a wholesome Sickness to them for nature in its fittest time doth purge the body of all impurity contracted by the cold moisture of the Air which might otherwise cause many and great Diseases Secondly of this cold moisture is caused though not every year a hot sickness called Landfarsoett because it bareth over the Land not unlike to the hot Sickness which Souldiers are taken with in cold and moist Leaguers in Winter for that disease is very hot with accute pain of the Head and Distractions with Flux of the Belly in Summer and doth not cease till it hath consumed the very Marrow of the Bones but they dye thereof Though the greatest part are Healed by the Providence of God having no other Remedy against it In the third place this cold and moist Temperature together with their dwelling on the Sea side causeth especially in Flegmatick Folks that do not much stir themselves this dangerous Sickness the Scurvy that sort of people not being here able to preserve themselves easily from it they Cure themselves usually with new Milk wherein hath boiled Scurvy-grass and many with new Milk alone For the Fourth the said Aire giving the Scurvy to some causeth also in some few according to their Complexion and Dyet that Incurable Disease the Leprosie for Scorbutus and Lepra according to the opinion of Physicians being as Brother and Sister it followeth that they have either a Father or Mother together Of which Leprosie and its Causes and Quallities we will make further mention in a fitter place CHAP. II. Of the Lands Fertility OTher Countryes are justly esteemed for their great riches namely several Mettals Minerals Pretious Stones Pearles Wine and Corn but God and Nature have denyed all this to these Islands here might possibly be found some Copper and Iron Mines which might be concluded by reason of some small Rivolets running down the Hills in Summer which are found to grow Green in dry weather as Verdigrease but I dare not undertake to affirm any thing about it amongst Mineralls here is found Talke in the North Islands but in very little quantity I have found here two sorts of Salt-Peter stones whereof Salt-Peter can be prepared though not in great quantity On the Sand near the Sea-side there are found in some places a kind of Pellucide-stones so hard that one can Write on Glass with them they are white or of a blewish white calour some of them yellow some of them are so
the steepness of the Hills intercepts the force of the Suns Beams the Earth keepeth its Fatness and Seed in it self bringing forth more Fruit then elsewhere The Earth doth not only produce Grass for Cattle but also many Herbs for the use of man for here groweth not only Garden Herbs namely Turnips Carrets Colworts Lettice Cresses Penny-royal and such like but also several and many wild Herbs specially Feroe is to be esteemed for four sorts of wild Herbs that grow here in abundance First of all there being no Country that God visits with any particular sickness but he causeth to grow in the same Countries some wholesome Plant against the said Disease and Feroe as aforesaid being by its nature very subject to the Scurvy God hath abundantly blessed the Land with Herbs good against it namely Cresses Scurvy-grass Beccabunge and Sorrell Secondly here groweth a huge quantity of Tormentill which the Inhabitants having no Bark of Trees to Tan their Hides with make use of God and Nature having revealed to them the dryness of that Herb so that they Tan their skins with it and therefore call it Bark In the third place here is found abundance of Angelica which they call Quander not only in Gardens and Church-yards where it is planted but also in the open fields and on the high hills the Inhabitants take pleasure in eating the great hollow Stalkes of it that are not yet grown to Seed whereof they peel first off the outward rind afterwards they teare off the long filaments eating the rest for pleasure as they do elsewhere the fruit of Trees they make also in time of dearth use of the roots of Angelica instead of other victuals The fourth Plant that groweth here is Radix Rhodia called in the Language of Feroe Hielpe-Rod whereof the Learned Doctor Simon Panly in his Flora Dania writes that it is in vain to seek it in Country Gardens and much more in the wild Fields or such other places it being only found in principal Gardens where it is planted nevertheless it hath pleased God to adorn Feroe with that Plant above other Countreys if then Denmark by the said Doctor Simon Panly is praised for its Scurvy-grass Norway for its Gentiane and Chamaemorus and Island for its Angelica Feroe ought also to bear the prize for its Rhodian root I have distilled Water of the said root and found it in oder and taste to be like Rose-water having made use of it in my occasions and found content therein as in other Rose-water yet it doth not grow in every place but only on the sides of Hills over-running waters or Lakes Here grow no Trees except some Juniper Shrubs in some few places close to the Earth and some Willow Bushes but they do not grow high It hath been try'd to Plant Fruit Trees but they will not prosper it may be the saline damps of the Sea are the cause of it There being such an abundance of grass and herbs in the Land there is also plenty of Cattel to feed thereon here are no Wild Beasts axcept Mice and Rats though they are not found in all the Islands Wherefore some think they cannot live where they are not seen but we will leave that undecided Venemous Beasts as Serpents and Snakes are not found here neither perhaps the propriety of the Earth will not permit them to live thereon Of Tame Cattel they have Kine Horses and Sheep those that live in great Farms which are but very few have sometimes twenty Oxen a piece the Cows goe often out to Grass the whole Winter provided there falleth not too much Snow The Cattel is for the most part little though fat according to the ground it feeds on The Horses are also of a little growth but they are strong and go surely and swift where the way leads without Horse-shooe on these high hills so that a man may more surely relye on them then upon himself they feed abroad both Winter and Summer without ever coming under shelter Their Sheep feed also abroad the Winter over and are half wild some quite wild nevertheless they go always and feed in one place so that they seldome go from their owners ground into another mans though they be only divided by Hedges as in other places yea what is more every Flock feedeth in the same close and doth not mingle it self with any other For if a Countryman have many Sheep some 200 some 300 400 or 500 they are devided into Flocks which they call Oner consisting each of about an 100 or an 150 Sheep which Flocks feed always in their usual places and the Countryman knows where he is to find every flock the cause wherefore they do not go from their own place into another or into another mans Close though they be Wild and there be no separation between them is this the Countryman setteth at first young Lambs on the place where he will have them to feed which he causeth to be look'd to and kept there a whole year and suffereth them not to go any where but where he intends they should be and when they are so us'd to a place they always feed there the old ones keeping company with the young that are bred of them the Flock remaineth feeding on its place as long as there is any living and if a Flock dyeth or perisheth by the â—igour of Winter they straight ways place another in the manner aforesaid It happeneth notwithstanding when a Country man putteth too many Sheep in his Close that they throng themselves into his neighbours and then the owner must take them back and kill them for they cannot be disaccustomed of it about which they have a particular ordinance called Siode Breffvet It cannot be expressed what these Beasts must suffer when there cometh on a hard Winter for when there falleth a hasty and lasting Snow and the Shepherd is not straight present to drive them into the Snow shelter that is a place in the open Fields as a Fold inclosed with Fences of Earth and Turffe against the North that Sheep may shelter themselves there the Sheep gather themselves close together in the open Field and then it happeneth that the Snow wholly covereth them so that the Country man cannot see them till at last he perceiveth a damp arising from the Snow by reason of their warmth and then he goeth and maketh a passage for them that they may get out and seek their Pasture It happeneth sometimes that they cannot be found by reason of the extraordinary great Snow and sometimes though seldom that they then remain a whole month under the Snow and suffer great hunger so that they eat the Grass by the Roots They also eat the wool off of one another being able to remain alive as long as they have any marrow in their bones and though a part of them be driven in time into the Snow shelter yet there is no Hay given to them but they must suffer what they can and scrape
it is on the Land and men run after it lit tumbleth over and over being hardly able to escape though it flyeth pretty well when it taketh its flight from the water specially when there bloweth any wind It maketh its nest on banks near fresh waters so close to the water that it can drink thereof sitting in the Nest and if the water encreaseth by reason of rain so that it floweth over the eggs it sitteth on them nevertheless and hatcheth out the young ones Besides these here cometh also a rare water Fowle called Garfugel but it is seldom found on Clifts under the promontories it hath little wings and cannot fly it stands upright and goeth like a man being all over of a shining black colour except under the belly where it is white it hath a pretty long raised Beak though thin toward the sides having on both sides of its head over the eyes a white round spot as big as a half Crown showing like a pair of Spectacles it is not unlike the Bird Pinquin that is found in Terra del Fugo painted and described in Atlas minor mercatoris I have had that Bird several times it is easie to be made tame but cannot live long on Land Here cometh also some damageable Fowl in the Summer namely the Swarth bag the True and the Skue The Swarth bag is a great Bird like a Kite it is white all over but the back where it is black and therefore is called a Black back it is of the figure of a Mew and is also reckoned amongst that sort of Fowl it hunteth after lesser Birds to eat them and hath nothing olse worthy of writing The True or Thief is called so because it threatneth and stealeth the meat from other Birds for it hunteth after and strikes at them till they let the meat fall from their Beaks and then he catcheth the meat in falling through the air very dexterously and liveth thereby not being able to plunge in the Water after Fish and when it hath gotten something from the one he seeketh presently another continuing so the whole day over The Skue is of the same Species with the True but something larger as big as a Raven being very fierce in the defence of its Eggs and young ones so that if a man comes by its nest he must take a care of himself for it flyeth streight ways at his head and strikes him cruelly with his wings wherefore the Inhabitants that know the temerity of it fasten a knife upright on their head against it and it happeneth often that in falling with vehemence on the man it is run through with the knife and falleth down dead being called Skue because it shooteth it self so hastily on men The profitable Water Fowls that come hither in Summer are Wild-Geese which are of three sorts ordinary grey Geese reddish Geese and Helsin Geese that are less then ordinary Grey Geese coming hither in great numbers and keeping themselves in great Lakes of fresh Water When they Mew the Inhabitants go sometimes on Goose Hunting with little Boats on the said Lakes taking sometimes a great store of them Swans come also hither in the Spring but they only rest themselves and proceed streight on their way to other Countreys But specially there cometh hither in the Spring in great numbers to the Inhabitants great profit and advantage some other sorts of Birds good to be eaten amongst which the first is principally worth taking notice of it is called Sule and is found no where in Feroe but on the Islet or Myggoness whereof the Inhabitants have yearly a great help to their house keeping they rehearse a strange Fable of the reason wherefore that Fowl is only found there and no where else whereof we will speak in another place The Sule is a pretty great Fowl being of a blewish gray it is also found in Scotland and is called by Seamen a Gentleman The other eatable Sea Fowls are found in great quantities every where in the Land namely the Skrabe Lunde Lomvifve and the Sea-Daw The Skrabe cometh in February about St. Matthews day and fareth away about St. Bartholomew Tide The Lomvifve and Sea-daw come about St. Gregories Tide and fly away at Mary Magdelens These Daws are none of those that are so frequent in Denmark those being Land Birds that are seen here also though very seldome The aforesaid sorts of Birds lay every one but one Egg and get but one young every year and though they be those that chiefly are sought for and there be well taken of them a hundred thousand every year there is nevertheless more of them then of any other sort yea by the admirable providence of God they are so plentiful that they in clear weather can darken the shining of the Sun as it were with a thick Cloud making such a terrible noise and sound with their wings in flying that they who hear it and do not know the cause thereof would not think otherwise but that it were thunder Every one of these Birds builds its nest and brings forth its young ones in a particular manner The Skrabe builds on the Land under the Earth scraping with its Beak and Claws lying on the back whence it is called Skrabe it diggeth under ground in some places a foot deep in some other eight or ten foot in several turnings seeking specially to dig it self behind a stone where it thinketh to lye surest It breedeth as aforesaid but one young it being remarkable that this Bird is the whole day away from its young and never comes to it but in the night to feed it and if it flies not from its young at the dawning of the day it stayeth with it the whole day over till the night comes and then flyeth out to Sea till the other night cometh and though the young is fed but once a day yet it is so fat that no Goose though it have been three weeks fatned can be fatter and they call those young ones lyers they do not by reason of their fatness make present use of these young ones but salt them to eat them in Winter melting their fat which they burn in Lamps They have to take them out several hooks half an Ell or an Ell long wherewith they pierce them through and draw them out They do not usually take the Dame her self except she be sometimes hurt with the hook so that she cannot live but if they cannot get the young one with their hook or by thrusting their arm into the Birds Nest by reason of the many turnings they dig a hole down unto it as near as they can guess and then thrust about with their hooks till they can get it which hole they must again stop so close that not one drop of water can come into it for else she will forsake her hole and never come thither more which otherwise she doth every year in the wonted place so that the Inhabitants know in what place under
no more resistance in Norway and then saiih the History namely the Chronicles of Norway page 49 many desert Lands were inhabited which the men of Norway had begun to frequent before Jempteland Island Grkeney Hotland and Feroe were inhabited for many rich and oppulent men fled from the Wars of Norway because of Harolds power and many other able men yeilded to Harold and planted the Land with him by which History it is also in some manner intimated that Feroe was known to the people of Norway and frequented by them but then perfectly peopled and Inhabited though there be a great uncertainty in Histories written in such obscure times for Mr. Peter Clauson in his Description of Norway pag. 154. teacheth that in the sixth year of King Harolds Reign a Pirate called Madoder sailed from Norway intending sor Feroe but was driven by the Tempest under Island which was then quite desert and was peopled since by King Harold Pulchricomus's invitation and command whence it appears that Feroe was inhabited before Iasland But the Author seems to set a general certain time for an uncertain If those Inhabitants of Feroe had been as diligent to leave their Successors some narration from the beginning as those of Island one might now have had better information and it may be also they have not neglected it since there came no lesser men to Feroe then to Island but doubtless the Pirates have destroyed them It being certain that other documents which were kept in the publick Chest of the Country were within these 100 years rob'd and carried away by such men The first that setled himself in Feroe was they say called Grimar Camban which happened before those that fled from Norway came thither and wholly peopled the Land This Grimar Camban was doubtless a Pirate or Sea Robber Piracy being in those days honourable Hetland and Orheny being then but the habitations of Sea-Robbers and it being doubtless even so of Feroe but in King Pulchricomus his time in the 10 year of his Reign many considerable men with their Wives and Children Goods and Moveables took their habitation in Feroe which was before discovered to them by Grimar Camban who having first found the Land gave it also its name and called it Feroe the History mentioning that Fero's Name was known in Norway before they fled thither and possessed it There are several opinions concerning the derivation of this word Feroe some think that the land hath that name from Sheep called in Danish Faar because of the multitude of Sheep that is bred there which is an incongruous opinion Grimar Camban having found no Sheep there at his arrival neither hath it received its name since there have been Sheep planted there for before the principal Colony of people and Cattel went over thither the Land had already its name Besides which Faar is a Danish word which is called in the old Norway Tongue Saud and in that of Feroe Soid others would deny their names from Feer or Feathers which is also contrary to reason for they little thought then of Feathers and knew nothing of their use in commerce Their Merchandise being for the most part Wool as appears by the History of Trunder of Gote in the 256 page of the Chronicle of Norway who lived in Feroe 150 years after it was first inhabited for he said to his Brothers Sons Sigurd and Toerd the Sons of Torlack there is a great difference in the age of a man when I was young I did not lye on a Bench when it was good weather as you doe now the Ships lye on ground and rot under the hills and the whole house is full of Wool but none of you will carry it to the Market if I had some years of my age back things should not go so Torloft of Diemen is now a better Husband then you Sigurd grew angry started up and made himself ready with his company of 12 men and sailed out with Tarloff and they came late at night to Norway hereby it appeareth first only they have endeavoured to make mony of their wool But secondly that they have had their Trade in Norway where Feathers were not in price they having themselves Fowl enough on the North Coast of the Land and therefore there was no thoughts of Feathers to give the Country a name from thence in the beginning and so much the less because neither they themselves now nor antiently ever used Beds filled with Feathers Some will derive it from Far it being a Land that lyeth far from Norway and therefore should be called Feroe which is also doubtful Island and Greenland lying yet at a further distance and therefore ought with more reason to bear that name I must add my opinion concerning the Etymology of that name and methinks the land may have taken its name from the Word to Fare which is the same in the ancient Language of Feroe as Ferrie in English the same being also us'd in our old Danish for places in Denmark where one crosseth from one shoar to the other in Boats or Ferries are called Ferry places from ancient time to this present and Feroe consisting of many Islands where one not only must cross with Boats and Ferries called in that Tongue Faevinger from one Land to another but one can also with such Boats go along between the Islands it seems probable that this qualification of the land may have given Grimar Camban occasion at his arrival to call these Islands Feroier as they are called to this day in the language of Feroe I leave herein nevertheless every one to his own opinion but the Islands being many they ought to be called the Feroes as they are Feroier by the Inhabitants and in Latine Feroae as the Oreades Canaries and other Provinces that consist of many Islands Many principal men of Norway as abovesaid having transplanted themselves and their whole Families into Feroe they divided the Islands amongst themselves every Chieftain appropriating to himself his Island or more according to opportunity where they afterwards subdivided the Land to be possest and till'd by their Servants in the manner and places as it is found to this day most of the Chiefs having made the Country their properties and inheritance not only those places where they liv'd themselves but also the other so that the least part remained to their Servants whence it comes that Trundoff Jote in the 270 page of the Chronicle of Norway calls the Inhabitants of the East and North Islands his Tenants when he gave Tribute for himself and them to Charles the Myrske or Tender sent thither by King Oluff the Holy whence many old Folks can yet relate that a part of their predecessors were very rich in Lands so that they have possest above the half part of Suderoe this that great Village and the other many Enclosures but now there is nothing of such glorious riches to be seen for some of them having been a cruel people did forfeit
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
over thee as thou hast over me I would make thee suffer the cruellest Death that I could invent Whereupon his Victor seeing his Heroical courage gave him his liberty without being desired and Magnus kept this courage till the hour of his death for when as will be said hereafter he was forced though for an innocent cause to stretch his neck to the Executioner in the place before the Kings Palace and the Executioner ask'd him whether he would have a handkerchiefe tyed before his eyes as is usual he answered no saying moreover to the Executioner I have seen so many drawn Swords without fear have thou but a care thou beest not afraid Thus by his Fortune and valour he came greatly in the favour of the aforesaid King Frederick the II. of Glorious memory who not only made constant use of him in several such expeditions but also because of his great experience in the North Sea sent him to discover Greenland in the year 1577. and it is thought he was the first subject of Denmark that undertook to find out Greenland He set his course according to old Navigation directly for Island and from thence again till he perceived the Mountain White Serk where he met with a great deal of Fog and bad weather with much driving ice nevertheless he got sight of the Land but could not come thereunto neither seemed it he could come from the place where he was though he had a good wind by reason of the Loadstone which he believed to be at the bottome of the Sea and hindred his voyage wherefore the days growing short he was obliged without performing what he went for to return for Denmark By reason of Magnus Heineson's expeditions his name grew famous in the neighbouring Countreys and Kingdoms many loved him many feared him and many also hated him He found likewise envious men in Denmark It happening often that vertue is not without envy and persecution yet they could not hurt him as long as the good King Frederick lived but after his decease this brave Sea Captain was forced to yield his neck to the Sword which many enemies could not obtain by their force for it happened in the year 1588 during the Minority of King Christian the IV. of Glorious Memory that the said Magnus Heineson being treacherously accused of a dark and wrongful crime was arrested in the Palace of Copedhagen and being condemned to lose his Life was beheaded on the place before the said palace and from thence transported to be buried in St. Nicholas's Chur chyard But God as a just Judge made his Innocence appear appointing for that purpose the Right Honourable John Lindenow Lord of Olsloffe Provincial Judge of North Jutland who concern'd himself in Magnus Heinesons innocent cause and execution and by a lawful suit and sentence vindicated him at the General Sessions held at Kolding in the year 1590. the 6. of August out of S. Nicholas Churh-yard whence he was with pomp transported from Copenhagen into Jutland and Buried in Olsloffe Church near Viburg his Valour having been very renowned in this Kingdom where he had Married a Lady of Noble Parentage and for the false accusation for which he lost his life there was given 3000 Rix Dollars by friendly reconciliation and agreement The Right Honourable Lord Lindenow writ over this Valiant Sea Champion the following Epitaph Epitaphicum Pietate prudentia naturae excelâ—oris instinctu ac longo rerum maximar uâ— usu proestantiffimi viri Magni Heinsonii qui muâ—tis laboribus examlatis rebus domi forisque praeclare gestis Hafniae perplexa questione accusatus est non sine omnium bonorum luctu tandem decollatus Magnanimum Magno â—iâ—xit me nomine magna Majestas magnum nomen omen habet Vixi etiam magnus majorem magna ruina Erexit tandem maximus â—uge vocor Magna gerens quondam studuit me reddere parvum Sed frustra Magni nomen ut ante viget Vivit post funera virtus Johannes Lindenovius Senior posnit Anno 1590. Thus Englished The Epitaph Of Godly Prudent Generous and Expert man Magnus Heineson who after many exploits Valiantly performed at home and abroad being accused of a doubtful crime was beheaded at Copenhagen not without the griefe of all good men Gods greatest Majesty gave me of Great the name As a great sign I should in time come to great fame Thus I have lived great grew greater by my fall And now at last you see I am greatest of all One that could do great things did strive to make me less But in vain for my name hath now obtain'd redress Virtue liveth after death Written by John Lindenow the Elder in the Year 1590. So that these two valiant men of Feroe have not been much unlike one another not only in virtue courage and valour but also in the manner of their death having both received evil for their good deeds Besides these two there have been none of Feroe that by valiant actions have left any famous name to posterity having from the beginning applyed themselves to a quiet course of life contented with their poverty by which long tranquallity they have lost their old Heathenish ferocity and vigour though they have continually been troubled by French Irish and English Pyrates but their means consisting in Lands Cattle and Wild Sheep whereupon the enemy could do little damage they ever saved themselves on the high Rocks Those of Suderoe nevertheless held once a fight with the Irish Sea-robbers who would not forsake the Land so soon as they desired whereupon they gathered themselves against them and slew them every one Such sort of people have exercised great violence against the poor Inhabitants of this Country there passing formerly scarce any year but they were troubled by them For the last Bishop Mr. Peter Ribe was several times plundered by the French so that he was at last forced to remove from hence They tortured so Mr. Erasmus Curate of Suderoe with a Rope about his head for his monâ—s sake that he 〈◊〉 afterwards almost unfit for his calling They used also very ill Mr. Martin of Thors haven they took away the Lands â—â—â—st with the Writings carrying also with them what Merchants wares and goods of the King they found here taking such Ships as were sailing hither and committing many other â—ppressions The English Fishers had an ordinary custome going every year to fish under Island to take of the Inhabitants of Feroe whom they found first without distinction of persons not excepting the very Priests whom they carryed with them on their Voyage as if they had been slaves to help them to Fish and when they return'd and were under the Land they set them on Shoar where they could best be off with them Feroe hath in this manner during a long time been as a prey to such ravenous Wolfes Neither hath the Turk forgotten it for in the year 1629. there came two Turkish Ships into Suderoe that dealt very cruelly
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