before and at the same time that huge floud which striketh up high in the Air against the Land We might also discern that by the Suns effect on the Earth for it shineth hotter in the afternoon then before Mid-day not that its heat is then in it self greater then before but because the Sun must in the forenoon drive away the cold from the Horizon but in the afternoon produceth its heat without any hinderance This explication doth very well agree with the name which Seamen give to that time of the Tide calling it Spring as if it sprung by its own force and would not be directed by the Moon Secondly it is plainly proved that the Moon governeth the Sea by the Quadruple motion of it twice to the West and twice to the East in 24 hours and 48. min. according to the course of the Moon though our Master Herbinius will not grant that not thinking there is such a thing in nature as that the Moon by Antipathy could now in 6 hours and 12 min. drive the Sea from it self and afterwards by a Sympathy in six other hours attract that again whilest nothing of all this happeneth by Antipathy in the opinion of Herbinius For according to these principles the Sea is in a perpetual motion to and fro as water in a Vessel between its limits against which if it beats it cannot get over but must appease its proud waves and fall back again which will last as long as the world continues But the God of order that has created and ordained all things according to weight measure and number hath made the Moon to govern thereover not only as a moving cause with the rest in the manner aforesaid but also regulateth its motion according to its own seasons and the Moon having two Motions the one from East to West together with the Sun and other Planets and Stars the other from West to East by which it moveth every day usually 12 degrees from and to the Sun which maketh 48 min. of time so there can be no Antipathy between the Moon and the Motion of the Sea to what side soever it turneth it self And God having made the distance so broad between the Continents that it can be six hours falling back from one Land to another which it would perhaps perform a great deal sooner if it might follow its own propension nay it might well in its fury and rapidity overwhelm the whole Globe of the Earth by reason of the aforesaid causes therefore the Moon is made to hold back by its course that of the Sea that it may not perfect its motion from one Coast to another in six hours or less but in six hours 12 m. which maketh in the four Tides of a day 48. m. so that the Moon governeth the Sea as a man doth a running Horse sometimes putting him forwards sometimes making him go slowly at other times giving him the Bitt and sometimes keeping him back and notwithstanding maketh him so run that it cometh to his Stage at the appointed time This is my poor opinion concerning Ebb and Floud grounded upon my own experience and dilligent enquiry whereby having written it in our Danish Tongue I would specially give Seamen occasion to enquire into nature wheresoever they come after this manuduction which if they do I doubt not but they shall make such observations that this explication will thereby be so confirmed that it will not be easily refuted We will here transport us from the salt Sea to the fresh Water on Land God can never be sufficiently praised that hath so wonderfully and abundantly blessed that Country with well tasting and wholesome Fountain Water Springing some Fathoms high on the top of the highest Mountains which in the greatest drought runneth constantly almost every where so that there is scarce a Cottage but there runneth along a little Spring water or a great Brook gathered of many such Rivelets whose water is generally colder in Summer then in Winter though they have there no healing Fountain for many diseases as in other Countreys except one in Osteroe near Gote which yet is not much made use of this water is of that nature that it is much warmer in Winter then other Water and if one will keep it a whole year it continueth without corruption One might it seems reasonably conclude that since Brimstone is hot and keepeth Wine from corruption that there may be Brimstone in the rock through which the water floweth whereby it is tinged with this quality and therefore there is doubtless a great vertue hidden in that water for the use of man if it were as convenient to come to as it is discomodious Since all what seemeth strange in the beings that God hath created when reason cannot comprehend it is presently taken for a miracle though it be an effect of nature one may also justly hold this for admirable that God by his wonderful wisdome and power hath so ordained it that the mortal body aggravates the soul and the earthly Tabernacle oppresseth the wandering senses so that they scarce reach the things which are on earth and hardly perceive what it hath under hand as the wise man speaketh in the ninth Chapter of his Book of Wisdome whence cometh that many of the Sons of Men that will not trouble their Brains with such deep thoughts do meerly consider such effects of nature as wonders others give themselves no thoughts at all about them making use of them as unreasonable creatures others to whom God and nature hath given more light of understanding do not persist in searching the secrets of nature so as to tire themselves therewith Amongst these secrets of nature there are not the least but the most in water namely its course and its ascent to the top of hills and its flowing down from thence The strange stream between Boetia and the Island of Negropont called Euripe which runneth in and out 7 times in a day troubled so much that accute Philosopher Aristotle in his deep Speculations to comprehend the cause thereof that he as Historians believe took his Death thereupon The said Aristotle hath also taken great pains to understand the natural cause of the Springing of Fountains but he hath been deceived in the invention of his reasoning Scaliger having long since refuted him But the Wise King Solomon in Eccles 1. 7. teacheth us whence the water Springs come and what is their natural cause all waters saith he flow to the Sea from whence they flow again but he teacheth us not the manner how it happeneth nor the cause whereby the water can Ascend from the Sea some hundreds of Fathoms high through the Mountains as it doth generally here on Feroe Magirus in his Physilogia lib. 4 c. 6. bringeth in the opinion of Scaliger in this manner although we know not the cause of this natural thing yet we judge that the water doth not mount up in a direct line but through many turnings and there
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
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
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
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
old Champions Ballad but they use not then to exercise themselves at any scandalous play Besides at their vacant hours they take great pleasure to play at Chess wherein many are very expert as well women as men They are by nature something inclin'd to Astronomy for they do not only know some Stars and take diligent notice of their course specially the Star Bâ—oetes which they call the Star of the day because in the heart of Winter they know by its course in the morning what a Clock it is and how long it is till day that they accordingly may row out on fishing or begin some other work at home they also understand in some manner the course of the Moon that is when it will be new Moon though not by reason of its motion but by the increasing and decreasing of the Sea which being governed by the Moon they know by the streams alteration as the effect of it on which day there is new Moon When there is no Almanack brough into the Ceuntry they understand their computum Ecclesiasticum and can direct the course of the year in the moveable and immovable Holy Days without any fault or error They speak the Language of Norway though in these times most Danish having nevertheless many Norway words There is also a great difference between the Northern Islands Dialects and those that live in the Southern Islands The Air being here as was said before pretty wholsome and the Inhabitants using always one diet here are also usually found very antient folks beyond other places so that not only they attain to the highest age of man whereof David speaketh namely 80 years but many also reach to 90 and 100 years of age and above There is a very remarkable Example of an old man of this Countrey that died not long since whose name was Erasmus Magnusson living in Harold Sound in the Northern Islands who was Magnus Heinesons natural Son of whom is spoken before This Erasmus was first married with an old woman with whom he lived many years and begot no children of her at last his said wife died he being then about 90 years old desiring nevertheless to leave an Heir of his body he married a young woman of whom he begot 5 Children and was 110 years old when he died his youngest Child being seven years of age which he begot when he was 103 years old That one might not think there might be some seandalous suspition in this the woman was an honest woman and of good reputation having left a very good name after her death His eldest Son doth now possess his house being a great and strong young man above many of the Land I have know his Father in his antient age who was a strong and courageous man This example is more admirable than thâ—â— of Abraham who thought strange in his time that he should beget children being 100 years old As the time for women to bear Children is well known to all understanding men so Physitians and Philosophers have designed the natural age for a man to beget Children to be under 65 or at most 70 years whereupon antient Historians do remark as rare aud strange Examples that some men as Alexander Masser pract Med. lib. 4. de sterilitate writes have begotten Children when they have been above 80 years of age much stranger and more worth writing is this Example of one that has begotten Children being above 100 years old and in this late and weak age of the world CHAP. VI. Of the Policie THe Policie of this Country may be divided into three parts namely Acmdministration of Justice Merchandize and providing for the Poor 1. Of the Administration of Justice The Reader may easily perceive by the Histories related above how this Country was govern'd in the beginning when the Common wealth thereof consisted in an Aristochracy and was govern'd by principal men or Chiesetains as also in some manner how when the Country came under the Kings of Norway there were constituted Bishops and Sheriffs over the Nation besides the Kings Bayliff that gathered Taxes and contributions Since the time of Reformation we know not that this land hath been reduced to a government or District wherewith the King of Denmark's Ministers have been intrâ—sted but their Majesties have ever had their own Bayliffs here that have governed the Land and received the Kings duties which have been paid to them that either by gratification or contract ought to have the same till in our time the high and mighty Prince our Soveraign and Hereditary Lord Frederick the III. of Glorious Memory hath therewith as with a Government gratiously gratified his Excelence the Right Honourable Christopher von Gabel his Majesties State-holder Privy Counsellour and Assessor in the Counsel of State not only with the receipt of the Revenues and the jurisdiction thereof but also with the liberty of establishing and ordaining there his own Bayliff or Deputy to dispose and dispence as he thought fit in matters of Commerce and his said Excellency hath since that time kept his own Bayliff or Deputy over the land to administer in his place having Sheriffs under him for the Land is divided into six divisions or districts namely Norderoe Osteroe Stromoe Waagoe Sandoe and Suderoe Which Sheriff each in his division doth judge of all small causes but they summon the others to the Sessions They receive the Kings Tythes and put in execution what is desired of them by the Kings Commissary Here are also besides Spiritual and Temporal Judges In the Ecclesiastical State though here be no Bishops Canons or other learned men that make up a Chapter in other places yet there is a Synod kept yearly as a Convent or Chapter of Priests The Provost and all the Priests Assembling themselves at Thors haven in Stremoe about Saint Olaus Tide the Sessions being then also kept in the same place and if there be any Chapter cause they are pleaded and judged in the Assembly wherein the Bayliff of the Land presides in the place of the Governour and there is also consulted what may be for the advantage of the Commonalty The Temporal Justice is twofold particular and general The particular is yearly rendred in every division and it is the same thing as the Districts court or first instance in Denmark and is called the Spring Sessions for there being not so many controversies amongst the Inhabitants here as in other places it is kept but once a year namely in the Spring whence it hath the name of Spring-Session where it is the charge of the Sheriff to preside and of the Sworn Recorder to judge what causes they cannot decide or do it wrongfully are appealed of to the law sessions which is the general Court and is as the Provincial in Denmark where his Majesties Bayliff doth preside and hath with him all the six Sheriffs who one after another exhibite to the Court what Law Suits they have either regarding his Majesty or Private
rather let every one be contented with his own as it belongeth to him according to Law Now it is so that if two men or more have sheep in one close and both will kill their sheep each taketh what he can get that is not marked with dogs or otherwise whether it be lamb or old sheep and whether it belong to him or no now of this it seemeth unto us and other good men that it ought not to be so and that nothing unlawful be begun in the Land we therefore make this Ordinance thereupon That if any will take out his lambs and old sheep that are unmark'd he must produce two impartial witnesses that they are his sheep and that they know their dam if he wants such witnesses let him be as owning nothing therein II. Now if a man goeth into another man's field or close and drives away his sheep to his damage so that it be worth half a mark he must answer the full price to him that owneth the close as he is able and to the King half a mark of siver and restore the sheep as good as they were and if a man accuseth another that he hath been in his close or field and done him damage let him pay the damage if there be witnesses according to the Sentence of lawful Judges or deny it by lawful Oath which 6 understanding men shall declare good and let those to whom the sheep and close belongeth be warned and summoned three days before to the common pound that is the inclosure wherein they use to drive their sheep let him that doth not appear lose his cause and be fin'd to the King two Ortes of silver now let every man know that if any own close and sheep together they must not have more dogs than honest men will judge fit and if no dogs are agreed upon let them be for their equal advantage III. Of putting off Sheep that feed unlawfully Item If the fields are scituated together and two men have each their close or fields and sheep goe from the ones close into the others being wont thereunto and going therein always and he that owneth the close will not suffer it but speaks about it he that owneth the sheep must take them out and carry them all into his own close but if the same sheep run into the same close a second and third time those sheep shall belong no more to him that owneth them except he that owneth the close will let out the field whereupon the sheep feed for a Gilder but if he will take no hire he that owneth the sheep may proffer to sell him half part of them and if he will neither buy them nor let out his ground let him that owneth the sheep take them out at his convencie within the space of twelve months but if he that owneth the sheep will not proffer any hire nor sell the half flock to him that owneth the close let him forfeit his flock which men should drive into the pound where they feed and each hold the pound open according as he hath part in the sheep If it be done otherwise let them be fined 3 Ortes of silver to the King and damage paid to him that receiveth damage according to the Law If men are together in a common pound that is the inclosure wherein they drive sheep together let each one mark his lambs according as the dam belongeth to him and look how many there be that have two lambs and if there be any strange sheep in that pound the shepherds must take notice how many have lambs and mark the lambs of every one as many as have lambs and are not gelded but if any mark sheep false let him have his sheep that owneth it when it is well known or the equivalent for he forfeits nothing that marketh amiss in the same pound IV. Of wild sheep Item If men own wild sheep together in one close and some will make their sheep â—ame and others will not let them chuse that will have their sheep tame and bid a price to the rest that will play for them both and let him rule his sheep that owneth tame sheep and if there cometh wild amongst them let him hinder it and not let wild sheep come amongst the tame but if he slips wild sheep amongst the others tame ones let him therefore undergo the Law and pay the Adversaries fine according to Law and 3 Ortes of silver to the King and then let every one make tame his sheep which are left in the close V. If any goeth alone in another mans Close If any man goeth in a close without sending word or warning him that hath Sheep in the same Close and marks the Sheep or Lambs of any putting his mark upon them that were not marked before without telling the owner of it he hath marked in secret Therefore let him pay to him that owneth according to sentence and to the King 3 Ortes of Silver if it be worth Ortes but if it be less let him be declared a dishonest man Furthermore if he marketh Sheep that were marked before and puts his mark upon the mark of him that owneth them then he is a Thief VI. Of Dogs If any man taketh along with him in the Fields or Closes any Dog that bites other mens Sheep let him give the owner as good Sheep again but if he biteth oftner let him pay as if he had killed it but if the Dogs that are consented to indamage any Sheep let the man whom the Dog followeth give as good Sheep again and have afterwards a good care of his Dog They are pernicious Dogs that bite Sheep more then once and some go out of themselves to kill Sheep there ought to be as many sheep in a Close as there hath been formerly except one can see that the Close can feed more then let as many be put in as will be agreed upon and no more in each Field neither Sheep nor Kine then one knoweth to be just and keep them in ones own Close and not in another mans or answer for it according to Law VII Of Interdiction concerning Sheep If a man lets his Sheep Feed or grow in another mans Close or Field and will not cease though he that owneth the close will not suffer it the owner must make interdiction thereupon Whereof the first forbidding must be from St. Olaus week till St. Andrews day and if the Sheep be not then taken out of forfeiture the proprietary thereof shall have a third part in the said Sheep The second Interdiction is from St. Andrews day till Lent if the Sheep be not then taken out of forfeiture the proprietary of the Close is then to have two parts in the said Sheep The third interdiction is from Lent to St. Olaus week if the Sheep be not then taken out of forfeiture let the proptietary of the Close keep all the Sheep except there hath been great distress so that he could not take out
whereof possible Magnus is esteemed a Norway man The said Magnus Heineson Sailed first as a Merchant from Bergen to Feroe afterwards he took service in Holland against Pirates Sea-Robbers and Dunkirkers till at last he grew a Renowned man and therefore was taken into the service of his Majesty of Denmark King Frederick the secoud of happy Memory being admitted as a Ship Captain and afterwards came to so great honour that he Marryed a Lady of Noble Parentage His said Majesty made continually use of him to cleanse the Seas and take all Pirates and Sea-robbers that did then great damage under Norway Island and Feroe There are many recitals of his courage and valiant actions he was not only bold and couragious to meet his enemies but also intelligent to devise cunning Stratagems against them when they were too strong for him For it happened once that a famous Pyrate with a well rigged Ship came under Norway and cast Anchor neer Valdhowe whereof Magnus being advertised and having caused the Ship to be espied found that he was not able to fight her openly he therefore invented this stratagem he cloathed himself in a Peasants cloaths got a Fisher Boat and provided himself with old Nailes Lead Leather a melting spoon and a tinder Box which he hid all under his Nets and Ropes in the Boat being then come from the Land and having taken pretty many Fishes he rowed to the Ship and whilest he sold them Fish knew so well to counterfeit a gross simplicity that they had no suspition of his stay but it was a pleasure to them which when he perceived he desired leave of the Captain to fasten his Boat at the Sterne of the Ship pretending that he used often by reason of his poverty to lye out at Sea in the Summer The Captain having granted his request he fastened his Boat neer the Rudder The Watch that was set at night took little care of what was done at Sterne of the Ship and had no suspition of such a fellow wherefore when Magnus perceived that every body was at quiet he thrust as many Nailes as could go into the holes of the Rudder he clustered them with Leather underneath then struck fire melted his Lead and poured it into the holes of the Rudder Having now done all this without being perceived by the Watch he retired in the morning to his own Ship and made all things ready for fighting Weighed Anchor and put to Sea sailing against the Pyrate and engaging him to fight but he not being able to govern his Ship the Rudder being fast and immoveable he was easily and without any great resistance overcome and taken Prisoner by Magnus Heinson Whereas Magnus Heins n did earnestly endeavour to ruine these Sea-Robbers both by subtile devices as well as by force he destroy'd many of them and his name grew famous abroad wherefore these Pirates did prosecute Magnus again and made all their endeavours to surprize him with advantage A Sea Robber having had notice that he lay secure in Thors-haven in Feroe he did seek him there which Magnus perceiving hid all his digging and took flight upon Hestoe the enemy having heard of it pursued him thither but Magnus had so provided himself aforehand with stones which he rowled upon them that he drove them all away and forced them to retire to their Ship again and put to Sea But Magnus that he might be free afterwards for such unexpected surprizes of the enemy raised a Sconce near Thors haven which is yet to be seen repaired so his Ship manning her as well as possible and put to Sea again to revenge himself upon his enemy at last he heard that he was in Norway and knowing that he was not strong enough to fight him he sought to surprize him commanding his Folks to lye in Boats in an off side from the Ship he took a number of Stones with him and came on board the Pirate who not knowing him took him for a simple Peasant Magnus carried himself now as before with his cunning folly and a good while made the people merry on the Deck till at last feigning as if he had been drunk with their Beer he begun to try whether he could climb up the Main-mast carrying himself very simply in his tryals as if he had not known what they called the Mast or what it served them to he did thus so long with them till he got up into the Mast quarter and then presently with a Dagger which he had hidden under his clothes cut off the Sail Ropes and with the Stones which he had about him drove the people under Deck blowing then in his Whistle whereat all his folkes came from their ambush got into the Ship and bolted the Hatches till the rest of his men came with his Ship and took all the people Prisoners Magnus as many more was something enclined to drunkenness whence it happened once whilest he lay here in a Harbour of Feroe being gone to Land where he drank hard with all his men so that he fell asleep and lay that night on Shoar that in the mean time a Pirate came into the Harbour and having notice where Magnus was they came subtilly to him and took him Prisoner whilest he was asleep amongst all his men and carried him on board though they afterwards released him on this condition that he should swear and promise never to persecute them more Magnus being at liberty did not think himself obliged to observe any forced Oath therefore to revenge the shame they had put upon him as well as to curb their unjust Piracy which they then exercised every where about this Country without any fear thinking themselves in security by reason of Magnus Heineson's obligation he engaged with these impious men and in a short fight overcame and took them Prisoners In such manner was the fear of Magnus come upon his enemies that they durst not kill him when they had him Prisoner and thought themselves free of all danger if they were but in security of him The courage and valour of Magnus was so great that not only he did not avoid danger by engaging often with more powerful men then himself and happily overcoming them but they neither failed him in his greatest danger for once the most part of his own folks consisting of several Nations having conspired together to kill him and run away with his Ship he alone in a fury mastered 1â— of them and drove such a fear in the rest that they let fall their feracity and appeased themselves And as he was couragious so was ever fortune on his side it happening usually that Fortune helpeth a Valiant man but luck is inconstant and often changed It happened even so unto Magnus for he was again by force overcome and taken Prisoner but his great courage did never forsake him for being ask'd by him that had taken him what his mind was then he answered without any sign of fear if I had power