his Sheep though he would yet in that case the proprietary of the Close shall be paid for it That Sheep is close fast where she brings a Lamb and continueth the Winter over VIII How one must goe into a Close If the Closes or Fields are â—lying together and the ones Sheep go into the others Close let him that will go to divide the Fields warn the other to meet him or go together with him following so together if the one will not come or go let him that warned him go into his own close and not in the others but if he goeth to divide Fields and in anothers Close let him answer the other in Law for it as if he had not warned him But if he hath not given him warning and goeth nevertheless let him answer in Law the other that was at home since he doeth him wrong and pay all the damage that is done that day by reason of his going as also the adversaries Mulct and 3 Ortes of Silver to the King IX How to tame Sheep If any have a Close or Field together wherein are wild Sheep and some will make the Sheep tame and others will not let them chuse that will tame the Sheep and will bargain for his Cattle and not they that will play for them both or let those that will not make tame bear all the damage that can come thereof except there hath been great calamity Therefore we have consented and ordered that the ordinance above written in all its points and articles shall be ratified and coufirmed forbidding all and every one to hinder or obstruct in any manner therein the said Inhabitants of Feroe under pain of our displeasure Given in our Palace of Anderskouff the 24 of February 1637. The Reader may take notice of the fault that is found in the date of this Sheep Ordinance in our 4th Chapter there seems also to be a great errour in the 5th article where it is said that he shall be declared a dishonest man that marketh Sheep less worth then an Orte For one would think according to the Law of Nature he ought to be a dishonest man that marketh Sheep worth more then an Orte for the greater a fault is so much the greater ought to be the punishment but this errour is proceeded from the long kept Sheep Ordinance in writing that was put out in Print without being altered Concerning Mulcts or Fines they are much greater in regard of the worth in Feroe then in other Countreys or Provinces lying under the Crowns of Denmark and Norway the highest Mulct in the law of Denmark being but 40 marks King Hagen Hagenson of Norway mitigated his Law and gave away the two parts of these 40 marks whence it comes that the greatest Mulct namely 8 Ones and 13 marks in the Law of Norway is but a third part of 40 Marks A Marks Mulct in Denmark is expounded in the Danish Law-Glossary for a Rix-mark but the Honourable Jens Biclke in the explication of the Glossery of Norway counteth 8 Ortugs and 13 marks of Silver to be worth 8 Rix Dollars yet in Feroe one is fin'd for a mark of silver 2 Gilders and 8 Skins which maketh 2 Rix-Dollars and for 8 Ortugs 16 Skins that is 4 Danish marks so that one gives in Mulct for 8 Ortugs and 13 marks of Silver 32 Gilders of Feroe amounting in mony to 26 Rix-Dollars and 4 marks Neither doth any body know whence it comes that the worth of those Mulcts is risen so high in Feroe above what it is in Norway since they enjoy a common Law that hath been mitigated by the Supream Magistrate and on the other side there is found no particular ordinance of any King for augmenting the said Mulcts Whether this be the just worth of an antient mark of silver I leave to more skilful persons to judge II. Of Merchandise One may perceive by the Chronicle of Norway as is said before in the History of Trund of Gote that the Inhabitants from the beginning have had Yatchts and small Barks wherewith they have themselves transported their Wares into other places and there put them off neither is it long ago as many old people can witness that the Inhabitants had yet Ships wherewith they brought themselves over their necessaries from other Countreys for which there are yet found priviledges given them by King Frederick the Second of Glorious Memory but those that had procured them having no skill in Merchandise and the Commonalty not being provided with what they had need of and no stranger furnishing the Countrey with necessary things the said King Frederick was graciously pleased to establish and confirm a certain Company that should furnish the Country with all Merchandises and that the Inhabitants should only trade with the Merchants thereof The old people of the land say that the Hamburgers have first by Priviledge from the King had their Staple in Feroe After them the Burgers of Bergen have had a priviledged commerce there since that time the Priviledge thereof was granted the antient Company of Island established at Copenhagen which being dissolv'd in the year 1662. his Excellency the Right Honorable the Lord Statholder Christopher von Gabell by vertue of the Authority granted him over the Country transported that Commerce to Mr. Jonas Trâ—llund of whom the traffick hath almost ever since depended And that Commerce might might be the better improv'd and the poor people provided with all necessary things King Christian the Fourth of Glorious Memory was graciously pleased to grant the Company certain Priviledges upon all Merchandises transported to and transported from Island and Feroe granting them besides the Revenue of Feroe for a moderate price namely a load of fish for every Gilder of Feroe and besides obliged them to transport all necessaries thither and reciprocally forbad the Inhabitants to traffick with strangers The Priests and all Officers under pain of losing their employments and the Peasants of forfeiting their houses And that this Monopoly might not be prejudicial to the Inhabitants there was a certain Tax laid upon all Merchandise usually brought hither and sold namely a Tun of Barley for two Gilders of Malt 3 Gilders of Rye 2 Gilders and a half of Meal 3 Gilders and in that manner all Merchandises that are transported hither have their certain price And here being no traffick with silver mony but all Trade being Ware for Ware there is also a certain price put upon the Commodities of Feroe as are Skins Feathers Tallow Train-Oyl Fish and Stockings viz. a Bundle of Skins consisting of 40 for 2 Gilders a Load of Feathers and fish for a Gilder a Tun of Tallow and Butter 10 Gilders a Tun of Trane-Oyl 6 Gilders a pair of Stockings 4 Skins formerly Wool was sold instead of Stockings few of them being made here though the price of those that were made was 5 Skins But fishing having continually failed for 50 years since the Inhabitants have been forced to work the
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
Admiral President in the Councel of Admiralty and Assessor in that of State with Gabriel Ackelâ—ye Knudson Secretary to take the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty of all the Inhabitants which was done by the Inhabitants of Feroe with what Solemnity that Country could afford in Thors-Haven the third of August in the year aforesaid as Jens Lauritson describes in his Norrigia Illustrata In the year 1662. the States of Denmark having chosen his said Majesty King Frederick the third and his Successors to be Soveraign Hereditary Lord of Denmark and Norway arrived the second time the 14 of August his aforesaid Excellency the Lord Rix Admiral Henry Bialke to take of the inhabitants of Feroe the Oath of their Hereditary Allegiance to his Majesty whose Hereditary Throne the King of Kings establish for ever and continue his seed till the end of the World which they presently with greatest devotion performed When it pleased the great Lord of Heaven to call the said high and mighty Prince Frederick the third first Soveraign Hereditary Lord and King of Denmark and Norway from this Temporary to his Eternal and Heavenly Kingdom in the year 1670. the 9. of Feb. and his beloved Son The great and Mighty Hereditary Prince Christian the Fifth sate on his late Fathers Royal Throne to be Soveraign King over Denmark and Norway and the Subjects and States of Denmark had sworn Loyal Fidelity and Obedience to his Majesties absolute Government his Majesty the same year the 23. of April graciously dispatch't his Commissary the Honourable Jens Rodsteen Hereditary Lord of Leer Beck his Majesties Vice Admiral and Assessor in the Councel of Admiralty to Island and Feroe with full power in the name of his Majesty to take the Oath of the subjects and Inhabitants thereof where the said Commissary Jens Rodsteen arrived from Island and put into Thors haven in Feroe on Tuesday the 16 of August and on Friday the 19. of the same moneth all the Deputies or Inhabitants of Feroe themselves were gathered together and after the Service of God was performed took their ready and submissive Oath first together in a body and afterwards every one particularly under his Hand and Seal according to every ones State and quality Neither must we here omit to his Royal Majesty our most Gracious Hereditary Lord and King King Christian the Fifth's Immortal Praise and Clory and to the subjects of the Land both that now live and will hereafter succeed their admonition and remembrance to keep exactly the Oath they have taken in all its points and clauses not out of compulsion and fear but by an humble free and loving devotion till Death that his Majesty was graciously pleased to prevent the Inhabitants in giving them notice by his Patent that whatsoever either the States or any private man for himself had to petition and sollicite his Majesty for they or he should deliver it to his Royal Commissary and he receive it to carry unto his Majesty with a most gracious assurance that his Royal Majesty with a particular care and favour would be concern'd in what could be judged beneficial to them according to the time and occasion The wise King Solomon in the 19. chap. 12. verse of the book of Proverbs compareth admirably such Royal grace to the Dew that falleth on-Grass for as Dew vivifieth withered and down-fallen Grass so that it riseth again and groweth bravely up so hath this his Royal Majesties Grace reviv'd the hearts of the Inhabitants of Feroe which were almost fainting away for one cause or another and therefore the Subjects both Ecclesiastical and Temporal delivered the said Royal Commissary several Petitions concerning some of their grievances wherewith the said Commissary on Sunday the 21 of August after the Service of God departed from Feroe for Denmark Thereupon in the year 16-2 three deputies were sent over with full power humbly to represent the Lands necessities and his Majesty was graciously pleased to give the Inhabitants a very profitable Ordinance to prevent and take away all damage and ruine from the Land Whilest the Inhabitants of Feroe were under the subjection of the Kings of Norway and Denmark or before that time one doth not find much that any have been famous for their valiant actions though they have been a hard nation from the beginning except two namely Sigismund Bretteson and Magnus Heirson whose Histories excepted the one out of Snore Sturleson and Mr. Peter Clauson's Writings the other out of Jens Lawritson's Norrigia illustrata and a credible Manuscript of Feroe are for the Readers sake worthy to be here inserted After Trund of Gote of whom we have made mention before had treacherously let murther his fellow Governours of Feroe and his Kinsmen Breste and Beine sâ—lling their Sons Sigismund Bresteson and Fâ—rgill Beinson privately out of the Country to perpetual Slavery it happened that he that bought them was bâ— stâ—rm and bad weather set from 〈◊〉 course with his Ship to the East of Norway there ran the two boyes away from him and got up into the Country â—ow there had been in the Country some time before a young mâ—n whose name was Torkild that waâ— an excellent Huntsman and Shooter and lay usually out on Snow and Ice in the night seeking to kill Wild Beasts caring neither for cold nor frost whence he got the name of Torkild endure Frost he fell in love with a considerable man's daughter called Ingeborrig whose Parents refusing to give her unto him he took her in the Wild Woods but her Father Brothers and Kinsmen sought her out and took her back again Torkild came to her the second time and she went away with him but considering that he could not be in quiet for her kindred on that side of Dorfields he went therefore over the Mountain and setled his habitation close at the North of it in a great Wilderness and savage Forrest where no body came through there being a great way from thence to Towns where people lived and his Servants went into the district of Trundhein to sell skins and hides of wild beasts buying therewith what he had need of and he lived there many years having changed his name Sigismund Bresteson and Torgild Beinson being fled from their Master as aforesaid went up into the Country intending to go into the North of the District of Trund heim but when they came on Dor fields they lost their way and wandered some days â—â—ill at last they came down to the place where Torkild Endure Frost liv'd and went in His Wife received them well giving them meat and desired them to tarry there the night over When Torkild came home from the Woods she went to meet him and told him there were come to them two beautiful Boyes desiring him that he would do them no harm he grew angry because he had forbidden her to receive any body in the house or shew any one the way from thence saying we shall doubtless be found out and taken
their Souls be bound in the bundle of the living and be their precious reward in the Resurrection of the Just Secondly our most Gracious Sovereign now reigning King Christian the Fifth who not only lets us enjoy the same free houses but also out of his innate mildness hath proffered us other favourable Graces The great King of Heaven give peace unto him with a long peaceable and happy reign the Lord give him victory over his enemies and cover him under the shadow of his wings let no evil come near his domicil let his holy Angels ever pitch their tents about him whithersoever he goeth satiate him Lord with a long life and let him ever see thy salvation And although the Parishioners which yet ought not to be govern themselves according to the antient Ordinance of Christianity and do not after the Church-ordinance of Denmark after the three great Holy-days of the year except in Thors-haven which I cannot here omit but will record to the eternal praise of my Parishioners who for some years ago in the time of my Predecessor without being required have willingly begun to offer on the said three principal Holy-days of the year which they have not only continued in my time but also augmented it both those able strangers that reside here as also the poor native Parishioners God grant them and all pious Hearers that they may offer unto God their hearts as a living holy and pleasant sacrifice the Lord receive their prayers as a perfume and the lifting up of their hands as an evening offering I say although they offer not we seek not our right or power therein but rather according to the Example of St. Paul maintain our selves by our own tillage of what his Majesty hath granted us that we may not seem to seek more the Corinthians means than the Corinthians But there being but little wool in the South Inlets in the Corporations of Sandoe and Suderoe and no Tythes thereof being paid the Priests cannot maintain themselves with their calling alone though they as well as others have a Tenement of augmentation except fishing be more abundant As the Christian Magistrate hath provided for the office of Priesthood here so God hath furnished these remote Islands with able Preachers who teach the pure word of God according to the true Confession of Ausbourgh and though they cannot as in other places constantly visite their Congregations they perform nevertheless the service of God every Sunday and day of Prayer in the principal Parish In the mean time they oblige their hearers to have their meetings in houses on Holydays and to read an Homily and sing Psalms to the Praise of God obliging also Parents to instruct their Children since one cannot inform them every Sunday which if they are not able to doe they are admonished to appoint one in every Parish that readeth best to teach them for a reasonable sallary and besides the Provosts General examining in his Visitation every one heareth his own according as time and opportunity will permit They do not only observe all Saboths Holydays and new Moons Prayer days as in other places but also twice a year three certain general days of Prayer namely 3 days in the Week of the Ascension of Christ from the Sunday to the Ascention and 3 days in Michaelmas week The 3 days in the week of the Ascention were established 469 years after the birth of Christ by Manertus Claudius Bishop of Vienne in France by reason that during his time in the Bishoprick there happened not only a great deal of terrible Thunder and Lightning with fearful Earth-quakes but Wolves also did run about and not only tore Cattle to pieces in the Field but ran into Towns and did the like with men Wherefore to appease Gods anger he ordained these three Prayer days to be kept in all his Bishoprick which Godly Ordinance the other Christians elsewhere took up of themselves whereof read Mantuanus lib. 4. Fastorum And they were afterwards confirmed and ordered to be kept through all Christendome by Pope Leo the III. in the time of the Emperour Charlemain in the year 816. The 3 Prayer days about Michaelmas are also established by the Popes of Rome who have yet ordered more Litanies but by which of them it was done I could not perceive by their acts Religion being resormed in Feroe the Teachers and Hearers have out of Godly intention kept these 2 sorts of days of Prayer doubtless to the end that in the Spring they might pray to God for his blessings upon the Land with good Fishing increase of Corn and augmentation of Cattel and in the Autumn thank God for his blessings and benefits which custome being pious it is continued to this day The Lord accept of all to the Glory of his Name Of the Hearers THough the Popish Doctrine be much mix'd with humane Superstition and Figments whereby the pure word of God hath been much obscur'd and the simple not able to understand the true ground of their Salvation which doth consist in Christ alone and thereby did put their trust and hope in their own and dead Saints good works nevertheless I find that merciful God hâ—th preserved this poor people in the midst of Popish darkness with the true knowledge of their Salvation though some part may have been spoil'd with old errors and Superstitious Injunctions as the remâ—anâ—s thereof do witness in some But that they have kept the right ground of their Salvation by an uncorrupted Faith in Jesus Christ sheweth a very antient Spiritual Psalm which they in their antient language call Kiomer wherein are contained the four States of Mankind namely their Perfection Corruption Regeneration and perfect Redemption to eternal Life Wherein is also comprehended the Birth Passion and Death of Christ It seems to have been made in Island there being many words of that Language in it Loimer is as much in Danish as Light or Splendour for the Suns beams are yet called in the language of Feroe the Liom of the Sun Wherefore the word of God being compared in the Scripture to a light splendour or shining they have called the said Psalm Liomer as the best splendour and light of Gods word they had I have enquired after it but what I could gather thereof is very imperfect This I must blame in our people of Feroe that almost all of them know the most part of the old Gyants Ballads not only those that are Printed in the Danish Book of Ballads but also many more of the Champions of Norway that may be are forgotten elsewhere here in fresh Memory being usually Sung in their Dances But they have so absolutely forgotten that gracious and useful Song of the true Champion of Israel Jesus Christ that I could not amongst many of them find one person that knew it wholly If our Countrymen of Feroe had as carefully preserved it as they have kept their Gyants Ballads they had not been much to blame for the last
for the praise of our Ancestours ought neither to be put in oblivion though it may be the number of new Psalms hath brought this in contempt and driven it into the Land of forgetfulness Let us therefore hear what good they know and have 〈◊〉 instead thereof It having 〈◊〉 God to kindle a great light for these Inhabitants by the true Exposition of the Gospel they have since so prospered in the knowledge of the true God and of their Salvation that one may truly affirm the like in the knowledge of Religion are not found in Denmark For having so seldom the conveniency to hear the Word of God by the voice of their Teachers the hearers do exercise themselves in reading having their Danish Postills where in the absence of their Priests they read the Explication of the Gospel having besides other spiritual Books as well as that of the holy Scriptures which they read diligently whence they are so well grounded in the word of God that they know in good manner how to confer with their teachers in their meetings about several points of Religion and other passages that are remarkable in the Word of God For all their household sitting for the most part at home in 〈…〉 they exercise themselves contâ—â—ually in Singing of Psalms so that they know more of them without Book then can here be credibly related Wherefore when the Congregation doth meâ—t with the Priest in the Church to serve God they have no need of a Reader to direct their singing but the Priest beginneth and all the hearers sing of themselves after him how difficult soever the Psalm may be for they not only sing without book but almost all the men have their Psalm books with them and antient hearers being so well informed teach also their children whereunto they are continually admonished by their Priests and the Provost in their Visitations Wherefore many of the young ones that are not above 10 or 12 years old know not only the Catechism of Luther with its plain explication but also Doctor Jasper Brockmans Sentences collected out of the Holy Scriptures upon every article of Religion So that this poor people is richly fill'd with all sort of wisdom and intelligence in the Lord God grant them all to dispose their lives according to his true fear least they do bring upon themselves a greater punishment that Servant that knows the will of his Master and doth it not being worthy of many stripes Of the School WHen the Roman Catholick Bishops lived in their house of Kirkeboe they had their Monks with them that were learned in the word of God and in the Latine Tongue according to the rudeness of that age whom they ordained Priests in the Country as is seen by the aforesaid History of King Suerre Since the Reformation the Bishoprick being reduc'd to a Provostship the above-mentioned pious King Christian the III. ordered that the Parish Priest of Thors-haven should also be Schoolmaster there and inform such youths as were put to School where his said Majesty appointing 100 Gilders of Feroe to be paid the School-master by his Majesties Bayliff of Feroe whereof the School-master takes 70 Gilders for his Sallary the rest being imployed to the benefit of the School and Schollars Besides which the Schollars of Feroe are priviledged when they become Students to have their dyet in the Royal University of Copenhagen but that imployment having been hither to a great but then to the Priest there there is little or no fruit proceeded of it in a long time only such youths as were sent to School have been informed in their first elements that there might not grow a general barbarism in the Country which could hardly be otherwise a Teacher having enough to do with his Priesthood if he will attend it as he ought Besides there are often other hinderances in one manner or other and finally a man groweth old weary and weak by reason of which the School must at last lye vacant neither can the School-mastership be taken from the Priest his benefice being very meau in it self except the Supreme Magistrate would be graciously pleased to appoint the place something else instead thereof Nevertheless there are some of the Natives though few in so long time that have been sent from that School to other places to be further informed who at last have been Priests in Feroe namely the following Mr. David in Quivig Mr. Paul Rasmusson in Suderoe Mr. Gabriel Tolleson in Osteroe Mr. John Gabrielson Mittens in Norderoe Mr. John Rassmusson in Thors haven Mr. Jonas Michelson in Koldefiord Which though it had not been yet the School hath done this profit that those persons who have gone to School and have learned to read and write are spread about in the Country of whom many of the Inhabitants have learned to read in Books and others a little to write whereby most part of the men of the Country can read in books But the Inhabitants being here so poor that they are not able to keep their Children to School whereupon they usually excuse themselves My late Predecessor Mr. John Rasmusson represented most humbly their indigency to his Majesty of Glorious Memory King Christian the IV. petitioning for some maintenance for these poor Schollars which his said Majesty received graciously and by his Royal Liberality in the year 1647 the 27 of March gave in perpetuity for the maintenance of poor and indigent Scholiars in Feroe a Vicarage then vacant in Roeskilde called Bonaaltar is Wilhelmi with all the Rents and Revenues of it in such manner that the Bishop of Zealand shall have the inspection and surveigh of the said Vicarage that all things be regulated according to the Statutes of the Chapter and the certain and uncertain revenue thereof be yearly paid and delivered in time to the Bayliff of the Country who is to take care that it be presently put in the hands of the School-Master to be afterwards by his and the Eldest Districts mans consent equally distributed and divided as they Intend to answer for it so that every Scholar that hath need of it and hath wit and inclination to learning as far as the said revenue can reach may receive about the sum of 10 currant Dollars or 10 Gilders of Feroe yearly and the Bishop is to cause the said School-Master to give him an account how this mony is given out and as far as is possible look that those that have means themselves do not enjoy this mony least the poor should suffer need by missing it in regard it hath been graciously appointed by his Royal Majesty out of a Godly and Charitable intention for the relief of the poor only Besides this his said Majesty gave the same year to the School of Feroe 50 Rix Dollars in Specie and the right Honourable the Lord Nicholas Trolle of Trolholme then Councellor of State in Denmark Governour of Roskill and Vice-Admiral of the Kingdom likewise gave of his own Liberality 50
Rix Dollars in Specie and ordered that the said Capital of 100 Rix-Dollars should be left upon interest to the Provost of Feroe that should be inspector of the School one after another and thereof should be paid to poor Schol ars maintenance yearly at Easter the rent viz 6 Rix Dollars They ingaging their year of Grace for the Capital rent and other damage that it might incuire for which 200 Rix Dollars Mr. John Gabrielson Mittens for two years since bought two Fields in Suderoe that the yearly revenue of the School might be received without troubling the Provost he not being able to make use of the mony and it not being possible tâ— imploy them otherwise in that Countrey Since that School hath been so indowed by the Kings Munificiency wherefore the Merciful God be unto his Majesty as well as his said Excellency both dead in the Lord and in good Memory with men a great reward eternally there hath been a pretty conflux thither whereof is come no littel fruit for in the year 1660 in my time three Schollars were dismissed with Testimonies to the University of Copenhagen where they were approved and admitted There were afterwards several persons something grounded in Humanities sent to Copenhagen also where they obtained honestum locum and there are now thence as many Learned Persons of Feroe as could supply all the callings thereof four of them being alteady Priests in that Country but because it would be tedious to expect till all those callings were vacant that they might be provided with their own Countrymen some do seek preferment in Denmark wherefore his Majesty of Glorious Memory King Frederick the Third preferr'd two of those that were sent from that School to the holy office of Priest namely Mr. John Hanson Chaplain in Helsingor and Mr. Thomas Jacobson Parish Priest of St. Peters Church in Borringholme which are the first persons of Feroe that have been advanc'd to any Priests office in Denmark so that more Prophets could yet come from that poor Galilaea if their Parents would sanctifie them to the Lord from their youth CHAP. VIII Of Specters and Illusions of Satan in Feroe THough the Hearers are here free from false Doctrine and Heresie yet Satan doth not omit to trouble them in other manners that he might overcome them There are many examples related by people that live yet how he hath deluded their Parents in the darkness of Popery which we will altogether pass by as a Fable though much of it may be true and here only insert how the said common enemy hath behaved himself towards many persons since the pure light of the Gospel doth shine amongst us in deluding seducing and leading them out of the right path of Gods word for we have here many Examples how he hath taken some away and carried away some restoring them afterwards though weakned in their understanding whereof I will only mention some certain Histories that are yet in the memory of man and some others that have happened whilest I was my self at Feroe I had not a mind to meddle with that matter it being of a very arcane and hidden nature that can scarce or not at all be comprehended by a mortal man but there being many of a weak faith that will not believe there are such Apparitions in nature though many wise and learned men maintain it in their writings and specially Ludovicus Lavaterus a famous Divine in a particular Treatise de Spectris and is so generally known in Feroe that almost every where in the Country where they have read no Books thereof nor heard any relation from other places know it so perfectly by the open works and apparitions of Satan that they are in no doubt at all of it yea that unquiet spirit hath lately plaid a trick in my Congregation and in the whole Country whereby he gave me enough to do though he was forced with shame by the vertue of God to creep away retire into his darkness therefore in spight of him to the destruction of his Kingdom to strengthen the believers and convince unbelievers I have made bold to insert here and put forth the following true Histories and matters of fact It happened about fifty years ago or above that there lived a Tenant called Simon Simonson in the antient Bishop-house of Kirkeloe whereunto belongeth a little Island under Sandoe called Hode or Troldboffred whereupon Oxen feed Winter and Summer There was found on the said Island an Oxe which did not belong to the Farmer nor to any man of the Country wherefore the Bayliff did chailenge the propriety of it in the Kings name and commanded the Farmer to bring him the said Oxe which he prepared todo having with all his folks a great deal of pains before they could overcome it and lay it bound in the Boat but being departed in good weather from the Isâ—and he was with all his folks and the Oxe carried away the Boat coming back safe and whole with all the Oars to land so that there was no sign at all the people could be perished in other manner Besides the Countrey-man had taken with him in the Boat three of his own Oxen that swam in the Sea near the Boat and were taken up This happened as is known to all understanding old people in the year 1617. It arrived for a short while ago namely in the year 1665. that the Tenants Daughter of Froldenesse Gaard in Kalsoe of Norderoe a marriageable maid went in the evening from her work and was lost so that she was never found since Neither is there any likelihood she should be perished the Sea being far from the house and she never having had any sad thoughts wherefore she should undo her self Our Danish Historian Saxo Grammatticus is much blamed by Forein Writers for having amongst other things inserted in his History such incongruous accidents with reason specially how King Hading was led away under the earth by a spirit in the figure of a woman and yet came back again It may also be that the ingenious Reader will blame me as one that filleth this Treatise with Fictions and Fables but I know certainly that what I write did happen so though we cannot comprehend it by reason It was not so strange that such happened in the darkness of Paganism Satan being then powerful amongst unbelievers as it is wonderful it should now come to pass God having implanted his true faith in the heart of the Children of men wherewith they might extinguish the eburning dart of Satan But these Histories being useful partly by their remembrance to draw men from the security of fin incite them to continual prayer and invocation partly that one may not so easily reject the Relations and Writings of the Antient though they do not agree with these times I will therefore proceed to relate some Examples of those that have been carried away and are returned as King Hading joyning thereunto my poor meaning and explication
in the afternoon and that when they rowed out they should sing the Psalm My Shepherd is the living Lord c. and as the Lad going about to wake his Stepfather that lay in the bed with him he departed as before going out through the Roof-hole The next night Jan. 28 th he appeared unto him the fourth time as he was awake as before the young man asked him then who he was He answered that he was Saint John that lay in the bosom of Jesus at the Lords Supper and spake no more but vanished away as formerly He came to him the fifth time in the night presently after the Parish-Priest Mr. Peter Hellison Wiberg was gone to visit his Congregation and asked the Lad if he had declared to the Priest what he had commanded him the young man answered yes adding thereunto that the Priest found very strange that he should appear unto him who was so great a sinner Whereunto the pretended Saint John answered that the Lord had given many signes and giveth yet many signes that are not manifest These apparitions became publike in the Country and many of the simple hearers did put great faith therein Whereupon I did send for the said person examined him and earnestly admonished him that he should not have any thing to do with any such invented figments but the young man persisted in the same affirmation that the said matter was past in the foresaid manner wherefore I have written the matter of fact word by word as he told me But the fire being once kindled would not go out of its self but kindled it self further round about for his fame was spread over all the Islands and in all Congregations the common people giving great credit thereunto specially servants for holydays sake and begun in many places to keep Saturday holy believing really that it was just the person to whom this vision did appear being esteemed by all to be very Godly so that one had never heard a vain word or oath from his mouth Wherefore many observed dilligently their new holyday but they could not desist from cursing swearing besids this they invented themselves many other visions and spread them over the Country the people being much enclined thereunto yea these superstitious people out of their own foolish imagination framed themselves many arguments giving out that as God had illuminated some poor fishers he could also illuminate this simple man that God would make Apostles of Angels and spirits to preach unto men That the Devil cannot take the shape of an Angel can do no good and cannot speak a true or good word concluding thereby that the sanctification of the Saturday was commanded by God and pleasant unto him as a pious action in it self and therefore ought to be observed for the world coming near to its end which the Lord will shorten so ought the last day of the weeks work to be shortened and the day sanctified betimes Whereupon some did rise up against their teachers as it happened unto me by one of my Congregation who stood fast thereupon that to pray and keep holy was a good act and no sin and therefore none could blame or forbid it Thus the common people is easily deceived and deceiveth others Satan having thus suddenly seduced many simple persons from the true Prophetical word and their plainness in Christ I sent to every Priest in the Country a copy of the parties confession about his Visions and therewith added my censure thereof that they might read it in the Pulpit and the hearers know how much thereof babling people had invented and added to these visions and illusions of the Devil and they at the same time teach and mildly admonish their hearers that they should persist in the constant word of God and not seek another way of worshipping him then is contained therein or is injoyned by the Supream Magistrate to his honor how seeming holy soever it might be Having also in the explication of the Catechisme in my visitation according to the spirit and grace which God hath given me done my best to bring them out of that superstition and cunning error At last it happened that the said as was thought Godly person the following year by the induction of that unclean spirit fell into the sin of Fornication wherefore I did in writing refer the great scandal and disturbance he gave in the Congregations to the most Reverend Father in God Dr. John Swanning Archbishop of Zealand from whom I received orders according to the Kings Ordinance that I should publickly admonish the said Jacob Oleson out of the word of God as alâ—o absolve him of his sin and represent to the Inhabitants their great errour in the Church of Thors-haven when the Sessions should be kept and most of the people be present which was done accordingly in the year 1668 on Sâ— Iohn the Baptist day whereby God be praised all this emotion was supprest so that nothing at all hath since been perceived of it That the Canded Reader may not yet frame himself strange imaginations or be so credulous as to believe any such illusions figments and cunning deceptions if Satan either here or elsewhere in the like or other manner practise any this example not being the first nor the last it being more difficult to be aware of the white devil then of the black I have thought fit to add hereunto a plain explication that one may the better know Satan though he change himself in the holyest and most beautiful Angel of Light It is no strange thing that such deceitful apparitions should happen to bring a man into superstition specially in this Country since the Prophecy of Christ must also be fulfill'd here amongst us saying Mat. 24 9 that in the later times there shall arise many false Christs and say here is Christ and there c. so that even the â—lect should be in danger of being seduc'd wherefore he also giveth a very earnest admonition thereupon saying do not go out to them and believe them not God permits such things to prove men and try whether they love him out of all their hearts and souls Deut 1â—â—3 But that none may suffer himself to be seduc'd by every bubble of temptation we will consider and ponderate all h â— circumstances of this deceitful vision As for the person that appeared in a white shining Garment and afterwards 〈◊〉 the Habit of a Priest and spoke pious words and admonitions we know that Satan can change himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. Chap. 11. ver 14. yet the Divel cannot so disguise himself as to hide his Claws which is here perfectly seen by his giving himself out for Saint John that lay on the bosom of Christ at the Lords Supper and besides would teach men a particular Holiday and thereby draw them from the pure revealed word from which no body might swerve-either to the right hand or to the left from which one must neither take
times and in several manners to the antient by his Prophets but now he hath spoken to us by his Son and his Son withdrawing from us his visible presence sent to us his Apostles and Disciples Matth. 28. ver 19. therefore saith Paul we are Messengers in the place of Christ for God admonisheth by us so we pray now in the name of Christ we reconcile our selves unto God 2 Cor. 5. ver 20. We may perceive by the premises that the spirit of lies was not the person whom he pretended to be being much less sent of God as he gave out but was the unclean spirit himself This salutation also gives no little suspition of him when he used an earnest salutation and worship which agreeth little with that of holy Angels but is rather like that of Apollo the Idol of Delphos which always contained some hidden Mystery Neither ought it to be an occasion of error to any that he healed him It may be the young man was cured of himself on the fourteenth day but if it be so as the party solemly protesteth it is easie for the Divel to heal and do good for a bad end that he might thereby confirm men in their errors God hath ratified his word by Miracles that he might thereby strengthen men in the true vivifying faith and besides we have a constant prophetical word which alone we ought to believe 2 Pet. ver 19. But Satan is the ape of God doing often the like things that he may seduce men from faith and the word to superstition and thus be powerful in them Ephes 2 ver 2. The Apostles shewing great signes and miracles by healing the sick and making the blind to see that they might bring blind Heathens from darkness to light and from Belial to Christ Simon the Magician is presently ready to doe the same by the help of Satan as powerfully and masterly to the eyes of all Samaria so that many stuck to him and said this is the great power and vertue of God Acts 8. 9 10. It is needless to add more examples but we must consider that the devil does not do this for a pastime for Christ says of him that he was a Murtherer and a lyer from the beginning John 8. 44. and it is his own nature to speak lyes and as the Father of lies disperse them amongst the Children of men Therefore Paul says plainly to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2. 7. what he seeks by his siâ—â—â— which is thereby to induce man to believe lies wherefore he calls those signs lying wonders not but that they doe sometimes happen amongst men as this example witnesseth but because he seeks thereby to strenthen his lyes against the truth of God his false worship against Gods true adoration his superstition against the true justifying saith for God is truth and his word is truth his will being that all men come to the confession of truth and be saved 2 Tim. 2. 4. But Satan is the Father of lies all his words being nothing but lies and therefore would seduce men from truth to falshord and thereby to damnation with him and what he cannot do with his false words he seeks to execute by his false miracles and signs The prayer which he taught that young man is at the end of Mr. John Thomason's Psalter and hath been continually us'd in houses in the same Town where that young man lived and I do in a manner believe there is some falshood in this relation he having continually heard it said in that place But if it be so that Satan hath taught him it he hath himself found it in the said Book or been present when it was read and therefore could 〈…〉 the young man which is not 〈…〉 â—e being present in the 〈…〉 Lord and rooting the word out 〈◊〉 hearts of many Luke 8. 12. neithâ—◠〈◊〉 it a new thing for him to speak the wâ—rd of God for he knew excellently to make use of the word of God out of Davids Psalms against Gods own son Mat. 4. 6. but it is a wonderful thing that he cannot make use thereof without falsifying it He therefore commanded the party to say it lying upon the threshold of the Church door with his head outwards which this simple man did accordingly till he was converted from his Errors Which foolish and false command of Satan is more worthy to be mocked and laughed at then refuted only hereby is perceived his power of seducing wherewith as in a net he would have taken that poor people The Psalm which he commanded to be Sung when they Rowed out was wholly needless the Inhabitants never going to Sea but they sing that and other Godly Psalms The Prayer which he commands them to pray is most imperfect in many sorts of occasions for which and all other we have a perfect one which the Son of God hath taught us himself Mat 6. 9. c. That he commands Godly exercises and reprehends sins worthy in themselves of reprehension and are alas but too many amongst the children of men threatning thereupon imminent plagues and punishments is his old Sanctity when he will give himself out for an Angel of Light and though all that be good in iâ— self yet he knoweth to extract his own evill out of that good which he also doth by his signs and miracles only endeavouring thereby to draw and seduce the children of God from the fast Prophetical word from the plain Preaching of the word to believe visions and certain apparitions And when he hath brought them thus far he knoweth himself powerful in their superstition and can lead them captive according to his will from one error into another and at last make them believe manifest lyes It was already come so far with this poor people that some cared but little for their Teachers as appeareth by what we have already said which God in his mercy forgive them for they knew no better This is the most dangerous means whereby Satan can seduce men whereby he steals the word out of their hearts which is the only sword wherewith they could put them to flight By what is already said the foolish and erronious arguments of the common people fall of themselves and are reduced to nothing whereby one may see how easie it is to lead such poor Sheep into errors from whence they cannot come out except their Shepherd and Archbishop of their souls recall them by his servants O Christian Reader thou that hast perused the premises and their explication I admonish and warn thee out of a brotherly charity to take occasion from thence in spirit and truth to call dayly upon the Lord thy God to leave off thy great sins and thy bloody oaths not because Satan puts thee in mind thereof but because the Lord commands it thee least Satan who is the continual accuser be not only a perfect accuser but also a true witness of thy disobedience Remember to keep the Saboth holy according to Gods own institution learning thereby to rest from thy sins not only on Holydays but all the days of thy life that thou maiest become worthy to keep the ever lasting Sabath before the throue and the Lamb eternally Ho y Father sanctifie us in thy outh for thy word is truth Amen FINIS