Add MS 4859

BANKS COLLECTION. Vol. III (ff. 370). Collection of Sagas, made for Magnús Jónsson of Vigr, and copied by Jón Þorðarson, (with the exception of art. 16) in the years 1693-1697, according to the dates added to the sagas, although the title-page bears the date of 1696. 'No 33' according to a note on f. 1. Viz.:-

(1) 'Saga af Hromunde Greipssyne': in 5 chapters (which contain as much as the printed Saga in 10 Chapters). Story of the exploits of a Viking, attached to a Russian (or, according to some, a Danish) King Olaf, against the fiery Vampire of King Thrain in Valland (France), and against the hero Helgi and the Valkyria Kara in Sweden. Other copies are in Add. MSS. 4875, f. 16; 11108, f. 105; and 11109, f. 106b. Printed as No. 8 in Nordiska Kämpa-Dater, ed. E. J. Björner, Stockholm, 1737, and in C. C. Rafn, Fornaldar Sögur Nordrlanda ii, Copenhagen, 1829, pp. 365-380. The second part of this saga is founded upon the lost Kara-Lay, which is mentioned in the Edda. The first part has been used by Tegnér in his poem, Frithiof's Saga. ff. 2-6.

(2) The saga of Bragda Ölvis: in 5 chapters. Story of a Norwegian, Ölver, who is commissioned by the Danish King, Sweyn Estrithson, to kill an outlaw, Haki, in Russia. The story also tells of the wonders wrought by Ölver's magic sword and belt. Another copy is in Add. MS. 4875, f. 22. ff. 6b-9b.

(3) 'Saga af Valldemar Saxakóngs syne': in 7 chapters. Story of the adventures of Valdemar, son of King Philip of Saxland (a general name for Germany), in his search after his sister Marmoria, who has been carried away by a dragon. Printed in Fjórar Riddara-sögur, ed. H. Erlendsson and E. Thorðarson, Reykjavik, 1852, p. 98. ff. 10-14b.

(4) 'Myrmanns (or Myrmants) Saga': in 27 chapters. Story of 'Myrmant' who, after being baptised with King Clovis, returns home to Saxland and finds his father (Earl Herman) sacrificing in the house of 'Maument'. He kills his father in self-defence, and is given poison by his mother, which makes him a leper. After a pilgrimage to Rome and a visit to the medical school of Salerno, he is cured by Cecilia, daughter of King William of Sicily. Printed in Eugen Kölbing, Riddarasögur, Strasburg, 1872, pp. 137-213, with notes in the Preface, pp. xxxix-xlviii. ff. 15-31b.

(5) 'Ívents Saga': in 15 chapters. The title is preceded by the heading, 'Sögur af Artus Kóppum', this story being the first of a series of sagas on the Knights of King Arthur. Cf. Add. MS. 4857, art. 12. ff. 32-45b.

(6) 'Saga af Parcevai Artus Kappa': in 18 chapters. The early adventures of Sir Percival, containing incidents from Perceval (or Li contes del graal), by Chrétien de Troyes. Printed in Riddarasögur, pp. 1-53. ff. 46-60b.

(7) 'Valuers Þáttur, sem var eirn af Artus Kauppum': in 5 chapters. Another episode from the Perceval of Chrétien de Troyes, relating how Sir Gawain loses his horse. Printed in Riddarasögur, pp. 55-71. ff. 61-65b.

(8) 'Saga af Erex Artus Kappa': in 14 chapters. An adaptation of the Erec et Enide of Chrétien de Troyes. At the end the transcriber has

stated that the saga of Samson the Fair, which should follow, has been omitted because Magnús Jónsson already possesses a copy of it. ff. 66-74b.

(9) 'Møttuls Saga': in 11 chapters. A version of the fabliau called 'Cort Mantel' or 'Le mantel mautaillé'. According to the first chapter it is the translation made from the French for King Hákon Hákonarson. The title of this saga in the Table of Contents is 'Saga af Møttle eðr Skyckiu-saga', both 'möttull' and 'skickia' signifying a mantle. ff. 75-81.

(10) 'Lijfs saga Þess nafnfraega Virgelij: vtløgd vr Hollendsku Maale': in 13 chapters. Story of the foundation of Rome, of the Emperors Remus and Perseus, and of the wonderful works of the wizard Virgilius. For an account of the Dutch original of this romance (published by H. S. Muller at Amsterdam in 1552), see J. Görres, Die teutschen Volksbücher, Heidelberg, 1807, pp. 225-229. ff. 8 Ib-91.

(11) 'Saga af Illhuga Gryðar Foostra': in 4 chapters. Story of the adventures of Illugi in Finmark, where he breaks the enchantments that have transformed a princess into a hag named Gryðr, and marries her daughter. Other copies are in Add. MSS. 11109, f. 136; 11159, f. 77b; and 24969, f. 91. Printed with a Swedish translation by Gudmund Olofsson, Upsala, 1695. It is also printed in Fornaldar Sögur, iii, Copenhagen, 1830, pp. 648-660. ff. 91b-94.

(12) 'Saugu Þattur af Halfdaane kónge hinum Suarta': in 3 chapters. Narrative of the life of Hálfdán the Black, King of the Uplands in Norway, and father of Haraldr Hárfagri, relating principally to his adventures with the Giant Dopi. For a fuller narration of the same adventures, see the MS. at Copenhagen called 'Flateyjarbók', and the text printed from it in C. C. Rafn, Fornmanna Sögur, x, Copenhagen, 1835, pp. 167-176, and in Flateyjarbók, published by P. T. Malling at Oslo, 1860, i, pp. 561-567. ff. 94b-96.

(13) 'Sagann af Gøngu Hrólfe', or (as entitled in the latter portion) 'af Hrolfe Sturlaugssyne': in 26 chapters. Cf. Add. MS. 4857, art. 1. ff. 96b- 118b.

(14) 'Sagann af Aarmanne og Þorsteine Gála': in 11 chapters. Story of how Þorstein the Wag recovers his father's sheep from three weird women, with the assistance of Ármann, a hero who is half human and half mountain spirit. This is followed by other adventures with a queen of Bjarmaland. In Ámanns Saga, Hrappsey, 1782, the adventures of Þorstein are related, but with essential variations. ff. 119-128b.

(15) 'Sagann af Baudvare Biarka': in 16 chapters. Story of Böðvar, one of the champions of the Danish hero-king, Hrólfr Kraki. This is an abridgment of the saga, of which an abstract is given by Björner at the end of Rolf Krake's saga (No. 5 of Nordiska Kämpa-Dater). ff. 129- 142.

(16) 'Søgu-þátt Callinij'. Narrative of the great fall of the French Judge (or, as some say, Knight) Callinius, who regains his wealth and

power by making a compact with the Devil, and cheats him by waiting for him, at the appointed hour, tied to a cross. Said at the beginning to have been translated from the Latin. ff. 142b-145b.

(17) 'Sagann af Heidreke Konunge og hans Aettmønnum': in 19 chapters, two of which are wrongly numbered. The Story of Hervör, who evokes the spirit of her father, Angantýr, from his barrow in order to obtain the fatal sword Tyrfing, and of her son Heiðrekr, and his wit-combat with Gestr the Blind. At the end the scribe, Jon Þorðarson, apologises for being unable to correct the text sufficiently. Two other copies of this saga are in Add. MS. 11108, ff. 2, 19. Printed under the name of Hervarar Saga, ed. O. Verelius (with a Swedish translation and Latin notes) at Upsala in 1671. It also appears in Fornaldar Sögur, i, Copenhagen, 1829, pp. 411-512, where the editor has used an Arna-Magnaean MS. (paper, quarto, 345) which is evidently from the same sources as the present copy, and which was also written in 1694. ff.146-162b.

(18) 'Saga Hakonar konungs Hakonar sonar hins Krunada': in 87 chapters. History of Hákon Hákonarson (King of Norway, 1217-1262) by Sturia Thorðarson, a nephew of Snorri Sturluson. Printed in B. Thorlacius and E. C. Werlauff, Noregs Konunga Sögur, v, Copenhagen, 1813, p. 1. It is also printed in Fornmanna Sögur, ix, Copenhagen, 1835, pp. 229-535, and x, pp. 1-154. The text agrees closely with the imperfect Arn.-Magn. MS. (quarto, 47.) Imperfect. ff. 163-237b.

(19) 'Saga af likla Petre': in 31 chapters. A translation (through the German) of 'The Fair Magelone', a romance said by F. J. M. Raynouard (Choix des Poèsies Originales des Troubadours, ii, Paris, 1817, p. 317) to have been written in the 12th cent. by Bernard de Treviez, a canon of Maguelonne in Languedoc. See J. G. T. Grässe, Lehrbuch einer Literärgeschichte der berühmtesten Völker des Mittelalters, iii, Dresden and Leipzig, 1842, pp. 386-387, and R. Nyerup, Almindelig Morskabslaesning, Copenhagen, 1816, pp. 134-135. ff. 240-264b.

(20) 'Knýtlinga Saga': in 112 chapters. History of the Canute family, from King Sweyn, father of Canute the Great, down to Canute VI, son of Valdemar the Great. Printed under the title of Aefis Dana-Konunga eðr Knytlinga Saga: Historia Cnutidarum Regum Daniae, ed. Hans Gram and Bernard Mölman, circ. 1750, and in Fornmanna Sögur, xi, Copenhagen, 1828, pp. 177-402. The present copy begins with the 22nd chapter of the printed edition: see Fornmanna Sögur, xi, p. 207. At f. 279 is a slip of paper, with an entry of the names of 'Letzelia Sigurdardotter a Svangrund og Sigridur Teitsdotter'. ff. 265-312b.

(21) 'Aefintýr af Snidwlfe bónda og hanz ótrwu konu'. An anecdote of a bóndi named Snidulf, who lived in the time of Pope Paul I 'in the part of Italy called Burgundy'. It tells how his wife's infidelity is proved by her ring's floating in water, and how he is murdered, and discloses the deed to a friend in a dream. ff. 313-313b.

(22) 'Remundar Saga': in 40 chapters. Story of Remund, son of the Emperor Rygardur of Saxland. It tells of his adventures in Africa, where he overcomes Achilles, the son of King Eneas, and in Malabar, where he wins Elena the daughter of King John of India. ff. 314-344.

(23) 'Sagann af Kyrielax Keysara': in 42 chapters. The story of Kyrialax, who was the son of King Laicus of Greece, and eventually became Emperor of Constantinople. At ff. 347, 347b, are pen and ink drawings of 'Homocentaurus' and 'Domus Dedali' or 'Vølundar Hws'. An extract from this saga has been edited by Konrad Gislason in Fire og fyrretyve Prøver af Oldnordisk Sprog og Literatur, Copenhagen, 1860, pp. 400-406. ff. 344b-366.

(24) 'Sagann af Týto og Gesippo': in 9 chapters. A translation of the 8th Novel of the 10th day of the Decameron, omitting the epilogue on friendship. ff. 367-370b.

Magnús Jónsson, of Vigr: Collections of sagas made for: 1667-1697.: Icelandic.

Jón Thórdarson: Copied: in 1693-1697.

includes:

• ff. 2-6 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Hromunde Greipssyne': 1695.
• ff. 6b-9b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Bragda Ölvis': circ. 1695.
• ff. 10-14b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Valldemar Saxakóngs syne': circ. 1695.
• ff. 15-31b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Myrmanns Saga': circ. 1695.
• ff. 32-45b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Ivents Saga': 1693.
• ff. 46-60b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Parceval Artus kappa': 1694.
• ff.61-65b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Valvers _áttur, sem var eirn af Artus Kauppum': circ. 1695.
• ff. 66-74b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Erex Artus kappa': circ. 1695.
• ff. 75-81 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Möttuls Saga': circ. 1695.
• ff. 81b-91 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Lijfs saga _ess nafnfræga Virgelij': 1694.
• ff. 91b-94 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Illhuga Grydar Foostra': circ. 1695.
• ff. 94b-96 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saugu _attur af Halfdaane kónge hinum Suarta': circ. 1695.
• ff.96b-118b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Gongu Hrólfe': 1694.
• ff. 119-128b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Aarmanne og _orsteine Gála': 1694.
• ff. 129-142 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Baudvare Biarka': 1694.
• ff.142b-145b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sögu-_átt Callinij': circ. 1694.
• ff. 146-162b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Heidreke konunge og hans Ætmonnum': 1694.
• ff. 163-237b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga Hakonar konungs Hakonar Sonar hins Krunada': circ. 1694.
• ff. 240-264b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af likla Petre': 1695.
• ff. 265-312b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Knytlinga Saga': 1695.
• ff.313-313b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Æfintyr af Snidwlfe bónda og hanz otrwu konu': circ. 1695.
• ff.314-344 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Remundar Saga': circ. 1695.
• ff. 344b-366 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Kyrielax Keysara': circ. 1695.
• ff.367-370b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Tyto og Gesippo': 1697.