Add MS 4867

BANKS COI.LECTION. Vol. Xl (ff. 261). Historical sagas relating to families and heroes of Iceland, and one romantic saga; 17th cent. 'No.

35' according to a note on f. l. Viz.:-

(1) 'Sagann Niála': in 148 chapters. Story of Njál of Bergthórshvoll, (called Brennu-Njál after his death) and his friend Gunnarof Hliðarendi. Since they both lived near the mouths of the Markarfljót in south-west Iceland, one of the names of this saga is Fljóts-hliðinga Saga. lt tells how Gunnar's wife involves him in feuds till he is outlawed and slain, how Christianity is established in Iceland, how Njál and his wife and sons are burned in their house, how Njál's son-in-law Kári (called Brennu-Kári) breaks forth and escapes, and how he pursues the burners. Ed. Ólafr Ólafsson, Copenhagen, 1772. The present copy is rather shorter than the printed one, but agrees with it on the whole, though not in the division into chapters. It is divided (at f. 54b) into two parts, but the numbers of the chapters are continued, and the first of the 2nd part (commencing with the death of Hákon Jarl, and the accession of King Ólafr Tryggvason), is numbered 'Cap. XCIII', which answers to Cap. CI of the printed edition. At f. 3b is a correction taken from one of the vellum copies belonging to Arni Magnússon. The original of Gray's 'Fatal Sisters' (viz. the song of the Valkyriur before Brian Boroimhe's battle of Clontarf,

fought in 1014), occurs here (f. 97b) in the 146th chapter; this corresponds with the 158th chapter of the printed edition. ff. 1-99b.

(2) 'Þaattur af Þorleyfe Jarla Skaallde er kalladr var hinu Spake': in 6 chapters. Narrative of Thorleifr (a poet of Svarfaðardalr in north Iceland), telling how he is ill-treated in Norway by Hákon Jarl. His magic songs bewitch the swords in the Norwegian court, so that they kill many and shave the beard of Hákon Jarl who then raises a spirit, which follows Thorleifr to Iceland and slays him there. ff. 100-103.

(3) 'Sagann af Eyreke Rauda': in 18 chapters. Story of Eric the Red, telling how he comes from Norway to Iceland, how he colonises Greenland in 986, how his son, Leifr, discovers Vinland (supposed to be New England) and how his other son, Thorfinn Karlsefni, explores Vinland further. Printed at Copenhagen in 1838, under the title of 'Thorfinns Saga Karlsefnis ok Snorra Þorbrandssonar' in Grönlands Historiske Mindesmaerker, ed. by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, i, pp. 352-443. The present text corresponds with Codex M of the printed edition. ff. 103b-111.

(4) 'Saga af Þeim Droplaugarsonum Grimi og Helga': in 33 chapters. Story of Droplaug and her sons Grímr and Helgi, who avenge an insult done to their mother. The story tells how Helgi goes through many lawsuits and feuds and is eventually outlawed and exiled. He remains in Iceland and is killed, while Grímr is left for dead, but recovers. After avenging his brother's death, he goes to Norway, and is killed in a duel. A shorter version of this saga was printed at Copenhagen in 1847, as No. 2 of Nordiske Oldskrifter, ed. K. Gíslason, for the 'Nordiske Literatur- Samfund'. The present text is a copy of the longer version (to be found in Arn. Magn. MS. paper, quarto, 551). The saga is sometimes known as Fljótsdaela Saga, from the events relating to Fljótsdalr on the Lagarfljót in east Iceland, which are supposed to have occurred in the 1oth cent. ff. 111 b-144b.

(5) 'Sagann af Brodd-Helga er oðru nafne kallast Vopnfyrdinga Saga': in 19 Chapters, of which the last 6 are not numbered, there being a gap at the end of Chapter 13. Story of Brodd-Helgi, grandson of Thorsteinn the White, a chief on Vápnafjörðr in east Iceland, telling how his brother-in-law Geitir, who has fostered Bjarni, the son of Helgi, quarrels about booty with Helgi and kills him. It then tells how Geitir is killed by Bjarni, how the latter is forced, in his turn, to fight with the son of Geitir, and how, by his forbearance, Bjarni appeases the feud. Printed at Copenhagen in 1848, under the title of Vápnfirðinga Saga, (followed by Þáttr of Þorsteini Hvita etc.) as No. 5 of Nordiske Oldskrifter, ed. G. Thordarson. A marginal note to the gap in Ch. XIII (f. 151) says that in a Saga-book, in the hand of 'Jón Arnorsson', it is stated that Brodd-Helgi fell in 977. ff. 145-155b.

(6) 'Liósvetninga Saga eður Reykdaela': in 55 chapters. Story of families in the neighbourhood of the lake of Ljósavatn and of Reykjadalr

in north Iceland. It relates how Thorgeir Goði of Ljósavatn and Guðmundr Riki of Möðruvellir plead at the Althing in favour of the returned outlaw Sölmundr, while Thorgeir's sons oppose Sölmundr, who has slain one of them in the presence of his father. It then tells how the wife of Guðmundr is insulted at a bridal feast, how Guðmundr takes counsel with his brother, Einar of Þverá, a great astronomer, and how he engages in many lawsuits and feuds. He dies peaceably in his bed in 1025, and his sons follow up the feuds. Printed at Copenhagen in 1830 in Íslendinga Sögur ii, pp. 1-112, which was published by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries. The present copy agrees with Codex S of the printed edition, viz. No. 35, paper, folio, of the Royal Collection at Stockholm. See A. 1. Arwidsson, Förteckning öfver Kongl. Bibliothekets i Stockholm isländska handskrifter. Stockholm, 1848, p. 66. ff. 155b- 185b.

(7) 'Sagann af Bÿrne Hÿtdaela Kappa': in 26 chapters. Story of Björn, champion of Hitardalr in west Iceland, and great-nephew to Egil Skallagrimsson. It tells how he takes service with Eiríkr Jarl in Norway and with King Valdimar in Garðariki, leaving Oddný Thorkelsdóttir betrothed to him for three years. Meanwhile Thórdr Kolbeinsson (a famous Skald) brings false news of his death to Oddný, and marries her. After mutual exchange of many satirical songs, Björn is killed by Thórðr. Printed at Copenhagen in 1847 as No. 4 of Nordiske Oldskrifter, ed. H. Friðriksson. ff. 186-206b.

(8) 'Saga Jóns Hoola Biskups'. Story of Jón Ögmundarson, who was born in 1052 at Fljótshlið in south Iceland. It tells how he gained favour at the courts of Denmark and Norway, and how he reclaimed Saemundr Sigfússon from his absorption in magic studies. It then tells how in 1106 he became first Bishop of Hólar where he built a stone church, and how he performed many miracles. He died in 1121, and his relics were enshrined on 14 Dec. 1198. Printed at Copenhagen in 1856, in Biskupa Sögur, ed. for the Íslenzka Bókmentafélag by Jón Sigurðsson and Guðbrandr Vigfússon, i, pp. 149-202; the printed edition is divided into 45 chapters. ff. 207-225b.

(9) 'Saga af Laurentio Biskupe Hoola': in 59 chapters, preceded by a preface, and followed by a list of chapters. Story of Laurentius Kálfsson who was born in 1267 in Hjaltadalr. It tells how his over-zeal for his diocesan, Jörundr, Bishop of Hólar, brought him into trouble and how he visited Norway, where he became a favourite with the Archbishop of Trondheim. He returned to Iceland as an archiepiscopal legate and had to contend with his old Bishop, Jörundr, and with his successor Auðunn; he was reconciled with the latter, and recommended by him as his successor. Printed in Biskupa Sögur, i, pp. 787-877. The present copy agrees with this; but the deficiencies occurring in the middle of the original vellum MS. (Arn. Magn. folio, 180) have here been supplied,

probably in the manner described in the Preface (p. lxxxvi) of Biskupa Sögur. All the copies are imperfect at the end. Imperfect. ff. 226-249b.

(10) 'Sagann af Þorsteine Hvita á framann vid Vopnfirðinga Sogu'. Story of the blind Thorstein the White who has a son, Thorgils, and a grandson, Helgi (see art. 5). Thorstein the Fair kills Thorgils, who has been drawn innocently into a blood-feud but later repents and places his head on the knees of the blind old Thorstein, who adopts him. Thorstein the Fair lives with him till Helgi grows up but Thorstein the White then sends him away, lest there should be feuds in his house. Printed in Copenhagen in 1848, as No. 5 of Nordiske Oldskrifter, pp. 33-47, next to Vápnfirðinga Saga (the story of Brodd-Helgi). ff. 250-255b.

(11) 'Sagann af Gormi Kongi inum Gamla': in 7 chapters. Story of Gormr Gamli, King of Denmark, telling how he entertains at his court an Icelander, called Thorkell Snarsson, further designated Attalafari (styled Torchillus Athelfarerus in the Chronologia of Cornelius Hamsfort; see J. Langebek, Scriptores Rerum Danicarum, i, Copenhagen, 1772, p. 267). He hears from Thorkell the tales about the deceiving spirit, Útgarða- Loki, and they make an expedition together in search of him. Thorkell is compelled to undertake a second expedition alone and returns with a hair from the beard of Loki. King Gormr then dies of mortification. A version of the history of 'Gormo', the father of 'Gotricus', is related at the end of the 8th book of the Historia Danica of Saxo Grammaticus; see the edition of P. E. Müller, Copenhagen, 1839, pp. 420-433. According to the Notae Uberiores to the same edition, ii, p. 248, these adventures were probably connected by tradition with the name of the historical Gorm the Old (King of Denmark at the beginning of the 10th century) but ascribed to the mythical Gorm by Saxo. The story is founded upon the journey of Thor to Útgarðr related in the Younger Edda; see the Arna-Magnaean edition of Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, i, Copenhagen, 1848, pp. 140-166. N. F. S. Grundtvig in Denmarks Kronike af Saxe Runemester, Copenhagen, 1855, p. 812 (in Register under Lukas) reckons this as one of the three principal legends transmitted to Saxo from England (the other two being Hedding and Hamlet) through the narrations of Lucas the Englishman, who was clerk to Christopher (son of Valdemar the Great, d. 1182). ff. 256-261b.

includes:

• ff. 1-99b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann Niála': 1690.
• ff. 100-103 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: '_aattur af _orleyfe Jarla Skaallde': 1691.
• ff. 103 b-111 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Eyreke Rauda': 1691.
• ff. 111b-144b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af _eim Droplaugarsonum Grimi og Helga': 1691.
• ff. 145-155b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Brodd-Helga': 1691.
• ff. 155b-185b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Liósvetninga Saga': circ. 1691.
• ff. 186-206b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Bÿrne Hÿtdæla Kappa': 1692.
• ff. 207-225b Jón Ögmundarson, d 1121 Bishop of Hólar: Life of: 1692.: Icelandic.
• ff. 207-225b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga Jóns Hoola Biskups': 1692.
• ff. 226-249b Lárentíus Kálfsson, d 1330 Bishop of Hólar: Life of: circ. 1692.: Icelandic.
• ff. 226-249b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Laurentio Biskupe Hoola': circ. 1692.
• ff. 250-255b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af _orsteine Hvita': circ. 1692.
• ff. 256-261b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Gormi Kongi inum Gamla': circ. 1692.