Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1957, Page 31

CHAPTER I
I I
Bishop GuSbrandur, who had also naturally charged AJ with the
task of getting it published in Denmark. This manuscript served
as an introduction for AJ into the circle of humanists with which
he quickly came into contact in Copenhagen. It is evident that AJ
did not occupy himself exclusively with Bishop GuSbrandur’s
lawsuits there, but also took the opportunity to meet a number
of the leading historians. This acquaintance was to have a deci-
sive influence on his later work.
We can reconstruct AJ’s travels in the autumn of 1592 from
entries in his note-book, printed in Apotribe. He sailed first to
Hamburg, where he must have arrived in September (see III
12215 and note). The entry here is admittedly not dated, but it
must be older than the one following, which is dated Oct. ist in
Liibeck (III 12114). From Liibeck AJ went on to Rostock, where
amongst others entries dated Oct. 23rd and 28th were written
(III 11723, 11835, 12228). He travelled to Copenhagen from
here, presumably in the beginning of November, since Joh.
Freder wrote to him 29/11 1592 and spoke of his stay in Ro-
stock “ante septimanas non ita multas” (III 9112).
AJ probably stayed in Rostock most of October. Several Ice-
landers studied at the University there in the last decades of the
sixteenth century (see PE61. Mom. IV 8-9), specially attracted
it seems by the famous theologian, David Chytræus (see note to
III 578). During his stay, AJ got to know Chytræus and his son-
in-law, Joh. Freder, and obviously made an extremely favour-
able impression on them, as may be seen from those of their
letters to him which are preserved (III 91-2, 96, 98, 105-6).
David Chytræus was also a productive historical writer, and AJ
used several of his books in his own works later. When Chytræus
had read Brevis comm., he urged AJ to write a description of
Iceland and an account of its history, and he sent him books after
his return (III 96). AJ too speaks of both these men in terms of
high praise in Apotribe (III 57).
It appears certain that very soon after his arrival in Copen-
hagen AJ was introduced to Arild Huitfeldt, who was then
Chancellor and consequently had to consider the case brought by
Bishop GuSbrandur. AJ’s acquaintance with Huitfeldt soon be-
came however of quite a different nature, for he began working