Northern Antiquities/Volume 1

by Paul Henri Mallet

Northern Antiquities.

VOLUME I.

Description of the Manners, &c. of the Ancient Danes.

Northern Antiquities:

OR,

A DESCRIPTION

OF THE

Manners, Customs, Religion and Laws

OF THE

ANCIENT DANES,

And other Northern Nations;

Including those of

Our own SAXON ANCESTORS.

WITH

A Translation of the Edda, or

System of RUNIC MYTHOLOGY,

AND

OTHER PIECES,

From the Ancient Islandic Tongue.

In TWO VOLUMES.

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TRANSLATED

From Mons. Mallet’s Introduction a l’ Histoire de Dannemarc, &c.

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With Additional Notes

By the English Translator,

AND

Goranson's Latin Version of the Edda.

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VOLUME I.

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LONDON:

Printed for T. Carnan and Co. at No. 65. in

TO HIS GRACE

THE

DUKE

OF

NORTHUMBERLAND.

My Lord,

THE following work is inscribed to your Grace with the most genuine respect, and, I flatter myself, not without propriety, since it may possibly afford amusement to one of the most polished Noblemen of the present age, to observe from what rude and simple beginnings our highest improvements have been derived; and to trace, to their source, those peculiarities of character, manners and government, which so remarkably distinguish the Teutonic nations.

Among the historical digressions which our Author has scattered through his work, is a full relation of the first settlement of the Normans in France. This cannot but be interesting to your Grace, as the great Family, which you so nobly represent, derived their origin from one of the Northern Chiefs, who assisted in that conquest. From the place of their residence in Lower Normandy^[1], they took the name of Percy; a name, which was afterwards eminently celebrated in our English annals, and which you have revived with additional lustre.

Among the many shining and amiable qualities which distinguish your Grace and the Dutchess of Northumberland, none have appeared to me more truly admirable than that high respect and reverence, which you both of you show for the heroic Race whose possessions you inherit.

Superior to the mean and selfish jealousy of those, who, conscious of their own want of dignity or worth, consign to oblivion the illustrious dead, and wish to blot out all remembrance of them from the earth; you, my Lord, have, with a more than filial piety, been employed for many years in restoring and reviving every memorial of the Percy name.

Descended, yourself, from a most ancient and respectable Family; and not afraid to be compared with your noble predecessors the Earls of Northumberland, you have repaired their monuments, rebuilt their castles, and replaced their trophies: and whatever appears to be any way connected with them, is sure to attract your attention and regard.

With this generosity of mind, added to your taste, munificence, and love of the arts, can we wonder that your name is the delight and ornament of the English nation? or that it is equally dear to a sister country, where your upright and disinterested plan of government, your politeness and magnificence established your dominion over every heart; and where the engaging and exalted virtues of the Dutchess have left an impression never to be effaced.

That you may both of you long enjoy those distinguished honours and that princely fortune, which you so highly adorn: That they may be transmitted down, in your own posterity, to the latest ages, is the sincere and fervent wish of

My Lord,

Your Grace’s

Most humble, and

mdcclxx. Most devoted servant,

The editor.

CONTENTS

OF

VOLUME I.

Translator’s Preface.

Proofs that the Teutonic and Celtic Nations were ab origine two distinct People.

The Author’s Preface.

General Account of the Work, its Connection with his proposed History of Denmark, &c.

CHAPTER I.

Denmark described and the several Countries subject to its crown, viz. Norway, Iceland, Greenland. Page 1

CHAP. II.

Of the first Inhabitants of Denmark, and particularly of the Cimbri. p. 20

CHAP. III.

Of the Grounds of the Ancient History of Denmark and of the different opinions concerning it. p. 41

CHAP. IV.

Of Odin, his Arrival in the north, his Conquests and the Changes which he made. p. 58

CHAP. V.

A general idea of the Ancient Religion of the Northern Nations. p. 74

CHAP. VI.

Of the Religion which prevailed in the North, and particularly in Scandinavia after the death of Odin. p. 84

CHAP. VII.

Of the Exterior Worship and Religious Ceremonies of the Northern Nations. p. 124

CHAP. VIII.

Of the form of Government which formerly prevailed in the North. p. 156

CHAP. IX.

The passion of the antient Scandinavians for Arms: their Valour: the manner in which they made War. A Digression concerning the state of Population among them. p. 193

CHAP. X.

Of the Maritime Expeditions of the ancient Danes. p. 245

CHAP. XI.

Sequel of the Maritime Expeditions of the ancient Danes and Norwegians. The discovery of Iceland and Greenland, and of an unknown country called Vinland [thought to be part of North America.] p. 268

CHAP. XII.

Of the Customs and Manners of the ancient Northern Nations. p. 306

CHAP. XIII.

Sequel of the Customs, Arts, and Sciences of the ancient Scandinavians. p. 347

Conclusion. p. 405

An Account of the Author, extracted from La France Literaire, 2 Tom. 1769, 12mo. [Tom. I. pag. 326.]

Paul Henry Mallet

is a native of Geneva: He was sometime Royal Professor of Belles Lettres at Copenhagen, and one of the Preceptors of the Prince of Denmark, now King Christian VII. He is a member of the Academies at Upsal and Lyons; and a correspondent of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres in France. His works are,

• Histoire de Dannemarck, &c. (i. e. The History of Denmark) 1755. 3 vol. 4to. or 1763. 6 vol. 12mo.
• Forme du Gouvernement de Swede. (i. e. The Form of Government of Sweden.) 1756.
• Abregé de l'Histoire de Dannemarck. (i. e. An Abridgment of the History of Denmark.) 1760. 8vo.
• Histoire de Hesse. (i. e. The History of Hesse.) 1766. 8vo.

1. Near Villedieu, in the district of St. Lo.