STAVANGER
76
STRENGKAS
into Flemish. But far from merely rendering the Vul-
gate into his native tongue, he has left us a volumi-
nous and learned work of monumental importance.
The title is: " Biblia Sacra Vulgatse editionis, versione
belgica, notis grammaticalibus, literalibus, criticis,
. . . elucidata per FF. Minores Recollectes musae
philologico-sacri antwerpiensis." Of this series he
lived to finish only thirteen Sacred books, which were
published, in seventeen volumes, from 1744 to 1767.
The work was continued by his collaborator and
former pupil, Peter van Hove. In 1765 Smits was
appointed the first prefect of the "Musaum philo-
logico-sacrum ", a Franciscan biblical institute at
Antwerp which, though shortlived, has a glorious
history.
Dirks, Histoire litthaire f! /-,' / ./' j// m/,,, ,;, /,,.- M^rifi/ra
(Antwerp, 1885), 318 sqq., :iMi ,: - -,'.■ ran
het voormaliu MinderbToe'l' i i ^ \! wrrp,
1908), 1(59-99; HOLZAPFEL, //^.,'., ' .; '-■ ,(,',, .', I i,in:is- kanerordens (Freiburg. 1909), oli.'), .09.").
Thomas Pl.^ssmann. Stavanger (Stavangria), Ancient See of (Sta- VANonENsis), in Norway, included the Provinces of Stavanger, Lister and Mandal, and Nedenes. It was formed early in the twelfth century out of the south- ern portion of the Diocese of Bergen, which had in- cluded until then the whole of Western Norway (Gulathingslagen). Reginald, an Englishman and most probably a Benedictine monk from Winchester cathedral, was the first Bishop of Stavanger. With the money given him in 1128 by King Sigurd Jorsala- farer, for allowing that monarch to marry one Cecilia during the lifetime of his consort Queen Mahnfrid, Reginald began the cathedral and founded the chap- ter. He was hanged at Bergen in 11.35 by King Harald Gille upon his refusing to impoverish his see by paying fifteen marks of gold to that monarch, who suspected him of concealing the treasures belong- ing to King Magnus IV. Reginald's successor, John Birgersson, was translated to Trondhjem in 1152, as was also Bishop Eric Ivarsson in 1188. The great quarrel lasting from 1294 to 1303, which Bishop Arne (1276-1303) had with his chapter, was terminated only by the intervention of King Haakon, who de- cided in favour of the chapter and decreed, among other things, that they should have a voice in all nominations to, and deprivations of, benefices in the diocese. Bishop Gutterm Paalsson (1343-50) died of the Black Death. His successor, Arne Aslaksson, also died suddenly at Avignon, whither he had gone to seek a dispensation super defcctu nataliutn. Conse- quently Clement VI appointed Sigfrid, a Swedish Dominican, Bishop of Stavanger by papal provision in 1351. Most of his successors were appointed in the same way after agreement with the king. In 1352 Sigfrid was transferred to Oslo, while Gyrd Aslesson, who had just been appointed to that bishopric, had to accept in 1354 the less lucrative See of Stavanger. He was soon succeeded by Botolph Asbjornsson (13.5.5-81), who gave his library to the chapter and compiled a Domesday Book (Jordebog) for the dio- cese. It has since disappeared. Bishop Audun Eivindsson (1426-55) built many churches and gave the episcopal tithes of Valdres to the Brigittines of Munkalif near Bergen in 1441 in their hour of need. The last Catholic bishop was Hoskold Hoskoldssiin (1513-37), who was taken prisoner by Thord Rod at Bergen .and died there.
The fine Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and St. Swithiinj with its twelfth century Norman nave and its Gothic choir (from r27.")-07), which once contained the shrine of Saint Swilhun, the chapel of the old Bishop's Palace (Munkkirken) dating from the same period as the cathedral choir, King Olaf Tryggvesou's church (from 91»5) on the Island of Moster, the fine thirteenth-ccnlurv church at .\valdsiies, and many other buildings are monuments of the Catholic i)ast. The cathedral chapter consisted of dean, archdeacon,
subdean, and ten canons. The Church of St. Olaf,
Avaldsnes, was collegiate, though most often it was
served by only one priest. It was a royal chapel, as
were also the chapels of St. Peter at Saurboe (Ry-
fylke), of St. Lawrence at Huseby (Lister), and
another chapel dedicated to St. Lawrence at Eger-
sund. The last three chapels were not collegiate.
The only monastery of importance was the Augustin-
ian Abbey of Utstein founded about 1280. The
bishops of Stavanger had many disputes with the
abbots of Utstein. In 1537 the abbey was handed
over to Thrond Ivarsson, who had, however, to main-
tain the monks. Other monasteries are said to have
existed in the Diocese of Stavanger, but little or noth-
ing is known of them. There was a hospital dedicated
to St. Peter at Stavanger itself. There is now a
Catholic church at Stavanger.
Thorkelin, L iplomatarium arna—magnaanum (2 vols.. Copenliagen, 17SG) ; Diptomalarium norvegicu-m, especially IV (Christiania, 1858); Daae, Stamnger Stifl i Middalderem \n Hislorisk Tidssk-rifl, third series, vol. V (Christiania, 1899), 218- 36; Norijes Land og Folk, IX-XI (ibid., 1888. 1893, 1894); Munch, Pavdigt Nunliers Regnskabs-og DagbOger, lg8g-lS34 (Christiania. 1864) ; Storm, Afgifter fra den norske Kirkeprovins, tSll-16SS (ibid., 1S97), 30-39, 113, 114.
A. W. Taylor.
Strengnas (Strence, Strengnesia), Ancient See of (Strengenensis), in Sweden. The diocese consisted of the County of Nykoping, the County of Stockholm south of Lake Malar, and the southern half of the County of Orebro. In S29 St. Anschar and his companion, Witmar, having reached Bjoerkoe (Birca), an island on Lake Malar and a great centre of trade, were well received and made many converts. Returning to Germany in 831, St. Anschar was made first Archbishop of Hamburg by Gregory IV and given a share in the superintendence of the Northern Mission hitherto exercised by Ebbo, Archbishop of Rheims. Ebbo's relative Gautbert (Simon) became Archbishop of Sweden and built a church at Bjoerkoe. This success incurred the enmity of the heathen, who drove him from the country in 837, and slew his rela- tive Nithard. St. Anschar sent Ardgeir to Sweden in 844, but he did not stay long. St. Anschar revisited Bjoerkoe in 853, when a law tolerating Christianity was passed, and until 865 St. Rimbert, the biographer and successor of St. Anschar, and other missionaries worked there. In 936 Archbishop Unni visited Bjoerkoe and died there. In 1066 the city was utterly destroyed. About 1080 St. Eskil, an English bishop, while at Sodermanland, disturbed a heathen sacrifice held at Strengiis and was killed. Botvid, a native layman converted in England, continued the preach- ing of Christianity until his murder, 28 Jidy, 1120, by a Slavonic captive whom he had redeemed. About this time St. Ragnhild, wife of King Inge II, died and was buried at Sodertelje, of which town she became the patron saint. In 1 152 the limits of the Diocese of Strengnas were determined at an assembly at Lin- koping. The first bishop was Gerder (1129-59), who founded a school at the Cluniac monastery of Streng- nas. He was succeeded bv Bishop William (1160- 1208). In 1160 the Ci-stercian Abbey of Juleta was founded. In 1165 Nericia (Xerike) was added to the diocese. About this time the building of Strengnas cathedral was begun. In 1176 or 1179 the new stone church at Botkyrka w.as consecrated by Bishop Wil- liam and Archbishop Stephen of I'psala; the relics of St. Botvid were translated thither. A hospital of St. ,Tohn of Jerusalem Wivs built over the grave of St. F.skil, and was restored in 1255. Bishoji Olaf or Ulf Bonde (120S-24), called Bassatiimir, a nephew of King St. I'ric IX, was transferred to Upsala. The .see hiy vacant for nine years, but in 1233 Bisho)) Tro- gil was elected. About this time the Cistercian nun- nery of Va.arfrubcrga (Mons Marioe) on the Island of Fogdoe and in 1234 the Franciscan priory at Nykop- ing were founded. About 1250 Frogil was succeeded
