The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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King Suerron ( - )

References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Three more Round BONES of a WHALE; all of them lesser, and one ratably thicker than the former; the other thinner, like a white penny Loaf. The third the thinnest, almost like a Tansey.

Wormius (a) (a) Musæum. makes mention of a Manuscript, entituled, Speculum Regale£ but written in the ancient Danish- Tongue, as he saith is supposed, by King Suerron; in which are reckon'd up two and twenty kinds of Whales: of all which he gives a brief account in his Musæum. Of which, the last save one, is said to be sometimes almost an hundred and thirty Elns long. The last of all, liker a little Island, than an Animal.

Bartholine (b) (b) Hist. Cent. 4. also reckons up the same number; but with some different Names, and a different Account; which he gives from a Manuscript History of the Fishes of Iceland: which, saith he, a curious and observing Shepherd of Iceland sent to Wormius some years before his death, with all their Figures. But how these two accounts agree, I see not. I would not think, That Wormius did here put in the King, and leave out the Shepherd, to make the story better.

On the Snout of one of these Whales, called Hoddunefur, grow about five hundred horny flat pieces, which Taylors in Denmark use in making of Cloaths. (a) (a) Ibid. The same in substance, with that we call Whale-Bone, belonging to the Finns. In Island they are so commonly taken, That the hard Bones are there used for the impaling of Houses and Gardens. (b)(b) Mus. Rom.