Norse Vikings predated Columbus exploring North America – Smoking gun part 3

Smoking gun part 3
The Norwegian King’s men

1319 Magnus Eriksson, son of the Swedish Duke Erik killed in ”Nyköpings gästabud” and the Norwegian princess Ingeborg, inherited the thrones of Sweden and Norway. Sweden at that time was much larger than today. King Magnus great-grandfather Birger Jarl had lost the Tax-Rights for more than 80 merchandise-towns in today’s Russia, but Birger Jarl had conquered the Tavasts in Tavesteland Finland and thus most of Finland as well as Sveaborg close to Neva River belonged to Sweden.

Norway was one of the larger countries in Europe from Viking Age on to the end of Kalmarunionen’s final annulment in 1521. In 1253 Pope Innocentius IV decided that the Archbishop of Nidaros and Kardinal Nicolaus of Alba would be the Catholic leaders for Oslo, Hammer, Bergen, Stavanger, Orkney, Iceland and Greenland bishops. After hard negotiations between the Pope and the Norwegian King, Norway in 1274 had the sole sovereignty over Greenland, Shetland Islands, Faeroe Islands as well as the Norwegian land in the Universe’s outer most distant areas. Not mentioned, but certainly not forgotten, is Orkney Islands where Earl Sinclair, a distant relative to Scandinavian Royal Families, swore the oath to the Norwegian King.

King Magnus Eriksson was a minor when he inherited Sweden and Norway. In Norway same Paul Knutson, later known as Lawman of Gula Thing, looked after his and his mother’s interests. This might be the reason why we do have a lot of documentation for Paul Knutson, including a smoking gun for him participating with Ivar Bardson (see below) sailing for the Noregian King to Greenland to look for the missing settlers of Western Settlement.

From 1325 to 1340 the Catholic Church had increased it’s property in Greenland. Not only had the monastery in Western Settlement inherited land and farms, they had also ”taken” percentage of farms instead of fur, walrus bone and cod-fish for the tithes payment.

By 1340, nearly all of the Western Settlement’s 190 farms had been expropriated by the Church and Monestries. The once free and independent Greenlanders were reduced to the status of serfs and tenant farmers on their own former owned farms.

The King intended to stress the Norwegian King’s Rights to 10% tax for all goods collected in Greenland sold to Europe. This together with the new registration of churches under King Magnus Eriksson’s rule which was underway in 1341 changed the life for ever especially in the Western Settlement. Same year 8th August 1341 Bishop Haakon of Bergen writes a Passport for Ivar Bardsson, priest in Bergen’s Diocese. Ivar Bardsson is about to sail to Greenland as a representative for Bergen’s diocese which have been given the commission to collect the tithes from the inhabitants of Greenland. (Diplomatarium Norvegivum bind 5 nr 152)

This changed life for the Greenlanders. First 10 % to the church than 10% of they trade-goods to the Crown of Norway, who’s representative was the Commissioner stationed at the home of the Bishop of Gardar. The King of Norway also had the rights to collect tax for what was growing on land owned by farms in Greenland. As late as during the Kalmar Union days it’s noted that Queen Margaretha I had hard cheese delivered to her ”fatabur” (Royal household) But during Magnus Eriksson’s day as Norwegian ruler, in other words when he was King of Norway as well as when his son Hakon had been elected King of Norway with Magnus as a Guardian, it’s noted that Garfalcons, white headed eagles, ivory and exclusive furs were sent from Greenland via Bergen or Orkney Islands reloaded to sail via Sveaborg (close to Russian river Nova) as far as to the Emper of China.

The trade between Iceland and Norway were increasing. In 1342 6 Norwegian trading ships arrives in Iceland. Nota bene it’s the King of Norway who directly or via his representatives in Bergen and Orkney have the rights for this trade. Apart from the normal taxation of the Greenlanders, Norwegian King also had the rights to tax all trade. The King took as mentioned above 10% of the profit.

Ivar Bardson/Bardarson was the Intendent for the Bishop of Gardar during several years. In 1342 Ivar Bardson visits the Western Settlement. If it Ivar Bardson’s brother [IEJ: not confirmed to be a brother of birth, but they share the name Bardson/Bardarsson and are said to be from same farm] hadn’t studied religion to become a priest together with a Pope to be, than we might not have heard so much about Ivar Bardson. But now we have several documents among them Papal letters dealing with information re. Ivar Bardson.

We don’t know for sure if it was during this first visit to the Western Settlement or a second one in 1342/43 Ivar Bardson wrote his report. The report that he left gives an impress that the Western Settlement decided en masse to clear out for parts unknown. ”The inhabitants of Greenland fell voluntarily away from the true faith and the Christian religion, and after having given up all the good manners and true virtues, turned to the people of America (‘ad Americae populos se converteunt’ ) Some say that Greenland lies away near the western lands of the world.”

What we do know is that the Icelandic Annals for 1342, copied from the original parchment in 1637 by Bishop Isle Odds, reporta that there was a quarrel going on between the Papal Church and the Western Settlers might be confirmed by a note that ”The inhabitants of Greenland voluntarily left the Christian faith and turned to the American people”. (Icelandic Annal 1342)

We don’t know for sure if Ivar Bardson returned to Bergen in late 1343 or early 1344. What we do know is that in 1344 6 Norwegian trading ships sailed for Iceland and Thord Eigilsson sailed to Greenland for the King and returned with the Knarr filled with a rich cargo. By that time At that time Ivar Bardsson had returned to Bergen.
That we know because in a Papal letter written 18th March 1344 Pope Clemens VI who had received a request from Ivar Bardsson to be appointed for a guest-appointment as Priest in Bergen’s Diocese take special precaution in helping Ivar Bardson.
The Pope wrote:
Supplicat sanctitati vestre Juarus Barderi presbiter Bergensis diocesis nullum beneficium ecclesiasticum assecutus quatinus sibi specialem gratiam facientes de aliquo beneficio ecclesiastico cum cura uel sine cura spectante ad collationem prouisionem seu quamuis aliam disposicionem episcopi Bergensis si quod in ciuitate uel diocesi Bergensibus vacat ad presens uel quam primum vacauerit eidem de benignitate sedis apostolice dignemini prouidere cum acceptatione inhibitione
decreto et clausula anteferri et cum omnibus alijs non obstantibus et clausulis oportunis ac executoribus deputatis ut in forma Fiat ad marcas uel florenos uel libras sicut asueuit fieri in can- cellaria in illa diocesi quam alias non audiuimus nominari ad summam paulo maiorem quam in forma communi. R – Et quod transeat sine alia leccione. – Fiat. ………”
Source: (Diplomatarium Norvegicum bind 6 nr 171, after original reg. in Reg. suppl. Clem. VI. an. II. p. 2. fol. 161 vs)

A few years later Ivar Bardson returned to Gardar and once again in the late 1940’s, he visited Sandnes, the same farm in Western Settlement as he had done once before. This time he found the farm abandoned by humans. While looking around he found a few animals, intact farms but no trace of violence nor any Greenlanders neither living nor dead. The information Ivar Bardson gives doesn’t correspond with the dating of Icelandic Annals.

The news from 1342 about the Greenlanders abandoning the Catholic Church had from Bergen reached the Pope as well as King Magnus Eriksson. King Magnus was married to Bianca of Namur in Flandern, born in a family with as close and long relations to the Papal Church. The marriage between King Magnus and Bianca of Namur had been intended to be a political marriage. Instead the two Royalty actually fell in love of each other. St Birgitta didn’t think it right that a man and a woman actually should enjoy the physical act. Due to this fact she tried to encourage King Magnus to go on Crusades. Later on she spread the rumor that the King only was interested in men.

First Crusade of King Magnus Eriksson was towards the Finns who at this time grow closer to the Orthodox Church. When the Pope wrote a letter demanding that the Archbishops to make certain that the right, I.o.W. Papal Church, Christianity was spread to the out most distant places in the Seed’s area , St. Birgitta encouraged King Magnus to borrow enough money of the Catholic Church for those crusades.

3rd November 1354 King Magnus chose Paul Knutsson the Gula Ting’s Lawman and former Queen’s (Magnus’ mother) depute for a mission to go to Greenland on King Magnus behalf
”Kong Magnus utnevner Pål Knutsson til høvedsmann på knarren, som
skal seile til Grønland, og gir ham fullmakt til å velge seg mannskap.”
Source: Diplomatarium Norvegicum bind 21 nr 83

There was a Royal boat leaving for Greenland in 1355 But it’s doubtful that that was the boat of Paul Knutsson’s. It’s more likely that the Royal Commissioner Paul Knutsson was on a boat that left Bergen in 1358 shortly after the arrival of a representative for the Catholic Church. That would be more logical.

What we do know is that it’s documented that the Lawman at that time visiting Gardar called upon Ivar Bardarson to go looking for the missing settlers of Western Settlement:
”Jtem dette alt som forsagt er, sagde oss Jffuer *Baardtsen Grønlænder, som war forstander paa biskobs garden, i Gardum paa grønnland udi mange aar, att hand haffde alt dette seett och hand war en aff dennem som war wdneffender aff Lagmanden at fare till westerbijgden emod de skrelinge att wddriffue de skrellinge, wdaff westerbijgd, och da de komme didt da funde de ingen mand, endten Christenn eller heden wden noget willdt fæ och faaer, och bespissede sig aff det willtt fæ, och *toge saa meget som skiuene kunde berre och zeijlede saa der med hiemb och for(schreffne) Jffer war der med.”

English translation:
”All this that has been said here was told to us by Ívar Bárðarson, a Greenlander, who was steward of the Bishop’s estate at Garðar in Greenland for many years, that he had seen all these things, and that he had been one of those who had been chosen by the Lawman to go to the Western Settlement against the Skrælings (i.e. Esquimaux) in order to drive them out of the Western Settlement, and that when they got there they found no-one, neither Christian nor heathen, only some wild cattle and sheep, and they ate some of the wild cattle and took as much as the ships could carry and sailed back home with it, and the aforementioned Ívar was there with them.”
Källa: AM 777 a 4to
Ivar Bardson, Det gamle Grønlands beskrivelse af Ívar Bárðarson (Ivar Bårdssön), ed. Finnur Jónsson (København, 1930).

The only Lawman linked to Ivar Bardson, Greenland and King’s commission in order to search for the missing settlers of Western Settlement, is Paul Knutson.

In 1363 Ivar Bardsson and some other men returns to Bergen where Ivar Bardsson once again are given a position by a letter from the Pope.
In June 1364 Ivar Bardson was back in Bergen. 26th 1364 according to Diplomatarium Norvegicum bind 4 No. 443 At that time the tithe for the all dioceses belonging to the Norwegian churches was submitted to the papal cardinal.

According to Vatican’s registry Ivar Bardson payed for the dioceses under Gardar, Greenland. The years the tithes was paid for was the period 1354 to 1364. Among the dioceses under Gardar two dioceses in Vinland is noted. One of them Korsnes.
The tithes for the two dioces in Vinland has not been discussed in many works since 1899. Then Marie A, Shipley published a book, Shipley, Marie A. [Brown]. The Norse Colonization in America by the Light of the Vatican Finds. Lucerne: H. Keller ‘s Foreign Printing Office, 1899.

Only a few years later the Norwegian King, son of Magnus Eriksson, sent his warfleet westward and that warfleet is noted to have ‘passed’ Greenland….

From previous chapter.

Smoking gun part 2 chapter 1
Olaus Magnus, Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus

Olaus Magnus, born in Skenninge 1490 (d. 1557). During his younger ages he grow up in Linkoping, Ostergotland, Sweden. (East of Lake Vaettern). ‘

A quick translation from the latin text you may find at Olaus Magnus De fcorteis, feu coriariiis nauibus Gruntlandiæ, Cap. IX

‘In 1505 I saw two such leaderboats above the Eastern portal in the Oslo Cathedral, sanctified to Saint Halvord, where they were fastened on the wall for everyone to look at. It’s told that King Hakon[IEJ: son of King Magnus Eriksson] acquired them, when he with an armed battle fleet passed Greenland’s coast…’

More re. King Magnus’s men sailing to Greenland
Paul Knutsson is only heard of once more and that’s three years later. Paul Knutsson owned half of a farm on Tweiten.
Ivar Bardsson on the other hand is documented several times during the next decades. There is one saying that he might have lived into his 80’s and that he died in 1400 shortly after buying a piece of land. It’s correct that there do exist a diploma dated to 1400 in which it’s confirmed that Ivar Bardsson did buy land. On the other hand it’s not possible to establish if the confirmation was given close in time of the transaction or at a later date.

Norse Vikings predated Columbus exploring North America – Smoking gun part 2 chapter 2

Norse Vikings predated Columbus exploring North America – Smoking gun part 2 chapter 2
© Johansson Inger E, Gothenburg July 2015

From former chapter:
‘In 1505 I saw two such leaderboats above the Eastern portal in the Oslo Cathedral, sanctified to Saint Halvord, where they were fastened on the wall for everyone to look at. It’s told that King Hakon[IEJ: son of King Magnus Eriksson] acquired them, when he with an armed battle fleet passed Greenland’s coast…’
The source refered to was Olaus Magnus, Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, De fcorteis, feu coriariiis nauibus Gruntlandiæ, Cap. IX which you also could find the Latin text for at Olaus Magnus De fcorteis, feu coriariiis nauibus Gruntlandiæ, Cap. IX

The question you might ask is: Who was King Hakon? and secondly Why did King Hakon send an armed battle fleet passing Greenland’s coast? As you might comprehend that only gives two possible answers on question where he was going: Either he passed Greenland sailing from east, in other word either Iceland or Norway or he sailed from west which directly would have given the final proof of a settlement west of Greenland. The later is unlikely so we have to start by assuming that King Hakon sailed from Europa, either from Norway via Iceland or Orkney Island or direct. (To this I will return with some proofs in later chapter)

Now you might have heard of the days in later Medieval Age when Sweden was a large country. 1340, the year King Hakon was born and up to mid 1360’s Sweden was one of the largest Kingdom ever existing. This was due to King Magnus Eriksson, father of King Hakon and his inheritance of Norway as well as Greenland and dioceses under Gardar See, Greenland westward and over to parts of what now-a-days belongs to Russia in the inner parts of Gulf of Finland.

Greenland in King Magnus Eriksson’s and King Hakon’s days
During the 1300’s many things changed in Greenland. In 1300 AD Greenland had more than 300 farms inhabited. More than 3000 people lived at that time in the Western Settlement, the Middle Settlement and the Eastern Settlement. Same year, 1300 AD there were more than 40 churches in Greenland. Many were only small ”farm-churches” regularly visited by the priest from Herjolfsnes and Gardar. Their mission was to look so the inhabitants had the correct Christian believes and paid the tithes. Four or five monasteries still had monks and/or nuns at this time. One in the northern part of the Western Settlement on the way to Disco Bay, one closer to the mountains and the hot springs and the third more in centre in one of the fjords. The later was from beginning a Minoritian Monastery but were altered to a Birgittiner Monastery from the end of the 14th Century.

From 1319 to 1364, the inhabited farms in Greenland decreased from 300 to 190. Most of the abounded farms belonged to the Western Settlement. A year to be remembered until next chapter is 1347. In that year Western Settlement was abandoned. This is one part of the background information you better keep in mind.

Magnus Eriksson
King Magnus Eriksson was born 1319 AD as a son of the Swedish Duke Erik and the Norwegian Princess Ingeborg Princess Ingeborg was the granddaughter of Norwegian king Haakon. Duke Erik was brother of the Swedish King Birger Magnusson, Duke Valdemar and Eufemia who married the Duke of Mechlenburg and became mother of the Swedish King Albrekt of Mecklenburg.

Among Magnus Eriksson’s ancestors and relatives there are Polish, Danish and Norwegian kings; Law mans in England, Norway and Sweden; Earls in England, Jarls in Sweden and Norway; Bishops in Sweden and Denmark; Grand Dukes of Novgorod and Kiew. On the Law-man’s side of the Folkunga Dynasty to which Magnus Eriksson belonged, our Swedish Saint St Birgitta of Vadstena. All this is part of the story why things happened the way they did. In other word the politician picture of the mid 14th Century was as complicated as it is in our days…

While above might seem a bit a side of story, you will find that this matters later on when we return to King Hakon as well as the later days of King Magnus Eriksson.

Magnus Eriksson married Bianca of Namur in 1335. Their sons was Erik Magnusson and Håkan Magnusson. Queen Bianca was one of Duke Jean of Namurs many daughters. Queen Bianca’s grandfather had tried to save Namur and Flandern, where the Duke own much of the land, together with the English king Edward I(King of England 1272-1307).

After that the French king Charles IV died 1st February 1328 his widow gave birth to a female child who couldn’t inherit the French throne. There was two candidates: Philippe de Valois, Philippe IV’s nephew, and the English king Edward III son to the French princess Isabelle daughter to Philippe IV. Edward had inherited big land in France, his mother Isabelle was by no means a candidate but her son could claim the rights to the throne due to old customs.

The Swedish king Magnus spent much time in Flandern trying to help England due to his Brother-in-law’s close continued connection to the English Royal Family against the French candidate, Philippe de Valois. King Magnus even sent his own men to fight in the so called Hundred-year war on his Brother-in-law’s side. The French pretender Philippe de Valois was as you might remember elected king of France.

1348 AD King Magnus finally acknowledge his relative St Birgitta’s request and the Papal papal letter for Crusades to the ”far most parts of his kingdom” and went to Russia on his first Crusade.(Svenskt Diplomatarium 5911).

The tradition in King Magnus Eriksson’s family of Crusades goes back to Crusades on behalf of the Pope in the Baltic Areas. Involving among other Birger Brosa’s brothers Magnus Minneskold and Earl/Jarl Karl the Deaf. One of Birger Brosa’s daughters married Karl Sverkersson’s son Sverker II. This has a significance when it comes to which monestries that had an advantage of old contacts with Sweden’s and Norwegian Royal Families in Scandinavia as well as on Greenland’s soil. Magnus Minneskold was the father of Birger Jarl (founder of Stockholm), Bishop Bengt of Linköping, Earl/Jarl Filip as well as Ingegerd (mentioned above). Jarl Karl the deaf was the father of Jarl Ulf Fase who is the same Ulf/Olaf/Oleg who in Russian annals and chronicles is referred to as ”the last Varjag to be thrown out from Baltic and Novgorod areas.”

Due to circumstances refered to in King Hakon below as well as to the fact that St Birgitta due to her husband as well as her own due to ancestors was having some claim to inherit the Royal throne in Sweden King Magnus Eriksson and his Queen Bianca, in Sweden called Blanka, was slandered by St Birgitta. While some parts of the story she told might be true, there exist no proofs. One of the stories relates to the fact that King Hakon, who inherited Norway while his father still was the King in power had a brother Erik who died suddenly. One of the stories told was that either King Magnus or his Queen Bianca was behind that. In contemporary sources the death is said to be due to illness. Normal illness.

King Magnus Eriksson had problems with his brother in law in Mechlenburg. You will read about that under King Hakon’s part below. This came to a fight where King Magnus and his son Hakon tried to defeat Albert of Mechlenburg who had taken parts of Sweden. Hakon returned to Norway after his father Magnus Eriksson had been inprisoned. Magnus Eriksson was inprisoned for five years before he finally came to Norway.

King Magnus Eriksson is said to have died 1th December 1374 not far from Haugesund i Norge. According to Visby Chronicle Magnus’s son King Hakon took him to Norway and while on a sea voyage close to ”Lywngholm” near Bergen, King Magnus is said to have jumped over board but been saved taken ashore and died. This hadn’t had any significance for the Norse Greenlander’s North American history hadn’t it been for the fact that it’s in a Scottish contemporary document is mentioned that the former King Magnus of Sweden had been on a ship winddriven from Vineland who had fallen overboard and been brought to a Scottish castle near by earlier same year. To that I will return with documentation in later chapter due to that this might be a possible answer to the question WHEN King Hakon latest could have sailed with an armed war fleet by Greenland.

King Hakon
Hakon VI Magnusson born 1340 was the son of King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden and Queen Blanka born in Namur, Flandern. He was elected King of Norway in 1343 to rule and inherit Norway together with his father King Magnus who ruled until Hakon had grown up. King Hakon ruled by himself from 1355 to his death 1380. Due to circumstances mentioned below he became King of Sweden 1362 – 1364.
When 19 years old Hakon was engaged to Margaretha daughter of Danish King Valdemar. Margaretha was 6 years old. During the year that followed King Magnus and King Valdemar became enemies. This due to the battle round Skane. Skane had been inherited/given to King Magnus mother due to her marriage of Porse. King Magnus bought Skane. Valdemar of Denmark went for Visby (we call it that he ”brandskattade Visby” in July 1361 and the story around all this could fill a full book.

Due to the differences between Danish and Swedish King, King Magnus engaged his son Hakon to a sister of the Count of Holstein. After a ceremony in Holstein the bride to be was to sail to Sweden. While passing Skane where the Archbishop of Denmark still was located in Lund, the Archbishop was pro Valdemar and an enemy of King Magnus, the ship was siezed and she was taken as a prisoner to Denmark where she was inprisoned in a castle and dies some years later. Thus King Valdemar of Denmark was able to arrange a quick wedding in Copenhagen in 1363 between Hakon and his own daughter Margaretha who at that time only was ten years old.

Margaretha was brought to Bohus to be fostred by one of St Birgitta’s daughters until she came to age. She is said to have had a very hard upbringing. When she and Hakon finally became a real pair only one son was born in 1387, Olav.

Summary of background
The lines re. King Magnus Eriksson as well as his son Hakon, written above gives background needed to know in order to understand WHY King Hakon sent a warfleet passing Greenland. In the next chapter you will read about Ivar Bardson/Bardarsson, Paul Knutsson as well as two Popes. Or should I say one Pope who happened to be studying to become a monk together with one of Ivar Bardson’s brothers and a Kardinal who in 1364 is documented in two sources as the collector for the Papal See of tithes from Gardar as well as from Korsnes under Gardar (Korsnes in NA) and one other diocese in NA. The Kardinal later became Pope thus his documents still is saved in the Vatican vaults.

Most of the sources used above derive from:
Danskt Diplomatarium
Desliens mappamundi 1566
Diplomatarium Norwegicum,
Islandske annaler til 1578 Skalhóltann, edited Christiania 1888
Ordericus Vitalis, Historiske besetninger om Normanner og Angelsaxere fra Orderik Vitals kirkehistorie I-III. Edition 1889
Svenskt Diplomatarium

When the text within is of interest to the following chapters and/or part 3 of the blogg article serie, the exakt information for where the information can be found will be given.

Norse Vikings predated Columbus exploring North America – Smoking gun part 2 chapter 1

Smoking gun part 2 chapter 1
Olaus Magnus, Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus

Olaus Magnus, born in Skenninge 1490 (d. 1557). During his younger ages he grow up in Linkoping, Ostergotland, Sweden. (East of Lake Vaettern). ‘

A quick translation from the latin text you may find at Olaus Magnus De fcorteis, feu coriariiis nauibus Gruntlandiæ, Cap. IX

‘In 1505 I saw two such leaderboats above the Eastern portal in the Oslo Cathedral, sanctified to Saint Halvord, where they were fastened on the wall for everyone to look at. It’s told that King Hakon[IEJ: son of King Magnus Eriksson] acquired them, when he with an armed battle fleet passed Greenland’s coast…’

From this 1505 observation and report presented to Olaus Magnus we learn that King Hakon sent a fleet, not single boats/ships passing Greenland’s coast. I have heard same story told from other sources which I don’t intend to refer here. Would anyone please give any good explination why an armed battle fleet with King Hakon on one of the boats should have sailed on a War Mission beyond Greenland if not to fight in NA? When the mission took place? From other sources I have learnt that it took place after 1368 and before King Hakon’s death 1380. Some hint that it was during the return after the War Mission that King Magnus Eriksson died when a ship turned over in high sea outside Bergen 1374.

As for Olaus Magnus lines no matter how interesting they are his brother John’s Carthographic works are even more interesting in the light of the Vinland Map discussion. But that’s a later story to be told

Description of the northern peoples, Rome 1555 : Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, Romæ 1555/Olaus Magnus;
translated by Peter Fisher and Humphrey Higgens; edited by Peter Foote; with annotation derived from the commentary by John Granlund, abridged and augmented
alternative title: Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, Romæ 1555.
London : Hakluyt Society 1996-1998 3 volumes

So what do we have that can sheed light on the important facts told by Olaus Magnus? Let’s look at old edited sources mostly forgotten:

Konungs skuggsjá.
Written in 1250’s as a textbook to educate son of a Norwegian King. We don’t know for sure who wrote it. The book present intersting information re. Greenland. It’s a book where a son asks question and a father answers. Translated into English from OldNorse by Laurence Marcellus 1917. A short quote:

”XVIII
THE PRODUCTS OF GREENLAND

Son. You stated earlier in your talk that no grain grows in that country; therefore I now want to ask you what the people who inhabit the land live on, how large the population is, what sort of food they have, and whether they have accepted Christianity.

Father. The people in that country are few, for only a small part is sufficiently free from ice to be habitable; but the people are all Christians and have churches and priests. If the land lay near to some other country it might be reckoned a third of a bishopric; but the Greenlanders now have their own bishop, as no other arrangement is possible on account of the great distance from other people. You ask what the inhabitants live on in that country since they sow no grain; but men can live on other food than bread. It is reported that the pasturage is good and that there are large and fine farms in Greenland. The farmers raise cattle and sheep in large numbers and make butter and cheese in great quantities. The people subsist chiefly on these foods and on beef; but they also eat the flesh of various kinds of game, such as reindeer, whales, seals, and bears. That is what men live on in that country.”

Thus we know that Greenland and Greenlanders weren’t forgotten and that one knew more than we have been told. But more is to be told….

Source from 1130’s

Nikulás Bergsson/Bergþórsson was a Benedictine monk. He went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land passing Sienna and Rome returning to Iceland in 1154. It’s said that he died between 1158 and 1160. (IEJ: Haven’t been able to confirm whith)
Nicholas Bergthorsson later became abbot of the Icelandic monastery of Thveraa or Munkathvera (1151 — 54). While many historians have had problem relating Nicholas Bergthorsson to Thveraa, neither the Catholic Church nor the Ortodox Church have had that problems. They have him documented as the first abbot of Thveraa. You can find a map of his journey down Europe marked in Fabrizio Nevola, Siena: Constructing the Renaissance City, page 93, Map showing pilgrimage routes to Rom through Sienna, Yale University Press, 2007

In Leidarvisir och borgaskipan written in first half 1100’s One copy was given to the Pope 1134) Nicholas Bergthorsson told us that there was a Sea between Markland and Vinland.
Please note that a Diss was published 2012 dealing with Leidarvisir: Tommaso Marani, Leiðarvísir. Its Genre and Sources, with Particular Reference to the Description of Rome, Diss Durham University 2012

Leidarvisir and borgaskipan:
”… North of Germany is Denmark. Ocean extending into the Baltic Sea, near Denmark. Sweden is east of Denmark and Norway in the north. North of Norway’s Finnmark. … Beyond Greenland, southward, there Helluland and beyond it Markland, from there it is not far to Vinland. which some people think stretching all the way to Africa. England and Scotland is an island but is separate kingdoms. Iceland is a large island to the north of Ireland …. ”
….
From Biarmaland northward all the way until you reach Greenland. South of Greenland lies Helluland, then Markland , then it is not far to Vinland the Good. Which some believe extends to Africa. and if that’s true, the sea must extend between Vinland and Markland..…

Thus it’s established that in 1100’s Vinland wasn’t forgotten as well as the fact that the Norse Greenlanders travelled around in NA as they had done in Europe. Followed land while sailing further distances than been we have been told.

Extra:
In his later years Nicholas Bergthorsson wrote an other for religous people very interesting note:
In the year 1157 [IEJ ??? I don’t agree upon the year] the Danish abbot Nicholas Bergthoson described how, at the court of Manul I Comnenus, in the chapel of the imperial palace in Constaniople (Byzantium), two relics from Christ’s tomb were shown to him, not one; a burial cloth and a portrait Source: Paul Badde, The True Icon: From the Shroud of Turin to the Veil of Manoppelio, Ignatius Press, 2012

Norse Vikings predated Columbus exploring North America – Smoking gun part 1

Pehr Kalm born 1716 (d. 1779) was born in Sweden by Finish parents. He was a trained scientist, botanist, naturalist as well as agricultural economist and one of Carl von Linné (Linnaeus) followers. 1747 Pehr Kalm was payed by Royal Swedish Academy of Science to register information as well as bringing back plants and seeds to Sweden.

In 1750 Peter Kalm visited the area around todays Quebec. He edited 3 volumes, one nr 4 was edited after his death from notes he made. Some of the information he presents in his work where he notes what he saw in 1750. An English translation was made in 1966. Title: The America of 1750 : Peter Kalm’s travels in North America.

* During his trip in 1750 found Peter Kalm 180-190 years old white pines in Bay St. Paul (near Quebec)

as seen in the image below, the pine is not naturally occurring in NA.

Pinus Sylvestris (sv. tall)

source: Pinus Sylvestris, Linneaus Flora

180-190 years is still borderline because they could be planted by Cartier in 1534

* But when Kalm tells that he in 1750 saw 230 years old the red pines dated from counting of tree rings, those pines that aren’t native in NA can’t possibly be linked to any known European explorer.

That tree must have been planted at least 4 years before Verrazzanos made his exploration journey form Florida up to Nova Scotia in 1524. And Verrazzanos never made in inlands nor did he follow for example Hudson River north.

* But the real smoking gun was a Oak tree planted 251 years before Kalm’s voyage in 1750. Oak never was native in NA and that tree was planted latest 1499.