(Vol. iv., p. 439.)
It is capable of demonstration that Christianity was introduced into the
Orkney Islands, or at least that missionaries were sent there, long
previous to the invasion of Harold Harfagre. Your correspondent W. H. F.
mentions that Depping, in the _Histoire des Expéditions Maritimes des
Normands_, states that Sigurd, the second nominally, though really the
first earl, expelled the Christians from Orkney, and he requests to know
Depping's authority; as the circumstance is not alluded to by Torfæus,
the Orkneyinga-Saga or Snorro Sturleson, and has been "either overlooked
by Barry, or unknown to him."
The well-known "Diploma or Genealogical Deduction of the Earls of
Orkney," written by the bishop of that diocese in the year 1406, and
printed in Wallace's _Account of Orkney_, and in the appendices to
Barry's _History_, and the Orkneyinga-Saga, is generally looked upon,
from the circumstances under which it was drawn up, as an authentic
document of considerable historical value. It is there mentioned, that
the Norsemen found the islands inhabited by the Peti and the Papé, whom
they exterminated. But I transcribe the words of the Diploma:
"Hæc terra sive insularum patria Orcadie fuit inhabitata et culta,
duabus nacionibus scilicet Peti et Pape, que due genera naciones
fuerant destructe radicitus, ac penitus per Norwegenses de stirpe
sive de tribu strenuissimi principis Rognaldi, qui sic sunt ipsias
naciones aggressi, quod posteritas ipsarum nacionum Peti et Pape
non remansit."
Though Chalmers (_Caledonia_, vol. i. p. 261.) is rather inclined to
discredit the above account, it seems probable that those Papé were
missionaries or priests, who were also found, under precisely the same
name, in Iceland when that island was colonised by the Norsemen
(Pinkerton's _Enquiry_, vol. ii. p. 297.). I have not my copy of Depping
at present by me, and therefore am unable to say whether he explains his
use of the word _Christians_ in his mention of their expulsion. It may
be that, without going into detail, he accepted, as proved, the identity
of the Papé and the priests, and believed himself warranted in making
the assertion. But perhaps he might have had some other authority of
which I am ignorant, as he attributes the expulsion (according to W. H.
F.) to Sigurd, whereas the words of the Diploma are, "per Norwegenses de
stirpe sive de tribu strenuissimi principis Rognaldi," by no means
limiting the deed to his (Rognald's) immediate successor, though
inferentially accusing Sigurd of participation. A careful consideration
of the entire passage in Depping, and of his general style, may tend to
show whether he relied merely on the Diploma, or whether he had some
more definite authority.
I may mention, that though it has escaped W. H. F.'s observation, he
will find, by referring to pp. 87. 116. 133., Headrick's edition, that
Barry did not overlook the early Christianising of the Orkneys, and the
extirpation of the Papé; although, seeing that the former is matter of
history, and the latter was not a mere tradition in 1406, but derived
from a more trustworthy source ("sicut _cronice_ nostre clare
demonstrant"), he is scarcely distinct enough, or decided in his
inferences. It would be interesting to know what were those "cronice"
appealed to by the bishop.