Jonas, Anagrimus

, a learned Icelander, who acquired a great reputation for astronomy and the sciences, was coadjutor to Gundebrand of Thorbac, bishop of Holum in Iceland, who was also of that nation, a man of great learning and probity, had been a disciple of Tycho Brahe, and understood astronomy very well. After his death, the see of Holum was offered by the king of Denmark to | Anagrimus, who begged to be excused; desiring to avoid the envy that might attend him in that high office, and to be at leisure to prosecute his studies. He chose therefore to continue as he was, pastor of the church of Melstudt, and intendant of the neighbouring churches of the last-mentioned diocese. He died in 1640, at the age of ninety-five. He wrote several books in honour of his country, against the calumnies of Blefkenius and others, which are well esteemed; the titles whereof are, “Idea veri magistratus,” Copenhagen, 1589, 8vo. “Brevis commentarius de Islandia, ibid. 1593,” 8vo. “Anatome Blefkeniana^*. Holi in Iceland, 1612,” 8vi, and at Hamburgh, 1618, 4to. “Epistola pro patria defensoria,” ibid. 1618. “'ATrorpiGv calumniae,” ibid. 1622, 4to. “Crymogeea, seu rerum Islandicarum libri tres, ibid. 1630,” 4to. This was written in 1603, and printed at Hamburgh in 1609, with a map of Denmark, and, in 1710, without the map. “Specimen Islandi.i; historicum et magna ex parte chorographicum,” Amstelod. 1634, 4to. This piece is a vindication of the author’s opinion against the arguments of John Isaacus Pontanus. Anagrimus maintained that Iceland was not peopled till about the year 874, and therefore cannot be the ancient Thule. “Vita Gundebrandi Thorlacii,” Lugd. Bat. 1630, 4to. ¹