The quill string is probably the only one of its kind that has been preserved in Iceland. It is a leather cord with a reading or prayer against quills or gout, and it is believed that such prayer sheets were quite common in their time, but they were confiscated or burned during the witchcraft persecutions of the 17th century. The cord was used as a talisman and was usually tied around the patient. This cord was preserved in the Bishop's Archives, hidden there among ancient leather documents from Hólastól. The string probably dates from around 1600. The first words in Icelandic are these: “In the name of the Father, [Son] and the Holy Spirit I wound with them […] of God […] all the wounds of the sick. I wound here all the evil to flee, to fade, to fade, I command, I wound, I numb, I command all evil things whether they are from the earth or from the air from the clouds or from the dust of the earth or from the elves or from above […] or from any devil's den that may come…” The sick string is on display in the Museum from 7 June 2018-2 June 2019.
The manuscript can be viewed at handrit.is
