"The Dani and Sueones and the other peoples beyond Dania are all called by the Frankish historians Normans ('Nortmanni'), whilst however the Romans similarly call them Hyperboreans, of whom Martianus Capella speaks with much praise."
It does not seem as though Adam made any distinction between the names Norman and Norseman.
[iv. 21.] "When one has passed beyond the islands of the Danes a new world opens in Sueonia [Sweden] and Nordmannia [Norway], which are two kingdoms of wide extent in the north, and hitherto almost unknown to our world. Of them the learned king of the Danes told me that Nordmannia can scarcely be traversed in a month, and Sueonia not easily in two. This, said he, I know from my own experience, since I have lately served for twelve years in war under King Jacob in those regions, which are both enclosed by high mountains, especially Nordmannia, which with its Alps encircles Sueonia."
Sweden he describes as a fertile land, rich in crops and honey, and surpassing any other country in the rearing of cattle:
"It is most favoured with rivers and forests, and the whole land is everywhere full of foreign [i.e., rare ?] merchandise." The Swedes were therefore well-to-do, but did not care for riches. "Only in connection with women they know no moderation. Each one according to his means has two, three or more at the same time; the rich and the chiefs have them without number. For they count also as legitimate the sons which are born of such a connection. But it is punished with death, if any one has had intercourse with another man's wife, or violated a virgin, or robbed another of his goods or done him wrong. Even if all the Hyperboreans are remarkable for hospitality, our Sueones are pre-eminent; with them it is worse than any disgrace to deny a wayfarer shelter," etc.
[iv. 22.] "Many are the tribes of the Sueones; they are remarkable for strength and the use of arms, in war they excel equally on horseback and in ships."
[Illustration: Uniped (from the Hereford map)]
Adam relates much about these people, their customs, religion, and so forth:
[iv. 24.] "Between Nordmannia and Sueonia dwell the Wermelani and Finnédi (or 'Finvedi') and others, who are now all Christians and belong to the church at Skara. In the borderland of the Sueones or Nordmanni on the north live the Scritefini, who are said to outrun the wild beasts in their running. Their greatest town ['civitas,' properly community] is Halsingland, to which Stenphi was first sent as bishop by the archbishop.... He converted many of the same people by his preaching." Helsingland was inhabited by Helsingers, who were certainly Germanic Scandinavians and not Skridfinns; but Adam seems to have thought that all the people of northern Sueonia or Suedia (he has both forms) belonged to the latter race.