THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND ad. 



1592. 

 And albeit at the first he was very loth, yet at length 

 my friendly admonition, & the common love of his 

 countrey prevailed with him so farre, that he compiled 

 this briefe commentary, taking his proofes, not out of 

 the vaine fables of the people, but from his owne ex- 

 perience, and many other mens also of sufficient credit. 

 Now, he that undertooke this matter at my procure- 

 ment, did againe as it were by his owne authority 

 chalenge at my hands, that I should in two or three 

 words at least, make a preface unto his booke ; thinking 

 it might gaine some credit, and authority thereby. 

 Wherfore to speake my minde in a word : for my part, 

 I judge him to have taken both honest & necessary 

 paines, who hath done his indevour not onely to weigh 

 the divers opinions of wrighters concerning things un- 

 knowen, and to examine them by the censure of trueth, 

 and experience, but also to defend his countrey from the 

 venemous bitings of certaine sycophants. It is thy part 

 therefore (gentle reader) to accept this small treatise of 

 his, being as it were guarded with the sacred love of 

 truth, and of his countrey, against the perversnes of 

 <:arpers. Farewel. Anno 1592. Julii 29. 



Here beginneth the Commentary of Island. 



Ven as in war, dayly experience teacheth us, that 

 some upon no just & lawful grounds (being egged 

 on by ambition, envie, and covetise) are induced 



to follow the armie, and on the contrary side, that others 

 arme themselves upon just and necessary causes : namely 

 •such as go to battell for the defence and propagation of 

 the Gospel, or such as being any way provoked there- 

 unto, doe withstand present violence and wrong, or at 

 least (not being provoked) by reason of the enemie 

 approching are constrained to be up in armes : right so, 

 they that fight under Apolloes banner. Amongst whom, 

 a great part, not upon any honest, philosophical, or 

 indeede Christian intention, addresse themselves to 

 -Wright : especially such as for desire of glory, for envy 



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