THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND ad. 



1592. 



can I hope to remoove them from this accustomed and 

 stale opinion) I have penned the treatise following. 



And albeit Island is not destitute of many excellent 

 men, who, both in age, wit, and learning, are by many 

 degrees my superiors, and therefore more fit to take the 

 defence of the countrey into their hands : notwithstand- 

 ing, being earnestly perswaded thereunto, by that godly 

 & famous man Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Hola 

 in Island, I thought good (to the utmost of mine ability) 

 to be no whit wanting unto the common cause : both 

 that I might obey his most reasonable request, and also 

 that I might encourage other of my countreymen, who 

 have bene better trained up in good learning, and indued 

 with a greater measure of knowledge then I my selfe, 

 to the defence of this our nation : so farre am I from 

 hindering any man to undertake the like enterprise. 



But to returne to the matter, because they (whatsoever 

 they be) that reproch and maligne our nation, make 

 their boast that they use the testimonies of writers : we 

 are seriously to consider, what things, and how true, 

 writers have reported of Island, to the end that if they 

 have given (perhaps) any occasion to others of inveying 

 against us, their errours being layd open (for I will not 

 speake more sharpely) all the world may see how justly 

 they do reproch us. And albeit I nothing doubt to 

 examine some ancient writers of this Hand, by the rule 

 of trueth and experience : yet (otherwise) their memory 

 is precious in our eyes, their dignity reverend, their 

 learning to be had in honour, and their zeale and affec- 

 tion towards the whole common wealth of learned men, 

 highly to be commended : but as for novices (if there 

 be any such writers or rather pasquilles) when they 

 shall heare and know truer matters concerning Island, 

 then they themselves have written, they shall seeme by 

 their inconstancie and perverse wit to have gained nought 

 else but a blacke marke of envy and reproch. 



And that this commentarie of mine may have some 

 order, it shall be divided into two generall parts : the 

 IV 97 G 



