A' 



AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



first of the Hand, the second of the inhabitants : and 

 of these two but so far-foorth as those writers which are 

 come to our hands have left recorded : because I am 

 not determined to wander out of these lists, or to handle 

 more then these things and some other which perteine 

 unto them. For I professe not my selfe an Historio- 

 grapher, or Geographer, but onely a Disputer. Where- 

 fore omitting a longer Preface, let us come to the first 

 part concerning the situation, the name, miracles, and 

 certaine other adjuncts of this Hand. 



The first section. 

 Muns terns T\\^ Isle of Island being severed from other coun treys 

 L' Xi'y^^~ ^^ infinite distance, standeth farre into the Ocean, 



and IS scarse knowen unto Sailers. 



Lbeit a discourse of those things which concerne 

 the land, and the adjuncts or properties thereof be 

 of little moment to defend the nation or inhabitants from 

 the biting of slanderers, yet seemeth it in no case to be 

 omitted, but to be intreated of in the first place, that 

 the friendly reader perceiving how truely those writers 

 of Island have reported in this respect, may thereby also 

 easily judge what credit is to be given unto them in 

 other matters which they have left written concerning 

 the inhabitants, and which others have received from 

 them as oracles, from whence (as they say) they have 

 borrowed scoffes and taunts against our nation. 



First therefore, that the distance of Island from other 

 [I. 554.] countreys is not infinite, nor indeed so great as men 

 commonly imagine, it might easily be provided, if one 

 did but in some sort know the true longitude & latitude 

 of the said Hand. For I am of opinion that it cannot 

 exactly be knowen any other way then this, whenas 

 it is manifest how the Mariners course (be it never so 

 direct, as they suppose) doth at all times swerve. In 

 ye meane while therfore I will set downe divers opinions 

 of authors, concerning ye situation of Island, that from 

 hence every man may gather that of the distance which 



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