THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND a.d. 



1592. 



3 Of all the earth and trees of Ireland, being of force 

 to resist all poisons, and to kill serpents, and other 

 venimous things, in any countrey whatsoever, by the 

 onely vertue and presence thereof, yea even without 

 touching. 



4 Of a third Isle of Ireland, that the one halfe thereof 

 became an habitation of devils, but that the sayd devils 

 have no jurisdiction over the other halfe, by reason of 

 a Church there built, although, as the whole Isle is 

 without inhabitants, so this part is continually destitute 

 of a Pastor, and of divine service : and that it is so 

 by nature. 



5 Of a fourth Isle of Ireland floating up and downe 

 in an huge lake, the grasse whereof is a most present 

 remedy for all kinde of diseases, and that the Hand, at 

 certeine seasons, especially on Sundayes, commeth to the 

 banke of the lake, so that any man may then easily 

 enter into it, as it were into a shippe : which notwith- 

 standing (sayth he) destiny will not suffer any more then 

 one to enter at a time. Furthermore, he reporteth that 

 this Hand every seventh yere groweth fast to the banke, 

 so that you cannot discerne it from firme land : but 

 that into the place thereof there succeedeth another, 

 altogether like the former, in nature, quantitie, and 

 vertue : which, from what place it commeth, no man 

 can tell : and that all this happeneth with a kinde of 

 thundering. 



6 Of the hunters of Norway who are so expert to 

 tame wood (for so he speaketh very improperly, whereas 

 unto wood neither life nor taming can be ascribed) 

 that wooden pattens of eight elnes long being bound 

 to the soles of their feet do cary them with so great 

 celeritie even upon hie mountaines, that they cannot 

 be outrun, either by the swiftnes of hounds and deere, 

 or yet by the flying of birds. And that they will kill 

 nine roes or more at one course & with one stroke of 

 a dart. 



These and such like, concerning Ireland, Norway, 



