THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND ad. 



1592. 



isi of purgatorie. But before I proceede any further [i. 560.] 

 lithinke it not amisse to tell a merie tale, which was 

 the'originall and ground of this hellish opinion: namely 

 that a ship of certaine strangers departing from Island, 

 under full saile, a most swift pace, going directly on her 

 course, met with another ship sailing against winde & 

 weather, and the force of the tempest as swiftly as 

 themselves, who hailing them of whence they were, 

 answere was given by their governour, De Bischop van 

 Bremen : being the second time asked whether they 

 were bound ? he answered, Thom Heckelfeld tho, Thomi 

 Heckelfeld tho. I am affeard lest the reader at the 

 sight of these things should call for a bason : for it is 

 such an abominable lie, that it would make a man cast 

 his gorge to heare it. Away with it therefore to fenny 

 frogs, for we esteeme no more of it, then of their 

 croaking coax coax. Nay, it is so palpable that it is 

 not worthy to be smiled at, much lesse to be refuted. 

 But I will not trifle any longer with the fond Papists : 

 let us rather come unto our owne writers. 



And first of all I cannot here omit a saying of that 

 most worthie man Doctor Caspar Peucer. There is in 

 Islande (quoth he) mount Hecla, being of as dreadfull 

 a depth as any vaste gulfe, or as hell it selfe, which 

 resoundeth with lamentable, & miserable yellings, that 

 the noise of the cryers may be heard for the space of 

 a great league round about. Great swarmes of ugly 

 blacke Ravens and Vultures lie hoovering about this 

 place which are thought of the inhabitantes to nestle 

 there. The common people of that countrey are verily 

 perswaded, that there is a descent downe into hell by 

 this gulfe : and therefore when any battailes are foughten 

 else where, in whatsoever part of the whole world, or 

 any bloudie slaughters are committed, they have learned 

 by long experience, what horrible tumults and out-cryes, 

 what monstrous skritches are heard round about this 

 mountaine. Who durst be so bold (most learned Sir) 

 to bring such an incredible report to your eares ? 



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