THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND ad. 



1592. 

 I doe recite all these examples to the end that no man 

 should make a greater wonder at the colours, smels, 

 and savours of waters that be in Island, then at those 

 which are in other countreis. 



The fourth is altogether deadly. Isidore affirmeth, 

 that there is a certaine fountaine whose water being 

 drunke, extinguisheth life. And Plinie saieth, That 

 about Nonaris in Arcadia, the river of Styx (neere the 

 mountaine of Cillene, saieth Cardane : it would be con- 

 tained in nothing but an horse-hoofe : and it is reported 

 that Alexander the great was poisoned therewithal) not 

 differing from other water, neither in smell nor colour, 

 being drunke, is present death. In Berosus an hill of The same 

 the people called Tauri, there are three fountains, every ^^^hor saieth, 

 one of them deadly without remedy, & yet without 

 griefe. And (which is the strangest thing of all the 

 rest) Seneca maketh mention of a poole, into which 

 whosoever looke, do presently die. But, as for this 

 fourth fountaine of Frisius, which Saxo doeth likewise 

 mention, we Islanders, as alwayes heretofore, so even at 

 this day do testifie, that it is utterly unknowen unto us : 

 and therefore in this regard, we render unto God im- Island free 

 mortall thanks, because he hath vouchsafed to preserve -^^^f ,^^ 

 our nation rrom such rountams, rrom serpents and ^^^^f^Q^^ 

 venemous wormes, & from al other pestiferous & con- beasts. 

 tagious creatures. 



Furthermore about the foresaid mountains there is 

 such abundance of brimstone. The three mountains 

 called by Munster and Frisius, Fierie mountains, do 

 all of them stand an huge distance from our Mines. 

 Wherefore, when as neere unto these hils they have 

 found out a place for foure fountains, which they doe 

 so mightily extoll for wonders, they must needs have 

 some Brimstone Mines also, standing a like distance 

 from the said fountaines. And assuredly, neither about 

 mount Hecla, as Munster would have it, nor by Frisius 

 his fountaines (the report whereof how true it is, hath 

 bene hitherto declared) is Brimstone digged up at this 



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