THE TRUE STATE OF ICELAND ad 



1592. 

 Saxon borne, who in the yeere 981. came into Island, 

 and behaved himselfe couragiously in the office of 

 preaching, and prevailed so much, that in the yeere 984. 

 Churches were used in Island. 



But the other outlandish Bishop or preacher whom 

 they called Thangbrandt came first into Island in the 

 yeere 997. 



And then after 26. yeeres consulting about Religion, ^nm Domini 

 at length in the yeere 1000. it was decreed in a generall ^°°°* 

 assembly of all the inhabitants by their whole consent, 

 that the worship of heathenish Idoles being abandoned, 

 they should embrace Christian Religion. 



Againe, in the yeere 1050. it was decreed in a solemne 

 assembly of the inhabitants, that temporall or politique 

 lawes (the constitutions whereof being brought out of 

 Norwaie were communicated unto the Islanders by one 

 Ulfliot in the yeere 926.) should every where give place 

 to the Canon or divine Lawe. 



In the yere 1056. one Isleif went beyond the seas 

 out of Island to be consecrated bishop of Island. 



He came home consecrated into Island, and entred 

 into the bishopricke of Schalholt in the yeere 1057. He 

 died 1080. in the yeere of his age 74. The 4. of the 

 Kalends of July. 



These things perhaps wil seeme trifling, short and base, 

 nor sufficiently worthy to be mentioned, together with 

 many other matters which follow : but neither doe wee 

 compile the Romane history, neither yet shall these 

 things be so trifling, but that they may be of sufficient 

 force to convince the errours of Krantzius and others, 

 according to our purpose. And undoubtedly as touching 

 the trueth of our histories, it is evident that Saxo Gram- 

 maticus attributeth very much unto them : whose words 

 in his preface of Denmarke be these ; Neither is the ^ notable tes- 

 diligence of the Thylenses (for so he calleth Islanders) ^^^omeofSaxo 

 to be smothered in silence : who when as by reason '^i^i^^X^f ^ 

 of the native barrennes of their soile, wanting nourish- 

 ments of riot, they do exercise the duties of continuall 



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