A.i^ THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



length about the yeere of our Lord 1260. they performed 

 [I. 581.] homage unto him. And afterward continued alwayes in 

 their promised loyaltie, being subjects to the king of 

 Norway. But now at this day, since the Empire of the 

 Noruagians was translated by Margaret Queene of Den- 

 marke, Suedeland, and Norway unto the Danes, they 

 doe honour as their soveraigne Lord and King the most 

 gracious king of Denmarke. 



The sixt section. 



Krant-Lius. All things are common among: them except their 



Munsterus. ^ • ^ ^ 



Wives. 



HEre Krantzius in the first place beginneth with such 

 a gybe. There be many notable things in their 

 manners, &c. Moreover, your wit being too hastie in 

 affirming things unknowen, doth here also deminish your 

 credite. The experience as well of all things as of per- 

 sons and times proveth your over greedie desire of 

 noveltie, of fame and vaine-glorie, and argueth your 

 great negligence in maintaining the truth. O worthy 

 writers. 



But whether the aforesayde things bee true or no, wee 

 call the lawes of our Countrey to witnesse, which the 

 Islanders from the beginning have used all one with 

 the Norwayes : of the King and his subjects : of the 

 seate of justice, and of law-cases which come to be 

 decided there : of inheritances : of adoptions, marriages, 

 theft, extortions, lending, bargaines, and the rest : all 

 which, to what purpose should they be enjoyned unto 

 them with whom all things are common } We call to 

 witnesse so many broyles and contentions in our courts, 

 and places of judgement in Island concerning goods 

 mooveable, and immooveable : we call to witnesse our 

 kings now of Denmarke, aforetime of Norway, who by 

 so many billes of supplication out of Island in old 

 time, and of late have beene often interrupted, for the 

 setting through of controversies concerning possessions. 

 Wee call Krantzius himselfe to witnesse against himselfe, 



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