AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



B 



The eleventh section. 



'Ut now, let this be the end of our controversie with 

 the authours aforesayd, being otherwise men of ex- 

 cellent learning, and of great renoume, who notwith- 

 standing so inconsiderately have entermedled these things 

 in their writings. And now the better part of my labour 

 is finished. 

 [I. 585.] But yet there remaines that viperous German brood 

 the mother whereof would have it come to light, as it 

 were at a second birth, without name, that it might so 

 much the more freely wound the fame of the Islanders 

 with venemous sting. 



Moreover, although I be not afrayd to encounter with 

 this beast, yet would I have all men to know with what 

 minde I undertake this enterprise, namely, not that I 

 meane to contend with his pestiferous rancour, by re- 

 proches, and railing speeches (for as it is in the common 

 proverbe : 



I know, that if I strive with dung most vile. 

 How ere it be, my selfe I shall defile) 



but that I may satisfie all honest and well affected men, 

 even strangers themselves, who shall hereafter reade or 

 heare, or have heretofore heard that Germane pasquill, 

 least they also should thinke that we woorthily sustaine 

 so monstrous a disgrace : and also that I may from hence- 

 forth, if it be possible, restraine others (who use those 

 venemous Germaine rimes to the upbrading of our 

 nation, and from hence borrow their scoffes, and re- 

 prochfull taunts to the debasing of us Iselanders) from 

 that libertie of backbiting. 



Therefore, that I may not be tedious to the reader 

 with long circumstances, I will come to the rehearsing of 

 those things which that railing Germane hath heaped up 

 in his leud pasquill : whom also I could bring in, re- 

 peating his friendly verses of the Islanders, within the 

 compasse of this my booke, but that I doe foresee that 



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