Tantum Abest, Vt Ijs Qui Idem Conabuntur, Obstaculo Esse Voluerim.

Caterum vt ad rem redeamus, quoniam illi quicunque sunt nostra gentis obtrectatores, testimonio scripto se vti ac niti iactitant:

Videndum omnino est, quidnam de Islandia, & quam vera scriptores prodiderint, vt si forte isti, alijs in nos dicendi aliquam occasionem dederint, patefactis ipsorum erroribus (nolo enim quid durius dicere) quam merito nos calumnientur, reliquis planum fiat, Porro, quamuis vetustiorum quorundam scripta de hac Insula, ad veritatis & experientia normam exigere non verear: Tamen nobis eorundem alioqui sacra est memoria, reuerenda dignitas, suspicienda eruditio, laudanda voluntas & in Rempub. literariam studium; Nouitij vero, si qui sunt id genus scriptores, aut verius pasquilli, cum ijs longe veriora quam scripserant, audire & nosse de Islandia licuerit, sua leuitate & ingenio male candido, nihil nisi inuidia & calumnia maculam lucrati esse videbuntur.

[Sidenote: Commentarij dua partes.]

Atque vt Commentarius hic noster aliquid ordinis habeat, duo erunt proposita orationis capita, vnum de Insula, de incolis alterum: quantum quidem de his duobus capitibus Scriptores qui in nostris manibus versantur, annotatum reliquerunt: Quoniam vltra has metas vagari, vel plura quam hac ipsa, & qua huc pertinere videbuntur attingere nolo. Non enim ex professo Historicum vel geographum sed disputatorem tantum agimus. [Sidenote: Prima partis tractatio.] Itaque omissa longiore prafatione partem primam, qua est de situ, nomine, miraculis & alijs quibusdam adiunctis Insula, aggrediamur.

The same im English.

HERE BEGINNETH THE COMMENTARY OF ISLAND.

Euen as in war, dayly experience teacheth vs, that some vpon no iust & lawful grounds (being egged on by ambition, enuie, and couetise) are induced to follow the armie, and on the contrary side, that others arme themselues vpon iust and necessary causes: namely such as go to battell for the defence and propagation of the Gospel, or such as being any way prouoked thereunto, doe withstand present violence and wrong, or at least (not being prouoked) by reason of the enemie approching are constrained to be vp in armes right so, they that fight vnder Apolloes banner. Amongst whom, a great part, not vpon any honest, philosophical, or indeede Christian intention, addresse themselues to wright: especially such as for desire of glory, for enuy and spight, or vpon malicious and affected ignorance, carpe at others: and that they may be accompted superiours, sometimes whette their stiles against the person, name and fame of this or that particular man, sometimes inueighing against a whole countrey, and by shamelesse vntrueths disgracing innocent nations and people. Againe, others of an ingenuous minde, doe by great industry, search and bring to light things profitable: namely, they that write of Diuinity, Philosophy, History and such like: and they who (taking vse and experience for their guides) in the said Sciences haue brought things obscure to light, things maimed to perfection, and things confused to order: and they that haue faithfully commended to euerlasting posteritie, the stories of the whole world: that by their infinite labours haue aduaunced the knowledge of tongues: to be short, that endeuour themselues to represse the insolencie, confute the slanders, and withstand the vniust violence of others, against themselues, their Nation or their Countrey:

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