Quod etiam illi cum Germania
commune esse crediderim, quod videlicet nec illic panis crescat, nisi forte
in Munsteri, agro, vbi etiam acetum naturale optime crescit. Sed hac,
troporum indulgentia, scilicet, salua erunt. Ad conicia autem, qua ex victu
Islandorum petunt extranei, infra paucis respondebitur, Sect. 15.
The same in English.
THE NINTH SECTION.
[Sidenote: Munsterus.] They liue there for the most part vpon fishes,
because of their great want of corne, which is brought in from the port
townes of other countreys: who cary home fishes from thence with great
gaine. Also Munster sayth, they do there vse stockefish in stead of
bread, which groweth not in that countrey.
Consider (friendly reader) how Munster is delighted to harpe vpon one
string, that when he can write nothing of an vnknowen nation which may cary
any shew with it, he is faine either to bring in falshood, or often to
repeat the same things, and so to become tedious vnto his reader: for he
sayd a little before, that the Islanders liue vpon fish. His words aboue
recited were these: Island conteineth many people liuing onely with the
food of cattell, and sometimes by taking of fishes. And that I may omit the
rest in which some trifle might be noted whereas he sayeth that bread
groweth not in Island: it is most true: which I thinke is common therewith
to Germany also, because bread groweth not there neither, except it be in
Munsters field where naturall vineger also doth marueillously encrease. But
these toyes, by the liberty of rethoricke forsooth, shall be out of danger.
Howbeit, vnto these reproches, which strangers do gather from the meats and
drinks of the Islanders, we will hereafter briefly answere, Sect. 15.
SECTIO DECIMA.
[Sidenote: Munster. Krantzius.] Incola res maiorum et sui temporis
celebrant cantibus et insculpunt scopulis, atque promontorijs, vt nulla,
nisi cum natura iniuria, intercidant apud posteritatem.
[Sidenote: Frisius.] Citharadi, et qui testudine ludunt, apud eos
reperiuntur quam plurimi, qui pradulci modulamine et volucres et pisces
irretiant et capiant.
[Sidenote: Veterum gesta apud Islandes conseruata.] Quin veterum gesta
aliquot cantibus et poematibus nostratium, vt et soluta oratione, apud nos
conseruentur, non negamus. Quod vero a nobis aut maioribus nostris eadem
scopulis vel promontorijs insculpta sunt, eam non licet nobis, vt neque
illam tantam Citharadorum, aues aut pieces demulcentium, laudem accipere.
Statuimus enim animi esse generosi ac veracis, vt crimina falsa refellere,
ita laudem immeritam sibi haud vendicare, nec, etsi quis tribuat,
agnoscere.
The same in English.
THE TENTH SECTION.
[Sidenote: Munsterus. Krantzius.] The inhabitants do celebrate the actes of
their ancestours, and of their times, with songs, and they graue them in
rocks and promontories, that they may not decay with posterity, but onely
by the defect of nature.
[Sidenote: Frisius.] There be diuers found amongst them that be minstrels,
and can play vpon the lute, who with their delectable musicke ensnare and
take both fowles and fishes.
