38. An Ordinance of the Staple to be holden at one certaine place
39. A Charter of King Henry IV., to English Merchants resident in
Prussia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany
40. A note touching the mighty ships of King Henry V., from a Chronicle
in the Trinity Church of Winchester
41. A branch of a Statute made in the Reigne of Henry VI., for the
trade to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finmark
42. Another branch of a Statute made in the Reigne of Henry VI.,
concerning the English Marchants in Denmark
43. The Process or the Libel of English Policie, exhorting all England to
Keepe the Sea
44. A brief Commentarie of Island: wherein the errors of such as have
written concerning this island are detected, and the Slanders and
Reproches of certaine strangers, which they have used over boldly
against the People of Island are confuted by Arngrimus Ionas
BOOK I.
SECTION 1.
The Isle of Island, being severed from other countries, an infinite
distance standeth farre into the ocean, etc.
SECTION 2.
In this Island at the Summer Solstitum there is no night, etc.
SECTION 3.
It is named of the ice, which continually cleaveth unto the north part
thereof.
SECTION 4.
The Island is so great that it containeth many people, etc.
SECTION 5.
The Island, the most part thereof, is mountainous and untilled.
SECTION 6.
There be in this Island mountaines lift up to the skies, whose tops
being white with perpetual snowe, their roots boile with everlasting
fire, etc.
SECTION 7.
The flame of Mount Hecla will not burne towe, neither is it quenched
with water.... This place is thought by some to be the prison of
uncleane soules, etc.
SECTION 8.
Neare unto the mountaines there be three vast holes, the depth thereof
cannot be discerned by any man; but there appeare to the beholders
thereof certaine men at that instant plunged in, who answere their
friends, exhorting them, with deepe sighs, to returne home, and, with
that, they suddenly vanish away
SECTION 9.
But round about the Island there floateth ice. The inhabitants are of
opinion that in Mount Hecla and in the ice there are places wherein
the soules of their countrymen are tormented,
SECTION 10.
If any man shall take a great quantity of this ice, and shall keepe it
never so warily in a coffer or vessel, it wil, at the time when the
ice thaweth about the Island, utterly vanish away, etc.
SECTION 11.
Not far from the Mountains there be four fountaines of a most contrary
nature betweene themselves. The first converteth into a stoen any
body cast into it. The second is extremely cold. The third is sweeter
than honey. The fourth is altogether deadly, etc.
SECTION 12.
There are so great store of Fishes in this Island that they are laid
forth on piles to be sold in the open air, as high as the tops of
houses
SECTION 13.
