The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume I Part 17

This vnitie is to G.o.d pleasance: And peace after the werres variance.

The ende of battaile is peace sikerly, And power causeth peace finally.

Kept than the sea about in speciall, Which of England is the towne wall.

As though England were likened to a citie, And the wall enuiron were the see Kepe then the sea that is the wall of England: And than is England kept by G.o.ddes hande; That as for any thing that is without, England were at ease withouten doubt, And thus should euery lond one with another Entercommon as brother with his brother And liue togither werrelesse in vnitie, Without rancour in very charitie, In rest and peace, to Christes great pleasance, Without strife, debate and variance.

Which peace men should enserche with businesse, And knit it saddely holding in holinesse.

[Sidenote: Ephes. 4. Solliciti sitis seruare vnitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis.]

The Apostle seith, if ye list to see, Bee yee busie for to keepe vnitee Of the spirit in the bond of peace.

Which is nedeful to all withouten lese.

The Prophet biddeth vs peace for to enquire To pursue it, this is holy desire.

Our Lord Iesu saith, Blessed motte they bee That maken peace; that is tranquillitee.

[Sidenote: Matth. 5. Beati pacifici quoniam filij Dei vocabuntur.]

For peace makers, as Matthew writeth aright, Should be called the sonnes of G.o.d almight.

G.o.d giue vs grace, the weyes for to keepe Of his precepts, and slugly not to sleepe In shame of sinne: that our verry foo Might be to vs conuers, and turned so.

[Sidenote: c.u.m placuerint Domino viae hominis eius inimicos ad pacem conuertet]

For in the Prouerbs is a text to this purpose Plaine inough without any glose: When mens weyes please vnto our Lord, It shall conuert and bring to accord Mans enemies vnto peace verray, In vnitie, to liue to G.o.ddis pay, With vnitie, peace, rest and charitie.

Hee that was here cladde in humanitie, That came from heauen, and styed vp with our nature, Or hee ascended, he gaue to vs cure, And left with vs peace, ageyne striffe and debate, Mote giue vs peace, so well irradicate Here in this world: that after all this feste

[Sidenote: Vrbs beata Ierusalem dicta pacis visio.]

Wee may haue peace in the land of beheste Ierusalem, which of peace is the sight, With his brightnes of eternall light, There glorified in rest with his tuition, The Deitie to see with full fruition: Hee second person in diuinenesse is, Who vs a.s.sume, and bring vs to the blis. Amen

Here endeth the true procease of the Libel of English policie, exhorting all England to keepe the sea enuiron: shewing what profit and saluation, with worship commeth thereof to the reigne of England.

Goe forth Libelle, and meekely shew thy face; Appearing euer with humble countenance: And pray my Lords to take in grace, In opposaile and cherishing the aduance.

To hardines if that not variance Thou hast fro trought by full experience Authors and reasons: if ought faile in substance Remit to hem that yafe thee this science; That seth it is soth in verray fayth,

[Sidenote: The wise lord of Hungerfords iudgement of this booke.]

That the wise Lord Baron of Hungerford Hath thee ouerseene, and verely he saith That thou art true, and thus he doeth record, Next the Gospel: G.o.d wotte it was his worde, When hee thee redde all ouer in a night.

Goe forth trew booke, and Christ defend thy right.

_Explicit libellus de Politia conseruatiua maris_.

Breuis Commentarius de Islandia: quo Scriptorum de hac Insula errores deteguntur, & extraneorum quorundam conuitijs, ac calumnijs, quibus Islandis liberius insultare solent, occurritur: per Arngrimum Ionam Islandum. Serenissimo Principi ac Domino, domino Christiano IIII, Daniae, Noruegiae, Vandalorum, Gothorumque, Regi electo: Slesuici, Holsatiae, Stormariae & Dithmarsiae Duci: Comiti in Oldenburg & Delmenhorst: Domino suo clementissimo.

Praeclaram sane apud Historicos meretur laudem, Sereniss. Princeps, Anchuri illius Midae regis filij ausus plusquam huma.n.u.s, & in patriam pietas, fere exemplo carens, qud ad occludendum ingentem circa Celaenam Phrygiae oppidum, terrae hiatum, quotidie homines haud exiguo numero, & quicquid in propinquo erat, absorbentem, sese vltr obtulerit. c.u.m enim ab oraculo Midas pater accep.i.s.set, non prius conclusum iri istam voraginem, quam res e preciosissimae immitterentur: Anchurus existimans, nihil esse anima pretiosius, sese viuum in illud profundissimum chasma praecipitem dedit: idque tanto animi c.u.m feruore, vt neque parentis desiderio, neque dulcissimae coniugis amplexu vel lachrymis, ab isto proposito se retrahi pa.s.sus sit.

Nec inferiorem mult consecuti sunt gloriam Sperthius & Bulis, Lacedaemonij, qui ad auertendam potentissimi Regis Persarum Xerxis, ob occisos a Lacedemonijs Darij patris legatos, vltionem, ad Regem profecti sunt, & vt legatorum necem in se, non in patria vlcisceretur, erectis & constantibus animis sese obtulerunt.

Quae ver res, Sereniss. Princeps, illos ac alios complures mouit, vt patriae flagrantes amore, nullum pro ea periculum, nullas molestias, im ne mortem ipsam recusarint, ea profect me quoque impulit, non quidem, vt quemadmodum illi, mortem sponte oppeterem, aut me mactandum vltro offerrem, sed tamen, vt id qud solum possem, in gratiam patriae tentarem: Hoc est, vt scriptorum de ea errores colligerem & rumusculos vanos refellerem: Ac ita rem profect periculosam, & multorum forsan sinistro obnoxiam iudicio, aggrederer.

In eo proposito me etiam Cn. Pompeij exemplum confirmauit: Quem rei frumentariaae apud Romanos procuratorem, c.u.m in summa Vrbis annonae charitate, in Sicilia, Sardinia & Africa frumentum collegisset, maiorem patriae, quam sui, tradunt rationem habuisse. c.u.m enim Romam versus properaret, & ingenti ac periculosa oborta tempestate, Naucleros trepidare, nec se ventorum aut maris saevitiae committere velle animaduerteret, ipse nauim primus ingressus, anchoras tolli iussit, in haec verba exclamans: Vt nauigemus vrget necessitas: vt viuamus, non vrget. Quibus vir prudentissimus innuisse videtur, patriae peric.l.i.tantis maiorem habendam rationem, quam priuatae incolumitatis.

Hunc ego sic imitor,

(Si parua licet componere magnis, & muscam Elephanto conferre) vt collectis ac comportatis ijs, quibus ad succurrendum gentis nostrae nomini ac famae, apud extraneos, ex maleuolorum quorundam inuidia iam diu laboranti vterer; paucula haec in lucem emittere, meque pelago huic quantumuis turbulento committere, lintea ventis tradere, c.u.mque illo exclamare non dubitem: Vt scribamus, vrget necessitas: Vt ver scriptum nostrum, cuiusuis, delicato palato, vbique satisfaciat, aut omnem Momi proteruiam effugiat, non vrget.

Inst.i.tutum meum complures probaturos spero: successum forsan non itidem omnes probabunt. Nihiiominus tamen maiorem habendam rationem patriae, multorum hactenus opprobria & contumelias sustinentis, quam siue laudis, siue vituperationis, ad me ipsum hinc forsan rediturae, existimabam. Quid enim causae esse potest, cur nonnullorum odium & inuidentiam, c.u.m hoc patriae, benefaciendi seu gratificandi studio forte coniunctam recusem?

Quodsi scriptorum errores liberius notare, si quorundam calumnias durius perstringere videbor, eos tamen aequos me habiturum censores confido, qui paul diligentius animaduertere volent, quam parum tolerabiles sint scriptorum de nostra gente errores: quot etiam & quam graues quorundam in nos calumniae, quibus nationem nostram varijs modis laccssiuere, & etiamnum lacessere non desistunt. Dandum etiam aliquid omnibus congenito soli natalis amori est; Dandum iusto, ob hanc patriae illatam iniuriam, dolori.

Et ego quidem, quantum fieri potuit, vbique mihi temperaui, ac a conuitijs abstinere volui: qud si quid videatur mollius dicendnm fuisse, id praedicta ratione veniam, spero, merebitur.

c.u.m igitur haec mihi subeunda sit alea, quod omnibus scriptum aliquod edituris in more positum animaduerto, id mihi hoc tempore solicite curandum est: Nempe vt patronum & mecaenatem aliquem huic meo commentariolo quaeram, sub cuius nomine & numine, tutius in vulgi ma.n.u.s exeat.

Eam igitur ad rem nihil poterit contingere optatius, vestra, clementissime Princeps Sereniss. Maiestate: Et enim nos ei, qui vitam & fortunas nostras in suam potestatem & tutelam accepit, ei inquam, nomen quoque gentis nostrae innocenter contaminatum, curae vt sit, supplices rogamus.

Im ver, Rex clementiss. non solum ad hanc rem, S. Maiestatis V. clemens implorare auxilium necessum habemus; Sed ad multa quoque alia, quae in nostra patria desiderantur, aut quae alioqui ad huius vtilitatem & salutem communem spectant: quaeque non per me, sed per summorum nostrae gentis viroram libellos supplices hoc tempore exponuntur, aut certe breui exponentur. Nihil enim dubitamus quin S. V. Maiestas, Christianissimorum maiorum exemplo, etiam nostram patriam, inter reliquas imperij sui Insulas, sua cura & protectione regia dignari velit. Nam quae nostra est ad S.

Maiestatem V. confugiendi necessitas, ea est S. Maiestatis V. in n.o.bis subleuandis, curandis & protegendis, gloria: Et ob nutritam extremi fere orbis Arctoi ecclesiam, in remotissimis M. V. imperij finibus, quae tranquillitatem & tuta singulari Dei beneficio halcyonia habet, praemium, ac reposita in coelis immarcessibilis vitae aeternae corona.

Caeterum c.u.m illa huius loci non sint, id quod mei est propositi subiungo: & a S. Maiestate V. ea, qua par est, amimi submissione peto, vt huic meae opellae & studio in patriam collato, fauere, & patroni benigni esse loco, clementer dignetur. Quod superest, Sereniss. Princeps, Dom. clementissime, Maiestatem V. sapientiae & prudentiae, omniumque ade virtutnm heroicarum indies incrementa sumentem, ad summum imperij fastigium, summas ille regnorum, omniumque ade rerum humanaram dispensator, Deos opt. max.

euehat: Euectam, omni rerum foelicissimo successu continue beet: Beatamque hoc modo, vt summum horum regnorum ornamentum, columen, praeesidium, Ecclesiae clypeum & munimen, quam diutissime conseruet: Ac tandem in altera vita, in solido regni coelestis gaudio, c.u.m praecipuis ecclesiae Dei nutritijs, syderis instar, ill.u.s.trem fulgere faciat. Faxit etiam idem Pater clementis. vt haec vota, quanto saepius, in amplissimorum Maiestatis V.

regnorum & Insularem quouis angulo, quotidie repetuntur ac ingeminantur, tant rata magis & certiora, maneant.

Haffniae 1593. Mense Mart.

S. M. V. humiliter subiectus:

Aragrimos Ionas Islandus.

The same in English.

A briefe commentarie of Island: wherein the errors of such as haue written concerning this Island, are detected, and the slanders, and reproches of certaine strangers, which they haue vsed ouer-boldly against the people of Island are confuted.

By Arngrimus Ionas, of Island.

To the most mighty Prince and Lord, Lord Christian the 4. [Footnote: Christian IV. was the last elective king of Denmark and Norway. Frederick III. in 1665 changed the const.i.tuion to an hereditary monarchy, vested in his own family.] of Denmarke, Norway, and of the Vandals and Gothes, King elect: of Sleswic, Holste, Stormar, and Dithma.r.s.e Duke: Earle of Oldenburg, and Delmenhorst: His most gratious Lord.

That heroical attempt of Anchurus, sonne of King Midas (most gratious prince) and that pietie towards his countrey in maner peerelesse, deserueth highly to be renowmed in histories: in that freely and couragiously he offered his owne person, for the stopping vp of an huge gulfe of earth, about Celoena, a towne in Phrigia, which daily swallowed mult.i.tudes of men and whatsoeuer else came neere vnto it. For when his father Midas was aduertised by the Oracle, that the said gulfe should not be shut vp, before things most precious were cast into it; Anchurus deeming nothing to be more inualuable then life plunged himselfe aliue downe headlong into that bottomless hole; and that with so great vehemencie of mind, that neither by his fathers request nor by the allurements and teares of his most amiable wife, he suffered himselfe to be drawne backe from this his enterprise.

[Footnote: It is added that Midas raised an altar to Jupiter on the spot.]

Sperthius also and Bulis, two Lacedemonians, were not much inferiour to the former, who to turne away the reuenge of Xerxes that most puissant King of the Persians, entended against the Lacedemonians, for killing the amba.s.sadors of his father Darius, hyed them vnto the sayd king and that he might auenge the amba.s.sadours death vpon them, not vpon their countrey, with hardy, and constant mindes presented themselues before him.

The very same thing (most gracious prince) which moued them and many others being enflamed with the loue of their countrey, to refuse for the benefite thereof, no danger, no trouble, no nor death it selfe, the same thing (I say) hath also enforced me, not indeed to vndergoe voluntarie death, or freely to offer my selfe vnto the slaughter, but yet to a.s.say that which I am able for the good of my countrey: namely, that I may gather together and refute the errors, and vaine reports of writers, concerning the same: and so take vpon me a thing very dangerous, and perhaps subiect to the sinister iudgement of many.

In this purpose the example of Cneius Pompeius hath likewise confirmed me: who being chosen procurator for corne among the Romanes, and in an extreme scarcetie and dearth of the citie hauing taken vp some store of grains in Sicilia, Sardinia, and Africa, is reported to haue had greater regard of his countrey, then of himselfe. For when he made haste towards Rome, and a mighty and dangerous tempest arising, he perceiued the Pilots to tremble, and to be vnwilling to commit themselues to the rigor of the stormie sea, himselfe first going on boord, and commanding the anchors to be weighed, brake foorth into these words: That we should sayle necessitie vrgeth: but that we should liue, it vrgeth not. In which words he seemeth wisely to inferre, that greater care is to be had of our countrey lying in danger, then of our owne priuate safetie.

This man doe I thus imitate,

If small with great as equals may agree: And Flie with Elephant compared bee.

Namely that gathering together and laying vp in store those things which might be applied to succour the fame and credite of our nation, hauing now this long time bene oppressed with strangers, through the enuie of certeine malicious persons, I boldly aduenture to present these fewe meditations of mine vnto the viewe of the world, and so hoysing vp sailes to commit my selfe vnto a troublesome sea, and to breake foorth into the like speeches with him: That I should write necessitie vrgeth: but that my writings in all places should satisfie euery delicate taste, or escape all peeuishnes of carpers it vrgeth not. I doubt not but many will allow this my enterprise: the successe perhaps all men will not approue. Neuertheles, I thought that there was greater regard to be had of my countrey, sustaining so many mens mocks and reproches, then of mine owne praise or dispraise, redounding perhaps vnto me vpon this occasion. For what cause should moue me to shunne the enuie and hate of some men, being ioyned with an endeuour to benefite and gratifie my countrey?

[Sidenote: The errors of the writers of Island intolerable.]