ii
'
No one can doubt, that even thofe
authors^ in the compilation o f their
hiftories, that have been confidered
as patterns of language, have made
ufe of the information o f other writers.
Nor have our Icelandic hifto-
rians been reniifs in this ; for Sturlefon
himfelf quotes an Are, aThiodolfr, the
langfcdgatal, or genealogical table,
and forne antient fongs that celebrated
their kings ; from which indeed he
compiled his accounts.
The Icelanders were remarkably
ftudious in preferving the memory of
tiieir anceftors ; and it was the moft
agreeable occupation in their meetings
and airemblies, to repeat thofe hifto-
rics and poems for which their great
men had been renowned, as was alfo
the pradlice among the Greeks. Add
to this, the contents andcompoiition of
the writings themfelves plainly prove,
that the authors have not been inclined
to relate marvellous itories;
and it would be unjuft to refufe
them that reliance on their veracity,
which we without heiitation beftow
ftow on other writers o f the fame
clais.
The greateft part o f their works
were compoied in the n th , 12th,
13th, and 14th centuries ; and fome
of them have even appeared in print.
I have a lift o f thefe hiftories in my
poileilion ; and though they are by
110 means of the fame degree o f merit,
it will perhaps not be difagreeable to
you to have a copy of the lift, as it is
not only a proof of their love o f fcience,
but likewife o f their application.
As a further inftance of their accuracy
and alfiduity in ftudy, I muft
llkewiie mention their chronicles, in
which they recorded whatever happened
o f importance both in Iceland
and abroad. Thefe annals are in general
confidered as more authentic
than their fayings. Semunclr and Are
Frode were the firft who introduced
them, and they have fince been continued
down to our days. The following
are confidered as the beft :
I . Flateyar Annals, that reach to the
year 1395, and to which,
L 3 2. V at ns-
I '
(I ■ u i i i l l i i l p Si
4 1 . .