reft. He therefore aiTemblcd the chiefs
whenever the circumftances feemed to
require it ; and after they had deliberated
among themfelves, be repre-
fented the opinion of the majority to
the people, whofe aflent was neceftary
before it could be confidered as a law.
His authority among the chiefs and
leaders was however inconfiderable, as
he was chofen by them, and retained
his place no longer than whilft he
had the good fortune to preferve their
confidence.
Their firil form o f government
was confequently a mixture of ari-
ftocracy and democracy ; but all the
regulations made by i t , were infuf-
ficient to maintain order among fo
many chiefs, who, though all of the
fame rank, were differently mclined,
and unequal in power. Nothing was
therefore more frequent than rapine
and violation o f the laws. They
openly made war againft one another,
examples of which are to be
'met with in the Sturlunga Saga,
where, it is faid, twenty vefFels carryin
g 1300 men, had a bloody engage
ment“
if
ment, which fo weakened the contending
parties, that their whole power at
laft became an eafy prey to a few arbitrary
and enterprizing men, who,
as is too generally the cafe, wantonly
abufed it, to the oppreifon o f their
countrymen, and the diigrace of humanity
*.
Notwithftanding all thefe inteftlne
troubles, they remained entirely free
from the Norwegian yoke; though the
kings of that country, fince the time of
Harold Harfagers, viewed this new and
powerful republic with envious eyes,
which, though now feparated, owed its
origin to them ; but at laft they experienced
that fate, which is almoft always
inevitable, wherever liberty degenerates
into licentioufnefs, and public
fpirit into felfifli views; that is, they were
obliged to iubmit to one chief. The
greateft part of the inhabitants in x 261,
put themfelves under the proteffion of
kingHakan, and promifed to pay tribute
* The account o f the origin of the Icelandic republic
is a curious and interefting circurnftance for the
hiftory of humanity; the fame lonft be faid of the
inteftine feuds which gave an opportunity to the Nor*
wegian kings to eftablifh their authority over this
once free nation.
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