l e t t e r V.
To Chevalier I h r e .
Concerning Eccleftajlical Affairs in Iceland.
Stockholm, June 22, 1772*
IT is known from the Landnama Bok,
and the Ara-Schedis, that the Nor-
'wep'ians found fome traces o f Chrif-
tianity on their arrival in Iceland.
There were alfo fome few Chriftians
among thefe new colonifts, who, however,
foon apoftatized to the heathen
religion, fo that it became general
there. It is not known whether any
attempts had been made to introduce
the Chriftian religion before the
year 981, when a certain bifliop Frie-
dric arrived there from Saxony, and
was obliged to return, after a ftay of
five years, without having made any
great progrefs.
However, a church was built in 984,
by Thorvard BodvariTon, and fome
perfons
perfons received baptifm ; but others,
though they had no objeHion to the
Chriftian doftrinc, could not be prevailed
upon to fuifer themfelves to be
baptized, as they pretended it would
be indecent to go naked into the water
like little boys to receive baptifm,
which, according to the cuftom o f
thofe times, could only be done by
fubmerfion, Some, however, to ihew
their deteftation o f paganifm, fuffered
themfelves tp bp iigned with the crofs,
which they called Pri?nfigni?ig. Thefo
were not confidered either as Chriftians
or Heathens; however, they were
allowed to eat with the former, and
to be buried clofe to the church-yard.
Qlof Tryggvaftbii afterwards fent
them Stcfr Thorgilftbn, and after him
his chaplain Thangbraqd, a German
by birth ; but they were both received
with ftones and abu/ive language, as
they attempted to convert them, which
happened to be at the very fpot where
the common court of juftice was held :
nor were they fpared by the poets of
the country, who, being bribed for
the purpofe, poured forth in their
poeticaf
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