poetical produdlions the keeneft in-
vedlives and fatire upon theie champions
of the Chriitian religion.
However, the Icelanders obtained
fome knowledge o f the Chriftian doctrine,
which by degrees operated upon
their minds. Some of them refufed to
contribute any more towards the idolatrous
focrifices, and wiilied to enjoy
more circnmilantial and certain in-
ftruction in the Chriftian I'eligion ; fo
that on the arrival of Giifur and Hjalti
in the year looo, the whole country
was converted without bloodihed, tho’
not without oppoiition. They alfo obtained
a jus canonicum from bifliop
Grimkell *, drawn up by himfelf, which
was as valid as a law till 1123, when it
was again revifed by bifhops Thorlak
and Ketill f .
After this time monks and convents
abounded in the country. Many
monks of the order of St. Benedifland
St. Auftin fettled there, and the people
paid a tribute to the Roman fee,
* See Krirtnis Saga, printed at Copenhagen, 1776,
in 8V O . p . 57,
t The canon law was printed at Copenhagen, 1776,
in 8 VO.
as
as well as other European nations,
which coniifted in one nagU, ten o f
which were equal to one cll o f two
feet *.
That Rome did not lofe fight o f
Iceland, though ever fo diftant, can
be proved by the bifliop o f Skallholt,
Arne Thorlakfon, keeping his own
ggent, Sighvatr Lande, canon o f Dron-
theim, at the fécond council of X.yons,
which was convened by Gregory I. in
the ypar 1 274 ; and that the Icelanders
did not yield in zeal to their fellow
Chriftians, appears by the willingneis
with which they contributed both men
and money to the crufades that were
then in faihion.
Amoiigft other faints, the bifliop
of Hoolum, John Ogmundifon, and
the bifliop o f Skallholt, Tliorlalc
ThorhalUron, were worfliipped : the laft
died in 1 193, and though he was not
canonized by any pope, yet he found
^ The value of all things is fettled In Iceland hy
ells of -üiadmal, which is a coarfe woollea duf f of rheir
own raanufafluring : the fee o f Rome taxed every
man in Iceland as high as the value of ten ells o f
•vjadrml.
worfliip'pens