Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
2
646 VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND.
natural fon of Biorns of Haga; and Nafar Helge, p. 104: Bruni Hin Hviti, fon of
Hareks, earl of Upland, p. 104: Thormodur Hin Rami, p. 105: Biorn Rolfffon of
the blood royal, p. 105: Helgi Hin Magri, p. 107: Thorir Snepill, a fon of Joruns,
daughter of the Lagman Thorgnys, p. 117: and Gardar Suafarfon. Befides thefe,
Are Frode mentions one of the name of Olafr, who was of*the fame family as king
Harold; another of the name of Hrollangur, brother of Rolfs firft duke of Normandy,
‘who drew his origin from the Swedifh king Gore, grandfather of Gylfe.
Torfzeus mentions one Bodvar, a Swede, who fettled in Iceland, and was a defcend-
ant of the princefs Goja, fifter of Gore: Floke, who gave to the ifland its prefent name
of Iceland, was defcended from the fame family. Dalin, in his preface tothe firft
volume of his Swedifh hiltory, likewife mentions, out of Peringfkold and Bjorner, the
following: Snobjorn, Bjorn Oftrane, Grim, Orm Wedorm, Bjorn, and Grimkill, with
their mother Helga, daughter of Harold, Barder Snefallfas, Barder Wiking, Brimle,
Hjelm, Gote, Skolder Svenfke, Glamer, Wafur Helge, and Slattubjorn.
As often asa new colony arrived there, the principal perfon in the company appro-
priated to himfelfas large a part of the country as he was able to occupy, and gave up
as much of it as he thought fit to his companions, whofe chief he was, bearing the
title of Godi. But ina period when robberies and violence, by fea and land, were con-
fidered as valour and merit, peace could not long fubfift between the neighbouring
leaders. ‘There are every where inftances to be met with in the Icelandic Sagas of
battles between the new and original fettlers. ‘To prevent thefe conflicts in future, a per-
fon was chofen in the year 928, with the title of Laug-faugumadur, and great power
and dignity conferred upon him. ‘This man was the fpeaker in all their public delibe-
rations, pronounced fentence in difficult and intricate cafes, decided all difputes, and
publifhed new laws after they had been received and approved of by the people at large :
but he had no power to make laws without the approbation and confent of the reft.
He therefore aflembled the chiefs whenever the circumf{tances feemed to require it ; and
after they had deliberated among themfelves, he reprefented the opinion of the majori-
ty to the people, whofe affent was neceflary before it could be confideredasalaw. 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 firft form of government was confequently a mixture of ariftocrary and de-
mocracy : but all the regulations made by it were infufficient to maintain order among
fo many chiefs, who, though all of the fame rank, were differently inclined, and un-
equal in power. Nothing was therefore more frequent than rapine and violation of the
Yaws. ‘Lhey openly made war again{t one another, examples of which are to be met
with in the Sturlunga Saga, where, it is faid, twenty veflels, carrying one thoufand
three hundred men, had a bloody engagement, which fo weakened the contending
parties, that their whole power at laft became an eafy prey toa few arbitrary and enter-
prifing men, who, as is too generally the cafe, wantonly abufed it, to the oppreffion, of
their countrymen, and the difgrace of humanity*.
Notwithftanding all thefe inteftine 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 tothem but at laft they experienced that fate, which is almoft always
_™ The account of the origin of the Icelandic republic is a curious and interefting cireumftance for the
hiflory of humanity ; the fame mutt be faid of the inteftine feuds which gave an opportunity to the Nor-
wegian kings to eftablifh their authority over this once free nation,
iI ; inevitable,
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
