now, although there were neither towns
nor villages. The people lived scattered throughout the island; and the
General Assembly was held at Thingvalla, in the open air.

Fishing constituted the chief employment of the Icelanders. Their
clothing was woven from the wool of their sheep. Commerce with
neighbouring countries opened to them another field of occupation.

The doctrines of Christianity were first introduced into Iceland, in the
year 981, by Friederich, a Saxon bishop. Many churches were built, and
tithes established for the maintenance of the clergy. Isleif, first
Bishop of Skalholt, was ordained in the year 1057. After the
introduction of Christianity, all the Icelanders enjoyed an
unostentatious but undisturbed practice of their religion.

Greenland and the most northern part of America are said to have been
discovered by Icelanders.

In the middle of the thirteenth century Iceland came into the power of
the Norwegian kings. In the year 1380 Norway was united to the crown of
Denmark; and Iceland incorporated, without resistance, in the Danish
monarchy. Since the cession of the island to Norway, and then to
Denmark, peace and security took the place of the internal commotions
with which, before this time, Iceland had been frequently disturbed; but
this state of quiet brought forth indolence and apathy. The voyages of
discovery were interfered with by the new government, and the commerce
gradually passed into the hands of other nations. The climate appears
also to have changed; and the lessened industry and want of perseverance
in the inhabitants have brought agriculture completely into decline.

In the year 1402 the plague broke out upon the island, and carried off
two-thirds of the population.

The first printing-press was established at Hoolum, about the year 1530,
under the superintendence of the Bishop, John Areson.

The reformation in the Icelandic Church was not brought about without
disturbance. It was legally established in the year 1551.

During the fifteenth century the Icelanders suffered more from the
piratical incursions of foreigners. As late as the year 1616 the French
and English nations took part in these enormities. The most melancholy
occurrence of this kind took place in 1627, in which year a great number
of Algerine pirates made a descent upon the Icelandic coast, murdered
about fifty of the inhabitants, and carried off nearly 400 others into
captivity. {26}

The eigh