36 tious century, or the able manner in which, we read, the Rev. Bjorn Halderson, of Sandlauksdal conducted his farming experiments, but such facts as these were exceedingly rare. But in later years about 1760, when Icelandic affairs were in a better condition, a few of the best men visited other countries and found that their nation was far behind the times and with regret saw the backwardness of the nation and tried their best to improve the condition of the country and awake the people from their lethargy and by their superior knowledge and forethought considerably brightened the period in which they lived. The First Period, 1264-1402—The Norwegian Clergy Ruled Ice- land.—The Ancient Covenant. The annexation of Iceland by Norway was consummated and the people called the document drawn up between the two nations the Ancient Covenant, and it was generally accepted. The Norwegian kings demanded that all farmers should pay them a tax in return for their promulgating peace throughout the country and agreed to respect the laws of Iceland, for the Icelanders having nothing to do with the tariff, which they used to pay Norway, and they were given the same right as Norwegian farmers. The latter part of the covenant contains a passage which states that ‘So long as the king does not break the statute himself, the people of Iceland agree to follow its dictates.’ It was also stated that one Earl should reside in the country, as long as he re- mained true to the king and kept peace and order in the land. When however Gissur died, which occurred in 1268 this, appointment ceased, and the king elected two representatives to rule Iceland and one Hrafn Oddson, became a great leader. A New Constitution in Iceland. The Icelanders faithfully kept to the ancient cede, which was called ‘Gragas,’ but King Magnus Hakonarson, who was a learned jurisprudent, desired to amalgamate the few codes extant at that time in Norway,( the country then being divided into four quarters

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