Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/76

 6Q EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. form went, — ^how far in substance may be greatly- doubted. But it is to be remembered witbal, tbat always on the back of tbese compulsory adventures there followed English, bishops, priests and preachers ; whereby to the open-minded, conviction, to all degrees of it, was attainable, while silence and passivity became the duty or necessity of the uncon- vinced party. In about two years Norway was all gone over with a rough harrow of conversion. Heathenism at least constrained to be silent and outwardly con- formable. Tryggveson next turned his attention to Iceland, sent one Thangbrand, priest from Saxony, of wonderful qualities, military as well as theological, to try and convert Iceland. Thangbrand made a few converts ; for Olaf had already many estimable Ice- land Mends, whom he liked much, and was much liked by ; and conversion was the ready road to his favour. Thangbrand, I find, lodged with Hall of Sid a (familiar acquaintance of * Burnt Njal,' whose Saga has its admirers among us even now). Thang- brand converted Hall and one or two other leading men; but in general he was reckoned quarrelsome